How do we make our youth more employer ready and equip them with the necessary skills that our businesses need? First, we need to debunk the myth that salespeople are born and not bred. Can you really turn anyone into a good salesperson? Well, science has recently proven that a natural propensity for selling but …
4 Killer Templates for sales growth from our Framework Library that our clients used to help them achieve an average 140% increase in net profit You’ve made a plan?... You’ve set a budget?……which has been communicated company-wide. Yes? Your team all nod in agreement. Now – roll forward 3 months, are you and your team delivering on …
Thank you to Club Member Derek Hill who shared this short video with me yesterday. It’s a powerful demonstration of how a movement starts, builds and then gains momentum. As you watch it ask yourself these questions; What is your movement/mission or purpose that you are building momentum for? Is it your overall company mission? Your …
“When the cat’s away the mice will play” (meaning when the cats not around to watch, the mice will get up to all sorts of mischief.) So what are your people doing when they’re not being watched? Do they do the same things they would if you were physically there? It’s the ultimate culture test. …
“The honest answer is after we reach £1M I haven’t a clue what I’m meant to be doing!” That was the comment, fresh out of the mouth of one of our Business Accelerator Club members during our initial coaching call. I was quizzing her on the size of her vision and testing the level of …
Are you ready? Making a budget – It’s that time of the year again when you should be digging out your budget planner template and planning your next financial year. Regardless of the timing of your financial year-end, there is something about the half-year mark or the close of a calendar year that signals the end of …
Every growing business needs working capital and that may mean raising funds to cash flow growth. Knowing what capital you need to expand is one thing, your propensity to handle risk is another BUT where you acquire the cash for working capital to fund growth is another. There obviously is more than one source. …
The first decision I made at the turn of the year, which I announced to the Company Shortcuts team at our first strategy meeting – is that from now on we are closing the business from 4pm on the 23rd December until the first working day of the New Year. You can imagine – that announcement …
is the name of the book I’m currently devouring… And it comes highly recommended. Suddenly so much of advice I’ve previously been given makes sense! I’m only at the beginning of the book and already have pages of ideas and ‘grey time’ thoughts scrawled down for myself, and although I have many insights to share I’m …
… and no I’m not talking equity rather your role? I heard a great nugget recently from Anthony Fletcher, the CEO of fast-growing business Graze. “If you plan to grow your business by 30% you have to find someone to do 30% of your own job” The inability to consistently prune your own role (and then everyone else’s) is …
There’s a reason why at Company Shortcuts, we keep banging on about the importance of creating ‘Your Sales Process Map’, so you better understand the flow and the variables of your customer buying experience… …because, amongst other things, it supports the building of your brand. But how? I hear you shout, “what has sales …
We all know we want a team of A Grade Players for our businesses. A critical part of scaling our companies, but what does the term A Grade Player actually mean? And how do you find them? An A Grade Player is the term used to describe the top performing 15% at any given pay …
Commission schemes. Do you have one? Does it work – i.e. does it drive the team behaviours you want? And do you need a PhD in pure Maths to understand it? This is a topic that was discussed very recently with our current BAPs cohort, so here are 4 quick headlines to think about if …
Last week I had the luxury of a couple of focused days with my Chairman Lara, reviewing business plans, current results and seeking ways to enhance our existing offering. As always I come away with a head full of new ideas and scribbled ‘grey time’ notes. If you’ve attended any of our live events you’ll …
We’re used to seeing people walking down the street randomly talking into thin air – until you see the little white wire and realise they are engaged in a ‘usually’ very loud conversation with another person on the other end of their mobile phone. Today whilst travelling down the escalator at Kings Cross onto the …
So – how much of your team’s resources last week was focused on income generating activities? 100% perfect, 50% or I know in some cases it may even be as low as 25-30%. Even those members of your team employed in full-time sales roles, how much of their valuable time was spent on the right …
I first wrote a blog on this topic a few years ago and it definitely ruffled a few feathers so, in support of International Women’s Day– I thought it was worth updating and re-sharing some more thoughts on the topic. As an active supporter of female entrepreneurship and as a female entrepreneur myself I know firsthand …
Earlier today I was standing in front of 200 young people (Year 11’s) sharing my story from school through to the career I have today, via www.speakers4schools.org, with the intention to hopefully inspire them. I always incorporate the following as one of my opening lines in my talk;“Today, I particularly want to appeal to the students amongst you, …
Answer this ONE question… What is the single most important strategic sales activity, that if applied consistently by your business as a whole, for the next 90 days, would have the greatest impact on your growth? I’ve just finished delivering a great Sales Secrets Academy to a cracking customer of ours and once again the outcome from …
This week, to huge applause in the office, it was announced that we are finalists at the BESMA (British Excellence in Sales and Marketing Awards) 2016, in not just one, but TWO categories! Company Shortcuts has been selected as a finalist for ‘Training Centre of the Year‘ and Nicola Cook our Chief Opportunity Officer and CEO, is a finalist for ‘Sales Trainer …