Synergy for the Self

Perhaps you’ve heard of corporate synergy? The term is so ubiquitous in business today that people seem to apply it just about anywhere. You can have human synergy, management synergy, synergy in marketing, revenue, and cost. But the newest trend in synergy seems to come from within.

Simply put, synergy describes the event of different parts coming together to make something greater. This can be as simple as a marketing strategy involving two different companies or projects, or a merger between major corporations. But on a personal level, synergy can simply involve bringing two distinct sides of yourself together. Jonathan Fields, author of the new book, “Career Renegade: How to Make a Great Living Doing What You Love,” encourages entrepreneurs to combine their professional goals with their personal passions. In a recent interview with The Positivity Blog, Fields says:

“ . . . if you yearn to be doing something different, the first step is generally to ask what makes you come alive. And, decouple the question from the exploration of whether it can make money or not. With a little innovation and often a bit of technology, it’s now possible to monetise nearly [any] passion, often in very unconventional ways.”

At TopMatch, many of our top Franchisees have fused their business savvy with their natural people skills, and are now leading our company and our clients on to great futures, daily. So how can you synergise your passion and career? Even if you already own the franchise you love operating, consider new promotions and projects that will benefit from you natural interests.

So what makes you feel alive?

What professional skills do you possess?

Are there ways to bring these together?

Give it some thought!

The Shine’s Not Off This Apple: How the Gang at Mac Are Beating the Recession

Worldwide, layoffs, cutbacks, and really bad news seem to be the big trends in business. So how does a company like Apple, with an absent CEO and a flailing domestic market, turn a really promising profit? After the worst holiday shopping season in recent memory, sales rose an impressive 5.8%.

It’s not as if people are poised to shell out for just any high-end gadgets and software either, as evidenced by Microsoft’s recent announcement of 5,000 upcoming layoffs. So what’s the trick? Not the discount, blowout smoke and mirrors we’ve come to expect.

From an article at The Sydney Morning Herald,

Chief operating officer Timothy Cook, who is handling day- to-day operations in Jobs’ absence, said Apple isn't interested in offering a stripped-down version of the iPhone . . .

"Our objective is not to be the unit share leader in the cell-phone industry," Mr Cook said. While the economy may lead some consumers to shun expensive smart phones, "we feel very good about our competitive position and extremely good about our product pipeline," he said.

Behold! Confidence. In fact, Apple’s brand tone has remained almost unflinching in the face of economic disaster. Simple, chic, personal. iPhone, iWork, iBuy. And it is, perhaps, this continuity that feels so desirable in tempestuous times. Cook says his product is worth it, and it seems we’re willing to believe.

Communicating in the Modern World

With telecommuting on the rise, we could all use a lesson in virtual communication strategies. To help you make the most out of those virtual meetings and greetings, we’re providing some helpful tips for more effective communications.

-Language skills count, and a disregard for proper spelling, grammar, or punctuation could be the kiss of death to your perceived professionalism. Put your pride aside and run a spell check on every piece of e-mail and publish online materials using the same editing eye you’d put to print material.

-The need to make a memorable impression is more important than ever. Virtual communication brings us all one step closer to anonymity, without so much as the chance to be another face in a crowd. Adding your company logo to all e-communications provides colleagues and clients with a small, but effective visual image to grab onto. Choosing a unique font for your business can also assist with visual branding, but be sure to use the same font family and avoid overly decorative, unprofessional fonts like Papyrus or Comic Sans.

You can also convey individuality with greetings and signatures that echo your personality. For example, instead of the traditional “Dear,” you may try “Greetings,” “Hello,” or “Good afternoon.” Replace “Sincerely,” with “Kindest regards,” “Many thanks,” or a casual “Cheers,” depending on the nature of your correspondence.

-Polish your phone voice by smiling as you speak, even if nobody is there to see you. Smiling naturally increases enthusiasm, and your tone and inflection almost always mirror the expression. Speak slowly enough to be clear and address the person on the other line by name whenever possible.

-Don’t mince (too many) words. People who are uncomfortable telecommunicating and conversing with text often let nerves drive them to ramble. However, you can make a memorable impression online or on the phone without a lot of verbal padding, especially if you are concise. Convenient communication means many of us receive hundreds of calls, texts, and e-mails each week, so everyone appreciates knowing their time is valued. Planning out your e-mails and phone calls ahead of time will save your colleagues trouble and make you look considerate. Just don’t come off cold by neglecting to say please and thank you.

Conquer Procrastination for Good

Most people will admit to procrastinating a bit, but why put off accepting the truth any longer? A lot of us let procrastination stand in the way of long-term success. If you’re serious about kicking this toxic habit, don’t wait another second to read through our foolproof tips!

Get on with it. Dreading one task more than the rest? Take care of it first. Not only will you feel empowered and relieved when it’s over, but everything else will seem rather pleasant in contrast. If you can manage to get this one thing done before even sitting down to plan your day, it won’t have the chance to drain any positive energy from you or cast a shadow on your To-Do List.

Make a To-Do List to be proud of. Break your daily task list into all kinds of details, not just listing major tasks as single items. For example, if you have a big meeting, be sure to list what needs to be done in preparation, any follow-up conversations you might need to have, and all tasks that must be completed in relation to the event. Each time you tick off an item, you’ll feel accomplished and motivated to do more.

Using this method, your task list will seem full enough to keep you moving, but by day’s end you’ll see how entirely manageable it all was. Plus, starting the morning with the focused mental preparation needed to author an effective To-Do List is an excellent warm-up to action.

Morning rituals. Coffee and the paper, a crossword puzzle, or yoga are all wonderful ways to energise your day and will invite your mind to start working at maximum efficiency. Find the thing that stimulates you intellectually, spiritually, or even physically, and take time to do that activity for at least 20 minutes each and every morning.

Little rituals give you the chance to enjoy and appreciate life, whilst simultaneously adding structure to your schedule. This small reminder of control will give you the confidence to take on the day knowing it’s all up to you—and that’s a great thing!

New Year, New Clients!

Amongst goals like getting in shape, volunteering more time to worthy causes, and working even harder, many Britons are vowing to meet their perfect match in 2009. And although we sometimes fail to follow through on our resolutions, smart goal-setters know that a solid plan makes all the difference.

That’s why dating services like TopMatch typically see an uptick in business this time of year. Diet services and self-improvement outlets like salons and gyms also benefit from the annual good intentions. For anyone operating a self-improvement franchise, taking advantage of the season’s spirit is a sure-fire way to get a jumpstart on your own business resolutions.

New Year’s promotions are a great way to stoke public interest and resonate with the collective mindset. Convince the public that YOUR service is an essential stepping-stone to their long-term goals and you’ll see a boom in business worth celebrating.

Beyond what you say, consider the best ways to disseminate your message. People preparing to change may be browsing want-ads, personals, fashion magazines, and more, so start thinking about where your message will make an impact.

If you’re still thinking about purchasing a franchise, don’t waste this chance! It will be an entire year before people are once again so motivated and open to change.