The Tall Poppy: January 2009

Friday, January 30, 2009

EP Designs

Sometimes all it takes to be successful in business is the ability to see things differently from others. Being able to see potential in things is a gift that not many of us have.

Elena of EP Designs has that ability and, in her case, she also has artistic flair. By combining both skills she has created a clever business that creates treasures from pieces that the rest of us would overlook.

This is an example of a beautiful decorator item that Elena made from curtain lace and voile. Instead of seeing the lace as the inevitable window covering she has created an elegant table covering that harks back to a more gentle age.

If we can work on seeing things differently, identifying possibilities rather than seeing limitations, we might all have happier lives an thriving businesses.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - free

This is a famous book and one that everyone should read whether you are in business or not. It will change the way you see and approach situations in everyday life.

The audiobook is available for free download here. Download it to your iPod or MP3 and listen. It will change the way you live your life. There is a very good reason that this book is so famous. Listen and find out.

Thanks to Blog Energizer for this link.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Success is in the company you keep

My mother always told me that we would be known by the company we keep. Associate with rabble and people would think we were rabble too. As I grew up I came to understand what she meant.

I have just finished reading a post by Ingrid Cliff over at Heart Harmony (Small Business Tips) where she talks about the same thing.

She says "The 3 January 2009 New Scientist reports on some fascinating studies that your behaviour is influenced by your friends (and the friends of those friends) more powerfully than you think. Nicolas Christakis from Harvard Medical School in Boston is one of the pioneers of the research"

It is interesting to look at your life and find what you like and don't like about it. Then look at the lives of the people you associate with and you will find remarkably similar situations. Why do we choose to be with these people? Is it a comfort issue? Staying on familiar territory?

Why not branch out a little? Find people who are doing things that you would like to do, whose attitude to life as you want yours to be, whose enthusiasm is contagious. Try spending time in their company and see how your life changes.

From a business point of view why not move from your little circle of similar businesses and poke your nose into a group that flies higher? If the theory is right your business should move up a notch too.

Ingrid's post is very thought provoking and well worth a read. Don't miss it.