At Think Differently Group we talk a lot about Thinking Differently. But what does it really mean and how on earth do we go about it? For a start thinking differently doesn’t have to mean thinking differently to the other 8 billion people on earth, it doesn’t have to be something that nobody has ever done before or acting in a way that nobody has ever acted. Quite simply it is about changing how you look at problems, how you think about them and how you act when you come up against adversity. It starts with some fairly subtle changes, applying some techniques and principals that have been well used and well proven by many others. It isn’t rocket science, brain surgery or blue sky thinking, it is just the application of good proven methods that are a little different to what you have been doing. It sounds so easy, but when you are faced with a seemingly unsurmountable hurdle or are so laden with tasks and busy-ness that you don’t have time for any thinking, the hardest thing in the world is to stop, breathe and take the time to look at the situation surrounding you and find a better way. When you frantically just need to do more, to work harder to get it done, you are blind to the fact that you won’t get any more out of the system by pushing harder on the piece of string! It is time to Think Differently about your problems. The first step is to become aware that what you are doing is not giving you the results that you need. The next step is reaching out for some help, somebody that can provide a different viewpoint, who can look at your business and your problems from a different angle. Usually these people will have a slightly different set of experiences and knowledge than you and that might be all it takes to start you thinking differently about how you approach your challenges. It isn’t about trying something wild, crazy, untested or revolutionary. There are plenty of great ideas, techniques and methods that have been tried, tested and proven by others. Thinking differently doesn’t have to be thinking outside of the box, its just a fresh set of eyes and some fresh and proven ideas that you can apply, and before you know it you are thinking differently than you were when you couldn’t see your way out of the hole you were in. To understand the solutions to apply (and which to not) requires time to read business publications, journals and talking to business professionals that have made them work. To know which to apply to your business problems and how to steer your business in the right direction requires experience from a range of business scenarios and some proven methods in business analysis.  When you don’t have time for anything but the business in front of you, it is unlikely you have the time to gain the knowledge, experience and discipline to start thinking differently. That is when you need a little help, that is when you should reach out to someone who can look differently at your business and help you think a little differently. The only radical thing is asking for help. Cheers Ian

We often talk about change, the need for change and few of us can argue with Charles Darwin’s finding: “It is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself.” But changing is hard, and change is scary. Changing takes a lot of effort and emotional energy, and the chances are if you are in a position where you should be making a significant change in your life, or your business, you are already using up all of your emotional energy struggling to manage the situation that you find yourself in. Often it is difficult to predict if a change will make our business more successful or our lives happier. We feel that we know what will happen if we don’t change and we have developed mechanisms to deal with that. Even if we are struggling with the problems that surround us now, the fear of the unknown and the problems that we might cause by making a change can paralyse us from making the changes we know we should. It is a human trait, often known as status quo bias, which makes us predisposed to favour sticking to what we know instead of taking the risk to change. And a recent study by Steven Levitt, University of Chicago economist and co-author of Freakonomics,shows that it is an instinct that we should fight against. In an experiment studying 20,000 cases where people were struggling to make a difficult change decision, those that took the leap and made the change reported being significantly happier than they were before the decision both 2 months and 6 months after making the change. In summary Levitt left us with the advice that: “A good rule of thumb in decision making is, whenever you cannot decide what you should do, choose the action that represents a change, rather than continuing the status quo.” While all this may sound scary as you step off into a void of uncertainty, you must remember that our perceptions of the comfort and safety of not changing might not be as well founded as you first think. If the last 3 years have shown us anything it should be that sometimes we can no longer rely on the status quo. We must also get back to the reasons why we were talking about changing in the first place, revisit the drivers for change in your life and your business, rekindle the sense of urgency and exchange the fear of change into an excitement and anticipation of the opportunities that change presents. Be brave, be bold and look forward to smelling the flowers once you have made the changes you know you should! Cheers Ian 

The Purpose of this short rant is to attempt to bring us back to some reality.  Ground ourselves in some good old-fashioned experience; pay more than a fleeting raise of our oft-furrowed brows to the minds of the past; be curious, go against convention, be different, maybe even Think Differently!  By asking a critically important question relating to the future of our businesses – what can the minds of the past teach us about today and the future?  Because I have this terrible feeling that we are not learning from our mistakes of the past.   It was a quote from Plato that got me thinking, along with the latest “Big Idea” series from Harvard Business Review.  The Plato quote, “Knowledge is the rediscovering of our own insight.”  Think about that.  Sounds like the Reflection Process to me, and remember, the best leaders are those that reflect the most (and we can only reflect about the past.)  But here Plato goes to the next step – rediscover our own insights, go back to them, make sure we have taken different actions as a result of them.   The latest Big Idea series on HBR has focused on the magazines 100 years of history.  It has analysed the change in topics for every single published article over its 100 years of existence.  The result of that analysis is interesting: So we have become less interested in the nuts and bolts of the business as technology has allowed us to do things in a way that wasn’t even dreamt of in 1922; we have become more interested in where our companies future lies and how it will continue to generate revenue in its markets; and our interest in how our organisations are structured and the people that get the work done has stayed the same. So, the prevailing view that our current focus on “people” and how we can motivate and engage them is something specific for our times, has been a question 100 years old.  It’s not as a result of a new age of leadership; it’s not as a result of a “modern” focus on diversity and inclusion, it’s always been a focus.  Maybe it’s been a focus of the HBR editorial team, but they needed to sell the magazine so those topics must have been read.  But were they acted on.  Did they provide the opportunity for insight and different actions or were they just interesting.  Maybe we are now seeing what Plato suggested – we are rediscovering our insights.   I must share with you the opening of the very first essay in Volume 1 Number 1: “it is pertinent to inquire how the representative practises of business men generally may be made available … and how proper theory of business is to be obtained.  Without such a theory, business will continue to be unsystematic, haphazard, and for many men a pathetic gamble.”  To remedy that situation HBR would seek to provide “a better theoretical basis for executive action.” Two points of note – firstly, women were obviously not the target market of HBR 1922!  And secondly, are those problems of 1922 much different to today?  Is the current era of uncertainty and turbulence a new thing? We can spend too much time searching for the newest solution, at times.  Especially if we think the problem is entirely new and has never been faced before.  It has!  There have been greater minds than ours that have exercised their considerable intellect on most of the problems our businesses face today, and in the future.  Let’s spend some time listening to them first.   Stay well, smell the flowers and challenge convention. Cheers Phil Pickford

Many New Zealanders dream of starting their own business or continuing to grow their current business if they already have one. Although, once you get into the business world, you’ll find that it’s not as simple as you’d like it to be.  You need a lot of knowledge and help if you really want to be successful. Unfortunately, lots of people find that managing their own company is incredibly challenging. How do you give yourself the helpful boost you need so you can fulfil your dreams of success? The answer to this is simple; seek help from a qualified business coach.  How You Can Benefit From A Skilful Business Coach’s Help A business coach does exactly what you think – they coach you at business. A good coach can help you plan for the future, budget, figure out what you’re doing wrong and more. Overall, they can significantly help you. Some people think that business coaches are only for inexperienced business owners, but this isn’t true. A business coach’s services can assist any company of any size. It doesn’t matter if you’re new to the business world or have been managing a large company for years; you can still benefit from their help. They can do so by: Giving You Experienced, Professional Help. A very difficult part of being new to the business world is that you don’t have hands-on experience. Even if you’ve done plenty of research and spoken with other business owners, doing it on your own is still tricky.  With a business coach, you’ll work with someone who’s done this before and will do it again. They’ve helped lots of people just like you, and they’re ready to assist you in any way they can.  Providing You With Unbiased Feedback. A major problem with running a business on your own is that you often don’t get unbiased feedback. You, of course, can’t give feedback on yourself, and your friends and family could be biassed because they care about you.  But, a business coach knows business, and they can look at the hard facts to give you an honest critique. Furthermore, they’ll know how to give you their opinions without sounding like they’re attacking you or being hostile. A thoughtful coach knows how to speak to you seriously while maintaining a calm and friendly demeanour, even if they’re giving you news that’s not nice to hear.  Helping You Plan For The Future. Planning is everything in business. If you don’t have set goals and steps to reach those goals, you could find yourself meandering from idea to idea. A business coach will discuss your plans and goals with you and help you develop a reasonable business plan that’s doable and realistic.  Motivating You To Keep Going. Having the help of an accomplished professional can do wonders for your confidence. Their advice can inspire you and make you truly believe that you can succeed if you keep going. Helping Your Business And Profits Grow. All in all, if you follow their advice and pay attention to their worlds, your business will surely thrive. You will see your business become more recognisable, your client base will grow and your profits will rise.  As your business becomes more successful, you will have more funds to grow it even further and succeed beyond what you thought you could do.  How To Find A Good Coach Clearly, a business coach can do wonders for your business! So, now you’ll need to try and find someone who’s a good match for you. Try and find a coach who: Is a good fit for you. Look for a coach whom you have chemistry with. Naturally, if you don’t like your coach, you’ll be less likely to work with them, and you might end up having a bad time.  Will Offer You Personally Tailored Advice. No one wants to hire a coach only to receive basic, by-the-numbers advice that anyone could give. Find someone who will look at your situation and give you pointers that directly help your circumstances. Has a set process. Like how it’s important for you to have a business plan, it’s also important for your coach to have a plan for how to work with you. Great coaches always have a set structure for how they’ll work with you to make the process smoother. Need Business Help? Speak With Our Team Today! For expert business help in New Zealand, we encourage you to speak to us at Think Differently. With us, you’ll get specially tailored advice that’s made for your unique business. We know that every company is special, and we look forward to helping yours grow.  Our professional business coaches have the right skills and experience to assist you like no one else. To book an appointment or to ask for more helpful information, call us at 021 431990. Turn your dreams into reality with Think Differently.

A Personal Story by Ian MacLeod If I look back on my professional career, I have always had an inclination for Thinking Differently.  When I was doing well at high school I was told “You should become a doctor or a lawyer.”  Instead, I followed my heart and studied Naval Architecture and Small Craft Engineering at University.  When it became obvious that I was destined to get a First-Class Honours degree I was told “You should stay at Uni and do a PhD.” Instead, I turned away from research and academia to become a ship surveyor (simply I did WoF’s on ships). As I progressed through my career and showed signs of leadership attributes I was told “You should move to Asia and manage a regional office through their shipbuilding boom.” Instead, I moved to New Zealand…. And so it went on until I find myself joining Phil Pickford as part of the Think Differently Group.  I have known Phil for quite a few years and having already made the career change from being an employee leading a single company to a self employed consultant working with a number of different companies I was excited by the opportunity to become part of the newly created Think Differently Group. Over my professional career I have discovered that I have a passion for helping people reach their potential through coaching and mentoring – this insight was a revelation to someone who studied engineering and thought for many years that he was a numbers person and definitely not a people person. Catalyst:“A person or substance that causes a change or event to happen, acting as the stimulus in bringing about or hastening the result” My role with Think Differently Group is as a Business Catalyst, I am here to coach business leaders and cause a change or an event to happen. Normally the change involves those business leaders thinking differently to enable them to overcome their problems, achieve their goals and have the time to smell the flowers. If your business is not achieving its goals, get in touch and we can see if I might be the catalyst that can help you change. Ian MacLeodBusiness Catalyst

Managing and growing your very own business isn’t as simple as you might hope. A lot goes into being a successful businessperson, and finding success is even more difficult if you don’t have much experience. Of course, you should never give up on your dreams just because doing it on your own is hard – instead, look for help from a reliable business consultant.  Business consultants can help you with everything from working out a budget to creating a realistic plan. A professional who has helped lots of people just like you can really help your business grow at a reasonable pace.  However, not every consultant is the same. How do you know who’s right for you? What To Think About When Looking For A Helpful Business Consultant Making sure your business succeeds is very important, so you should never make rash decisions or hire help without proper research beforehand. Always thoroughly consider your options and consider what you want and need before signing contracts or making deals.  As you look for a helpful consultant, consider these things: Know What Kind Of Help You Want. Take a minute to look at your business and see the big picture. How’s your business doing? Are you experiencing any problems? If you aren’t, are there still things you wish you had help with? Make a list of everything you’d like to know more about and try to find a consultant who can help you with those things. For example, if you are constantly struggling to use your money well, look for someone who can look at your spending and profits to help you create a reasonable budget.  Of course, you don’t need specific wants to seek help. There’s nothing wrong with looking for a consultant to help you with business in general, rather than a specialist who will only focus on a certain thing. But knowing what you need help with can make your business consultant search easier.  Look For A Consultant Whom Will Offer A Personalised Experience. A consultant should look at your specific circumstances and offer expertly tailored advice. So, never settle for someone who gives you basic advice that anyone can provide.  The best consultants will sit down and thoroughly examine your details to give you a customised experience. This way, they can figure out the very best ways to help you. Make Sure They Communicate Well. In basically every career, communication is absolutely vital. You may want to contact your potential business consultant before you hire them and ask them any questions you may have. When you do, you’ll be able to tell if they communicate well or not.  Your consultant should always speak to you clearly and listen to what you have to say. If they don’t, they won’t be able to offer you the best advice. If your potential consultant speaks over you, ignores your words and cuts you off when you speak, they might not be best for you.  Check Their Experience And Credentials. Check their credentials and how much experience they have in the industry. A consultant or team that has more experience and training is more likely to offer you helpful advice. Particularly, to ensure that their experience is good, you can have a look at what their clients have to say. Check out testimonials and online reviews to see how their customers feel about them. If there are lots of happy clients recommending their services, then that’s a wonderful sign that they’re trustworthy and reliable. Key Takeaways To Remember As You Search As you start your search for a business consultant who will help your small business thrive, keep these key points in mind: Examine your business and try to figure out what kind of help you’d like. Look for business consultants who will look at your situation and offer you unique, customised help. This is the best way to get business advice that fits your circumstances perfectly.  Look at your potential business consultant’s credentials and experience before you hire them. Checking reviews and testimonials written by previous clients is a fantastic way to get a good idea of how well they do. Need Business Help? Come To Us For Professional Opinions And Expert Assistance Are you looking for a helpful business consultant who will offer help that’s tailored to your business? If you are, then look to our incredible team at Think Differently. We specialise in helping New Zealand business owners just like you, and we will work with you to find out how you can thrive.  With our fantastic services, you can solve your business-related issues and watch your passion project grow. Every business is unique, so you deserve a unique experience. You’ll never have to worry about getting basic, one-size-fits-all advice when you work with us.  Call us at 021 431990 today to get started on the road to a more successful business! Turn your hopeful business dreams into reality with us at Think Differently.

Starting and running your own small business can be incredibly rewarding and fulfilling, but it takes more than just hopeful thoughts to become successful. There are so many things that you’ll need to think about if you want to thrive as a business owner, and paying attention to all of these details can be stressful and intimidating. Luckily, you can seek help from small business consultants to improve your Auckland business’s success.  But, some people may wonder if they really need a business consultant’s help. So, what are the specific reasons why you should always speak to a business consultant if you run your own small business? Why You Should Consider Speaking To An Experienced Business Consultant A business consultant’s job is to speak with you, examine your business, and give you helpful advice on how you can succeed. Experienced and observant consultants will most likely notice things that haven’t even crossed your mind, and they can be a true lifesaver. If you do not have a lot of experience running a successful business and you’re still learning, then there’s nothing wrong with going to an expert for some helpful advice. Some of the best reasons why you need to speak with small business consultants are: They’ll Give You Honest, Unbiased Feedback. Sometimes, hearing the truth can hurt, so your friends and family around you may not have the heart or knowledge to give you bad news. However, being shielded from the harsh realities isn’t exactly helpful if you want to improve. A fantastic business consultant will know how to give you both positive and negative feedback in a professional yet practical way. Being aware of any feedback that you need to know will help you improve and correct any mistakes you’ve made. Once you realise your business-related flaws, you can do your best to be better and make your customers happier. They’ll Have The Right Knowledge To Help You Understand The Ins And Outs Of Business. Unfortunately, there’s a lot more to business than just being ambitious. You’ll also need to know all about how the business world works. Reputable small business consultants will have plenty of experience working with heaps of different kinds of businesses, so they’ll have plenty of knowledge and experiences to draw from when they help you.  Nothing can replace hands-on experience. So, even if you’ve read all about running your own company online or in books, that’s nothing compared to getting in-person help from a business consultant who has heaps of experience working with business owners in Auckland.  They’ll Help You Create A Realistic Business Plan. Whether you’re creating your own business or managing a project, good planning is absolutely essential. After all, confusion and mistakes are inevitable if you don’t have a plan.  Furthermore, it’s vital that you create a reasonable plan that’s realistic and doable. If you create a plan that requires too much work or assets that you don’t have, you’re going to be seriously disappointed when it doesn’t come to fruition.  Small business consultants can look at your business’s goals and see what you are capable of doing now, and they’ll help you create a strategic plan that makes sense. Being smart and planning accordingly are two vital keys to creating a successful business. Their Assistance Will Help You In The Future, Too. A fantastic benefit of getting help from a business consultant is that even when you’re not directly working with them, you can still remember their support and do better. A helpful business consultant will give you the mental tools you need to solve most problems that come your way.  Of course, if you need their help again, you should feel free to contact them again for their services. Excellent small business consultants take pride in helping their clients become happy and fulfilled with their companies and will gladly offer their help to you again. Would You Like Some Help Making Your Auckland Business Success? We’re Here To Help! Creating a successful business is difficult – but with our help, you can improve your skills and see your company thrive. At Think Differently, we aim to help local Auckland businesses be the best that they can be. We help business owners look at their companies objectively, identify and fix flaws, make realistic business plans and more! We know that every single company is different, and we look forward to seeing what makes your company unique. We always make sure to thoughtfully observe every part of your business so that we can create solutions and advice that are individually tailored to you, rather than giving you generic tips that could apply to anyone. Do you need some help with your Auckland business? Call us today at 021 431990 to get help from intelligent small business consultants who only want the best for you. Make your business dreams a reality with help from Think Differently.

These times are very busy for Father Christmas. He must need to juggle many priorities, has a massive goal and all the while he needs to keep his staff engaged and motivated. Failure cannot be contemplated..

Well here we are – 2017 is upon us already. Some thoughts about the year ahead:
Learn to forget 2016 only when you have absolute clarity on what you learnt from last…