Part II

Thirty recipes for success

In this part, I provide what are indeed the ‘recipes’ for our success. These are what we run the business by, and we use them to remind us what we should be doing when making business decisions, both day to day and long term.

I’ve reiterated the key points for each recipe with a list of important ingredients. In some of the recipes, I’ve also included super supplements for you to try yourself to really give your journey a boost.

Chapter 5

Executive juices

The recipes in this chapter are all about you — building such aspects as your integrity and confidence, and finding your motivation and passion. So start squeezing — and really get your juices flowing.

Integrity

A lot of people talk about ‘integrity’ — do you know what it really means?

These days, people talk a lot about ‘integrity’ and ‘values’. They’ve become buzz words, used to impress. It’s true that if your company is known as being one of integrity, you will attract and keep like-minded people — honest, reliable, moral people. Yet ideals often seem to disappear if the bottom line is affected. The words ‘integrity’ and ‘values’ mean nothing if they’re not backed up with solid hard work and the right decisions.

So, what is integrity? To me, integrity means always telling the truth and acting in a way that is right for the business, no matter how hard that may be and no matter what the cost. You can’t please everyone all the time. There may be some people who believe you haven’t acted with integrity — whether it’s an employee you had to let go, or franchisees who think it’s your fault they haven’t made more money. You can’t always help what other people think, but as long as you know you’ve done the right thing, you can feel at peace. Having true integrity has made Boost what it is today.

Key ingredients

Here’s how to act with integrity and ensure it in those around you:

• You can’t create a workplace culture of high integrity without hiring people with high values. Be single-minded in seeking out the right staff.

• Always aim to keep your word; if you have to change your mind, be honest about the reason. Be straightforward, accept that you are wrong and don’t make excuses.

• Seek consistency between what you think and what you say. People can see through lies, and you cannot fake sincerity.

• Yes, it does sometimes cost money to do the honourable thing. Look at it as a short-term financial loss that can be absorbed. A loss of trust can never be regained.

Motivation

I will, I will, I will, I will — you need all the will in the world to get where you want to go.

I have five words for you: move it or lose it. Unfortunately, I can’t teach you how to find the will to do so. Motivation, inspiration — call it what you like — is different for each of us. To succeed, you must unlock that deep personal energy. So, what motivates you? If you can’t answer that question, it’s time for you to find out. Without that knowledge, you’ll never experience the total joy of achievement.

I can’t give other people motivation, but I can provide a culture where their achievements are recognised and rewarded in a way that is meaningful to them. When it comes to motivating staff, I look for their ‘hot buttons’. For some people, a small gesture is enough — a metaphorical pat on the back when all seems lost. Others may take more convincing and may appreciate incentives, such as time off work or a small gift of appreciation.

I believe that motivation is born from working with great people and achieving great things together. The bigger your purpose, the more fulfilled you’ll be at the end of every day.

Key ingredients

Keep yourself and others around you motivated with the following:

• Remember to say thank you. My own son works in a cafe and he said to me once, ‘Truly nice people are nice to waiters. How hard is it to say thanks?’ People work incredibly hard at Boost and I know how important it is to acknowledge that. The biggest complaint most people have in their workplace is that they are not appreciated for the work they do.

• Always celebrate your successes. When you’re incredibly busy, stopping to acknowledge success can seem like a chore. However, it shouldn’t be optional, because it’s vital for ongoing morale. Imagine if we hadn’t allowed our staff to sit back and enjoy the fact that we’d launched bottled Boost Juice, or that we’d opened our first international store in Chile, or purchased a competitor and converted every single one of their stores to Boost stores in ten days. It’s hard to find ongoing motivation if you feel like all your work is for nothing.

• Keep going, even when others give up. Having the will to do so can serve you well at home and at work.

• Great people thrive on working with great people. Continue to lift the bar and create a place to work where people strive.

Passion

Having passion is the easiest way to make money, but the hardest thing to find.

You can teach anything and train anyone, but you cannot instil passion in someone. Passionate people are few and far between. To me, they are like gold. They stand out. People are attracted to them and believe in them; people want to be them and invest in them. Do you have to be loud, extroverted and opinionated to be passionate? No. You can be quietly passionate. This may mean you’re overlooked — but not for long. Along with integrity, commitment and a strong work ethic, passion is always recognised.

So what do I mean by a passionate person? Essentially, passion is tied up with loving what you do. To achieve a goal, you need to throw your heart and soul into it. If you don’t, you’re in trouble.

When we have a problem at Boost, everyone on the team is focused on the solution. Their eyes sparkle with the challenge; they will do whatever it takes to sort it out — whether it’s getting on the next plane or working through the night. When Boost first began, the business took over our lives. Jeff and I were surrounded by work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That level of commitment gets tiring very quickly if you’re not passionate about what you do. When you are passionate, it doesn’t feel like ‘work’. To be passionate, you need to be doing something that means something to you. You can’t fake it. If you do, you won’t make it.

Key ingredients

Here’s how to find your passion and act passionately:

• What do you love to do? If you can identify your passion and make it your life’s work, you can’t fail.

• Passionate people love going to work because they love what they do. Can you imagine a better feeling than getting paid to do what you would do for free?

• Don’t overlook the quietly passionate. You don’t need to make a lot of noise to get a lot done!

Confidence

Self-doubt is your greatest enemy.

Confidence is everything. If you believe in yourself, others will believe in you too. Even if you have doubts, hide them! Your confidence is your shield — it will protect you and your team from that highly contagious disease known as defeat. (This is different to pretending you have all the answers when you don’t — something I would never recommend.)

When Boost went from being very small in scale to a medium-sized concern, I found myself questioning whether I’d be able to manage the growth. I was worried that I’d had no formal business training or prior experience. The fact that the expansion happened practically overnight, because Jeff had secured 18 sites with Westfield, didn’t help! How did I overcome my concerns? With common sense, a clear vision and by looking at the people who believed in me. I realised these people weren’t stupid — and if they backed me all the way, who was I to question their judgement?

Sometimes, questioning your own ability makes you work that much harder; having great people around you is an invaluable safety net. And it turned out the keys to running a business were not as complicated as I thought. If you simplify everything, are sensible when making decisions and look for the solution that exists for every problem, you’ll go far.

Key ingredients

Here are some tips for building your confidence:

• Having the confidence to use your knowledge is critical. Knowledge is pointless unless you can back it up with decisive action.

• Confidence is contagious. I focus on solutions — solutions that my staff believe in. Their belief means they also catch the ‘I am, I can’ attitude.

• Instil confidence in others through delegation. Make sure they feel your total trust and support. Give them the tools they need to complete the task and ensure they have all the knowledge they need. Allow them the space to ask questions without losing face if they don’t know something. Make yourself into the kind of boss who inspires loyalty and hard work — your staff members will naturally feel that they don’t want to let you down.

Reputation

Would you do business with you?

Many doors will open or close for you depending on your reputation, which will precede your presence every time. The people with whom you’re doing business with will have made it a priority to learn about you before you meet. What they discover — usually through the filter of other people — will either give you an edge or create early difficulties for you in your dealings with these new associates.

A ‘firm but fair’ reputation is the best one to have. What is yours? Does it need work? Try this exercise: Write down five attributes that you’d like people to say you have. Stick that list in the front of your diary and refer to it often. Are you achieving your desired reputation?

I strongly believe that the presenter is more important than the presentation, the messenger more important than the message. If you have a good reputation, guard it with your life. However, if it has been tarnished in some way, now is the time to work on it. The only way to get it back on track is through action, not words. Don’t tell me that you’ve changed — show me.

I remember dealing with an advertising agency that promised Boost the world but didn’t deliver. In fact, it dumped us at another client’s request. The ad agency rep claimed that he wasn’t responsible, but he should have been honest about the process. If he’d kept me informed about what was happening, instead of blaming others when it was over, the situation wouldn’t have been such a disaster. That rep is still trying to win me over. I’m listening, but I’m cynical. He’d have to do (emphasis on doing, not talking) something amazing to win back my trust. All this is not to say that I don’t believe in giving second chances. After all, everyone makes mistakes — just make sure you get it right the second time around.

Key ingredients

Guard, or improve, your reputation with the following:

• Treat your reputation as an important part of your business arsenal. It will get you through doors — and also close them on you.

• If you’ve made a mistake in the past with someone, fix it. Win back this person’s trust before a tarnished impression of you loses an important opportunity in the future.

Discipline

A lack of restraint can create big problems.

Self-discipline is the most common trait of great and successful leaders. Commit a few undisciplined acts in politics or business and soon you’re being asked to drag yourself around the chat-show circuit.

Take alcohol, for example — just one alcohol-fuelled stupid instance at a work function and you could lose hard-won respect. In other words, if you drink and work, you’re a bloody idiot! Nobody gets smarter after a few drinks. As a rule, I never have more than two drinks at a work function. Whether you’re drinking with colleagues or suppliers, anything you say, can and will be used against you the next day.

Set aside time each day for exercise. If you have the discipline to look after yourself, you’ll feel better, look better and function better. As an added bonus, fit-looking people seem to garner greater respect from others, probably because others see that personal discipline will carry over into business.

Being self-disciplined doesn’t mean being self-denying; it’s not about working harder, it’s about working smarter. Self-discipline is getting to your children’s sports days, being home when you told your partner you would be, keeping appointments and being on time. Self-disciplined people aren’t the ones in the office from dawn to midnight — they’re organised enough to get their work done within a reasonable time frame.

Key ingredients

Here’s how to choose the right elements for self-discipline:

• In all aspects of life, control yourself before you influence others.

• If you are serious about career growth, say goodbye to alcohol and drugs and focus on your goals. You’ll be amazed at how much more clearly you’re able to view opportunities.

• You’ve heard it before — work smarter, not harder. Disciplined people aren’t distracted during business hours, which means they get the job done in time to have a social life. How much time do you waste each day?

• Keep fit. Not only will you have more energy and be ready for any challenge, you’ll evoke a great response in others.

Listener

‘An essential attribute of a good conversationalist is to be an equally good listener.’ - Errol White

No-one learns anything while talking. Everyone has ears and using them to listen might be the most underrated quality of all. It goes hand in hand with asking questions, which is one of my favourite pastimes.

Are there people you admire? People you consider successful? If you get the chance, talk to them. If they’re not immediately accessible, perhaps send an email to their corporate website or attend a public presentation they’re giving.

Asking questions of successful people helps to remove the aura of achievement that surrounds them. You could ask them how they got started. (Usually you’ll find the start point was a very basic opportunity, perhaps something available to many — only successful people have the foresight to grab opportunities with both hands.) You might ask how they find the best people, how they motivate their staff, and whether there is anything they’d do differently if they had their time again. See if they have one or two pieces of great advice they could share. Generally, most people like helping others — why not let them help you?

When I started out, there wasn’t one particular person whose success I aspired to emulate, but there were two people who helped me. Geoff Harris has had a profound effect in assisting Boost’s growth. After he came on board, the business was able to go to the next level. Lesley Gillespie from Bakers Delight has also been very generous with her time and insight. She is an amazing woman who has been a great help to me.

Key ingredients

Improve your listening skills with the following:

• Listen to other people, and take notes. It’s a great feeling to capture someone’s full attention.

• If you can, create an opportunity to talk to someone you admire. Find out what worked for this person in the early days, and what didn’t. Listen carefully to the advice. Although not everything this person says will be appropriate for your situation, much of it will transfer. Business is business, whether you are selling insurance, sofas or juices.

Solutions

‘It’s not that I’m so smart; it’s just that I stay with problems longer.’ - Albert Einstein

You may not have all the answers to every problem you face. You just have to believe that you have the resourcefulness to find the solution to any problem — rather than asking your boss to come up with the answer.

If you’re going to shine in the business world, you must be the person who presents the solution, not just the problem. I like it when a staff member comes to me and says, ‘We have a problem and I think we should do this to solve it’. Like solving a puzzle, finding the right solution is a big reward in itself.

We all have problems, but not everyone tries to come up with the answers. The employee who just sits there, looking like a puppy that needs rescuing and waiting for me or someone else to save the day, will not win Employee of the Month. In fact, if employees do that too often, I might start questioning if they’re the right people for the job.

Key ingredients

Here’s how to stop looking at problems and start finding solutions:

• Believe in yourself and consult with others to confirm your thoughts.

• Knowledge, experience and research are the secrets to finding solutions. I have worked in every position at Boost Juice from the ground up. I use what I know about the business to come up with the answers; I then use the people around me to make sure they are the right answers.

• Don’t fake it. If you’re a manager and you profess to have all the answers, but really don’t, take cover! People may listen while you’re in the room but, as soon as you exit, the knives will be out. Instead, open up the problem for discussion and get everyone working together on a valid solution; your staff will respect you for it.

Honesty

Honesty is the bravest path you can take.

Honesty is an essential element within a company’s core integrity. It takes a brave person to be honest, in work and in life. Nobody likes to hurt another person’s feelings, but most of us hate finding out that someone has been dishonest with us.

Often people don’t mean to tell lies; instead, they filter the truth to justify their actions. This means that the picture you get is somewhat distorted, but the truth is in there — somewhere.

If you make a mistake, admit it. In most cases, trying to cover up an error will simply result in more problems. Trust is the first casualty of dishonesty. As a boss, I find that I get over someone’s mistake very quickly if the responsible person owns up. We can then work together to find a solution. Once there’s a question mark over someone’s honesty, however, trust can take a long time to rebuild.

Key ingredients

Here’s how to keep yourself honest:

• When you lie to someone, you’re putting the relationship at risk. Is it worth it?

• The more honest you are in your business and personal dealings, the better you will sleep at night. Don’t think for a moment you will be able to avoid your conscience constantly reiterating the guilt of having done the wrong thing. A clear conscience means a clear head — which means more room for new and exciting strategies.

• Most gains from being dishonest are short-lived. You can learn a valuable lesson from being honest about a mistake and then moving forward.

• Don’t be afraid to admit you’re wrong. I have seen general managers who are respected and loved by their staff because they are not scared to stand up and say, ‘Sorry, I stuffed up!’ Being human is endearing; being bravely honest reinforces the character of a true leader.

Partners

Make sure the person sharing your dreams is with you all the way.

Financial success does not create emotional prosperity. The truly rich life is a balanced one — unless you keep your work and family in harmony, your economic gains will be meaningless.

Having the right partner at home is vital. If your partner supports your dreams, your path will be a lot easier and, ultimately, success will come sooner.

The person you rely on may be a life partner, a friend or a family member. He or she may not necessarily agree with you, but this person must support you 100 per cent in your goals. The last thing you need is someone whispering negatives in your ear all the time.

Jeff and I are Yin and Yang — different people, but a perfect fit. We each have our own nuances and our own individual methods of operation, but we’re highly effective as a team. He is the perfect complement to my style: an entrepreneur and the man with big ideas, but not always the attention to detail to make them reality. I am the planner and doer, the person who makes things happen. We often laugh that if it was just me in control of Boost, we’d have ten amazing stores. If Jeff were in charge, we’d have a thousand — though they might have gone broke. His backup has been integral to my success.

Key ingredients

Here are some components for perfect partners:

• To truly achieve your best, you need support from your partner or, even better, a partner who can contribute to your plan.

• Keep your partner informed and involved as your plans and dreams evolve.

• Look for a life partner who will bring out the best in you.

Positive thoughts

‘Many of life’s failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up.’ - Thomas Edison

Rome wasn’t built in a day. Every cloud has a silver lining. If at first you don’t succeed …

Looking on the bright side is not just for Pollyanna. Being positive is crucial to achieving success. Decide that you are going to be successful, and then be unfailingly upbeat in your pursuit of that goal. A firm decision makes you unstoppable — no ‘maybe’, ‘could’ve’ or ‘should’ve’ allowed.

You will get knockbacks along the way. Problems may arise from every corner. How do you remain positive in the face of constant negativity? By knowing there is a solution and that you will find it. If ten people tell you your idea will not work, how do you keep believing that the eleventh person will love it? Well, it depends on who those first ten people are. If Jeff or Geoff Harris were to disagree with me, I’d probably have to reconsider my position. If it were a person with no retail or business experience, I simply wouldn’t listen. So many people have missed out on attaining financial freedom because they couldn’t handle the knockbacks. If someone says no to you, don’t close the book on the idea. It just means that the idea or request was not right for that person at that time.

Key ingredients

Release the power of positivity with the following:

• Adopt a ‘can-do’ philosophy and resolve to chase your goal to the end.

• Don’t listen to just anyone. Choose a few key people whose opinions and expertise you trust completely, and shut out everyone else.

• Don’t take knockbacks personally. Meet challenges head on and learn from rejection. If you can understand the reason for a setback, next time you can find the path to a ‘yes’.

Negative thoughts

Negativity is like a disease that can bring down the best and the brightest.

The average person can have 200 negative thoughts every day. How exhausting! If positive thinking is one of your greatest weapons, negative thoughts are like a disease. They will bring you down, no matter how good you are.

From my perspective, a service-oriented company is at the mercy of its staff’s emotional moods. It’s vital to recognise underachievers or dysfunctional personnel and either retrain or remove them. Some people simply do not like dealing with people. This doesn’t mean they’re bad, just that they shouldn’t be in the service industry.

As the boss, my mood has a huge impact on my team, and it can dictate the atmosphere of the environment around me. Every person on the team can also have the same effect on those around them. One negative person in an office can upset the whole apple cart!

We all have bleak moments — we wouldn’t be human if we didn’t. But we also have the power to choose how we feel about the situations we encounter every day. Not every situation will be great, but you will see a lot more abundance and opportunity with the ‘glass half full’ way of thinking.

Key ingredients

Here’s how to get rid of negativity in your life:

• Don’t be a cynic. The best way to miss opportunities is to carry around thoughts like, ‘Nothing good ever happens to me’. Having a victim mentality will kill your chances of achieving financial freedom.

• Don’t waste time overanalysing what other people might think of you. Assumptions, theirs and yours, are generally wrong anyway.

• Having an ‘off’ day? You can choose how you feel and react to things; it’s all in your perspective.

..................Content has been hidden....................

You can't read the all page of ebook, please click here login for view all page.
Reset
44.200.179.138