The choices we make?

In business we sometimes make the choice to say “or”. We decide between one way of executing an idea above another. Why can’t we say “and”. What will the possibilities be if you entertain and execute both choices? (You might be surprised at how little the cost implications are sometimes)

Networking

This weekend while camping in the Overberg (close to Swellendam) I went for a run. Close to the finish I met a bunch of joggers. We started talking and it turned out that one of them is a rental agent in Bloubergstrand. The exact place we are looking to rent at the moment.

This is where networking starts, with basic conversation.

I have quickly realized that your network is actually everyone that you have built a relationship with or in a few moments made “contact” with.

In the business world this is your life line. On the Internet there are a couple of websites available to keep track of your network, but it still boils down to making personal contact with another human being.

Learning to sell

This week I am stepping into the marketing function of the business and specifically into personal selling.
From being an office bound specialist in the finance function this is a completely new world to me.

What have I learned so far?

• Prepare, prepare, prepare

• Keep eye contact with your customer and try to make a personal connection

• Listen to your customers needs and adapt your selling strategy to fit

• Define your output for the meeting clearly

• Show your excited - positive energy is contagious

• Note to self: never use understatements to sell anything

• Conclude the meeting by summarising the decisions made and the way forward

• Follow up with a thank you email for the opportunity

• Enjoy the interaction!

Hidden opportunities

Yesterday we visited a potential business partner in Gauteng. We had our preconceived outputs to achieve. Halfway throughout the meeting we realized our planned output will have to be adjusted.

After about 2 hours of back and forth talking we reached outputs that far exceeded our expectations.

What did we learn?

• In a meeting you have to adjust your pitch to the meet the exact requirements of the person across the table.
• You have to be open minded and be able to change lanes, switch gears or do a U turn should the direction of the road change.
• Always be open to find new solutions and synergies.

Will the corporate culture change?

Ambitionblog’s vision is to market profile holders via their profiles. (Professional, green, wellness, talents & social…)
Over dinner tonight our friend Dirk (working for a corporate institution), asked the question, will companies change to really care about the person behind the CV?
Today from our visits and meetings with two prominent tertiary institutions they are really keen on using Ambitionblog to market their students to find the best possible opportunities.
Maybe the change should be driven from the prospective employee instead of the employer?
With the current economic crises in the world, after all the excess have been shed in corporate companies, will the employees have a chance to instigate change?

Great expectation

“High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation. Unknown author”

Our business is built on the expectation that it will be a success.

This week we are introducing our business to Gauteng Universities. The aim of this is to encourage students to create profiles on Ambitionblog 'to tell the world more about themselves' and to expect great opportunities in return...

Are you living in expectation?

Fit for business

I went for a jog after work. Wow! but this can clear your head. This bit of exercise gave me the inspiration for this blog.

My coach in business is always hammering away to “get” fit for business. We don’t always think this way about business.


Any business or department should at least have the following basic “legs”:

• OPERATIONS – What you suppose to produce or deliver
• MARKETING – How good and how often you market or communicate your processes internally and in your work with customers, externally
• ADMIN & FINANCE – Financial targets and budgets
• HUMAN RESOURCES – manage the skills needed to perform all the above

In turn each portfolio above is split into these functions. This principle even applies for those of you who are currently an employee. Each day you have to work on each one of these functions.
To stay “fit” I apply these principles to this blog. Let me know how you stay fit!

Get up!

When we say, we would like to promote the talents, skills and expertise of individual’s; we would like to add the word “balanced’ individuals. A balanced life means you are a person capable of juggling your 08:00- 17:00 with having a family, friends, time for exercise, going away on week-ends , eating healthy foods, recycling, having time for yourself, and getting enough sleep.

Profile five: The Wellness Profile

Our wellness profile will zoom in and take a snapshot of your current health profile. We will give you cool tips on healthy living, and get our experts in to help in terms of exercise tips.
The irony is, that living a healthy life and exercising, has a way of tipping the scale, so that you have more energy to balance the rest!

Your other world

The word “social” is often linked to parties, events and restaurants. We reserve the word to the time slot after work. The time when you can relax, and let off some steam.

Profile four: The Social Profile

We think a social profile is much more than inviting a friend to join you on a social network. It is a vital aspect of who you are, and does not stick to certain time slots. Your social mannerisms after work, has a direct impact of your relationships at work.
We would like to portray this aspect of your life, in a creative way. Why not tell the world more about who you are as a friend, family member and future CEO.

Going Green

There is such a big focus on companies and industry leaders going green. Carbon emissions are being cut, greener cars are built and the offices are going paperless.
The man on the street read about the green revolution in the newspaper, and see’s it on TV. He feels he would like to do something to change the world, but does not have a clue where to start.

Profile three: The Green Profile

At Ambitionblog, we are not asking you to become an instant green activist. What we would like to do, is to create an awareness, that the earth should be considered when making decisions, and that being conscious about the environment, will add to a balanced lifestyle.
When interacting on our green profile, you will gain knowledge on ideas and tips on the small changes that you can make today, saving our world for tomorrow.

The Talented

A talent is a natural ability or aptitude, to make something that would take others years to perfect, look simple. Talents are highly under estimated in the work environment, with all the focus being set on skills learnt, appose to skills naturally gained.

Profile two: The Talent Profile

When looking at an individual as a whole, one cannot ignore this ‘compartment.’ Whether you are a natural sports person, have a healthy appetite for arts, or a flair for languages, a talent has a tendency to overflow into passion, and there for affects who you are as a person, and an employee.
We will supply the canvas, for you to portray your talents. Tell the world more about you!

The professional

To enable Ambitonblog to “tell the world more about you” we will give you different profiles to complete. This will act as a guide to draw the best marketable information about you and make it presentable to prospective employers. In the following couple of blogs I will explain the five different profiles in detail.

Profile one: The Professional Profile

Basically, this profile summarizes how you have chosen to spend the biggest part of your life. It connects the dots from your part time student job, to your 1st leap into the corporate world, to where you find yourself today. Add achievements, compliments from clients and targets exceeded to enhance the depth of this profile. We are professionals at making you look good! We want to portray this aspect of your life in an ‘easy to use’ manner, where you can show potential employers, why they cannot afford not to hire you.

Holding on...

On Sunday morning I put on my cycling gear to participate in the Cape Argus Cycle Tour. My aim was to do my first sub 3hour ride. I ended doing a sub 4hour ride.

What happened?

Well if you watched the news you would have seen that the howling winds of the Cape wreaked havoc. We had to cycle in winds of up to 60km/h. I can tell you this was a challenge. I decided to do my best and the satisfaction of finishing was great.

What has this got to do with our business?

Currently we are facing difficulties in finishing our ambitionblog website. It feels as if the winds are blowing against us from every direction. We under estimated the scope of the project, we are still changing the look and feel and some of the functionality.

The same as my sub 3hour goal we have to force ourselves to adapt and to change gears to race to the finish line.

In a Nutshell...

Ambitionblog is a company specialising in giving you the tools to promote yourself.

Companies so often focus only on the professional side of an individual. We would like to promote you as a whole.

You will register on our website, and create a profile that summarises not only your professional, but also your talent, social, green and wellness profiles.

These profiles would help you find and be found by recruiters, friends, family members, peers and colleagues.

From our side, we will ensure that companies post their job adverts on our site at a set fee, and will also give them the opportunity to act as page sponsors. Not only will you be offered the best opportunities, but you will be able to use all the functions on the site at no cost!

Both companies and individuals can search the site for free.

What about the non job seekers…? You will use your Ambitionblog profile as a footprint for future use. You can update and personalise your profile, and in turn, never have to compile a CV document, again!

You will control your profile via a private or a public setting. You show and hide whatever you deem important! The moment you open your profile to others, you open yourself to being headhunted, or invited to apply for specific positions, invited to network with peers or you can simply apply for jobs.

Ambitionblog, telling the world more about YOU!

Why are we blogging?

• We want to inform the world about our vision and business plan.
• We want to learn about the pitfalls of launching an internet business
• We want to learn how to formulate a “call to action” on which you, the reader want to act
• We want to market our business before we launch
• We want feedback (comments, emails) and tips on how we can improve
• We want to share our problems in building the business
• We want you actively involved, refer to previous blog

Our business is promoting YOUR talent, skills and expertise to the world.