Bolstur

26/03/2024

Seth Godin is a wise dude. Love this latest blog which he labels "In search of incompetence". Short and sweet:

Learning is about becoming incompetent on our way to getting better.

If you’re not open to the tension that is caused by knowing you could do better, it’s unlikely you’re willing to do the work to get better. As you’re doing that work, there’s the satisfaction it brings, but also the knowledge that just a moment ago, you weren’t any good.

24/01/2024

What he said 👇 👏

05/12/2023

In the fast-paced world of running a business, especially for small, medium, early stage or generally the lean and mean ones, leaders have to do more than just handle day-to-day demands.

Founders, team leaders, GMs and all-round bosses need to step back and work on the business, not just in it. This isn't some extra thing – it's crucial for keeping the ship sailing smooth and heading in the right direction for the long haul.

A few notes as to why this matters and a nice light model to help it take shape. Geddit!

Strategy isn’t one more thing for leaders to do, it’s the one thing that can make or break your venture. Here’s a reminder why it’s the s**z.

23/08/2023

There's a lot of commentary in the startup and venture space around being really prepared and dedicated, as the journey is long and challenging. It's true. It's true for achieving any big change or goal. This from James Clear was a great reminder that when those road-blocks loom ahead, sometimes it's less about grit and more about creativity ...

"You're more likely to unlock a big leap in performance by trying differently than by trying harder. You might be able to work 10% harder, but a different approach might work 10x better. Remain focused on the core problem, but explore a new line of attack.

Persistence is not just about effort, but also strategy. Don't merely try harder, try differently."

25/07/2023

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.
For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand,
while imagination embraces the entire world,
and all there ever will be to know and understand.”
― Albert Einstein

💭🤔🤨🧐🧠

27/06/2023

Midweek musing .... 🤔 "One of the great balancing acts in life is to be cautious and daring at the same time.

Cautious enough to avoid stupid mistakes, prevent burnout, and maintain a margin of safety.

Daring enough to bet on yourself, to do the things you would regret leaving undone, and to be willing to be uncomfortable in the short term so you can learn and grow in the long term."

- James Clear

27/06/2023

One of the legs of the 'great sales' tripod is planning. Not sexy, we know, but it's important.

The formula for high-performance sales isn’t complex, but having a game plan for getting there, does require some (figurative) heavy lifting 🏋️‍♀️

Here’s the hit list:

1. Clear outcomes and expectations of your sales team

2. The right salespeople to deliver these outcomes

3. A deep understanding of your market, your solution and your customer’s needs

4. A ‘go to market’ plan and sales strategy

5. Measurement, metrics and feedback on performance for the sales team

6. Tools, training and resources to support the sales team

7. Remuneration and benefits to engage and retain your sales stars 🌟

If you’re not sure where to start, do a quick run-through of this list and traffic light each one – green means you’re on track, amber could do with a review but not critical, and red is ‘oh shxt’, we’re off track or we haven’t even started this bit.

Tackle the reds, move to the ambers and along the way celebrate the greens! 🚦

18/05/2023

Impact > approval 🔥

17/05/2023

If you search for ‘sales fear’, all the content says salespeople fear rejection. Honestly, that’s a load of bs, likely written by someone who’s never worked in sales, or at least not a successful salesperson, so here’s our hot take:

https://www.bolstur.com/blog/salesfear

29/04/2023

Yes Mel 👏 👏 👏

24/04/2023

In the popular book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey, habit #5 is a game-changer – not just for work relationships but relationships in general.

Habit 5 is this - seek first to understand, then to be understood.

Namely, when it comes to engaging others, so often our tendency is to half listen while crafting a reply, or to armour up ready to debate if we think they’re wrong. Often that means we miss context, but we’re also doing ourselves a disservice by missing that context and being a sh*tty friend/partner/loved one/colleague, supplier. It actually shows a lack of respect, like our voice matters more.

It’s the one skill we all have absolute control over honing, and it is also one that reaps rewards personally and professionally.

Give it a go – stay present, really listen, ask clarifying questions and just trust you’ll have a window and the same respect to share your views too.

19/04/2023

Whether it’s with a client, a project team or your work crew, Chris is right “Conflict brings out truth, creativity, and resolution.” This is also a reminder that conflict and being aggressive are two very different things.

You can have conflicting views and tension, be respectful and professional, and work through to a resolution that works. It takes skill and the right mindset but the key point is conflict managed well, is important for innovation, and progress.

This quote is courtesy of Chris Voss in his excellent book “Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It”.