What would people say about you if they were asked?

By Ken Ingram
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in a moment of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."Martin Luther King Jr

Like most of us, our parents gave us a base set of values and principals for us to grow and development as individuals. One of the key principals was integrity and it formed a significant part of their verbal and non verbally communication and was more often than not, generally in alignment with what they did and who they were. I said generally because sometime we act before considering our integrity and a compromise takes place.

Many family businesses across Canada were started out of very modest facilities and have grown to multimillion-dollar companies based on the integrity of the founder. One of the common issues is that the high level of integrity of the founder is not always practiced by all family members and employees. This is why much like our parents as the business owner you need to practice setting the tone and standard for others to follow. I have mentioned in past articles that people do business with people they like trust and respect, why? maybe because your business has one more important quality, Integrity.

In today competitive environment, your reputation is everything, but of course, you already know that. Customers buy into your brand because of your beliefs and how you have communicated those beliefs. My father always shopped at Eatons when I was growing up because of their Integrity and belief that you should be 100% satisfied. Everything the customers purchased came with a money back guarantee. Why because they stood behind every product they sold no questions asked. What would your business look like if every family member and employee shared your core values and if not what are your strategies to bring this back into balance. The creation of a code of ethics for your business along with clearly identified consequences may be a solution.

In the end just about everyone has an opinion or has written something about Integrity but what is most important is how you define it for your business.

Growing your business - intelligently! - http://www.tac-coaching.com/

Do you - Remember how to test your limits?

I recently watched the movie Rent. What a thought provoking opening song. “Five hundred twenty-five thousands, six hundred minutes. How do you measure a year in your life”? If you are like most of us, we tend to go through life no longer thinking about many of the actions or interactions that take place during the 17 hours that we are awake. The activities have become repeatable habits overtime. Each day we typically repeat the cycle that is both positive and negative until the need to reflect on “what we want to do, need to do and ultimately can do”!

I recently observed a group of skate boarders aged from 7 to 10 years old and thought how daring they were and what remarkable talents they had. The next group was somewhat older and seemed just as remarkable but then a switch happened. The 20 to 30 year olds became the coaches/mentors and they were now working with the younger group on ways to improve their skills and test their limits. As adults, what I find remarkable is that as we age, we pull back to a more secure position and stop testing our limits. We no longer question what we do, why we do it, or what we need to do. It all changes.

When recently working with one of my clients it was interesting to learn how they were avoiding risk and are no longer pushing the limits in their personal or professional lives. Nick Boothman, author of Fully Connected in Business believes that we came into this world with super powers. These super powers allow us to do a multitude of things. However, over time we stop using them as effectively as when we were younger.

So what are these super powers? Enthusiasm, curiosity, the ability to process information and empathy. We draw on these supper powers to survive. How many people do you know who are less enthusiastic, less curious, fail to process information and are no longer empathetic? One of the reasons for coaching is to bring people’s super powers back into alignment.

So can you, as a Coach do this effectively? Let start back at the beginning. Imagine for a moment the question was ‘How do you measure a year in your life both personally and professionally?’ Then reflect on the same question with your coachee.


This question gave me food for thought and had me reflecting on 2007 / 2008 and what I had achieved personally and professionally and what our TAC-Coaching clients had achieved. Are we as a team testing our limits and did we enable our clients to push their own limits? Let’s face it, many of us get lost in the day-to-day business of life. In fact, we are so busy running around working in the business that we forget to work on the business.

Part of the improvement process is about measuring and tracking the key success factors that are important indicators of how we are doing or what we are not doing? I am happy to report that even in the current economic climate as a team we have succeeded and so have our clients. However, we are still pushing the limits. We cannot afford to rest on our laurels. It is all about continuous improvement, striving for platinum and not stopping at gold. So how did we do it? How can you do it?

The first question is to define what you want to do, need to do and can do!

Therefore, in conclusion the first step in testing your limits is a commitment to measuring a day, a week, a month or even a year in your life in order to have a clear understanding of those key parameters that drive your results and the results of your coachee. Be prepared to make adjustments needed to push the limits. In the end, it all boils down to one thing Results and you get results by understanding where you as a coach need to optimize your super powers and where your clients need to optimize theirs. This is how you will have a great five hundred twenty-five thousands, six hundred minutes. in your personal and professional life.

Recharging Your Batteries

Written by Ken Ingram

I feel this summer has been great because it has not really been too hot at least where I have been. On the other hand, we have all heard news about the increase in the bug population in some areas. Bugs are like competition in your business - an annoyance. Would it not be great if we could immunize our clients with Musk-oil and keep our competitors at bay? I am sure we would all line up for this product. That being said summer is a great time to clean-up, throw out, and recharge your batteries. It is also a great time to re-energize your business. I always find that business owners have more time in the summer to meet with me. They are new ways looking for ways to ramp-up for the fall. My suggestion to you would be create a balance by taking sometime off but do not ignore the opportunities. Your competitors, like those annoying mosquitoes, are buzzing around and if you take too much time off one of them will suck blood.

Here are a few ideas for the summer of 2008.

Believe in your idea! Casually talk about your business with passion and conviction at BBQ.

Analyze. What you are good at, where are your limitations, where are your opportunities and what is holding you back.?

Build a support group. Create your own confidential board of directors. You will be amazed at how many people at a family event will want to help make your idea happen.

Pay it forward. Helping others is a good business ethic and habit to adopt.

Expand you network. At golf game, build relationships and contacts.

Spread the word. Send out press releases to newspapers. Try talking with a journalist. They can help you share your experiences with others who can benefit from your successes.

Keep learning Take relevant business training, find a good coach and make sure you take advantage of government subsidies available to all business.

Make a budget and save money whenever you can. You will find plenty of time to spend latter. Make sure you get a good accountant because they can be worth their weight in GOLD.

Be realistic. It is better to start small than to grow beyond your capacity to deliver.

Seize opportunities. You may never feel ready to launch your product or service, so share your ideas people you meet on a camping trip. You have a captive audience.

Embrace your mistakes. This is part of the learning process and experience. You are stronger than you think.

Recharge your batteries effectively, and work towards creating your own Buzz.

Going green: Fundomondo

The Lightning Power of Zap or creating energy and Engagement

By Ken Ingram
For many businesses, employee engagement can be one of our biggest challenges. The question we often ask is, “How can I improve quality, productivity and employee satisfaction?”
The emphasis is on the ‘I’. It is up to you to create the environment. Interestingly enough the answer is simpler than many of us think. In the book Zapp by William C. Byham he shares some ideas on the answer to this question. Byham believes the answer is empowerment.
Most managers are policing for failure, which results in robbing employees’ energy and creativity. Imagine for a moment, you could create a critical mass of employees that are Zapped! What kind of results do you think you would get? Now this is very important. We’re not talking about using a cattle prod to Zapp employees. I’m talking about encouraging responsibility and creating an environment where employees feel they own their jobs. John Miller also wrote an interesting book called the Question Behind the Question, or QBQ. Mr. Miller asks “Could we actually find a way to eliminate blame, complaining and procrastination?". Many managers and business owners would be very surprised to find out that the response is yes. Equally, many managers are looking to change the employees but not themselves.
Change starts at the top. The old adage ‘Do as I say, not as I do’ will not enable you to create the kind of environment that will result in the kind of win-win conditions needed to get that slight edge over your competition.
Michelangelo said “I saw the angel in the marble and I chiseled until I set it free”.
Imagine for a moment we could look at our employees as our personal work of art and coach them until we have succeeded in releasing their full potential. We would in effect be applying the principals of Zapp and the QBQ. In doing so we could pursue any number of business goals or challenges. Did I here you say wow?
Do you want to learn how to Zapp employees or how to find that leader in all of us? Would you like to learn more about the Question Behind the Question? Give us a call at www.tac-coaching.com

Fully Connected in Business - TAC Coaching

For over two decades, bestselling author and award-winning public speaker Nicholas Boothman has been studying the ways that people interact with one another. His research has culminated in an extraordinary soultion which brings together his vast learning and exploration on the subject. FullyConnected in Business is exclusive to The Achievement Centre Coaching.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re selling real estate, designing concept cars, rallying your team, recommending the lamb chops over the chili con carne, looking for the perfect partner or giving the State of the Union address “If you are not fully connected, you will fail.” You need make, keep and develop strong connections • Form long-lasting business relationships • Immediately establish trust • Ensure that your message connects at both the logical and emotional levels • One of the keys to professional development is the ability to communicate clearly, effectively and to establish trust. If you have learned how to communicate effectively, then you’ll find that getting people “on-side,” whether they’re clients, employees or suppliers, pays huge dividends.

“What we have here is a failure to communicate,” A memorable line in the 1967 classic movie, Cool Hand Luke.

Effective communication means far more than just dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s in a letter or email. Communicating one’s intentions is a fundamental component in success, whether it’s making a sale or motivating employees, negotiating with suppliers or issuing instructions.
It’s indispensable in business. Fortunately, it’s a skill that can be learned.
FullyConnected in Business is a practical, real-world solution that digs deep into the essential ingredients of effective communication and gives participants a big competitive advantage.
FullyConnected in Business will enable you to learn and practice.:

· How to make, keep and develop strong connections,
· How to form long-lasting business relationships,
· How to immediately establish trust,
· How to ensure that their message connects at both the logical and emotional levels,
· How to sharpen their motivational and interpersonal skills.

We make that decision in less than two seconds. It's illogical: but it's human nature.

To compete in today's marketplace direct sellers and front-line staff everywhere, know three things are essential to their success.
1. the ability to build trusting, durable, relationships with the human side of clients and colleagues
2. a talent for describing their ideas, products and services in ways that engage the imagination and
3. a knack for inspiring enthusiasm in themselves and others
Author Nicholas Boothman.

For more information on how to become Fully Connected in business please contact Ken Ingram at 514-668-2320 or http://www.tac-coaching.com/

To see Nicholas Boothman, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJbYafrNmRM

Five hundred, twenty-five thousands, six hundred minutes, how do you measure a year in your business?

By Ken Ingram

The movie ‘Rent’ is a source of inspiration. What a thought provoking opening song, 525,600 minutes; how do you measure a year in your life?’ Rephrase the question to make it applicable to you business; How do you measure a year of success?

The question gave me food for thought and had me reflecting on the last 12 months and what our tac-coaching.com clients and us as coaches had achieved during 2007. Many of us get lost in the day-to-day running or operational aspects of our business and forget about measuring and tracking the key success factors that are important indicators of how we are doing or how we got there.

The first question we must consider is what should we measure? In addition, if you are already measuring, are you measuring the right parameter? You must also consider if you need to do a better job of measuring. In creating your balanced score card it is important to be also aware of the measurement traps because too many current measurement systems are designed to meet internal needs and overlook the inside-out measurement. Consider the following measurements:
What key elements are important to the customers? Ask the customer
What are the needs of those serving the customer? Ask your team
What do the people producing your products or delivering your services need from you in order to achieve their own targets? Ask them
Where are you at supporting the needs of your managers? Ask them

Studies have shown that by working to satisfy customer needs and those of your employees your company will excel well beyond your competition.

The first step in measuring a day, a week, or even a year in business is to have a clear understanding of what we should be measuring. By measuring those key parameters that drive your business results, you will be better prepared to make the adjustments needed to have a gold medal financial year. In the end, it all boils down to one thing: results. You get results by understanding the needs then by using your key resources in the most effective manner.

Have a great five hundred twenty-five thousands, six thousand minutes in your business.

What makes a clear and compelling Goal?

By Ken Ingram

To write this month’s article I decided a little research was required, so I pulled out a few of the books that I read in 2007. I was looking for inspiration on Goal setting, but more importantly something that I felt you would find interesting and of value. If you have never read the book, Built to Last you should. You will learn about the Successful habits of visionary companies. In 1952, Boeing engineers decided to build commercial jets, an audacious goal at the time since they did not have any presence in the commercial aircraft market. Those of you who know the Aerospace market know that nothing is a given and each aircraft program is a challenge from start to finish. However, once the goal is set there can be no turning back Failure is not an option. In 1965, Boeing launched the 747 and the project nearly killed the company. Boeing is an excellent example of companies who push the envelope and set Audacious goals to stimulate growth. So did President Kennedy when he decided to put a man on the Moon. A Goal should be clear and compelling. Therefore, here is an exercise I like to do every year for The Achievement Centre Coaching and is the same exercise I do with our clients.

For your business;
· List 5 High Points from 2007.
· List 5 Low Point from 2007.
· List the 5 things you accomplished in 2007.
· List the 5 disappointments or regrets you experienced in 2007?
· What do you feel were your greatest Lessons learned in 2007
· In moving forward in 2008 what are the 5 most important things you want to accomplish?
· What are the action steps required in 2008 to achieve each of your 5 goals?
· What else do you need to do differently over the next 6 to 12 months to achieve each of
your 5 goals?

Remember this is only the first step in the process. Until one is committed-there is hesitancy. The good news is by completing the exercise you become one of a small percentage of businesses who have written down their goals! Next step is to create a more precise strategy and timeline. Statistically this means you are 80% more likely to succeed in achieving your company goals.

"Of all the things I’ve done. The most vital is coordinating the talents of those who work for us and pointing them towards a certain goal".
Author Walter Elias Disney

Do you have the audacity to be the master of your companies Goals in 2008?

Growing your business - intelligently!Faites prospérer votre entreprise - intelligemment!