Jan 09 - Calm and Generous!

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Bedstead, Stone Cottage, Mittagong

Boat due for repair. Blackwattle Bay

January has been a time of restoration and play for me. Began with a week in a Summer School drawing class at Sturt Craft Centre. Patience is not one of my virtues, so drawing has always been more or less beyond me. Now I know it's not that I can't, it's that I haven't applied myself! I had such a good time, I'm going back in July to the Winter School.

I've also been clearing out cupboards (apparently feng shui says to get new energy you need space) and giving things away on freecycle, the online equivalent of leaving stuff by the side of the road. Their motto is "changing the world, one gift at a time".

It plugs into one of my own key values, generosity. So I loved reading this Seth Godin blog entry, which suggests that being generous and calm when things aren't going so well is a better choice, and eventually good for business. (there's a 2nd blog entry which explains it more).

In December, my business turned 16, and I offered an hour of my time to around 45 clients who helped me get there. Partly I did that in recognition of their support over those years. Partly I did it because I foresaw myself going stir crazy without work to think about. Whether it pays off for my business doesn't matter, because it's keeping me brain-healthy. And I like my clients, who are real people facing real stuff at the moment, with not much budget!

That said, I'm moving back into the cost-cutting arena, because it will make my business more attractive for client's money. How are you getting flexible with your business and approaches?

May you be blessed with endlessly neat cash flow, and the opportunity to be generous and calm!

Happy January,

Cindy

In this month's ezine we have:

• Improving your consultancy: Budgeting, Going Solo and the Ten Commandments
• Managing better: Swearing and Learning
• Fascinating: Performing for Google Maps and every day heroes in doll form
• Fun: Artist Trading Cards, more William Shatner and Scared Scriptless Theatresports

Your Consulting
business

Keel of a rusty boat, Blackwattle Bay

Budgeting

If your personal budget is a little lean right now, then try this new site. Cate Richards has committed her share of budgeting blunders and has come out the other side. She's sharing her knowledge on her web site. You pay a low entry fee and can access all of the content on the site about how to budget.

And then save money on toner, by downloading(and using) this font which uses 20% less ink. Designed by some clever Dutch people.

Going solo

Months ago I was interviewed for a magazine article. The journalist never told me it was out, but fortunately I have a google alert (a recurring google search) on my name (my name is my brand!). So here is the article on going solo, published in July 08. A brief version of my Ten Commandments for Novice Consultants features towards the end.

Managing better

Darling Harbour Convention Centre

Swear a little - and be more persuasive

Influence at work assert that a little swearing in a speech makes it more persuasive. They delivered a speech with or without the words "damn it". The speech with the "swear word" was deemed more passionate and therefore more persuasive by listeners. I wonder how far you can take it?

Learning and Development

If you want a crash course in what's new in Learning and Development (L&D), try these: "the L&D blogs you can't do without"

Fascinating

Dragon Boats on Sydney Harbour

Performing for Google Maps

Check out these great pix - actors and residents of one particular street in Philadelphia staged some pretty pictures for the photographers who were filming for google street view maps. There is a mad scientist in his backyard laboratory, a street parade, all sort of fun things. So when you follow the link, you'll find their artistry and sense of humour embedded in Google Maps!

Doll-sized management team anyone?

Trendists keep saying that customisation is "in". Here's an artist who makes "everyday heroes" custom made dolls to look like your photo of your everyday hero. Make a whole family, or what about the whole sales or management team?

And Fun, fun, fun

The mast of the James Craig and Sydney Opera House.

Artist Trading Cards

I have discovered Artists Trading Cards. Designed as a "swap" only (no sales), they are works of art on 2.5 x 3.5 inch cards (playing card size). Go see what tiny beauties can be made here. The standard does vary wildly, as art does.

Laugh a little

See William Shatner serenade George Ludic with "You did it your way", making much of the Star Trek / Star Wars anomalies.

Scared Scriptless is back

I am back playing Scared Scriptless again. Improvised comedy. It's fun. It's currently free to get in - usually $10. Find us for Jan 29 09 and Feb 6 09 at the Harold Park Hotel in Glebe, Sydney (Australia). Email me for details. You could always do with a good (free) laugh, huh?

Let me know how you are thriving in the current market place!

Cindy

Cindy Tonkin The Consultants’ Consultant
Certified Management Consultant

This month's images are ©2009 Cindy Tonkin.

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