MyNewsletterHELPING YOUR BUSINESS MAKE HEADLINES EDITION 5

INSIDE THIS MONTH | It’s all About Attitude

| Je Suis Charlie

| Top Tips for Managing People

| Meet MyTeam - Louisa Bishop

| My Success Story - Dawn Ayres

| Ask Us - Importance of a Business Card

MyNews‘ A positive attitude causes a c ha in reaction o f positive thoughts, events and outcomes. It is a cata lyst and it sparks extraord inary results.

‘

Wade Boggs

I was listening to an audio book recently from a chap called Brian Tracy.Brian is an American entrepreneur who has made millions of dollars

across a wide range of industries.He said the starting point for all success is having a good attitude.

Sounds obvious - but think about it.You don’t start a business believing it is doomed to failure. You begin with

a positive attitude, though for many, that optimism is lost somewhere along the way.

We’re lucky here at MyNews because we work with a lot of successful businesses that we can learn from. There are many reasons they are doing well (advertising with us is one of them) but if you put me on the spot and asked what they all had in common, I’d say a can do, positive attitude.

Brian also talks about the importance of finding the right attitude

IT’S ALL ABOUTATTITUDE

Every Friday morning at the MyNews Mansion we put the kettle on in Nik’s office and get the biscuits out.

Being a sociable bunch we often have guests popping over for a cuppa and a chat about marketing and advertising ideas for their businesses.

So if you’d like to pop over and have a chat call 01442 257015 or send an email to nik@mynewsmag.co.uk

Photo courtsey of PA Images

when you are hiring staff. I follow that school of thought and always look for enthusiasm and drive as much as experience and qualifications.

We all know ‘energy Hoovers’ the people that drag you down and fill you with a sense of impending doom if you spend too much time with them. On the flip side we all know people who simply by being in their company make you feel energised, lighter and enthused.

Show these two types of people the same event or issue and they will have vastly different outlooks.Before you dismiss this positive mental attitude as happy clappy nonsense take a moment to think about the people that you know

who are happy. It goes without saying these people are positive thinkers and can deal with life’s challenges with a smile. They’re often successful in whatever they’ve chosen to do.

I mentioned last year in the newsletter about hearing a speech by Debra Searle. Debra rowed across the Atlantic on her own, risking life and limb on a daily basis.

At one of her lowest points during the epic journey she received a satellite phone call from her sister who was in the warmth and safety of the UK. Debra spoke at length about how hard the challenge was, how tired she was, how dangerous it was and that she was thinking of giving up.

Having heard her tale of woe, Debra’s sister nonchalantly replied simply: “Well I guess it’s a case of choosing your attitude.” And Debra certainly did, by dusting herself down and completing one of the world’s toughest nautical challenges.Staying with water I also read a book by Olympic Gold Medallist and rower Ben Hunt Davis called Will it Make the Boat Go Faster. In

the book Ben spoke about a rowing champion from New Zealand who proved a formidable opponent to all who challenged him.Ben asked this guy’s coach what made him so special. The coach replied: “He always wakes up with the mindset that each day is

going to be a good day for him.”Ben questioned how he manages it. With a wry smile the coach replied: “Because HE makes it a good day.”See, we are all captains of our destiny and ultimately we can all choose how we think, react and live. Positive or negative – there

really is no neutral or middle ground here.I’ve been working hard on the importance of checking my attitude almost on an hourly basis. I’m continually asking myself: What’s

my attitude like right now? How is my mood affecting my staff/family/success? Is my attitude helping me achieve my goals?It’s a really useful exercise and has instilled in me the inescapable fact that we all choose our attitude in response to everything

that happens to us.I’ve used a technique from a motivational speech I heard last year. On my drive to work in the early morning I may be thinking about

101 different things that need to be done. These thoughts are not always positive.I’ll get out of my car and once I hear the ‘beep beep’ of it locking, I switch on and choose a positive attitude to whatever the working day will bring.That trigger technique was something Elvis used when getting psyched up for live concerts when in the absolute prime of his career.

He’d pace out a path of 100 steps to the stage wherever he was performing. Each step would see him become more and more focused and energised until he bounced on the stage and wowed the crowd.

When you wake up tomorrow remember that YOU choose who YOU are going to be. It’s the first and most important decision you’ll make that day.

JE SUIS CHARLIE

Pencils, candles, and flowers are set up next to Charlie Hebdo newspaper in Paris, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015. Brothers, Said and Cherif Kouachi and their friend, Amedy Coulibaly, killed 17 people

at the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, a kosher grocery and elsewhere last week. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Photo courtsey of PA Images

It’s been just over a month since the terrorist attacks in Paris.The shock may have subsided slightly but the anger I have over the attacks remains fresh. In fact I doubt it will ever disappear.

These lunatics not only murdered people - their deluded goal was to kill freedom of speech.You may not have liked what Charlie Hebdo printed. You may have been disgusted by some of their cartoons BUT in democracies like

France and the UK, freedom of speech is a cornerstone of who we are and how we live.Will this change? Will we be violently bullied into submission by murderous madmen? I doubt it.Just look at the Charlie Hebdo front cover a week after the atrocity for proof the staff there will not be silenced.The editor of the magazine, Stephane Charbonnier, who was murdered in the attack, was the man making the decisions to publish

the controversial cartoons. He was a brave man who defied death threats and refused to live in fear.I can relate to some of his decisions in the smallest of ways but by no means am I comparing myself to a man of his stature.Every time a controversial story lands on my desk with the help of my team I have to make the decision whether we run it or not. In the past we’ve published stories, especially crime related ones, which have led to me being called up by angry readers.I’ve lost count of the times we’ve been threatened by an irate reader of an article but as long as what we report is factually correct

we will publish it.We’ve also had advertisers pull out of the magazine because they didn’t like a story we had reported on. I’m proud of these incidents as they go to show we are sticking to our original promise to report the good, bad and ugly sides of life

in the communities we serve.What Stephane Charbonnier and his team did was to reinforce the right of freedom of speech and as long as we all hold onto that,

their tragic and senseless deaths will not be in vain.Je Suis Charlie. If we believe in freedom of speech we are all Charlie.

‘ The threat or fear o f violence should not become an excuse or justification for restricting freedom of speec h.

‘

Alan Dershowitz

Managing staff can be the biggest challenge business owners and senior employees face. We’ve compiled eight top tips on how to get the most out of your staff and manage them to get the best results for everyone.

1. Don’t do it all yourself:As a manager you are there to organise people to do things that you won’t have time for. Don’t try to do things that could be done by a member of your team. It’s not about being lazy – it’s called delegation.Your success depends on how well your team performs. You are now responsible for far, far more work than you could ever possibly produce by yourself. You can’t fix all the problems – don’t even try…that’s not your job anymore.

2. Identify your goals: What, specifically, are your measured goals? Do you have hourly, daily or weekly targets your team must meet; what about your new goals such as reviewing productivity? Write down everything and share it with the team. This will be your checklist. A word of caution here, this list will change over time; it is a living document. Some things may stay the same (service levels, for example) but other things may change depending on things beyond your control. Review your list frequently, with a critical eye, and revise it when necessary.

3. Know your team: You need to know the individual strengths and weaknesses for each team member. For example Michael works extremely fast but occasionally misses some of the details. Alison is incredibly thorough but has issues with producing the volume of work. Bob has spectacular customer relationship skills but can never say “no” to the clients, whereas Tracey has excellent technical skills but falls short in people skills. You really need to know all this very, very well. You will need this knowledge to balance the productivity of your team.

4. Match tasks with staff: Use the information you learned from the above steps to match people with work. The management jargon of this is skill-based work assignment. You want to play to each person’s strengths and minimize work assignments that would target their weaknesses. If you have the opportunity, put people together that have complementary skill sets. You might put Michael and Alison on a project together, or have Bob and Tracey consult together on a presentation.

8 TOP TIPS ON MANAGING PEOPLE

5. Meet with your team members: Regular one-on-one meetings are crucial to good management. These meetings have several purposes:To give feedback on job performance: Set goals and then check to see if they have been achieved.Outline the goals for the next meeting: Be crystal clear about what your team’s goals are.Learn about staff issues: By knowing what’s going on between members of staff you can address it and work on a positive solution for everyone.Ask for ideas: Staff should know your business and ideally your customers so they are in a great position to provide fresh ideas.Motivation: The best managers find ways to get their people motivated to do their jobs well and with pride. Use these sessions to find out what motivates your employees and use that feedback to improve their contribution.

6. Be visible – Have an open door policy: You must not isolate yourself from the team. Sometimes the initial workload will seem overwhelming and you might have a tendency to hide yourself away from the staff. You absolutely must not give the appearance of being an “ivory tower” inhabitant. If your team members don’t see their manager, they’ll develop an attitude of anarchy. Things could go very badly for you. Even if you’re managing remote staff, you need to make sure they “feel” your presence. If you manage multiple shifts or offices, make sure you visit all regularly.

7. Document team activities: How your business does will largely be decided by your team’s

performance so make sure you keep a written record of issues and accomplishments. This will be especially important if there are significant issues that arise. Problems are expected; how you and your team handle those problems must be a focus of your efforts.

8. Reward performance:This doesn’t just mean money…although money is good; it’s often not

a primary motivator for on-the-job performance. Recognition is much more effective. If you have the authority, perhaps grant performance

leave (an extra day off for doing something exceptional). Make the rewards regular and make them attainable but difficult. When you give a reward, make

it well known (reward publicly, admonish privately).

Meet MyTeamLouisa has been Sub-editor at MyNews for seven months and in that

time has established herself as the mother hen of the editorial team.

How would you describe yourself? I am cheerful, passionate, honest and do everything to the best of my ability. I love

quizzes, travel, and as a natural redhead get sunburnt in the dark!I play tennis, and am currently ladies champion at West Herts & Watford LTC. I love rugby,

and one thing my boss Nik Allen will tell you is that I am more likely to be drinking a pint of lager and watching sport than holding a delicate glass of red.

What do you enjoy most about your job?I’m an English graduate and studied the construction of stories, so a job that includes proof reading and ensuring accuracy, along with hearing new stories every hour, keeps

my blood pumping. We feature articles from crime to sharing a local business’ success. MPs and upstanding members of the community and societies as well as sports teams contribute to the magazines and their columns

can even lead us to stories. I live by the motto: make your passion your occupation and you’ll never work again.

What is the biggest challenge you face on a daily basis?The pressure of meeting deadlines is something I face on an

hourly, even minute to minute basis. I also have to check we are getting enough variety of copy into the magazines, and that the work we

do is as accurate as possible. Multiply that by 13 magazines and you’ve got a race against time!

That said, no job is too big and the My News family have made me feel very welcome. I would say to readers – please keep telling us your stories so we can share them.

What’s the most frequent thing you hear said in the MyNews office?Whose turn is it to make the tea?

Quick quiz:1 Beaches or mountains?

I love both, but especially mountains

2 Biffy Clyro or Ed Sheeran?A collaboration please!

3 Beer or cider?Beer – Red Stripe

4 Thesaurus or dictionary?Dictionary, I love a Latin origin!

If you have a story or some news to share with Louisa call her on 01442 220195.

member of the month...

Louisa Bishop - Sub EditorHOSS photography 01923 494532 For all of your car repair and servicing needs call Dawn on 01923 237135

Bushey Hall Garage (BHG) has served the residents of Hertfordshire for more than six decades. Company d irector Dawn Ayres shares with us the secrets of their ongoing success.Tell us a little about you and also the history of BHG?I have been at Bushey Hall Garage for 20 years. The company at that point was being run by my husband Roger Ayres’ parents, Gerry and Dorothy Ayres.BHG operates out of Bushey Hall Drive, Bushey – on a site that was formerly the 8th US Airforce MT (Motor Transport) garage during the Second World War. When the war was over, the site was taken over by the Warner family who ran it as a garage until 1967, when Gerry Ayres brought it, continuing to run it as a family business. It remains a family business today.

Who was the biggest influence on your business career?My husband, whose thirst for knowledge and drive to continue to provide a competitive, caring all-round service for our clientele has rubbed off.

Describe your approach to business in three words.Direct, informed, caring.

What’s been the biggest mistake you’ve made?We held on to the quill a bit too long and should have become a fully computerised centre five years before we did. We could not live without computers now.

What’s been your proudest business achievement?BHG was one of the first Bosch Car Service (BCS) centres in the UK and we remain a leading BCS Centre, ensuring quality is the key in all repairs.

How many staff do you employ and what do you look for?We have 17. We look for those that have the same passion and drive as we do and who know their vehicles and want to remain at the forefront of motor vehicle repair. They need to be able to work as a team.

What advice would you give someone setting up a new business?First, do your homework. Make sure there is a market for your business and you set up in the right place at the right time. Have enough finance to carry you through the first few years while you get established. Have a business plan and follow it. Treat your customers how you would want to be treated yourself. You are nothing without a good customer base.

What’s the most valuable asset you have within your business?Our staff.

What’s the biggest challenge your business has faced?Riding the storm through the recession. Our family has now been through two recessions! We have seen many companies unable to weather the financial storm. This has meant a dramatic reduction in the number of pure body shops in the UK. At BHG, the very fact that we offer the complete motoring package means that when one side of the operation is quiet, the other goes up a gear to cover for the shortfall, until confidence returns to the market. We also get a lot of recommendations which is great.

MY SUCCESS STORYDAWN AYRES, BUSHEY HALL GARAGE

Photo courtsey of Bubbles Portraits

For all of your car repair and servicing needs call Dawn on 01923 237135

BUSINESS CARDS - YOUR FIRST AND LASTING IMPRESSIONAarif Merali is the owner of Watford based printers D2R Cross Media. Here he gives his expert opinion on what makes a great business card.

As the saying goes, you only get one chance to make a first impression and this is especially true when it comes to handing out your business card.The receiver of your card will make an instant, subconscious impression about you and your business when they hold your card in their hand.A flimsy business card printed on poor quality paper will suggest that your business is not successful and offers a cheap, low-quality service.Also, avoid “free” business cards from certain well-known online print companies who will print their logo on your business card. People will know that you have cut corners with your business cards and might get the impression that you may do the same with your customer service.So, if budget permits, here are some tips for business cards that will leave a great lasting impression:

1) Ask your printer to print them on stock which is no thinner than 400gsm

2) For that silky smooth feel ask for matt-lamination – you will be surprised how many people absent-mindedly start caressing your card!

3) For that extra touch of class, ask your printer if they do Spot UV Varnishing – this will add a shiny surface to a specific part of your card such as your logo

4) Get a professional designer to layout the card – most good printers have an in-house design team who will be able to do this for you.

The extra investment in a really good business card will be more than worth it in the long run.You can offset some of the cost by printing a larger quantity in the same run as this is cheaper than requesting a second print run.Make sure your card presents your business in the best light – after all, you only get one chance to make a first impression!

To talk with Aarif or his team about your business card design call 01923 232593 or email: aarif@d2rcrossmedia.com

Got a question for us? Send it over to nik@mynewsmag.co.uk The next edition will arrive through your letter box the weekend of Friday 11th March

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Photo courtsey of Bubbles Portraits