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Other Approachable Business contacts

Building a successful business requires getting a great team around you to help. That doesn't just apply to your staff but also to your advisors and solution providers. I have been helped by many great people who have assisted me to set up my business and in my work have come across some other great businesses who are experts in their field. On this page you will find those that I recommend you have as part of your team.

Steve Furlong, not just a number cruncher

Accountants are boring right? A bit like lawyers you might say. But Steve is different. In fact, I will go as far as saying that I have never met an accountant like him before. Steve deals with people not numbers and that makes a big difference to me. So, he's not just a number cruncher but someone who will give you sound business advice when you really need it.
To email Steve click here or visit his website.

The Results Group, turning good businesses into great businesses

If you have read Jim Collins' Good to Great you will understand what I mean. Any business can be good, but to be great you need sound strategy and hard work. Jim Collins may tell us the formula but implementing that formula is something quite different. That's where The Results Group come in. Their expertise is implementation and through their team of coaches they will not only help you put together a business strategy but keep you accountable to it. So, why do I recommend them? Well, I'm a BIG fan of Good to Great and have seen first hand the results they have achieved for some of my clients.
To find out more drop them an email or visit their website.

JT Jamieson, business finance outside the square

Don't fit the banks lending criteria? Frustrated that your bank can't see your business proposition? Don't despair, give Gail Godfrey of JT Jamieson a call. JT Jamieson is a boutique funder which specialises in providing business finance to borrowers who don't quite meet the banks' lending criteria. Gail offers competitive rates of interest, is not a loan shark!, and is very approachable.
To email Gail click here or visit her website.

The People Group, repairing the cracks in your HR structure

Rapid business growth can quickly lead to a dysfunctional workforce. Business owners who may be great at building businesses then have to communicate that message to their staff to enable them to do a great job. Do you see your staff as your greatest asset or simply a pain? If the latter, then I would recommend that you speak to HR consultants The People Group. The People Group repair the cracks in your HR structure by turning your business into a well oiled engine.

To get the best from your employees drop The People Group an email or visit their website.

Kerridge & Partners, finding top Executives for your business

Never leave recruitment of your top Executives to chance. If you do, you could be heading for trouble. The wrong CEO could signal disaster for your busines and at the very least a costly mistake. That's why, if you are looking to recruit a top Executive for your business, I recommend specialist firm Kerridge & Partners. Kerridge & Partners are not a recruitment company: they are an Executive search company. First they understand the needs of your business, then they invest the time researching the market to find the best person. Since that person may not be actively looking for alternative employment, Kerridge & Partners offers you the best chance of getting the right person of board.
To read more go to their website.

JRA (NZ) Ltd, taking the guesswork out of employee engagement and customer satisfaction

Increased customer satisfaction leads to increased profits. Increased employee engagement leads to a better return on assets. Sounds obvious, but how do you improve either? The answer lies in your business and no-one else's. And, if you don't know where to focus your energies you could end up wasting time, energy and money with limited results. JRA can tell you exactly where the weaknesses are in your business by asking your employees and customers. Founders of the JRA Best Workplaces Survey and experts in workplace survey and analysis, JRA takes the guesswork out of improving your workplace and customer satisfaction. To learn more click here.

Allan Watt, finding the evidence left behind by your staff

Computers now dominate the workplace. They have made our working lives a lot easier, but they also come with their hidden dangers. it has now become incredibly easy for staff to steal your intellectual property or confidential information and use that to set up in competition or pass to your competitors. A flash drive plugged into a USB port and years of hard work could be down the drain. Fortunately, just like Handsel and Grettel, computers can leave a path directly to the most careful of offenders. Allan Watt is an expert in computer forensics. He can analyse computer hard drives to find evidence of wrongdoing which can be used in subsequent court proceedings. If you think you may need Allan's services, drop him an email at Computer Investigations or visit their website.

Achievement Discoveries, increasing staff productivity

Ever tried to put a square peg in a round hole? Sounds absurd, but that's what many employers do with their employees. By identifying an employee's strengths and weaknesses you can adapt their job role to suit their abilities. That way, you get the best out of them, increase productivity and reduce staff turnover. This isn't the usual psychometric testing you may have heard about. At Achievement Discoveries, Brian Noble and his team test aptitudes, the innate strengths which we all possess. Everyone is good at something, it is just a question of working out what it is. I've done the individual testing and I learnt a lot about myself I never knew before. Brian also does corporate testing across your whole staff. To find out more drop Brian an email or visit his website.

Nicola Jones, independent financial advice

Nicola is an independent financial adviser with a particular interest in KiwiSaver schemes. Are you using KiwiSaver to maximise employee loyalty and reduce staff turnover costs? If not, Nicola may be able to help. She can also advise on life insurance policies and medical insurance. And, because she is independent she can give you completely impartial advice as to what suits you or your business. To email Nicola click here. 		 

Jacqui Scott, team building and sales training

Jacqui is the owner of the Great Scott Company and specialises in putting together outside the box team building training days and sales training. So if your sales team is performing under par or you feel that your staff aren't communicating properly with each other, then drop Jacqui a line and she will tailor an team building day or sales training to suit your needs or you can book one of her tested training days. To see what she has to offer or book a training day go to her website by clicking here.

Office Products at great prices

You may be thinking this one is a bit of an odd business alliance. But hey, we all need office products and when you find an outfit that offers really great prices it's worth letting everyone know. OfficeProductsOnline is a new office and stationery supplier with the largest collection of trolleys in New Zealand (its amazing how many businesses need trolleys!). Go to their website and start making savings today.

Psychotactics: are you losing customers because you don't know how the brain works?

I get a lot of comments about this website (good ones usually!) and people often ask me who advises me on my marketing. Well, the answer is Sean D'Souza from Psychotactics. You may well have heard of Sean since his articles have appeared in numerous publications and he contributes regularly to the NZ Herald. Sean teaches you how the customer's brain works so you can get your message heard above all the others that are out there. I fully recommend a trawl round his website and if you are serious about your marketing take out a membership of 5000bc.

Website for Entrepreneurs

If you are an entrepreneur and are looking for some motivation or business strategies, check out the website of Evan Carmichael. There is heaps of relevant information on the site including interviews with famous entrepreneurs where they tell their story of how they made it big. All the information is divided into categories, from advertising to technology, legal to marketing. You'll be sure to find something of interest and use to you. To go to the website click here.

If you thought health and safety in the workplace was an expense, think again: How to increase your bottom line and have fun at the same time

Once upon a time health and safety in the office was all about risk management and compliance - boring! But research now shows that a happy workplace is a productive workplace and hence can increase your bottom line. JoyWorkz offers cost effective training and support to ensure you and your staff have a great time at work. Get them on board and not only do you increase the productivity of your staff but you also win the workplace popularity contest. So, don't look at health and safety as an expense - start having some fun instead. Joyworkz works with a large range of companies from SME up to larger corporates. To find out more drop them an email or visit their website.

Presentation is quay (or is it key?)

People judge you on your presentation. The way you dress, the way you look, and the way you write. Imagine receiving a lawyer's letter riddled with mistakes? What would you think of the lawyer? Would you think that he was good at his job? Probably not. So when I came to writing Employed But Not Engaged, I knew I needed a top standard proof-reader to make sure I came across well. I chose Adrienne Morris of AM Proof-reading and Editing. You can see what I had to say about her services by going to the testimonials page of her website. So, it doesn't matter whether you are an author or simply writing a corporate presentation or CV, I strongly recommend that you use Adrienne to check your work.

How to get the best employees and retain them

Pod Consulting works in partnership with your business to help you succeed in finding the best employees and keeping them on board. We focus on three main areas with human resources  - selection, retention, and development. We tailor our solutions to your specific business needs, working with you on short term or long term projects.To see in more detail the services they offer click here

Online Corporate Training

Staying up to date with the latest tips about growing your business, improving your team or developing your career is difficult in this modern age with so many constraints on our time. Let's face it, do you really have time to go leave your desk, struggle through traffic and attend a half or full day seminar. If, like me, your time is at a premium then consider online training instead. The Corporate Toolbox is an online training website for busy people. They offer books, e-books, and webinars to help up-skill you without having to leave your desk. To find out more click here.