General Election 2010

So it is finally here, after weeks of hearing about it and having it shoved down our throats the big day is upon us – General Election Day. Is it just me or has the last 4 weeks seemed like months? Politicians everywhere, on every channel at every opportunity. More recently leaflets, posters and literature seem to have infested every nook and cranny of space. It is our most basic democratic right, the right to a free and fair election. We therefore must exercise our right to vote and not miss out on this basic freedom. Many in the world still do not have this right, so we should not see it as a luxury, or an issue, we should, in my opinion, see it as an honour to be able to vote.

Whilst on this seemingly high horse, I also feel the need to commend the 3 main party leaders on the energy they have. I truly am not sure I could have kept up their pace for a few days never mind the last 4 weeks. So is it that I do not have the same energy as them or is it that I channel it in different ways? Of course I would like to think it is the latter with my family, business and local government that I am involved with. The flip is that maybe I just don’t have that energy or drive anymore; I honestly couldn’t say either way as I don’t know. So for now let me leave this paragraph at saluting the 3 main party leaders and the energy and drive they have thrown at the campaign trail.

My team and I here at Merchandise Mania could, and hopefully, have learned a valuable lesson from Nick Clegg in this campaign. It is one of presentation skills, determination, and making the best of your opportunities in front of customers. You see one of the things that can be difficult is getting time with our customers on a face-to-face basis, or even with our potential customers.

However Mr. Clegg has certainly taken his opportunities and run with them, admittedly the other candidates helped him along with the ‘I agree with Nick’ campaign that has run with him in the last few weeks. If and when we succeed in getting in front of customers and prospects we must make use of the time and be very well prepared, just like he was.

Nothing irks me more than a supplier coming into my office and taking up 6-10 of my teams time, often my own time as well, and being ill prepared. They have no agenda, no presentation, just seemingly thinking that they can wing it. Well the wake up call to those who think this is you cant. You are not that good to be able to be ill prepared. You will face tough questions and we expect answers. If you fail, we lose respect and you lose orders.

We have to understand as professional sales people that the same is true for us. Be prepared or fail. It really is that simple. I never expect our clients to sit through a face to face with me when I am waffling or talking drivel I fully expect & actually want them to say to me that the meeting is over as I am wasting their time. This is what I want to get over to my team at Merchandise Mania and our partners, our customers may not want to say it but we need to know it!


Oh and lets not forget there is that General Election 'thing' happening today in the UK so exercise the right, 'Go and Vote'. (PLEASE)

How do I juggle family and business?

I am blessed with 4 stunning boys, 5, 4, 2 years and 10 weeks!  I have an amazing wife, a business that is successful in its field, I am involved in local politics as a Borough Councillor and unsurprisingly I have little time to think!  Thinking is a key skill and a core need of any business.  There are times we are too busy to think or strategise and we think everything is ok but inevitably something comes up and bites us in the bum because we have not seen it coming or planned for the eventuality.

Now of course we cannot plan for every eventuality, but we can take time to think through situations and strategy.  This is the part I struggle with.  Not because I lack creativity or skill, simply I lack the time to put into practice that which I preach.  Most of the creative thinking I have had in the last 10 weeks has come to me when I am feeding the little one somewhere around 3 am.  It is crazy how much I do think at that time, why?  Simply because I have time!  For 1 hour each and every night, somewhere between 2 and 3am my son wakes up wanting a bottle and I have time with myself…well with Louie as well, but he is very good and tries not to interrupt my thought process!! So am I really too busy being busy to realise what I should be doing, or just too pig headed to do something about it.  Truthfully I am not sure, when I find out I am sure I will blog about it!

I think the overwhelming message is that I need to find some time each day for myself, to think about whatever it is that needs to be thought about or just to allow thoughts the time to come to me…..you should try it, I know I am and you never know it may actually work!!!

Best

Simon