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In the past we’ve spoken about how valuable a Mastermind Group can be.   Recently we were treated to another example, an introduction to a strategy that, for those that implement it, is a bit of a game changer.

It’s called Profit First.

One of our members, Tasha Darrington of The Little Land Company, together with her wife and business partner, Karen Whatley, have been utilising the strategy they discovered in a book by Mike Michalowicz – called Profit First funnily enough – for a fair while.

When Tasha mentioned it, as is often the case in the High Flyers group, she was asked to give us a few insights into how it works and the results it brings.  Now, we in the group, all know that Tasha and Karen work smart.  You can’t build a multi-million pound property business without working smart, that’s why they teach those that want the same.

So, we listened.

The basic premise is, of course, that before anything is taken from the income of the business, your profit should be taken out.  Now, who does that? … Anyone? … Anyone?

OK, no, it’s a scary thought perhaps.  Taking profit from your business before taking income, tax or operating expenses sounds pretty scary, and to some foolish … but is it?

Imagine if you could structure your business, build in the efficiencies and control finances so that the first thing that comes out at the end of the month is profit.  Then your pay, then taxes, then operating expenses – and they all go into separate accounts.

When you make that work effectively, you have money in your profit account, money in your wages/salary/pay account, money in your tax account and all your overheads are covered.  How would you feel if that was the case today?

Would you feel in control?  Able to maximise your business?  Comfortable about your future?

I’m not going to attempt to explain it here, Karen did a fabulous job when she presented it to the group, and still encouraged us all to read Mike’s book.  So that’s what I’ll do to.

Profit First by Mike Michalowicz, find it on Amazon, order it from your local bookshop or wherever you buy your books, and get to grips with it.  Is it easy?  Well, it’s not difficult.  However it does take some thought, planning and determination but it is absolutely worth it.

Have a look at a couple of Tasha and Karen’s websites to see what these ‘Smart workers’ do.

www.tashaandkaren.com

www.thelittlelandcompany.co.uk

Often, as building surveyors, Cube Building Consultancy are tasked with surveying the roof of a building, or multiple roofs where access can be difficult.  Traditionally, we’ve used everything from hydraulic cherry pickers and scaffold towers to ladders.  However, there are times when none of these methods are an option.

This is where technology comes to the rescue. Drones to be precise.

A camera equipped drone can be used to access places that are often difficult and sometimes impossible to reach.  They can be used to great effect where access is dangerous or the risk of damage to the property is a real consideration.

More and more, Cube Building Consultancy are using drones for live inspections, for video, which can be viewed later, perhaps in court proceedings or for insurance purposes, and for still images which have a multitude of uses.  The ability to view live images and advise the drone operator of the location to focus on and photograph, from the comfort of the office is a huge leap forward.  It removes the necessity to be physically on site when the drone is in operation.

Drones were first used by our team due to the issue with access, however, we’ve also found that, by using a drones capabilities to their fullest, we’re able to inspect large, complex areas far quicker and in excellent detail.  The advantages are many, as the speed and efficiency means we can resolve issues faster, inspect a far greater number of possible issues and areas in the allotted time, and reach areas that were often previously out of reach.

There will always be situations where drones are not able to be used. Recently, we were inspecting key areas of the Olympic Park in London and, due to the proximity of City airport, drones were unable to fly. So, ground level photo’s and elevated access had to be used.  The bottom line is that whatever is needed, however improbable or seemingly complex, there’s always a solution to be found.

Of course drones can’t replace the human eye, and the ability to inspect by touch and feel but they certainly are a marvellous addition to our tool box.

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During a recent High Flyers meeting we were discussing the value of us getting together on a regular basis. It was an interesting conversation.  There were, for a variety of reasons, a few absentees and we talked about how they’d missed out on a useful, valuable and enjoyable meeting, with lively discussion, a fabulous lunch and some interesting thoughts.

Some of us gave our opinions as to why we felt it was such a valuable time for us in particular.  Those reasons included being able to ask questions of our peers and receiving honest and non-judgemental answers.  Having frank and open discussions around issues and challenges, drawing on the energy of the group, being held accountable for the tasks we’d promised to complete …, and just taking the time to do something positive (other than our usual work) for our businesses.

What was really profound was when, Elizabeth Clare, MD of Cell Regeneration said “It’s like Yoga for your business” … a comment that perfectly describes the High Flyers Mastermind meetings.  We all come away feeling better and with renewed energy.

What do you do to feel like that about your business?

Technological advances in medicine have clearly evolved, and continue to do so.  The advances gained by MBST Therapy have been recognised at the highest level by the awarding of a Nobel Prize for Medicine. Active research with the University of Innsbruck continues and it’s anticipated that advances and discoveries will only continue to be made, but will accelerate.

MBST is increasingly being used in professional sport to repair injuries and bring athletes back to full fitness. Its efficacy of treatment, which can negate the need for surgery, means that recipients of the treatment have no need of invasive treatments and can be ‘back in the game’ far sooner. The same is true for those with degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, disc problems, in fact all manner of painful, degenerative and/or pathological changes of the musculoskeletal system.

Visit here for more information about MBST

A few months back, the MD of a High Flyers Member company was forced to step into the shoes of a senior key member of staff due to long term sickness. It was a topic of discussion sometime later that led the MD to exclaim.

“What a revelation!”

Being forced into taking up duties that were the responsibility of the absent staff member, outlined, vividly, and with clarity, just how easy it is to assume all is well, only to find out it’s the reverse.

It can be easy to set things in motion and, because you’re busy, assume everything is being done properly, is running smoothly and returns are being maximised in your business.  However, if you’re not checking, if you aren’t coaching your key people and having regular discussions where proof can be shown … your estimation that ‘all is well’ could be way off. That might not just be a real issue, it could be costing you a fortune and, potentially, be very damaging to your business.

What this MD told us was that, stepping into the void highlighted where there were failings in the company that were simply not being addressed. It had led repeatedly to issues for customers and for the company, and had created unrest and division amongst the entire team.

With the MD stepping in, the development and implementation of far better internal, and external communications, combined with processes and control systems, have driven up efficiencies dramatically. Productivity across the whole company has increased and, as the team are able to see the benefits of these improvements to themselves as individuals, they’re buying  into it, resulting in efficiencies and productivity increasing further still.

The staff member in question, now returned to work, is only working on areas where their abilities and strengths can be maximised, so they also are far happier and also being more productive.

So, the bottom line is, delegation is fine, abdication of responsibility isn’t. It can have horrendous consequences. The difference between the two is coaching and accountability.

Having processes that ensure the right things happen regularly, consistently and systemically means that your Managers will feel supported, the team will feel that you’re in control, which removes angst and your people will become more comfortable in completing their roles.

Transparency is important and the structure for leadership is key. A simple example might be that when you ask someone if they have done something – you then check that it has been done, don’t just take it on faith.

When you do the simple things properly, efficiencies improve.

Cell Regeneration is delighted to have teamed up with Consultant Surgeon Mr Jonathan Webb, whose Harley Street surgery now houses a brand new MBST Therapy unit.

Jonathan Webb is no stranger to the damage that can be inflicted to the body, as a former England rugby player he knows all about sports injuries. Mr Webb played for the England national team from 1987 to 1993, reaching the 1991 World Cup Final and winning two Five Nations grand slam titles. His time is now spent focusing specifically on helping those who have knee problems. Whether caused by injury or disease. The new MBST Therapy machine installed in his Harley Street clinic brings the number of Cell Regenerations partner clinics in the UK to ten. That’s perfectly apt in its tenth year of operating MBST therapy technology.

MBST Therapy is a non-invasive treatment which stimulates damaged tissue promoting regeneration and helping the body to repair itself. It is a phenomenally successful treatment for a vast range of diseases and injuries.

MD Elizabeth Clare said “ One of the reasons we’re delighted to be in partnership with Mr Webb is the fact that he is a surgeon, he understands exactly how effective MBST Therapy is and has chosen to extend his patients options by installing this well proven technology”.

Visit here for more information on MBST Therapy

Just before Christmas, before ‘Second Lockdown’ High Flyers met, observing appropriate social distancing of course, and another great meeting took place. However, this proved to be an even more valuable, useful and thought provoking gathering due to a discussion led by one of the members.

Let me explain. A great deal has been written and discussed about the effects of COVID 19 on our mental health and, for all its horrors, disruptions and upset, more and more people are understanding that mental health is of paramount importance, equally as much as physical health.  One without the other is simply no real life at all.

So, when the group was engaged in an hour long discussion about Emotional Resilience, it’s importance and how we can strengthen it, everyone in the room was leaning forward and listening intently to the host of the discussion, Bevis Moynan of Magenta Coaching.

So, Firstly, What is Emotional Resilience?

Well, our emotions are a biological state, having a direct impact on our physical condition. Those biological states are associated with our nervous system and, you’ll not be surprised that our states are caused directly by neurophysiological alterations associated with our thoughts, feelings, behavioural responses, and degrees of pleasure or displeasure.

Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; we often see it as ‘being tough’.

It can also be defined as the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; its elasticity.

So Emotional Resilience is our ability to deal with stressful situations and be able to cope with life’s ups and downs, springing back and retaining shape.

So Why is Emotional Resilience So Important Then?

Important should perhaps be replaced by ‘essential’. Imagine if you were unable to function every time something stressed you out, distracted you negatively, was problematic or threatened you to  the point of anxiety. Intellectually we all understand that life isn’t all plain sailing, a smooth road or any other cliché you can think of. Things go wrong, stuff happens, it’s how we deal with it that is most important. Remember the bit above about “The ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape.” That’s us, we’re the substance, so our ability to get back to a mental or emotional state that is optimal for us to deal with adversity or the task at hand is what emotional resilience is really all about.

You’ve probably known people that ‘just couldn’t cope’, falling apart when things go wrong, likewise you’ll know those that just deal with things as they come, seemingly just taking it in their stride. What is interesting is that nobody has to be that first person – emotional resilience is a learned behaviour and, like any learned behaviour, the greater the focus in the early stages, the easier it is to make it the norm.

Once you realise that your emotions, how you feel, your moods, are fed by your own thoughts, both conscious as well as subconscious, you’re on the right path to increase your emotional resilience.

I’m not talking about seemingly not caring or just not taking any notice, I mean dealing with things in a way that is best for you, giving you the right outcomes. The difference between seeing something as ‘threatening’ or ‘challenging’.

Let me give you a couple of simple examples … If you’ve ever had the opportunity to attend an event, perhaps a party, a dinner, a wedding, whatever it is – and your first instinct was not to go, you didn’t feel like going – maybe because you thought you wouldn’t enjoy it, you wouldn’t feel comfortable with all those people or whatever … However, you do go, perhaps in support of someone else and, despite your fears, you had a great time and were subsequently pleased you went. It was your emotions that led you to have your initial reaction. Despite which, you went. That’s being more emotionally resilient. Next time an opportunity comes up, it’s easier to make the decision to go.

Anxiety and emotion are linked and responding to your initial emotions in the wrong way can lead to bad decisions. Have you ever heard the old adage “This too shall pass”? It’s a Persian adage translated and used in multiple languages which reflects on the temporary nature, or fleetingness, of the human condition.

How many times in your life have you felt terrible, sad, down, angry only to find down the road that you were anxious for nothing, that the stress passed, that the feelings passed, that the event passed or was ultimately not as traumatic as your thoughts led you to first believe. Conversely, the event truly was traumatic and awful, life sometimes is, but again, down the road you are able to look back and think differently about it … feel differently about it and react differently. That’s emotional resilience.

Some people need more help than others because some have more awareness than others. They’re just more aware of why they’re ‘feeling that way’ and so deal with it differently.

If we look at the current pandemic. People are dealing with it in different ways mentally. Some coping better than others. Mental health affects absolutely everyone, it’s a scale. If you feel really down or upset, anxious or stressed that is mental health. It’s important to understand that people are not ‘broken’ or ‘fixed’ they aren’t ‘ignorant’ or ‘fully understanding’ they just all have different levels of awareness regarding how they feel and why, and are armed differently to deal with it.

So, our emotions can often lead us to make poor decisions, only to regret them later. Once we have a better understanding of how to deal with how we feel about things at any given time, we can let things go, let them pass, reducing any physical impact.

If you’ve ever felt sad, really sad, for whatever reason, it can feel like the end of the world. Sadly, for some people their emotions get such a hold of them, that it literally is. That’s tragic and could so often been avoided. It is an extreme I know, but it happens far too often to regular, normal, healthy people. The mind is very powerful.

During the first COVID 19 lockdown, Bevis and one of his colleagues recorded a series of video’s which, at the they time they gave anybody and everybody free access to. The feedback was humbling, so many people evidently got such a lot from them. They are still available now although the cost of the distribution platform means a nominal charge has to be made to access them.

Anger, sadness, melancholy, euphoria all these and more can lead us the wrong way if we don’t control of our reactions to emotions.  Reaction is controllable with the right levels of awareness and understanding.  Emotional resilience can be improved. Nobody needs to suffer.

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