Richard Branson's Five Secrets to Business Success

One of the greatest business successes of our time would have to be Sir Richard Branson – not only for the success he has achieved in building the Virgin group of companies, but also for managing to maintain a consistently likeable persona. Something which business personalities like Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch or Steve Jobs aspire to, but don't quite achieve.

So an article by Sir Richard in bNet provides insights on what are the 5 Secrets to Business Success. In summary, he lists these secrets as:

1. Enjoy what you are doing
2. Create something that stands out
3. Create something that everybody who works for you is really proud of.
4. Be a good leader (– read "really good listener")
5. Be visible.

Sounds simple, doesn't it?

Perhaps the reality is a little more complex, but these ideas resonate at a core level. Importantly, they are a simple approach which when focussed on could be the difference to your endeavour's success.

You can read the full article, and the detail, on bNet.

There's a better looking app for that.

Right now it's all about the App – whether for the iPhone, an Android smartphone, the new Nokias or even the iPad (and the next crop of devices that's going to be generating).

Well, creating good design in an App is critical. Understanding both the form and the function becomes important.

This article from iStockphoto really goes into the detail of what makes a good app. It looks at the different challenges being faced, such as tighter real estate and bandwidth, and how usability needs new thinking.

Want to know what makes a good app? Here's some thoughts from those who know.There's a better looking app for that.

It's not about the goals, it's the process

Here's an interesting article I thought I would share as part of helping to keep the approach to work focused.

This article from BNet looks at the traditional idea of using goals to maintain focus for sales people and identifies that this can be limiting – it is in fact more rewarding and leads to greater success if you focus on the process and your happiness with that process.

Which is one of the reasons why, for me, getting our process finely tuned and educating stakeholders in those processes, not only creates a great product, but makes everyone happy – and successful – in the process.


Why Sales Goals and Diets Don't Work
(By Geoffrey James, BNet)
Goals can't motivate you for very long. If you really want to be successful, get inspired by the process of working toward your dreams.

Read more...

qfit Reaches 22 Countries

One of the pleasures of having created an online digital personal trainer has been to see its use expand around the globe. Today, the gym training programs we created at qfit.tv are being used in 22 countries. We've enabled affordable access to professional workouts, that can be accessed easily via the internet or mobile phone. How cool to be able to go to the gym and see a video of how to do your workout properly and know what you're doing. Let's face it, gyms can be intimidating places and having the ability to do fitness training with confidence really helps with the self-esteem.

Recent countries to join the qfit members include Bahrain, Denmark, Cyprus, India, Qatar and South Africa. Here's the full list of countries that are training with qfit:

The Art of the Quiet Achiever

There are many outcomes and desires we have in life and attaining success in our goals and achievements is one of the measures we use to guide us in determining just how accomplished we are and our life is.

Depending on who you are, your background and your value/belief structure, different areas of your life will be used to indicate success. For some this is money, for others it is to have travelled widely, yet others find great value in seeing a dream realised, while for many it is simply the connection to their family or community. We educate ourselves, make career decisions, follow journeys and embark upon adventures all with the underlying hope that they will succeed.

Life often has a different take on things and can very often play its hand to deliver challenges, obstacles and lessons which impact on our directions. These might change our original intentions and often play an important role in the outcome that is achieved.

The most important part, however, is not the destination but the journey. It is for this very journey we take through life that the notion of achieving our goals and successes with quiet resolve can prove extremely rewarding. To help with the, there are some tenets I've identified that can provide invaluable assistance to success.

Pesky Self-Limiting Beliefs

It was during my twenties that I discovered the importance of identifying self-limiting beliefs. They're those ideas and notions we have which ultimately curtail our ability to succeed. After spending much time and thought on identifying those beliefs that were working for me and those that weren't, I managed to overcome a great many obstacles to achieve some extraordinary success in my life.

Today, many years later, I find myself again taking the time to review my beliefs and recognising those that are self-limiting. Like many people, as I've gotten older I've also become a little settled in my ways. I know the things I like and have worked out those I don't.

This of course is a trap.