2 hundy Not Out

         

 

 

Edition 200 Monday August 26th 2013

 

 Hi, Crikey!, can you believe it, you better believe it, ‘Upbeat’ edition 200 coming right at you!!

Upbeat began life as the ‘Monday Morning Motivator’ at Hirequip back in May 2007 !! 99 editions later it was replaced with the first ‘Upbeat’ on Monday 8^th June 2009  and now 200 turbo charged ‘Upbeat’ editions and over 4 years later we are still going strong ,how Scooby Doo is that?? !!! :)

It has certainly been a roller coaster ride for this Jones boy having experienced and more importantly survived a wide range of lifes trials and tribulations during that time including open heart surgery and the global financial crisis to name a couple The highlight undoubtedly for me apart from sitting down each Sunday afternoon to share some of these special personal and business experiences has been meeting my soul mate Christine after 50 years of searching and having two wonderful sons 30 years apart !!!

Being ‘Upbeat’ is not something that comes naturally to me and is definitely a work in progress. I use ‘Upbeat’ to provide me with the discipline and focus I need as I review the positives from my previous week and use them to create a personal ‘Upbeat’ state of mind as I prepare to face the challenges and maximise the opportunities of the coming week.

I could not have come this far or continue on without the regular support and feedback I get from many of you and so I consider  reaching this and future milestones is part of an overall team effort which we can all share and be proud of. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment honestly and frankly, your objective feedback has provided me with ideas and guidance that has challenged and assisted me to be ‘better’……and crikey isnt that what this thing called life is all about, you bet !!!

I look forward to continuing to share my experiences and thoughts with you and trust that the process continues to be a mutually beneficial one. Thanks again, take care and always make sure you remain true to yourselves and try hard not to miss the opportunity to spend quality time with family and friends.Don’t live life regretting you didn’t make the most of every minute. Have a good one!!

Cheers Jonesey!!

 

Harry and the Hendersons say the 200 ‘Upbeat’ editions would be the equivalent of 1400 in the canine world WOW !!!....not bad in their opinion,and a big thanks to their fans !!!

 

There are three intolerable things in life - cold coffee, lukewarm champagne, and overexcited women...” Orson Welles

 

Coffee culture saga ….part 3

I am overwhelmed with happiness to say that the ‘Cosy Café’ continues to exceed my coffee and customer service expectations in every way. The food is also superb and reasonably priced, the staff call me Jonesey and make me feel like I have been a loyal customer for life!

I know what you are thinking, that you already knew all this but what I want to demonstrate to you today is that the power of keeping customers happy is not just in having ‘upbeat’ and repeat customers, it goes deeper still than that,happy J customers tell their friends and business associates!

I have introduced four other people to this café and held two business meetings there since becoming a convert. The owner James is over the moon and most appreciative. You see happy customers are a steady and regular source of new customers by referral so it pays to keep customers ‘cosy’ J Conversly unhappy customers L also tell others and prevent prospective new customers from using businesses who don’t take the time to listen to their customers or make the effort to satisfy them !

 

“The powers of a man's mind are directly proportioned to the quantity of coffee he drinks.”
― James Mackintosh

Nothing about nothing!

 

Edition 199 Monday August 19th 2013

 

 Hi, I am pleased to say I excelled at relaxing this weekend. I tore into doing absolutely nothing with great gusto. I cant believe how tiring doing nothing is so I had to sleep for long periods to recover. Stacking up ZZZZZZzzzzzzzz should always be the ultimate pursuit on the weekend closely followed by couch and sport channel surfing.

As I was busy doing nothing during a typical Auckland weekend that featured all four seasons I was able to share a special weather moment with Fletcher when a massive rainbow formed in the sky(see attached). You sort of forget how amazing that sight or how cool it is to explain it to a wide eyed one year old who is trying to figure out exactly what is going on.

Life is full of stuff like rainbows, sunrises and sunsets that we walk, drive or run past daily without stopping or even slowing to appreciate for their beauty or significance to us.

The rainbow on the weekend made me stop and think a bit and this was a good thing because the next evening I spent time watching and explaining the amazing sunset to Fletcher as well.

So while I was on an educational roll I thought I would also introduce him to watching the All Blacks live on TV however the 10.00pm kick off proved a bridge too far for the weary student and this chapter of his education will have to wait for a local game with an earlier kick off.

Great win in Sydney for the AB’s and a cool welcome back for Richie(Clark Kent) McCaw.

I hope you were also able to have a relaxing weekend doing nothing but chillaxing with Family and friends. I hope this also means you will be able to hit the coming week with everything you have.

Cheers Jonesey!!

 

Harry and the Hendersons reckon to err is human—to forgive, canine.

 

 

“Coffee is a language in itself. “ Jackie Chan

The continuing coffee customer service saga;

After complaining to the new cafe owners over three weeks ago and having not received a reply or any acknowledgement I decided to vote with my feet yet again.

I know what you are thinking I am rapidly running out of cafes in Onehunga to adopt ! and you would be right as this is now #4!

I am pleased however to announce that the ‘Cosy Café’ on main street Onehunga is my new favourite place. Not only do they have my favourite brand of coffee but the staff have learned my name already and welcomed me with open arms whilst also setting me up with a loyalty card from day one without me even having to askJ

This café is small and cosy with a quaint ambience that none of the previous cafes have had. I feel like I have found a place where I am at home and somewhere I will be appreciated where I can relax and read the paper whilst enjoying my favourite brew. I always loved the programme ‘ Cheers’ because of the family atmosphere and fun a regular group of patrons engendered at their corner bar in Boston. I know it was a sitcom but it was so well done that I always felt like a Cheers regular when I tuned in each night! Well my new café is my new ‘Cheers’ on main street Onehunga…”where everyone knows your name!!”

All I am looking for (like every customer who buys anything) is to feel wanted and appreciated……not rocket science really is it…..hmmm time will tell at the Cosiest café in Onehunga, watch this space!

 

“I am a coffee fanatic. Once you go to proper coffee, you can't go back. You cannot go back.” Hugh Laurie

Base Camp

 

 Hi, planning an event is not my strong suit. I tend to over worry every aspect and always fear the worst. So when I saw the weather forecast for the weekend I had the perfect excuse to go into a tailspin! To their credit Fletcher and Christine insisted I ‘harden up’ and reminded me that he was never going to be one again so his party was going to fly rain hail or shine!

As you know when you fear the worst the end of the world doesn’t eventuate and things work out well in the end . This was definitely the case this weekend with Fletcher’s first birthday celebration and on reflection I think this milestone is as much for the parents reaching that point as it is about our dear wee dust mite getting there.

Reflecting more after a lovely event where our guests and the weather both overwhelmed us with their warmth and generosity I realised yet again how lucky I am.

Lucky to have met Christine and to now have Fletcher but also to have family who accept and love me unconditionally and  supportive friends who also accept us for what and who we are.

Whilst the heading of this intro is ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ we will let you into a little secret, we don’t try to upstage anyone, our life is lived looking out for each other first and foremost and if there is anything we do or experience or think is cool we share it with others. We also like to hear what you and yours are doing that is cool or fun and then we can experience that too, we think that is far more important than trying to be all things to all people. If there is one thing we have learned along the way that is you will never please or keep up with every one.There will always be someone who will be bigger,better,faster or have more….why waste the energy worrying about competing, better to concentrate on what is good in your life and on enjoying it and making it better!

Yay, All Blacks are on the campaign trail next week , cant wait to see King Richie back in black.

I hope you had a cool, fun weekend with family and friends, have a great week, cheers Jonesey!!

 

Harry and the Hendersons are the experts when it comes to unconditional love !

 

“Customer satisfaction is worthless. Customer loyalty is priceless.” Jeffrey Gitomer

Customer service is something that is dear to my heart and as such I have developed the habit of always trying to exceed my customers expectations.

So as a customer I notice when people exceed my expectations and I also notice when they don’t.

Sadly I have to say that I notice poor service far too often and whats even worse when I complain I notice that a lot of businesses don’t seem to care or want to do anything about it. If we ever get a customer complaint I make sure we investigate fully and always get back to the customer with the outcome of our investigation, a follow up action plan and a gratuity or good faith gesture in an effort to make ammends or at the very least an apology.

Case Study; I love my morning coffee, it is a treat and as such I am willing to pay a premium (aka small fortune) for it. Recently my favourite café chnaged hands and a  number of staff  left. I continue to support this café however the attention to customer service and their loyalty coffee card system has slipped noticeably in my view. As a loyal customer I have pointed this out online.

I have not received an acknowledgement of my comments nor has there been any attitudinal change at the coal face or any effort to reward my loyalty by actively working their coffee card process.

This has disappointed me greatly to the point where I have now carried through with my threat to take my business elswhere? I know this probably wont worry them but if enough of their regulars do this then they will soon realise the ‘goodwill’ component they paid heavily for in the purchase will soon dissipate like ‘sand in the hour glass of time’!!!

I now visit a café where the owner appreciates my business and rewards me for supporting him with good service and a free coffee after vigilantly working his coffee card loyalty system. He is an owner who realises how important my business is to him and makes sure I know that…..not hard really is it?

“You don't earn loyalty in a day. You earn loyalty day-by-day.” Jeffrey Gitomer

Flying Blind !

         

 

 

Edition 197 Monday August 5th 2013

 

Hi,getting older is something you prefer to think is happening to others not you and something you try not to be reminded of or think about…….until you sort of have to. Unfortunately losing your glasses is one of those times where you have to face the facts and admit you have got to a point where you cant do without them. The fact that your aging also probably had something to do with misplacing them is temporarily lost on you in the panic to find them! Not to mention that screwing my face up whilst squnting to write this is also accelarating the face wrinkle process as well is a blow!

Never mind I remain ever optimistic they will magically reappear as I try to visualise their location!

Jones birthday season is upon us anyway so probably timely to be reflecting more positibely on the aging process. In the next 6 weeks, Christine, Fletcher, me, Mum and Dad will all celebrate birthdays, throw Fathers Day in the mix and it is always a busy family time.

It is a  time  to remember we are here for a good time not a relatively long time so it is important to be happy with our lot  and to make the most of it. Always a good time for reflection and gratitude.

And on reflection…….life doesn’t have to be complicated, keeping things simple can make it a pleasure and allow us to get the most from it. We have found that taking regular time out to focus on us what, is going well,who we have in our lives and how important that is to us will always be better than dwelling on what we havent got and maybe what has failed or why!!

Being ‘Upbeat ‘ is fun and feels good but it is a work in progress annd in many cases it is a team effort so keep those comments and ideas coming  because your feedback and support is warmly received and greatly appreciated always,

I hope you continue to live your lives to the full spending as much time with famuly, friends as you can. Have a great week ahead being positive and upbeat , Cheers Jonesey!!!!!

 

Harry and the Hendersons love birthday party season at 48, lots os Scooby Doo dog treats!

 

“Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.”Vince Lombardi

 

As you know it is one of my goals to never turn down an opportunity to get better at anything,

So when I am offered the chance to present to a group I always accept.

This was no different recently with the conference and again last week with a presentation I was invited to do to a Rotary Club in Manukau.

I have been guilty in the past of leaving my preparation for these presentations far too late and then rushing the preparation and hence not being 100% happy with my performance. So lately I have made sure I have taken more time over my preparation to ensure my performance was as good as it could possibly be or as super coach Vince Lombardi rightly says above make your practice perfect and your peformance will also be…..good advice,

Lets face it what is the point of accepting an opportunity to get better if you are not going to do everything you can do to achieve that objective. With my involvement in Toastmasters I can accurately say I have trained for over 20 years to present to these groups today, I better come across like that or they are going to ask the question about what I have been doing all those years!

My goal is to be the best I can be everytine so that my audience gets a consistently  professional performance from me.

I also know that  accepting these opportunities as well as the fortnightly Toastmasters meetings where I receive a top up of inspiration and motivation will combine to ensure I am using my ability to communicate effectively with others rathe than getting lazy and complacent “use it or lose it” !!!

 

“The way anything is developed is through practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice and more practice.”  Joyce Meyer

Train smash! (Watties)

 

 

Edition 196 Monday July 29th 2013

 

Hi, I am reminded daily that ‘better does not stop’ by a sign above the motorway on my drive. This is  a good thing for me as my goal for 2013 is to ‘be better’ at everything so it is a daily call to action. I think it is important to have something like this to get us on track each day. It doesnt have to be a public sign like mine it just needs to be something that helps you maintain your focus.

As part of our recent evaluation of where we live and why we decided we needed to make sure we got out and enjoyed more of our favourite cool things we have discovered to do locally.

Crikey that doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive and as an example this weekend we introduced Fletcher to the simple magic of fish and chips wrapped in white news print paper from the local.

We spread these out at the local park with generous helpings of tomatoe sauce and enjoyed lunch out together in the sun. Anyone observing would have thought our son had cut himself rather badly given the amount of red sauce on his face and hands……all good fun and the sort of thing family memories are made of! I bet the smell of fish and chips conjures up some similar memories for you too! Simple but lots of fun, like most impromtu family stuff you tend to do. I guess the message here is don’t even think about it, just do it, those are the best times, the unplanned unscheduled picnics on the run or the newly discovered park,playground,shop,pub,vineyard,beach that are the most treasured.

I hope you got a chance to do something cool off the spur of the moment too with family and friends. We all need to make the most of every chance to do so. Have a happy and safe week ahead.

Cheers Jonesey!!!!!

 

Harry and the Hendersons have made Fletcher an honorary canine and part of the pack!

 

“Losing my anonymity in this world I think is something that I find terrifying.Alex O'Loughlin

The E learning conference I attended recently intoduced me to a novel way of being a fully interactive conference attendee without anyone knowing. Anyone who has ever attended a conference will know they can be a bit daunting if you are not into asking questions, being asked or volunteering for some scary live role play! Notice where people tend to sit in a conference room, as far away from the front as possible for fear of being asked to contribute in front of everyone.

Well your fears are over because now there are a number of websites that presenters can link to that allow their audience to interact and ask questions on line whilst they are presenting!! How cool is that and the best thing is the interaction can be anonymous…even better.

It was interesting to note that presenters who did not link to these sites struggled to get questions or interaction from the floor in person, some even being tempted to question if their audiences hearts were still beating??

Yet others who did utilise websites like www.clickmeeting.com were inundated online with encouraging comments, questions and suggestions from their audience who embraced the opportunity and anonymity it provided. I reckon the quality of the input and the questions was of a far higher standard as well.

Obviously attendees needed smart phones or a lap top to be able to participate in this way but to my surprise most had these open or connected as the conference progressed anyway!

 I realised quickly not everyone loves the sound of their own voice like me and in fact many are modest and withdrawn yet still have plenty to contribute at events like this and clearly enjoyed the opportunity to do so. Make sure you include this option or interact via it next time at a presentation!

 

“We live in an age where anonymity is growing in magnitude like a bomb going off.”

Jock Sturges

Getting uncomfortable !!

         

 

 

Edition 195 Monday July 22nd 2013

 

Hi, they say a change is as good as a holiday but when a change comes on the back of a holiday it is gold. Last week I did both, backing our Waiheke family break up with an MC appearance at a conference for a couple of days for something completely different. The combination of the two turned out to be a perfect recipe providing some time out plus plenty of new ideas, stimulus and motivation for me to refocus on what I want to achieve for the rest of this year…a timely intervention.

What a difference something like that can make, justifying my ‘never say no’ philosphy when these opportunities present themselves. Life is too short to have regrets so make sure you also take advantage of any chance that comes your way to take a  mini break or do something completely different. Challenge yourself to get out of your comfort zone more often!

Talking of change we have also been doing some soul searching in the last couple of weeks having been offered an opportunity to sell and start again somewhere else. It is a situation that came from nothing but one that had us asking ourselves some pretty interesting questions about why we lived where we do and if we could,would we live elsewhere and if so where and why etc? The conclusion we came to was that we didn’t realise how lucky we are to be where we are and how grateful we are for what we do have regardless of how much more work we might have to do to make it better. A useful exercise in evaluation and appreciation and maybe something we should do on a more regular basis.

Crikey, we needed some time out after that lot so we were pretty happy the weekend was a cracker weather wise so we took the opportunity to soak up some rays, stack up some ZZZZzzzzz’s and plan Fletchers 1^st birthday party !!...OMG where did that year go !!! tell me about it !!!

I hope you also had a rejuvenating weekend in the sun with family and friends, have a safe and happy week ahead. ………Cheers Jonesey!!!!!

 

Harry and the Hendersons love where they live, their home is where our heart is !!!

 

Get Uncomfortable……saw this, liked it, hope you do too…..

“There are two kinds of people, the ones who are successful and getting what they want and then there's everybody else. People wonder what the successful, wealthy people are doing at the very top that they are missing? They ask, "why are they so comfortable? I work hard, I do the right things, I'm honest. Yet they have money, security, the home, great family and I'm here struggling or just not getting there quick enough. What am I missing?"

Well I'll tell you that it wasn't until I started to do what was uncomfortable that I started seeing more success professionally and personally. I studied successful people, I still do and I notice successful people are willing to be uncomfortable. At one point or another, they were willing to put themselves in situations that were uncomfortable, whereas the unsuccessful seek comfort from all their decisions. Moving my business, staff, wife and two young daughters from Los Angeles to Miami... uncomfortable. However, I looked at it as a challenge, an adventure, a next level move.

So when you see people who appear comfortable, understand that they got there by taking risks and doing the things that rattled them until they mastered them. They got "comfortable" by being willing to be "uncomfortable." So today, take notice of the uncomfortable things that you try and avoid and instead, tackle them. Work through the uncomfortable, push yourself through and success will come.

Be great!”..............Grant Cardone

 

I read this last week and it summarised everything about what I had just done at the E Learning  conference I had just MC’ed. I got a buzz out of getting out of my comfort zone for a couple of days. I will not die wondering or ever regret making the effort to be involved. So if you get a similar opportunity,why not have a crack !!!!

Minties moment !!!

         

 

 

Edition 194 Monday July 15th 2013

 

Hi, actions speak louder than words so we took our own advice and headed to Waiheke for an extended long weekend break. Todays ‘Upbeat’ comes to you from the relaxed pen of the Jones boy after some much needed time out ‘overseas’. We are lucky that Mum and Dad had the foresight to buy a section many moons ago after falling in love with the island and under the spell of its magical, mystical powers. From humble beginnings where family holidays were spent in a caravan on the site to today where a modern home sits proudly on the same dirt we have spent many an enjoyable holiday in what has become our little corner of paradise.

I never fail to relax on ‘island time’ from the minute we step ashore till the time we leave I fall in love all over again with the island every time we visit…its that sort of place. We introduced Fletcher to the experience for the first time and he had a ball eating the east coast sand and mixing with the locals.

On the back of recent events in our lives it was just what the doctor would have ordered so we were pleased we made the effort to do it.

I have decided I want to come back in my next life as a Vetinarian or a Dentist !! after an enforced visit to both last week. I was silly enough to be tempted into the free minties on the counter of our favourite indian restaurant and paid the price literally and metophorically when the side of my tooth accompanied the rest of the gluey mint down the hatch! Nek minute…..over a grand for a crown thanks very much! In sympathy Harry thought he would get crook and after a zillion $$ worth of exploratory work the diagnosis was a tummy ache !!!....maybe he munched on the left over  minities I threw in tha garden after our night out !!! Got to see the funny side J I guess!!Crikey I must be  relaxed !! I hope you are all looking after yourselves, planning some time out and spending as much time as you can with family and friends, have a great week,………Cheers Jonesey!!!!!

 

Harry and the Hendersons wont ever admit it, but, they missed us heaps, even grumpy!

 

“Whenever I'm taking time off, all I'm thinking about is working.”Scarlett Johansson

I don’t want to go on but it is important to take time out from work as well!

My problem is that I am so immersed in my work that I rush around trying to get everything outstanding tidied up before I go,to the point where I stress myself even more. I also find it  hard not to check emails or answer my phone once I am actually supposed to be on leave !!

All this does is worry me and upsets those I am supposed to be on leave with and those I have taken leave to be with! So many of my friends and colleagues experience the same difficulties..

Whats the point of taking leave if you are not going to do just that ?? It sounds easy enough but it  I have always found it so difficult to actually switch off. I think the key is surrounding yourself with people you are confident enough in to handle things in your absence. It is also important to realise that you are not indispensable and that the business and life are capable and will go on without you!

Take it from me if you can learn to do this both you and those most important to you will be a lot happier and relaxed as a result, belive me I have ruined more holidays than I care to remember, but I am determined to get that balance back on the right side of the ledger which is a relief to my family and friends. Make sure you do the same when you are planning and taking regular leave!

“Tennis is all about mental toughness, and you have to keep your head in the game. I make time to relax away from competition pressures, travel and intense training schedules to make sure I'm looking after myself. Taking time out with family and friends helps to maintain the work-life balance everyone needs.” Samantha Stosur