Raw and Essential!!!

         

 

 

                                                                                       Edition 266 Tuesday January 27th 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi,happy 175^th birthday Auckland, City of Sails!!!!What an amazing weekend for Jafa’s to celebrate in style.We spent more time outside the house than we did in it. Our scooby Doo new BBQ was put through its paces as Alfresco everything was the go at 48.We had scored the brand new 4 burner BBQ still in the box at the red shed for a hundy(less 66%)one large dent to lid but not to chefs ego!!

All things considered Auckland is a special place on the planet to live and we are lucky to live there!

Fletcher reckons; he is ready to move up to the next size outdoor pool especially after having to share it all weekend with Mum, Dad, Harry and the Hendersons….crikey who is the kid here!!

Speaking of Harry and the Hendersons after hearing heaps about the ‘Raw Essentials’ raw food diets for dogs we have embarked on a trial run for Kate, Harry and Oscar!The bulk processed bags of dog food have been replaced with raw foods like rabbit,beef,lamb,chicken,duck,tripe in special measured portions.After just a week the change is noticeable with Kate in particular looking,feeling and moving a lot sharper.Harry and Oscar have a new lease of life whilst the grumpy old man considers secondary employment or additional mortgage to finance these new delicacies!

I have used my outstanding natural talent as a house painter and the good weather to get some paint on some dry thirsty window frames lashed for years by the unforgiving Tasman!!Thankfully the heat from the sun is so intense any external painting has to be completed between 7-9am(bugger J).

What is it about “Total fire ban” and “Swim between the flags” that people don’t seem to get as many continue to ignore both endangering themselves and others…courtesy of Muriwai rescue services!!

I trust all Auckland Anniversary long weekend recipients had a great time with family and friends and that all others had a good Monday.Roll on Waitangi weekend,have a fun week………..Cheers Jonesey!

 

Harry and the Hendersons reckon they are raw,essential,and worth it!!

 

 

“What we learn only through the ears makes less impression upon our minds than what is presented to the trustworthy eye.” Horace

Following on the feedback theme from last week I was a customer of a new Mega Mitre 10 recently.

The new franchisee/owner has invested a significant amount of capital into his new venture. He has provided employment for heaps of locals and a significant DIY resource for the weekend warrior.

As a customer I like good service so I always notice when I receive some….and when I don’t!

The Mega Mitre 10 Group have a lot of initiatives around customer service and one of them is an online feedback survey for customers to complete after their visit.They provide an incentive by way of a $1000 store voucher for one lucky survey scribe!

I visited twice in two days and filled out surveys both times(pick me).

What I noticed both times was that there was no concious effort made to ‘meet and greet’ customers.

To me the ‘meet and greet’ directs the first impressions of any business and dictates to a large and important degree how the rest of the visit goes.I actually reckon having someone responsible for meeting and greeting is a worthwhile investment for any business.

Imagine being met personally in a non threatening way and then directed to where you need to go.

Investing in staff to do this would pay itself off plenty of times over in repeat sales and word of mouth advertising for the business!!We have a duty to tell people about our customer experience.

I eventually found what I was looking for and met some helpful people along the way and some not so but nothing to rave about so I didn’t.I trust this feedback assists this business to improve and I look forward to going back again to see if it has and to hopefully pick up my voucher for a grand!!

 

“Always roll up the sleeves on your shirt. It gives the impression that you're working, even if you're not.”Ashton Kutcher

Muriwai time!!

         

 

 

                                                                                       Edition 265 Monday January 19th 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi,happy new year,I hope 2015 has started well and continues to get better.Crikey what an amazing run of golden weather to match anything from recent memory and to rival the endless summers etched into my childhood memories. We are lucky to live at the beach so our home morphed into our holiday home as one brilliant timeless day blended into another.Muriwai time has no master or deadlines, when you are tired you sleep, when you are hot you swim and eat icecream, when you are hungry you picnic/ BBQ,when you are energetic you play or exercise,when you are thirsty you open the bar,very relaxing,very cool, very kiwi and the only way to go.We love holidays and where we live!

Fletcher reckons; Christmas was a blast but it’s a bit rough of Dad and Mum expecting him to good for the next 365 days to ensure Santa returns for Christmas 2015!!Crikey give us a break!

A pulled calf muscle painfully reminded me I am another year older and that rest is an integral component of any exercise program.Yes god does move in mysterious ways and yes elite athletes like myself do have to listen to their bodies and do as they are told.I am lucky I have an understanding wife who opted for compassion rather than for the racehorse remedy(although tempted at times!!).

Exercise, work/life balance and family feature high on my list of priorities for 2015.Rather than try to set myself a whole list of resolutions, goals and objectives I decided yet again to set myself one task for 2015….to be better than I am now at everything I do in these and other areas of my life. This is not a one off task but one that applies to everyday of my life....I cant wait to be better !!

I hope you all had a relaxing Christmas and New Year break with family and friends and that like me you are ready and raring to go again for what promises to be a year as big and bright if not more so that any in the past. It is and will be exactly what you make it and I believe that by approaching it with a positive ‘Upbeat’ attitude you will have more than an even chance of succeeding in all you do.Have a great week…………….Cheers Jonesey!

 

Harry and the Hendersons reckon life is a beach holiday 24/7 and rest is a daily highlight!

 

“ Measure your success not on the level of profit you’re making today, but on the level of the referrals you’re getting today.” Mark Hunter…’the sales hunter’

 

‘Word of mouth’ is the cheapest and most effective form of advertising. I experienced this first hand prior to Christmas when I received a referral and won a subsequent business opportunity from it!

I was lucky enough to have the chance to present and share experiences with the learning and development team of professionals at IAG Insurance.In an interactive and lively session we  challenged each other to think innovatively and strategically about different approaches to achieving outcomes for our customers.I gained a huge amount from the session and will especially benefit from the objective and intuitive written feedback from the team at IAG. There is nothing more valuable than being evaluated by your peers, it is the gift of growth and as such vitally essential for my future personal development as a presenter and sales professional.

Two key things from this for me;

1)Always give and ask for referrals. If you get good service then let people know about it.If you give good service then ask for details of others who would be interested in your service or product. You will be pleasantly surprised how willing people are to pass on this information….give it a crack.

2)Always ask for feedback on anything you do for or with others.How else will you know how you are doing and what you need to do to improve? Evaluation/feedback is rocket fuel…give it a crack!

Footnote; Speaking of feedback, my feedback late last year about the poor customer service I received from a hire company resulted in that company apologizing personally and reimbursing me fully. Big thanks to the management and staff at Hirepool for this acknowledgement and apology!!

 

“Feedback is the breakfast of champions.” Ken Blanchard

A date with 48

 

 

 

                                                                                       Edition 264 Monday December 15th 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi,after kicking off 2014 with a hiss and a roar here we are 48 ripper editions later sliding in sideways flat out to the finish leaving no questions unanswered whilst ‘upbeating’ the mediocre masses!!

Thanks for the support and feedback, I could not do it without your honesty, frankness and most importantly your friendship.I know it is not easy ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ but I also know that without you it would be so much harder to pick myself up, dust myself off and keep going regardless!

There have been many highlights this year for me but the one that stands out above them all would have to be marrying my soul mate Christine on what was an extra special day for us in March.

Fletcher reckons; his daycare Christmas show is a sell out with the major draw card undoubetedly being the ‘Rockabye bear’ number being performed by him and the Paua room gang!!Mum and Dad missed out online but managed to secure tickets on trademe and will be in the lucky,large crowd.

Christmas for us is a time for family, sharing and reflection and we plan to devote time to all three over the coming festive season….we hope you get the time to do the same.

On reflection I know I am lucky to have the immediate and extended family I have around me especially with my Mum and Dad still thankfully happy ,healthy and wise. I know I could have definitely done a better job at staying in touch with my brother and sister and their families so have that as a goal for improvement in 2015.

‘Upbeat’ is taking a break over the holiday period but will be back bigger and brighter than ever on Monday 19^th January 2015.

Christine, Fletcher and I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy,safe New Year break with your families and friends.We have enjoyed sharing our personal and work experiences with you this year and look forward to bringing you more of the same next year.

Have an awesome ‘upbeat’ week, take care and be ‘happy as’…………….Cheers Jonesey!

 

Harry and the Hendersons reckon you are all Scooby Doo for reading 48 Upbeats !!!

 

 

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." Winston Churchill

 

The personal highlight for me this year has been accepting the challenge to mentor a group of young enterprise business students from my old school Takapuna Grammar.

I was hesitant at first but decided to have a crack and use the experience as an opportunity to get out of my comfort zone and give something back to others and my old school.

More importantly I saw it as a chance for me to also develop my own skills further in particular my listening and thinking skills.Definitely two things I am always looking to be’ better’ at!

Our idea evolved amazingly over the year into a viable business venture and won a number of young enterprise awards including national recognition for innovation along the way…what a ride!

Our enterprise business won a major sales order from Palmers new Auckland ‘Planet’ store and will feature product on sale in the grand opening and lead up to Christmas….Wow what a buzz.

I have been so inspired and motivated by the experience I have signed up for another go in 2015.

Isee mentoring as an essential part of my ongoing development as a sales professional.

There is nothing more satisfying than sharing your experience and knowledge with others who then use it combined with their own intelligence,enthusiasm and ideas to progress themselves and their ideas further than they ever believed possible on their own. My challenge to you is to seek opportunities in 2015 to become a mentor…..believe me it is one of the most rewarding things you can do for your self and others.

 

"The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to them their own." Benjamin Disraeli

M aking A D ifference

 

 

 

                                                                                       Edition 263 Monday December 8th 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi,seasons greetings from the Joneses on the wild west coast happy in our natural amphitheatre of rich vibrant red Pohutukawa bloom.Creating a perfect kiwi summer backdrop for the many tourists and holiday makers staking early claims for the best sites at the local motor camp.Yes this time of year has that exciting yet crazy feel about it with heaps of loose ends to tie and no string and limited time with which to do it with! End of year this and that events to attend,deals still to do, people to see,places to go and all whilst attempting to navigate and negotiate the Auckland motorway chaos!!

Fletcher reckons; his new wetsuit and boogie board are scooby doo and cant wait to hit the surf these summer holidays!Father Christmas is popular and in the running for cup cakes and a cold beer!!

Life returns somewhat to normal with Christine now retired as a full timer but looking forward to her new part time job beginning February.In the meantime nearly two months for us all to recover J!

Yes you could have “told me so” and  I guess I sort of knew but decided to have a crack anyway and wrote letters to the cops!Yes I failed x 3 and yes I will pay but will enjoy the extra month to do so! Simply put,the faster you go the bigger the fine…..when will some people learn! L.

We took delivery of our pre loved ‘super king’ size bed this weekend!! Crikey there is only one room in the house big enough to fit the thing in.You could say goodnight and not see each other again until the morning, that’s how long it will take to get back to where you started!Lovely to have though and plenty of room Fletcher reckons to come visiting or for a longer stay!!

In world news…our globe trotting son Mark on his never ending OE is in London hunkering down for a cold but white Christmas before heading off on another adventure in the new year.you always worry!

I hope you are coping with the work load, the traffic and the festivities whilst still managing to focus on spending quality time with the people most important to you…………….Cheers Jonesey!

 

Harry and the Hendersons reckon they could work with the ‘super king’ without any  fuss!!

 

In a gentle way, you can shake the world. — Mahatma Gandhi

 

Always looking for inspiration?,look no further than things that happen around you every day.

I find it is the simple,small things I do that often provide me the greatest inspiration or boost.

Like last week I was visiting a potential customer and happened to pick up a piece of litter that was in the main entrance of their premises.It is something I do often when visiting existing or potential customers.I thought nothing more of this until the person I was meeting mentioned how great they thought it was that I would take the time to do something like that!They had seen and it meant enough to them to make a point of thanking me.A relationship with this customer could not have got off on a better note, a small thing to do that had a big impact!

In another example I had to drop my car to the panelbeater(againL) for some minor repairs. When I picked it up I noted that the car had been groomed and was gleaming.I personally sort the groomer out from the back of the shop and made sure he knew how much I appreciated what he had done and how great I though my car looked.I didn’t have to do that but I reckoned it was well worth it to let him know that what he did impressed me enough to specially thank him.The smile on his face said it all and gave me a great deal of personal satisfaction also…..small thing but huge!

I have come up with a cunning plan for the 1000 plus golf balls I have found out daily walking ‘Harry and the Hendersons’.I am going to do a deal with the local golf club pro shop to sell the balls back to their owners and others for a gold coin donation to the local volunteer fire brigade and surf life savers.A simple idea to provide a perfect way for the local golfers to support the local community!

All small,simple things that either made or have the potential to make a huge difference.

Anyone can do this by being ‘Upbeat’ and willing to think a little differently to Make A Difference!!!

 

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.  Dr.Seuss