http://www.passionatepractice.com Re:Think | Innovation | Creativity Sun, 03 Jan 2010 07:43:46 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Double the amount of time you spend in front of qualified prospects. Forgetting short-term sales targets for one moment, shouldn't you be aiming to do this anyway? Get out of the office! http://www.passionatepractice.com/marketing/how-to-double-your-sales-in-2010 Today's Pre Budget Report provided an opportunity for me (and fellow tax professionals) to demonstrate our expertise. Herein lies the danger... Experts in their field find it difficult to talk in plain English.  Experts rarely remember what it is like to know the basics only.  Experts forget that they are immersed in ... http://www.passionatepractice.com/communication/curse-of-being-an-expert As professionals / consultants, what are the essentials we need to be able to deliver a 1st class client service? A laptop An internet connection - most coffee houses have wifi these days A mobile phone - iphones now available in Tesco... Skype for free calls / videoconferencing over the web Some occassional (e.g. serviced) office ... http://www.passionatepractice.com/innovation-tools/bootstrapping-a-professional-services-firm ...it's what you achieve in the (short?) time you are doing your work. Monday Morning Focus: Make every minute count.  Catch yourself shuffling paper or doing easy tasks that are of no real value to the firm or your clients.  Focus on the important stuff.  Focus, focus, focus (then leave early!) http://www.passionatepractice.com/monday-morning-focus/its-not-the-hours-you-work Re:thinking accountancy Being passionate about client service Embedding innovative thinking Exploring creative thinking tools Creating a WOW! experience for clients Exploring new ways of working Cross-pollinating ideas Applying visual thinking Making cool stuff (services) Asking the BIG WHY?  Always Presentation bullet-point dodging Leadership skills - a brand called YOU? Improv tools for a fast changing business world 'Playing together nicely' aka ... http://www.passionatepractice.com/accountancy/passionate-practice "Strategy is a series of trade-offs" - Michael Porter I was discussing strategy with a client of mine recently and she mentioned the above quote that she had heard at a Michael Porter seminar.  I think it sums up STRATEGY perfectly. In my view great strategy demands: laser-sharp focus stubborness persistence unflappability coolness anti-herd mentality bravery self-belief adaptibility conversation (listening is implicit) clear future vision ... http://www.passionatepractice.com/strategy/strategy-is-a-series-of-trade-offs MILTON GLASER DRAWS & LECTURES from C. Coy on Vimeo. "When children are prevented from drawing their brains stop developing properly" Yikes !- so when did you last scribble with your crayons? Drawing is: thinking seeing understanding identifying issues solving problems seeing connections answering questions paying attention enhancing curiosity seeing possibilities Hat tip to Digital Roam http://www.passionatepractice.com/right-brain-thinking/why-drawing-is-thinking-in-business Most professional advisors prefer to work with ambitious entrepreneurial businesses yet it is important that as accountants and business advisors we also reflect this mindset and behaviour in our own dealings and actions. We need to become more entrepreneurial.  But this shouldn't be restricted to an ambitious handful of rainmakers.  Entrepreneurship ... http://www.passionatepractice.com/leadership/becoming-entrepreneuri-all-business-advisors Just think..... if you (+ your team) could do one thing to reach out to clients and targets every day.  Or even every week. What difference could this make to your Firm? All it takes is: Just one thing. A client touch. An interaction with a target. For example: An email invite ... http://www.passionatepractice.com/monday-morning-focus/just-one-thing Design Thinking brings about a new way of thinking about client interactions and experiences of working with your firm. Applying design thinking to an accountancy firm might result in: First impressions - the look and feel of the office reception. Any nice surprises? e.g. the offer of a lavishly made cup of ... http://www.passionatepractice.com/strategy/applying-design-thinking-to-an-accountancy-firm