Recent Articles From EvanCarmichael.com http://www.evancarmichael.com/ http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/4208/Understanding-the-market.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/4208/Understanding-the-market.html As some of you know I have built SM Mentors predominantly on the telephone. That is I call and discuss business issues with owners of Small to Medium enterprises (£500K - £25Mn) on a three month cycle to be ready to help when they need it. As part of this I continuously get asked how other businesses are faring. This month I have taken a more disciplined view and recorded the comments to get a bellwether of what is going on. The answer in one word is mixed. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/4208/Mentoring-and-Walking--Taking-a-Different-Route.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/4208/Mentoring-and-Walking--Taking-a-Different-Route.html I am a very keen walker especially around the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside. Now one can get in a rut in walking as in business of always going the same way. I consider this principle in my latest article and find amazing value in taking a different route. I describe how I went for a walk with one of my clients near his home to great benefit to both parties. Read on and perhaps we can go for a walk too! http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/4208/Knowing-When-to-Sell.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/4208/Knowing-When-to-Sell.html One of my roles as a Mentor is to ask the BDQ – Bloody Difficult Question. And the real lulu of a question at the moment is “What the heck are you doing this for?” Surviving is hard enough but it is very painful working with clients and seeing them struggling on to keep the business running no matter what. The pain they are feeling is visible and so there are times when I as the Business Mentor have to call as it is. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/4208/Arctic-Lessons-in-Leadership.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/4208/Arctic-Lessons-in-Leadership.html Arctic Lessons in Leadership “Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success” No, this is not a request for people to assist the Government in managing the economy! But the famous advertisement placed by Ernest Shackleton in 1907 to accompany him on an arctic expedition. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/4208/So-what-do-you-know--or-what-do-you-think-you-know.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/4208/So-what-do-you-know--or-what-do-you-think-you-know.html One of my roles is to challenge current thinking. Businesses are formed and develop over time and certain ideas and concepts become embedded in the organisation. Mentors like myself challenge those ideas to ensure that the business remains fresh. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/4208/Do-you-have-to-be-lucky-to-be-successful.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/4208/Do-you-have-to-be-lucky-to-be-successful.html Do you have to be lucky to be successful? I take time to think about my articles and an idea for one came up a couple of months ago and coincidentally whilst thinking on the topic, an associate sent me something on the same lines as my thought process. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/4208/You-can-lead-a-horse-to-water-But-a-pencil-needs-to-be-led.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/4208/You-can-lead-a-horse-to-water-But-a-pencil-needs-to-be-led.html So say the immortal words of Stan Laurel (and that’s another fine mess you have gotten me into Stanley!). But what might you ask does this have to do with management and mentoring? Well in my three and half years in mentoring practice and 35 years in business, one thing I have learnt, and rather painfully too is that you can lead Directors, management, staff or businesses as a whole to the water but you certainly cannot make them drink. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/4208/Trapped-by-your-business.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/4208/Trapped-by-your-business.html As with all my articles they come out of real experience and my on going conversations with MD’s and Directors. I have been quite active in the business acquisition marketplace recently on behalf of a client. The word “trapped” has come up a number of times in my travels. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/4208/Surviving-the-downturn-and-coming-out-of-it-stronger.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/4208/Surviving-the-downturn-and-coming-out-of-it-stronger.html Surviving the downturn and coming out of it stronger I discussed in another about being trapped in your business and ways you can approach that issue. This was in response to my bell weather phone calls to businesses in June where some businesses were expressing concerns about business prospects. I am sure there are no doubters now with the various news stories or “Recession Porn” as I heard Tom Vose of National Australian Bank call it “We know it’s awful and it makes us feel bad but we cannot help reading it!” http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/4208/Questions-not-Answers.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Leadership/4208/Questions-not-Answers.html Questions not Answers I have said in previous articles that one of my processes is asking BDQ’s - Bloody Difficult Questions. I think I might have also said that the questions are only difficult if you do not know the answers. But there is a real key here to what it is I do and how I can facilitate change and action.