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Monday Motivation

Netflix and….Rest?

We need rest.

It’s important to get the right amount of rest required. But it can be hard to switch off. We have so much going on around us… content overload!

Again – we need to rest. We need to switch off. But when your favourite series, programmes etc.. are on Netflix, we can often keep on watching till the early hours!

But worry not. We now have Restflix!

That’s right. It’s a new app – that helps you rest!

Available on both Android and iOS – you can download the app, and get the rest you need.

It uses a proven technology called binaural beats to harness the brain’s responsiveness to sound and help create a meditative, restful state. You can play more than 20 live channels that feature soothing sounds, bedtime stories, guided meditations, and much more, all of which are designed to gently ease you into a full night’s sleep.

Restflix offers unlimited video and audio with no interruptions, helping you to overcome insomnia, tinnitus, night-time anxiety, and hit each day with greater energy and vigor. It’s available on all major platforms, including Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, iOS, and Android.

I thought it’d be important to share this…. for a couple of reasons…

  1. We’re still going through tough times – Covid 19 is still around, and we’re still under partial lockdown in places, people are stressed and worried… so getting the rest needed is difficult.
  2. Holidays are cancelled. More people are having a staycation – in fact, they’re not even going anywhere, just staying at home! – and with that, need some rest.

So, go ahead… download the app…. and get some rest, via Restflix.

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Monday Motivation

Fear of Missing Out – FOMO!

We all know what FOMO is, right? – the Fear of Missing Out!

We don’t want to miss out. We want to be involved. We want to know what’s happening – in our interested subjects, be it people – be it cars – be it anything we want to know about. We have to stay involved. And companies know this! They know it only too well…..

Now, rather than me talk about it – I was recently introduced to a podcast by Brian Fanzo….

If you’ve not had the chance to listen to him – I strongly recommend you do.

He talks about some great subjects… providing some insights, providing some analysis and more importantly, providing you with a ‘call to action’ to do something!

Now whilst my podcast is doing ok – (and if you haven’t heard it, it’s called Think Lean, Get Digital)…. you should really check FOMOFanz out.

Not only his podcast – he’s got several videos on YouTube. And he records a video of him doing his podcast!

Before I recommend anyone to you guys – I want to ensure the person is good. They’ve got the right credentials. They know what they’re talking about. They’ve built a bit of a following and/or they are super talented on their subject of choice.

Here’s Brian’s social media stats….

Oui – impressive!

So there you go people – need some Monday Motivation? – well, go check Brian out and you’ll be super motivated!

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Monday Motivation

Monday Motivation…

I’m a firm believer that we all have ideas.

The problem is, only a handful of us will pursue our ideas… our dreams.

But why do the majority of us stop? Why do many of us think… it won’t work. It’s because people tell us it won’t work. People tell us, it’s a ‘bad idea’, or that…. it’ll never be successful

How do they know?

Give it a go. Because you never know…

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Uncategorized

10yrs since Woolworths…

It’s been 10 years since Woolworths left the High Street.

It was a bit of an institution. But the time had come to close it’s doors based on poor sales and customers, just not buying anymore. There were a couple of reasons – mainly, their music and DVD part of the business which  was so profitable wasn’t doing so good – because habits had changed, with on-line music available.

The whole business couldn’t have been held on just it’s famous pic’n’mix.

They had a lot of stores up and down the country.

What happened then, Bal?

Well – a new ‘shopping model’ appeared. Pound World/Land/Everything.

The stores that sold everything for a pound was a simple and effective model. Very successful  – and they bought many of the stores where Woolworths used to be, and set up shop.

But even today – they’re not doing so well. In July, PoundWorld announced they’ll close 150 stores of it’s total 335 stores with administrators looking for a buyer. Poundland isn’t performing too well either.

The High Street is changing. Shopping habits are changing. We’re shopping more and more online. But moreso, via our mobile devices.

As per a previous blog post – we’re in that phase of ‘Bricks and Clicks’ – where retailers need to have a strong on-line presence aswell as maintaining their high street presence, because we’re going through that ‘transition phase’.

In the future – we’ll have less physical stores for us to visit. They’ll be more ‘experience outlets’. Where we can go, and experience whatever it is we want to buy. Then have the ability to order on-line and for it to be delivered at home.

In addition – smaller outlets, for those essentials on the way home from work. Using technology to make it a quick and easy experience – similar to the Amazon physical store.

And as today is ‘Cyber Monday’ – how long that term will last, i’m not sure – because alot of the sales on Friday were on-line… means we’ll be more ‘cyber shoppers’ than before.

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Monday Motivation

Monday Motivation…

Recently, I tweeted – I may hold a workshop, around idea generation… creating ideas… collaboration… and how you can succeed on those ideas.

The key thing here is… imagination.

 

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Start-ups can learn from Rak-Su…

Some of you, may have been viewing the X-Factor 2017 Final… I know I was… in fact, I do most years… it’s good entertainment for a cold Sunday evening.

And i’d like to take a moment to congratulate Rak-Su for winning the competition.

I’ll be honest. I’ve been watching it – from the moment they (Rak-Su) first walked into the audition room, to them performing when they’d won.

There’s been a few things I’ve picked up on… that I think, made them favourites quite early on… to win.

And these attributes, I thought, could be related to business… and especially start-ups. Because… start-ups are in a similar situation when they enter the market – or in X Factor words… ‘the audition room’.

There’s alot of competition. Everybody wants to win. Everyone is ‘new’.. and this is the start-up scene!

Everyone wants to be noticed. Everyone wants their product to stand out. Everyone wants investment.

So, there’s a lot of similarities between the X Factor Audition Room… and the Start-up scene. But what makes a small company, a start-up a success… well, let’s see what Rak-Su did, and if we can learn anything from them.

  1. Rak-Su sang their own song. 
    • Rarely done – especially in the previous years auditions, but in 2017 as a whole, many of the artists up’d their game, and sang their own songs.
    • Points for originality and points for standing out and not singing another Ed Sheeran cover.
    • What can we learn from this  – Well, it’s simple… stand out by making sure you are original. You’ll have a higher probability of being remembered and noticed, if you are doing something new…
  2. Rak-Su had their own style
    • When they performed, there was more rapping, subtle choreographed dance moves, each member had a unique offering, but the group performed very well together.
    • I’ve mentioned before, let’s move away from the Minimum Viable Product… you should be working on the Minimum Loveable Product.
    • What can we learn from this – Well it’s simple… don’t look around and copy.. .bring your own style and flavour to the game. Ensure you have the diversity and the subtle moves that will make you, a ‘MLP’.
  3. Rak-Su stood in a line.. and waited.
    • You got to be in it… to win it!
    • Just like all the other contestants, Rak-Su stood and queued in a line… got their numbers… and then auditioned. They followed the process… 6 chair challenge… live shows… etc… before being named as the winners.
    • What can we learn from this – Well it’s simple… have some patience. Go network, stand in a line and meet some interesting people. Investment, success and customers may not come over night… keep working towards the goal… and importantly… keep growing… keep learning. (By the way, Rak-Su were quickly able to have their songs on iTunes and it was charting quite high up – early on – due to the publicity via the show).

So there you go, a couple of things to think about from Rak-Su… & their journey to winning the competition.

Now… at the start, I did say… some folk may have not watched it… and I know, many folk from around the world – who read this blog – may have not had the opportunity to see Rak-Su.

For you guys.. here’s one of their performances. Enjoy.