A duck and a dream

I had the pleasure of watching arguably the world’s best magician David Copperfield live in Melbourne recently. The magic itself was awesome...

17 reasons you should always carry a book with you

1. As someone who used to spend a lot of time waiting for real estate clients to show up – I know that clients / appointments / people in general are often late...

Reality Television your way to Success

I think I’m one of the only “motivational speakers” (not that I call myself that) who will openly admit that I watch television. I watch bad television too… even… dare I say it… reality television.

Where is the love?!

One of my businesses, Elephant Property, works in the notoriously under appreciated category of residential property management. The old adage in property management...

The power of the word

I’m quite distraught. I was eating my personal trainer approved afternoon snack of 12 almonds (my suggestion of 12 Tim Tams: not approved)...

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Some people get it…

Some people get it… like the staff at Faull’s shoe shop here in Launceston where I just bought a fabulous new pair of shoes. While I was in there I pointed out my badly scuffed, but well loved red leather boots (my staple this past winter). They organised some shoe polish for me to purchase as well. The lady helping me out then came out with some polish on a cloth to “test the colour” and proceeded to re-redden both my boots. Service – they get it.

Some people don’t get it… like the café I sat in for around 40 minutes when 4 of the 6 total customers asked for gluten free options and were told by the owner of the business that the café only had one. Listening to their customers – they didn’t get it.

Some people get it big time… like the Atrium café, also here in Launceston who when they discovered they’d taken a little longer than their usual standard time to deliver a coffee to my friend and I the other day brought out two complimentary little tasty treats. When I questioned whether they were gluten free (my friend has an intolerance) we were presented with a further treat – at no cost – that was gluten free. Turning a problem into an opportunity – they get it.

Do you get it?

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By Kirsty Dunphey with 2 comments

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

A Mess Or A System?

If you walked in the front door of my house, on certain days, you'd probably step right on top of my car keys placed carefully on the floor deliberately in the way.

What a mess you might instantly think - but no, you're walking straight into a system of mine.

You see, awhile back I had this terrible habit of putting my clothes in the washing machine, turning it on and forgetting about it. Hours, sometimes even days, would pass before I'd realise my mistake. An embarrassing confession – but true nonetheless.

After having my clothes colours run together one too many times I knew I needed a system. At first I started leaving my downstairs light on but my eco-friendly side didn't like this. Then I started leaving my keys in front of the door.

I'd see them as I walked around the house and remember to remove my clothes. This worked beautifully except for the few times my extremely helpful husband decided to put my keys "where they belong" without telling me.

Now, clearly I'm not suggesting you all start leaving keys on the floor (I'm sure most of you probably don't even have this same particular problem as me) but it's a simple illustration of the implementation of a system.

* Step 1. Have a problem (in this case, not remembering my clothes were in the washing machine).

* Step 2. Come up with a solution (leaving the light on).

* Step 3. Work the solution and amend if necessary (changed system to keys).

* Step 4. Remember to let people know the system (letting my husband know so that he wouldn't mess with my system!).

* Step 5. Go back to step 3 as often as is necessary.

This five step process is exactly the same simple one that I use for implementing systems in the workplace. Now... I'm off to implement a system that stops me turning the bath on and getting distracted (yes, I've had a few floods!).

To sign up to Kirsty's weekly email head to: www.kirstydunphey.com

By Kirsty Dunphey with 4 comments

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