Ladies and gentlemen, the low hanging fruit has gone. Now you have a choice.

Moan and groan, or get a ladder.

I know quite a bit about ladders having spent the first seven years of my working life as a roofing contractor. I remember we used to do regular repairs on a NHS building close to our office. This building was huge - three storeys tall with high rooms. When the contract came up for renewal, my Dad (the boss) confidently pitched and got the work. He wasn’t the cheapest by far and yet it was still ours as it had been for the past 10 years.

When I asked him how we got the contract he calmly replied, ‘Easy son, we’ve got the biggest ladder’. Crazy as this seemed it was true. As soon as other cheaper companies were asked how they would get up on to the high roof they realised they’d have to build a scaffold, then they’d err and umm over the additional cost and the contracts manager would cross them off the list.

You’re not a roofer but I bet you’ve seen some of your important business, contacts and customers move to higher branches.

Time to get a ladder.

Here are my suggestions for eight ladders that will help you gather the freshest, finest fruit from the highest branches.

- The EDUCATION ladder. What are you learning right now? What skills are you acquiring? What was the last book you read and what have you implemented because of it? Improving your knowledge will pay a greater return than any other investment.
  
- The NETWORK ladder.  Most people have an idea that good networking is; to attend an event with other ‘networkers’, leave with a handful of business cards then never contact the people they met ever again! Master networkers belong to the right groups, target who they want to meet and have a strategy for how they will be introduced to them.
 
- The OLD CONTACTS ladder. Who do you need to get back in touch with? When things are going well it doesn’t seem to matter if months or years go by without staying in touch.  Now it’s different – every contact, old and new, matters.

If you’re not sure how to get in touch with an old contact here’s how to do it.  Pick up the phone (NOW) and call them. Say, ‘I’ve just been thinking about you so I thought I’d give you a call’. Then ask them some well thought out questions. Simple, but will you do it?

- The EDGE Ladder. What makes you the best at what you do? If you can’t think of anything then it’s time to get the edge - focus on what you want to be brilliant at, then take action to achieve it.

- The ATTITUDE Ladder. Perhaps the most important ladder of all. This is not the time for negativity, it’s time to take positive action. As old Zig Ziglar says ‘Your attitude will determine your altitude’.

- The GRAFT Ladder. Not anyone’s favourite because it is exactly what it says on the tin – hard work. Extra hours, extra effort, extra detail. It’s time to go the extra five miles while every one else is sweating over going the extra one.

- The TECHNOLOGY Ladder. Are you familiar with Facebook*, are you Lindkedin*? What are you learning and what are you testing in the world of new technology?

*If you are on Facebook or Linkedin then find me and connect with me now!

- The FIT & HEALTHY ladder. You have got to be better than ever at looking after yourself and creating energy. It’s hard to climb up the ladder and pick the fruit if you’re not in a peak condition. Step up so you can step up.

There’s probably another 100 ladders out there which can help you but you have to look for them, learn them and use them.

Be Brilliant!

Michael Heppell
January 2009 

Our new event pages now contain an audio programme for both How to Be Brilliant and Brilliance in Business, narrated by Michael, so you will be able to gain an exclusive insight into how the event works.

The two-day event will be held at the magnificent Chesterfield Hotel in Mayfair, London.

To read more about How to Be Brilliant click here

To read more about Brilliance in Business click here

If you want to take massive action and book your place on-line now, click here

Or if you prefer, you can call our office on 08456 733 336 (Int: +44 1434 688 555) and we'd be delighted to answer any questions you may have.