THIS BLOG HAS MOVED

Hi there!
I have moved this blog onto my website ...so now you can simply go to one site for any information on what I am doing, what I have done, what you might find interesting. You can see video clips, and hear my audio samples for voice over. You can also comment on anything you like...just like a blog...only better.

See you there!

www.ellajames.com




Ella

Are you being heard?

I recently MC'd the launch of the new Quickbooks QBi series Accounting Software for Reckon around Australia. It was a fabulous time as two blokes and a blonde told gathered audiences all about this fabulous new software that gives users more time for life, spending less time on bookeeping procedures. So, in each city, Clayton Oates from QA Business, Gavin Dixon ,CEO Business Division Reckon Ltd and I, would hit the stage, the two men informing and me entertaining. At night it was a different event, and a different crowd. We went from 300 to 500 business people, bookkeepers, accountants, to 100 retailers who were to sell the software, and hosted events for them at Bowling establishments around the country.

It's easy to keep people's attention when they want to know what you have to offer...it's an entirely different matter when they really want to bowl and have a drink and a chat to their friends. A decision was made to tie two coffee tables together and provide me with a microphone in order to reach the group...and this photo is me, unsteadily on the two tables, with Fran (Event Manager) and Alex (National Sales Manager) sorting out the prizes for best bowler beside me.

That was the easy part...and it worked....by making me the focus of attention, and loud, we got the message out and the audience had a great time but it made me think about how often in business, we are not being heard.
I don't mean like me of course..I mean, when you're speaking, and people appear to be listening, but don't seem to be getting your message.

It may be because you aren't communicating effectively, or it might just be that the person for whom your message is intended...just ain't listening!

What to do?

Firstly, make sure you are delivering your message to the right person...someone who is interested in what you have to say, and will act on it. Secondly, if you are delivering a tough message, to the right person, but they don't want to listen, start speaking in their language. Find a common ground on which to communicate. I liken it to going to a dinner party and launching into one of my jokes at full speed and top volume. Of course, we would never do that...! (would we??..only joking) We go in, quietly meeting people on their own level, doing a fair amount of listening, and working out who we want to be in conversation with by dessert. Success! Only ever foiled by nerves and too many bread rolls (you know what I mean). Love to know your thoughts...what is the most boring, uncomfortable message you have ever been forced to endure...and what have you done to spice up your comm skills!

iWONDER

I am having dreams of something deliciously smooth, beautiful to look at, feels so wonderful in my hands, just makes such a difference to my life......yep, I am thinking iPHONE! But there are so many 'IF's'....like, with such a beautiful BIIIIIG screen, can I just chuck it in my handbag? yeah, I know....I had always planned to put my Nokia n70 gently into the purpose designed possie in the side of my handbag..but sometimes...just sometimes...it gets hurled into the bottom to fight it out with the odd mint, a comb, my collection of 5 MAC lippies, enough spare change to fund 15 parking meters and an unused and unusable tissue. Won't it be hurt? What does one do, does it come with it's own little iCONDOM to protect it's gorgeousness?

NOW JUST BACK UP!!!!!!

I love my MAC. I have a thing for keyboards and screens in general...I have an iPOD an iSHUFFLE...I am pretty well the earliest adopter in my circle...however, I am blonde. I don't mean BLONDE as in dumb...I mean blonde as in, if there is something I find tedious and uninteresting, I will fail to do it every time.
And this is where BACK UP comes in.
My friends at Quickbooks have encouraged me, after I travelled around Australia with them promoting their highly sexy new software package QUICKBOOKS QBi SERIES, to upgrade. Upgrading most things is exciting...think, cars, boyfriends, from economy to business...heck even business to first...however....upgrading software creates a fear in the pit of my stomach...and it's these words that come with the upgrade instructions that do it.

"Before you convert your data file, it is important to do everything you can to protect your data. To ensure accuracy in your data you will need to complete the following;"


WARNING WILL ROBINSON...WARNING WILL ROBINSON (to those of you too young to remember Lost in Space...these fateful words were emoted by the passionless robot to warn his young master whom he would guard with his life.

Last week, I lost all my data, when I hit one simple key twice...DELETE....are you sure????????

Yes, of course I'm sure...DELETE GONE.
OH NO
GONE
OH NO IT MUST BE HERE SOMEWHERE....

A friend who shall remain nameless but is pretty big in the world of gadgets, widgets, wikis and such....her hardrive crashed...and guess what...she hadn't backed up for 8 weeks....

AAARRRGHHHHHHHHH!

We should know better.

So, I see

Before you convert your data file, it is important to do everything you can to protect your data. To ensure accuracy in your data you will need to complete the following;
and I think....I might just leave that until I am fresh and full of at least two cups of coffee..

What are your back up solutions? Your comments appreciated!

have a lovely long weekend.

Ella x

Welcome Dermatology Nurses, Quickbooks users and Alfresco Open Source Users and lateral Minds

Hi !

I can't tell you how fabulous it was to meet you this week! To the woman who asked me how I can get her superiors to cotton on to this..I wish I had an answer. The flippant answer would be to say 'get them to organise me for a conference" . So I put this out to all users...how do we get our management teams to adopt positive psychology...please comment here to help everyone. Remember, collaboration rules!
I wish you much happiness.
Ella x

Laughing Baby

ADVENTURE BEFORE DEMENTIA

Hi! I am just back from speaking to two groups from BUSINESS WOMEN CONNECT. One at the beautiful Wollongong Golf Club in Wollongong, and the second at Crowne Plaza Terrigal.

Thankyou so much for your kind feedback. I want to share a story with you, and invite you to comment. A couple of you have contacted me after speaking and have told me that you 'get it'. You have spent so much time on others, your business, your parents, but the 'me' time is just lost in the mix. As I said, I don't have any answers as to how to get it back. I don't believe it's by having a bath! Burning some incense. The other thing, if you PLAN it, it's not the same is it? Love your comments on this. If you have found 'me' time successfully, let me know your secrets!!! Share for all!!

Jan Hellyar from Property Penguins 'gets it'. We have since spoken about the notion of how we 'disappear'. We become corporate...lose the 'colour' in our lives. Where did the younger version of YOU go? I'm not talking about the non droopy maybe slightly slimmer less wrinkled version, but the version on the inside? Do you feel you've lost her? Do you feel you have 'slowed down' in more ways than one? Not just that your get and go, has got up and gone, but that the fire in your belly, your 'red hair' seems to have calmed down. Now, this is a good thing in some ways. All that emotional fury of youth can be a bit hit and miss...but what about the energy of passion?

Jan reckons the best bumper sticker she's seen is
ADVENTURE BEFORE DEMENTIA!

How fabulous is Simone Preston at Business Women Connect. She and Rhonda are dynamic women aren't they? I really enjoy presenting to you, their members. Love to know your thoughts on networking? Some success stories perhaps? How you make it work for you?

I love that!

I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Tags: dementia, women, 'women in business