Retain staff and save money

A most recent situation has given me the opportunity to take a break from the "how to" blogs and report a bit about "what happens if?". 

There are many cost saving and other benefits that come with setting up your business to be able to  "Work from Anywhere" and retaining staff is probably not one that may immediately come to mind but believe me it is a big one.

Losing key personnel out of your business can be a very costly exercise in so many ways.The cost of employing and training a new staff member is significant, not to mention the fact that being able to get the "right" one is not that easy. 

A good existing team member not only has the skills but also the knowledge of how your business works, a relationship with your clientele and suppliers and is able to assist in running the business without supervision. 

Some of the scenarios may be you have staff that is:

• Returning from maternity leave and are unable to secure childcare places
• Relocating to be with partner or family
• Wanting to travel or temporarily relocate as a lifestyle choice but still would like to continue employment

If you have set your business up to "Work from Anywhere" you can offer the option for your key staff members to continue employment from wherever they are located and hence avoid the pain and cost of replacing them.

I speak from most recent experience on this topic as I do in fact have an employee that is relocating and I was extremely pleased with myself for having the foresight to make sure that I was in the position to be able to offer her continuance of employment after her move. This to me is a great opportunity to take our "Working from Anywhere" concept to the next level, we have already well and truly tested it over shorter periods but not on an ongoing basis. I look forward to reporting back on the success of using the systems we have in place on a more permanent level.

I urge you to consider the enormous benefit of retaining your key staff members and cost benefits next time you are debating whether its worth the effort to make a few changes.

 

Time to start again

I recently spent some time with my sister Karen at her place "Sharing Bali" in the hills above Ubud in Bali. Traditional antique balinese bungalows all slightly different with outdoor bathrooms are set among the rice paddies in one of the most calming peaceful places you could ever imagine.
I spent a wonderful 4 nights at this amazing place, experienced some great jungle treks, canyon tubing, a flying fox, some fitness sessions with trainer Jo Sharp and some amazing fresh, tasty and healthy food.
My time at this wonderful place gave me the time to reflect and the motivation to get back into blogging about how I have created a lifestyle for myself by converting my conference and event management business to able to "work from anywhere".
There are so many benefits that have been realised from this change and I feel its worthwhile sharing. I will be sharing the why, how and the results with the hope that this encourages others to consider working towards this great lifestyle.

The Mexican Story

Following is an extract from the book "The 4 Hour Work Week" written by Tim Ferriss, a very simple explanation of why bigger is not necessarily better...

The Mexican Story

American consultant was at a pier in a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow-fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The Mexican replied only a little while.
The consultant then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish?
The fisherman said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.
The American then asked the Mexican how he spent the rest of his time.
The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, senor.”
The American consultant scoffed, “I am business consultant and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and, with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution.
“You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But senor, how long will this all take?”
To which the American consultant replied, “15-20 years.”
“But what then, senor?” asked the fisherman.
The consultant laughed, and said, “That’s the best part! When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public. You’ll become very rich, you would make millions!”
“Millions, senor?” replied the Mexican. “Then what?”
The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”