Business Ideas For Smes And Start Ups

The previous episode (Nature of Man with Diarmuid Lyng) had generated more discussion and feedback than most other episodes. The feedback had been mixed in the sense that many people related to the content but as many were of the opinion that the retreat or the idea of a retreat 'wasn't for them.' The best way to continue the discussion is to literally do just that. This episode is with Michael Ryan, co-founder and facilitator of Nature of Man. A wellness and meditation expert, Michael gives his perspective on the condition of the Modern (Irish) Man and we discuss holistic benefits of the Nature of Man retreat and the value it can offer anyone and everyone. The next retreat takes place in Donegal from 6th-9th June. Details can be found at natureofman.ie We reference a number of writers / poets in this episode - David Whyte and John Moriarty. Two deadly men well able to put into words the thoughts of everyone of us (and indeed none of us)

In March, I found myself at a retreat in the Wicklow mountains, facilitated by Diarmuid Lyng and Michael Ryan. An entirely transformative experience and one that I felt the need to share through a discussion with Diarmuid - Wexford County Hurler, TG4 Commentator, retreat facilitator, husband, father and builder of a cultural facility in south Kilkenny. The podcast covers alot of ground but is centred around the Summer Nature of Man retreat in Donegal 6th to 9th June 2025 - and the myriad reasons why some of you should attend. www.diarmuidlyng.ie will offer more detailed information on the retreat and the other projects that Diarmuid is involved in. The poet mentioned (I know) is David Whyte, the poem Self Portrait. I hope you enjoy - and if you do please feel free to share with those who might benefit from the retreat. Thanks for reading.

In a number of conversations this last few weeks - on a personal and professional level - a common theme was the importance of taking time...time 'out', time to prepare, time to think and the benefits of not rushing. The control of our subconscious / unconscious in what we do and how we do things is evident but only when we stop to think. Take a breath, a moment too get some clarity and perspective. How often do you stop and think - about the unimportant stuff? about the important stuff? About the critical stuff?

A recent walk through Belfast city centre reminds me of a time when I lived in the city and encountered the homeless problem first hand. In 2013 there were a number of deaths on the streets in quick succession that should have sparked some deliberate action from local politicians and government. 9 years on and a new Rolex store will open up soon, directly opposite where Catherine Kenny died in March 2013. If there is room in our world for luxury watches then surely there is space too for the disenfranchised lost souls of this country

The shouts from the sidelines - and the media - at Ange Postecogolou over the last few months have been pretty clear. A coach sticking to his principles, lacking as many as 8 first team players is now deemed not good enough. Unless you've played or coached at that level, then it's hard to fully appreciate what is going on. A journalist only has a perception of what is going on, not the full picture. Never the full picture - and as a result criticism can be overly harsh, directed at the wrong person, or just wide of the mark. On a personal level, I've come to learn the difference between perception and perspective and the importance of loosing the ideal that 'perception is reality'

How quickly do you filter out the expert buyer from the amateur buyer?

Writing well takes skill. Writing truthfully takes discipline. Taking the economy and honesty of Hemmingway and applying it to sales and marketing.

Two weekends spent at GAA matches - football and hurling - and guess which one didn't need the rule changes.

Something ive wanted to talk about for a long time - my love of music. Trying to make it relevant to the theme of the Shift Control Podcast isnt easy - so for this one time - I'd like to talk about Roru Gallagher, in a week where his immortalised Fender Strat was sold to a lucky buyer and gifted back to the State.

How many of you are actively and knowingly integrating AI into your business development process? I think at this point everyone has gotten over themselves - even copywriters - and begrudgingly admitted that generative AI can be a great thing for creating content both in the arena of sales and marketing. But beyond that, what else can it do...? A first discussion episode for me in quite some time with Rory Kelly - ex-Hubspot guru who has been recently shining a light on AI in his on line commentary. He is a genuine sales expert who has worked with organisations globally guiding them through the HubSpot platform. Find him on Linkedin, connect with him and enjoy his perspective on AI

The boys are back in town - the bad ones. As Ireland continues to punch above it's weight in global sport - like it does in the arts, music and film - 2 opposing belief systems are clashing in Belfast. Anti-immigrants v anti racists are rioting in Wellington Place - mirroring events in Sunderland, Stoke and Leeds. Bored, undervalued, ignored, badly represented adults are resurrecting an old evil, against a back drop of TEAM Genocide - USA and Israel - carpet bombing of Palestine. Worrying times.

No doubt things had changed significantly in the world of sales after COVID. Sales BC - is that a thing? Some of the outcomes and consequences have been beneficial for sure - but as a business have you moved forward strategically or have you been moved along by the tide of change and have kept moving. For me it is about taking control of that destiny and Im pretty sure that some of the habits and processes that have been crafted by COVID are definitely not business enhancing...what do you think?

Best Hurling Final Ever, Wise Up. by Shift Control

On holiday mode but still find myself thinking about work - what;'s needed to finish this year with a flourish and then what lies beyond 2024. in battle mode - doing the stuff you strategised about last year - you don't get much time to think about beyond the short term. Firefighters are only thinking abut this fire - the job in hand. When you get the right kind of down time you can think about these things - in my case, the comfort of my cottage (rented) in Donegal. The big things that I want too attend to - in no order - the use / integration of AI, being real with EQ, motivating a team through cultural transformation, using data properly, improving sales performance, making the messages more personalised (that's if you're into ABM...) What's on your radar?

A Dudley Moore movie that should speak to anyone in communications - sales, marketing etc...Crazy People. I now know that its Boxy, but good but I always remember it being boxy but safe. Anyway..Marcus Sheridan's book They Ask, You Answer, reminded me of the movie - as it did LIAR, LIAR with Jim Carey - the idea of telling the truth despite knowing the consequences might be just terrible, when in truth they won't be. But you'll never know until you start telling the whole truth about your business - your honesty over the exact value you offer, where your weakness might be and the costs...publishing a cost that you can stand over and not worry what exposure your competition gets. His book is excellent - I'd recommend it for anyone that seems to be spending more time getting the message right and needs to build up the confidence required to say what needs to be said...?

Follow up from the last episode where I talked about managing your energy - never said it was easy, no way. But it is doable. Stendhal Festival would be the perfect place to tune into nature and get into some great local music and art, unwind, chill out and relax. Changing of the guard in Derry GAA - rumour has it that the county plan to revert to their previous manager, the one accused of DV. Lets hope that isn't the case.

'Lively up yourself and don't be no drag' The first line of the Bob Marley song is a call to arms for everyone to raise your vibration - get your energy levels up. Bring your A game to everywhere, everything and everyone. And into work. Especially in sales, the energy we bring to our work impacts directly the success of our work and therefore the overall success of the business. I've avoided giving any content that might suggest this is a scientific podcast...quite the reverse. Much of it is common sense, aye?

How is your sales team set up? Motivated or disciplined? Neither or both? A trip to IFAT in Munch teaches me a lot about both and 2 trips to see Bruce Springsteen reminds me about the importance of thought

I'm sat here waiting for an engineer to arrive to install broadband. They'll be here soon, well some time but it might not be soon at all, in fact just like last Friday, they might not arrive at all...

Spending 2 days at an exhibition in Birmingham with plenty of time to think and a cancelled flight with the Irish national air carrier of real choice - not Ryan Air - gave me some food or thought on how some of the very basic sales techniques of the past can compete with the very best the digital world has to offer