I get the feeling that the Sunshine Coast economy is picking up and businesses are making the most of the “New Beginnings” that a fresh calendar year brings. A lot of my clients are bringing fresh ideas and concepts to me. It’s great!

As my web design and graphics business “Brainspace” comes into the new year, we have already started branching out into some new areas.  What I am most excited about is creating iPhone Apps.

I’ve just completed one for Pastor Steve Penny who is using the iPhone App to allow people a ‘single click’ into his life and ministry as he travels the globe speaking to churches and leaders.

From his App you can:
Read his Blog
Read his Twitter
Listen to sermons
Watch video sermons
View his Bio, Photos, Links and more

The App has been so popular that it overloaded the server that hosted the media files yesterday! (All good now)

Feel free to check it out via the link below or search for ‘Steve Penny’ on your iphone App store. Let us know if YOU or someone you know would like an App or website built as well!

Whether you’re employed, self-employed, unemployed or find yourself part of any kind of ploy – your attitude towards what-you-do is paramount.

Have you ever read something and thought, “YES! That’s what I’ve been trying to describe and put my finger on for years”.  I had one of those moments a little while back when I read this article by Tom Peters called A Brand Called You

Life will throw you some curve-balls – or to put it in Aussie Cricket terms, “You never know when you’re gonna be bowled a spinner”.  It’s unpredictable and as I wrote in my last post, we never know where the wind will blow.  The economy and the markets are moving at such a fast pace that wealth is being transferred and opportunities are being created at an alarming pace. I’m sure most people reading this are in a similar position as I am where the last 18 months have created a significant shift and change in their life – whether they wanted it or not.

Tom Peters, John McGrath, Dan Schwabel and many others have written on this highly valuable trend of people seeing themselves as the brand and the product and seeing their employment, jobs, tasks and contracts as ‘gigs‘.  Contrast this against the old model that saw humans as resource and a faceless means to an end like

I recently had coffee a great young guy who I recommended begin to see his employment differently and view it as an opportunity where he could:

• Bring ideas, improvements and increase to the bottom line and in turn Increase His Value
• Learn new skills and in turn Increase his Skillbase
• Deliberately meet new people and in turn Increase his Network
• Try new things whether he favoured them or not and in turn Increase his Experience

King Solomon said it best thousands of years ago – “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might because you won’t get to when your in the grave.”  You give it your absolute best and do it with all your strength for as long as you see fit or are able. Don’t be another average employee – be outstanding even if your salary doesn’t match what you think you’re worth.

Become indespensable.  Increase productivity.  Bring new skills.  New contacts.  Big contracts.  Do your best.

I believe that with a good shift in thinking and a swift kick of encouragement up the backside, we can all step it up a notch… me included.

We were humming for most of the way from Maroochydore to Kawana via Buderim.  Usually our average speed is around 25km/h but this day it was more like 30km/h.  However, half way through the ride things slowed down substantially.  30km/h became 20km/h.  Why?  Wind conditions.

This unseen force cut my productivity down by 33% and I had to spend more energy keeping at that speed!

In business and life, we all love the feeling of having the wind behind us giving us a push along. But wind’s change…

Personally, I think our economy had a good bit of ‘wind up it’s tail’ for years.  If you bought homes or started businesses from around 2001 onwards, you were pretty much guaranteed to get a good windfall (pun intended?).  We witnessed genuine idiots strike it lucky and be fooled into thinking they were ready to take on the world and ride the Tour de France… All until 08-09 GFC when the winds changed – and they changed dramatically.

We’ve witnessed those who crashed their bikes when headwind came.   We’ve seen others get off their bikes and sit on the side of the road till the winds change back in the favour. Heck, I’ve seen some people take a whole group of fellow riders out of the race with them because they decided to simply give-up.

But what I love are the people who grit their teeth, face the wind and keep cycling – albeit at 30% less speed with 50% more effort…

You see, the winds will change. They always change. But the race continues and I’ve chosen to “do what I can” to be amongst those still in the race and encourage others along with me. Because I want to be in the leader’s pack when the winds change again and it’s easier to ride in a group than solo.

What about you?

The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. Eccl 1:6