Stefan Kazakis on 8 August 2020
How to stay focused throughout stage 4 lockdown
Things are starting to take a toll on us all… And given last week we spoke about mindset & team, I thought we could continue to focus on mindset throughout the month of August to give you all th ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 1 August 2020
Ownership and Management during COVID-19
The global pandemic continues to affect us all, in many different ways. So, it’s important that we remain in a positive mindset, remain in control and remain focused… not only for ourselves, but f ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 25 July 2020
Building and growing an A-grade Team
This week we are getting back into our 6 pillars of business series. In previous weeks, we’ve covered Operations, Finance, Marketing and Sales. This week let’s discuss how to build customer loyalt ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 18 July 2020
How to keep your clients for life…
This week we are getting back into our 6 pillars of business series. In previous weeks, we’ve covered Operations, Finance, Marketing and Sales. This week let’s discuss how to build customer loyalt ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 4 July 2020
The Operations and flow within your business…
Times have been tough lately, and it’s true we aren’t out of the woods yet… However, It’s a new financial year. Which means it’s a new opportunity for your business. What are you doing to ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 27 June 2020
The 5 key levers of your operating cashflow
Last week we looked at Businessflow, more specifically, finance. This week, we are going to dissect the five levers of operating cash flow. By focusing on these five levers and developing the right ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 20 June 2020
How to boost your sales!
So far, we have covered Leadflow. This week, we get in to Businessflow, and we’ll be starting with finance. Like sport, business has a scoreboard and you must understand it if you are going to wi ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 20 June 2020
Can you name the 5 key levers of your operating cashflow?
So far, we have covered Leadflow. This week, we get in to Businessflow, and we’ll be starting with finance. Like sport, business has a scoreboard and you must understand it if you are going to wi ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 6 June 2020
Marketing your business during COVID-19: "The Re-Strategy"
Are you struggling to get clients during the Coronavirus pandemic? Shift your focus from generating new and cold leads to what I call ‘The RE strategy.’ You need to ditch the hard sale. Instead, ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 23 May 2020
How do you react to change?
Right now, is one of the toughest periods we will face mentally as business owners. We all have had our doubts, some of us have even thought of throwing in the towel. There’s no shame in that, the ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 9 May 2020
Self-Belief is the Key to Your Success
Right now, is one of the toughest periods we will face mentally as business owners. We all have had our doubts, some of us have even thought of throwing in the towel. There’s no shame in that, the ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 9 May 2020
Who are you listening to?
Right now, is one of the toughest periods we will face mentally as business owners. We all have had our doubts, some of us have even thought of throwing in the towel. There’s no shame in that, the ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 2 May 2020
5 ways we can help you with your marketing
There is no denying that the structure of our businesses has certainly been altered during COVID-19. We are now, more than ever, having to adapt and innovate. We are having to manage our team in a m ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 25 April 2020
Managing your staff through COVID-19
There is no denying that the structure of our businesses has certainly been altered during COVID-19. We are now, more than ever, having to adapt and innovate. We are having to manage our team in a m ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 18 April 2020
Work Every Day As If It's Day One
You may have heard me use the term “Day One” a lot lately, you may have seen the term on our socials, in our emails or in our webinars. It is a term we use commonly at Business Benchmark Group and ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 11 April 2020
Mindset – Resilience in Challenging Times
There is no denying that every single one of our lives has been altered right now. In chaos it’s normal to feel fearful, anxious and scared. It becomes easy to believe we have no control over our ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 4 April 2020
Pivoting in your business throughout COVID-19
The fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, whilst devastating, has sparked a lot of innovation, motivation and creation as business owners look for ways to implement new business models. I saw a great ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 28 March 2020
Coronavirus: What you can do next
Well – what a crazy week to say the least. The world has been changing rapidly and businesses have had no choice but to adapt to these changes and move fast. Power to all business owners who have ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 21 March 2020
Coronavirus and Business: Staying Focused and In Control
The world is still experiencing unprecedented times – so following up from last week – I wanted to discuss control and focus as it relates to the coronavirus crisis! It’s very easy to be consu ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 14 March 2020
Coronavirus: The impact on small businesses and what YOU can do to prepare!
As small business owners, we are all likely to be affected in one way or another. So, I felt I should weigh in on how we may consider a response as business owners. While there is obviously fear of t ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 7 March 2020
What socials should you be using to boost your business?
Are you active on social media in terms of business? Are you leaving your social media mark in the world? Social media marketing can be so beneficial to your business and your sales. As people shy aw ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 29 February 2020
The critical parts of any strong referral system
It’s the last week of referral month here at Business Benchmark Group, so we thought we would finish up our wonderful month with a recap on all thing’s relevant to referrals. Once you’ve finis ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 22 February 2020
The best WORD OF MOUTH strategies we’ve heard
To keep in theme of referral month, I thought I would share some of the best word of mouth strategies I’ve seen. Word of Mouth strategy (WOM) is all about what the customer does and says, right? W ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 15 February 2020
How to create a killer elevator pitch!
So, what’s an elevator pitch and why do you need one? An elevator pitch is basically a 30-60 second business description of what you do and why someone should work with you! So, why is it releva ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 8 February 2020
How to build a referral program that gets results
Creating an effective referral strategy is an ongoing process, especially if you want to build a machine that delivers a constant stream of ideal target market clients. Today, I want to illustrate s ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 1 February 2020
5 Things You Can Do Right Now To Increase Referrals
In Business, the most sure-fire way of turning a lead into a customer is through referrals. Have you ever purchased something just because your friend told you that you should? I know I have! So, mak ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 14 January 2020
How to Set Goals and Achieve Them
What’s your plan of attack for 2020? Have you put goals in place to track your success this year? Have you planned out your year to make the most of every day? Do you know where you want your busine ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 7 December 2019
How To Leverage Your Systems and Processes
Leverage is one of the most important components and frameworks for success in any business and industry in the world. It’s critical. This is how you do more with less. To become a successful busi ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 30 November 2019
Now Is The Time To Take Back Control.
There’s now just one month till the start of a brand new year. This time of year is always a great opportunity to review your business and reflect on what you’ve achieved, set new goals and make p ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 23 November 2019
Try This Exercise: The Imaginary CEO
Why do some business owners consistently outperform their competitors? Why do some people become champions while others fall short? What skills do you need to improve to reach your highest potential? ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 16 November 2019
What Are You Really Selling To Your Customers?
Sometimes small business owners get a little tongue-tied and challenged when it comes to talking to future clients about what their investment will be and what return they will get. Especially when st ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 9 November 2019
What Bridge Do You Build? What's Your #1 Big Outcome?
What is your number one commitment to your clients? What is their point A and point B, and what is the bridge you build to get them across? What is the core of your business? I refer to this as the # ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 2 November 2019
5 Ways to Increase Conversions
Improving your conversion rate is one of the most effective strategies you can employ to grow your business. After all, it costs far more to attract new leads than it does to convert the ones you've a ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 26 October 2019
How to Convert More Customers: Follow-Up!
Improving your conversion rate by a small amount can have major impact on your growth and can lead to big increases in your profitability. It's important that you monitor your conversion rate and con ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 19 October 2019
What's Your Hourly Rate?
For any business owner looking to run a business that is more than just a job, it's important to ensure that you're working for what you're worth. Have you thought about the time investment you are ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 12 October 2019
What's the Difference Between Leadership and Management?
We've all heard the slogan “Satisfaction Guaranteed or your Money Refunded”. It’s one of the first advertising slogans of the modern age. Written in 1869 to promote Eaton’s department store in ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 28 September 2019
How to develop an entrepreneurial mindset
In my line of work I’m often asked how to become a successful entrepreneur. The truth is, there isn’t a secret formula for success, but you can change your mindset to start thinking like an entrep ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 28 September 2019
Why Customer Satisfaction Isn’t Enough
We've all heard the slogan “Satisfaction Guaranteed or your Money Refunded”. It’s one of the first advertising slogans of the modern age. Written in 1869 to promote Eaton’s department store in ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 21 September 2019
Why Investing In Staff Training Is Key To Growth
There’s a formula for HR success, and it involves paying less people more money and providing them with training and development. If you want to keep your staff, investing in their training and dev ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 14 September 2019
How To Build A Culture Of Ownership and Accountability
Culture is essential to the success of your company. Yet many business owners feel it's not something they can control - or that they need to control. If they leave it alone, it'll all work itself out ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 7 September 2019
LBs and NTs
Here's a strategy to improve your customer service. This is a very high touch strategy, which can also be a very high tech strategy too. It ensures you frequently receive honest feedback on just how y ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 31 August 2019
Why Technology Needs To Retain A Human Element
My question to you this week is... as a business owner do you walk your talk? Leaders who walk their talk realise transformation and build amazing businesses. But we all know that many leaders and man ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 24 August 2019
Do You Walk Your Talk?
My question to you this week is... as a business owner do you walk your talk? Leaders who walk their talk realise transformation and build amazing businesses. But we all know that many leaders and man ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 17 August 2019
How do you deliver feedback?
We all understand the value of an A grade team, but how do we help someone go from being B grade to A grade? And how do you get more from your A graders? The answer is feedback! As a business strate ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 10 August 2019
What would you do if you couldn't fail?
Here's a question for you .... what would you do if you couldn't fail? How much further with your goals and aspirations would you be? Many of us are afraid of failing, at least some of the time. But ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 3 August 2019
How to Conduct a Business Health Check
Is your business operating to its full potential? Here's our guide to performing a small business health check to see what needs to be improved ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 27 July 2019
10 Daily Actions for Achieving Your Business Goals
Missing targets? Improve your daily routines and get more done by following these simple daily actions ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 13 July 2019
Do you have Plan B Thinking?
Do you come up with a plan B only when plan A has collapsed? When things start to go pear-shaped do you start making decisions in a blind panic just to get out of the current mess? That’s not a pa ...
Read moreDamien Churton on 22 June 2019
Why you need to show gratitude and surprise when you receive referrals (but no kickbacks!)
Showing gratitude and surprise is often overlooked when it comes to building a referral strategy. This is also a part of the process that leads to unnecessary ‘head trash’ which can hold you back. ...
Read moreDamien Churton on 15 June 2019
How to deal with your head trash when asking for referrals.
Asking for referrals takes courage and overcoming your head trash is a big part of that process. People don't read minds and cannot tell what you are thinking, so you have to ask for what you want. ...
Read moreDamien Churton on 1 June 2019
Your Network is your Net Worth!
Like sales, networking is a non-negotiable skill for business owners if they wish to be successful. Even if you don’t think you’re any good at networking, all you need to do is put in the time an ...
Read moreDamien Churton on 1 June 2019
How To Network - It’s An Ongoing Process!
Like sales, networking is a non-negotiable skill for business owners if they wish to be successful. Even if you don’t think you’re any good at networking, all you need to do is put in the time an ...
Read moreDamien Churton on 25 May 2019
Want more referrals? You get what you ask for!
The constant refrain in small business is that we all want more leads, we all want more business and we all want to know where to find them. At Business Benchmark Group, we are positioning the period ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 4 May 2019
Can you improve your results simply by having a positive outlook on life?
Can you improve your results and your self-image simply by deciding to take a positive outlook on life? Let’s consider the case of W. Clement Stone. Much of his success has been attributed to his ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 27 April 2019
How to turn Leadflow into Dreamflow
As a business owner, it can be all-too-easy to become so heavily focused on the day-to-day running of your business that you begin to lose sight of your long-term goals and the reason you got into bus ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 20 April 2019
How are you building your reputation?
Reputation is about being attractive to your four key stakeholders: the owners, the team, suppliers and customers. Having a good reputation means that you are getting rubber-stamps from people in eac ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 13 April 2019
Why having a vision is not enough to lead you to success
Have a think about the word vision. What does it mean? A vision is something you can’t touch or feel. It’s something you have a picture of in your head. Many people say they have a vision for thei ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 6 April 2019
Here are my top 5 personal values
Just like your business, your personal values need validation and certification. If you haven’t clearly articulated your personal values, how will you know if they are being achieved? How will you ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 30 March 2019
How to break your procrastination habit and be productive
Why is it that people run out of energy to do things that are very important? Why is it that so many people need a looming finish line to make things happen? Why is it that people suffer from this thi ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 23 March 2019
How does your emotional cycle affect your business?
All business leaders know that there are ups and downs, good times and slow times. Every business goes through these, no matter how big or small they are, or how well established. But, did you know ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 16 March 2019
Anticipation is vital for your future business success
As we enter a rather uncertain economic environment, you must be applying brutal truth to all your decisions to ensure your business is prepared to weather any storm and make the most of any opportuni ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 9 March 2019
Is 'brutal truth' a core value of your business?
It's time to revisit one of my favourite concepts. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: brutal truth must be a core value of your business. Brutal truth is a non-negotiable when building ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 2 March 2019
The top 6 most important aspects of staying in growth mode
To be in growth mode, you need to be driven and consistently creating high value. It’s not for the faint-hearted. You must make it happen, not wait for it to happen. Some people seem to just plod t ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 23 February 2019
Are you in maintenance or growth mode?
To be in growth mode means you are focused on the future. You should have two-year, five-year and ten-year goals and shorter term targets along the way that you know will get you there. Being in grow ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 16 February 2019
Are your suppliers and clients holding you back?
It's important that you rate everyone who comes in to contact with your business as either a +1 or -1. They’re either helping you move forward or they are holding you back. This not only applies to ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 9 February 2019
Do you have a clear plan for promoting your employees?
When somebody new starts in your business, how many successes does it take for them to go from rookie to the next level, and what are the requirements for that? Once this person reaches the first lev ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 2 February 2019
How do you structure your performance appraisals? Do you reward the right people?
Performance appraisals are often not structured and so they get people into a lot of trouble. In my experience, it’s best to run them twice a year - and here's an approach that works well. Schedu ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 26 January 2019
How do you make sure you hire the right person?
Tips and advice on how to make sure you hire the right person when you're recruiting. It's one of the most common areas of concern for business owners as mistakes can be costly. In my experience, yo ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 19 January 2019
How do you deal with unsatisfactory results?
Building operating cash flow is non-negotiable for a thriving business. These are the 5 key levers for growing your operating cash flow in order to become a benchmark business. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 12 January 2019
5 Steps To Growing Your Operating Cash Flow
Building operating cash flow is non-negotiable for a thriving business. These are the 5 key levers for growing your operating cash flow in order to become a benchmark business. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 5 January 2019
How do you measure your performance? Which numbers are most critical?
How do you know which numbers are most critical to the success of your business? It always comes back to a common theme: what is the alignment with what you are doing and with what you are trying to b ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 29 December 2018
How do you track all the important numbers in your business?
If you don’t know and understand your numbers intimately before you make decisions, you have nothing to guide you. Your decisions will be based on guesses and emotion, not data and facts. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 22 December 2018
7 Minute Meetings - Why you should be having them daily
One simple idea that you should implement that is guaranteed to boost your leverage and the productivity of your team: have daily seven-minute meetings. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 15 December 2018
How do you build delegation into your business?
As we enter a new year, it's time to consider how you can build delegation into your systems so that you spend your time on your highest hourly rate tasks, while your team takes more responsibility an ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 8 December 2018
How would you rate yourself on delegation?
Too many small business owners spend time on things that earn a low hourly rate for their skill set. Many business owners start out alone with little cash, and so they get into the habit of doing ever ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 1 December 2018
How do you get your team engaged to build a top 1% business?
Having a clear and unambiguous purpose is vital if you want to be highly productive and successful in achieving your goals. This is true for all aspects of your personal life, your business and your t ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 24 November 2018
Are you brave enough to build a benchmark business?
If you want to be a benchmark business, you have to be brave. Everybody who comes in to contact with your business is either a +1 or –1. They're either promotable or they can be deselected. They a ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 17 November 2018
Do less, but be more productive. It's all about alignment.
One of the biggest problems we hear from business owners is how they are overworked, overloaded and over-tired, yet nothing seems to be showing up. It’s heartbreaking and a sure recipe for trouble ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 10 November 2018
Can you answer these 20 questions about your positioning?
Take the opportunity right now to ask yourself these 20 questions about how you position your business. If you're clear about your positioning and want to grow your business in a strategic way for th ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 3 November 2018
Are you positioned for success?
People and positioning are the foundation on which everything else is built. Positioning is about who you are, and why you choose to be that for the people you choose to service. It's about knowing ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 20 October 2018
Where do I find great employees?
It's one of the most common questions we hear from business owners: Where do I find great employees? The fact is, A-graders surround themselves with other A-graders. That's where you find them. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 13 October 2018
How To Attract The Right People: Sell Your Future Vision!
Your ability to sell vision and purpose attracts the right people. If you’re not getting this many high-quality applicants, you are not selling your business well enough. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 6 October 2018
How To Recruit 24/7/365
How can you be on the lookout 24/7/365 for A-grade employees? What do you do when you find somebody? Being on the lookout 24/7/365 means being alert to the fact that every person you meet is a potent ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 29 September 2018
Always be on the lookout for A-Grade employees
The right team will be a massive boost to your business. You are not great at everything, so plug the gaps in your skillset with people who do those things better than you do. To achieve high levels o ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 22 September 2018
Hiring people is a numbers game
Hiring great people is a numbers game.
A business that has established a solid reputation will attract the best. It’s a magnet. When hiring, you need to make sure you are truly selling the ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 15 September 2018
Who is in your inner circle?
There are two different ways you and your staff can approach things: Above the line or below the line. Above the line is all about taking ownership, responsibility and being accountable - and these ar ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 8 September 2018
Do you have a victim or a victor mindset?
There are two different ways you and your staff can approach things: Above the line or below the line. Above the line is all about taking ownership, responsibility and being accountable - and these ar ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 1 September 2018
What gets measured gets managed
In order to grow, you need to keep your identity just marginally ahead of where you are currently. Let your identity be a magnet to keep you moving forward. You’ll see the choke points and the speed ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 25 August 2018
Growing Your Identity
In order to grow, you need to keep your identity just marginally ahead of where you are currently. Let your identity be a magnet to keep you moving forward. You’ll see the choke points and the speed ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 18 August 2018
Make Rejection Your Best Friend
Nobody likes rejection, right? Wrong! Rejection is my best friend, because it means I have a lead. Learn to see a ‘no’ as a ‘not yet’. Rejection is not a personal thing – it’s a learnin ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 11 August 2018
The Ten Dreamflow Commandments
We’re all in business for ourselves because we want to achieve our dreams. Ultimately there is no other reason. Your dreams are at the end of a long process that starts with how many leads you gener ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 4 August 2018
Play Dumb and Dig Deep
Playing dumb and digging deep with your clients is all about learning from your clients. They have a lot to teach you. Dig deep to get to the bottom of what your customers really desire. Spend as muc ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 28 July 2018
Your Belief Is The Key To Your Success
When you tap into your purpose you become bullet-proof. The strongest muscle in the body is the brain, so program your purpose into your brain. It influences everything. Belief and purpose will help ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 21 July 2018
Add more zeros to your hourly rate!
What would it mean for your business if you were working for $1,000 an hour for just one hour a week, instead of $100? It’s an exciting prospect. But now have a think about this: what would it mean ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 30 June 2018
The Six Pillars of Exceptional Growth
These are the six fundamental pillars you must get right in order to grow your business: Operations, Finance, Marketing, Sales, Customer Loyalty and Team. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 30 June 2018
How to surprise and delight your clients!
These are the six fundamental pillars you must get right in order to grow your business: Operations, Finance, Marketing, Sales, Customer Loyalty and Team. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 30 June 2018
Get in the zone and eat that frog!
Just like an elite sportsperson you are either in the zone and not easily distracted or you’re not; you have the required determination or you don’t; you have ownership, accountability and respons ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 23 June 2018
Vision Vs Execution
"Vision without execution… is just hallucination" - Execution is where the game is won and lost, no two ways about it. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 16 June 2018
How do you position your business?
Positioning is the foundation on which everything rests - you get this right and you have more than half a chance of getting everything else right. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 9 June 2018
Do you have an Extreme Follow-Up Process?
You need to make sure you capitalise on every lead you generate with an Extreme Follow-up Process. An extreme follow-up process is making it non-negotiable that every single lead you generate is follo ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 2 June 2018
Showing Gratitude & Celebrating Success
Three crucial things you must understand about your target market. 1. How big is it? 2. What market share do you currently have? 3. What market share would you like to have and in what time-frame? Mo ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 26 May 2018
Targeting niches and 3 More Crucial Questions
Three crucial things you must understand about your target market. 1. How big is it? 2. What market share do you currently have? 3. What market share would you like to have and in what time-frame? Mo ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 19 May 2018
6 questions you must be able to answer about your target market.
You need to shape your business from the foundations up and focus on how you can serve your target market. You can’t try to be everything to everyone, because you will actually end up being no good ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 12 May 2018
Are you proactive or reactive?
To build a proactive environment you must know your metrics, your numbers, your scoreboard. It’s about brutal truth and making an honest assessment of whether what you are doing is in alignment with ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 5 May 2018
How do you react to change? Be open to change with a result-focused mindset.
Responding to change is a critical part of the culture and operations of the business. You, your team and your business must be agile and flexible. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 28 April 2018
Collaborate: Do more with less!
Small, nimble, smart, hard-working businesses can produce huge results if they get their operations right, collaborate and make the most of their resources. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 14 April 2018
The Now, the New and the Next
Have you ever considered how some companies stay ahead of the game? How they influence market share? It’s by considering the Now, New and Next. It’s fairly basic. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 7 April 2018
Evolve or die
This month we are focusing on innovation and why this will give your business the competitive edge. For me, innovation is part of the continued evolution of my business. You must have a vision, and yo ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 31 March 2018
My top 14 non-negotiables for productivity
So what have you achieved during the first quarter of 2018? Are you happy with the progress made or are you settling for more of the same? This week I am going to share with you what I call the non-ne ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 24 March 2018
Another M500 event in the can!
What better way to wrap up the month than with a fantastic M500 event this week. Our events always begin with an opportunity to network, which considering the noise levels was a very productive first ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 17 March 2018
The personal touch
If we are building relationships for life, whether with our clients, our team or our external suppliers and advisers, it's vital to maintain the personal touch. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 10 March 2018
Do you understand your local footprint
What is your local footprint in your immediate area and how are you looking after it? ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 3 March 2018
Why it's important to build strong relationships with suppliers and alliances
When building relationships with suppliers you must ensure they are capable of handling your growth. If you’re building a publishing empire the little print shop down the road isn’t going to be ab ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 24 February 2018
Building strong relationships with clients
In business, we are building relationships for life, whether with your clients, your team or your external suppliers and advisers, and this becomes an important part of building the reputation of your ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 17 February 2018
The importance of your brand
More than ever, the strength of your brand is pivotal to the strength of your business. In our high-tech, interconnected world where word travels at the speed of light, a reputation can take years to ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 27 January 2018
Make Every Day a Personal Best
Be better, everyday. In one year, you'll be amazed at how far you've come. Don't believe me? Find out more: ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 13 January 2018
Dream Makers or Dream Takers
I publish this simple yet effective message at least once a year. It was written by an unknown author; it’s an awesome story and one that we all need to read every so often to remind ourselves that ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 6 January 2018
What exactly is a New Year's Resolution?
Okay so here we are … six days into 2018 …. Did you make any New Year’s resolutions? If you did you are not alone, with over 60% of the population at least thinking about setting New Year’s re ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 30 December 2017
Welcoming 2018
We are almost at the end of 2017 – and we are almost at the beginning of a brand-new year – 2018 – who doesn’t get excited about a fresh start? But here’s the question .... How do you usuall ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 16 December 2017
Your most powerful tool: your calendar
You will often hear people talk about the importance of their to do list, but it’s only one tool in your kit for achieving productivity. The other tool you must implement to achieve high level produ ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 9 December 2017
Time to thrive
Overcoming the natural instinct to survive and click into thriving mode is hard work, and that’s why only the top 1% of businesses and teams achieve this end. To overcome this, you must realise that ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 2 December 2017
Are you just surviving?
As we enter the final month of 2017 and our thoughts turn to how much we have left to do before the big day in 23 days, it's timely to ask yourself "how is my time being consumed?" Being productive re ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 25 November 2017
We ended on a high!
This week was our last M500 event for 2017. And what an awesome event it was. With over 50 people in attendance, I think the theme of attracting and keeping 'A' grade team members is a hot topic. Our ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 18 November 2017
Promotable or Deselected
People must always be promotable or they are deselected. This is non-negotiable. If you hire the right people to begin with you don’t need to fire anybody or demote anybody ever again. Wouldn’t th ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 4 November 2017
Right people in alignment
When we are building an A grade team we need to ask "are you and your people in alignment in what they are doing each day"? There are three important questions to ask, three questions which are often ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 4 November 2017
The Right Roles
When you think about the right job, how is it that you determine with a logical approach somebody being in the right job? Is it that they do the job with no issues? Is it that they are a really good s ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 28 October 2017
The Right People
As a business owner, every time you make a decision do you ask yourself “is this decision going to improve productivity?”. The answer needs to always be yes! Did you know that one of the easiest ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 21 October 2017
Leverage is the game to play
We finish this month's theme with another exciting M500 event where we explored the competitive advantage of implementing some leverage building strategies into our businesses. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 14 October 2017
How to leverage your team
Leveraging your team is also of course important – in fact, essential – for your success. How do you get more value created in less time? Who are the people you need? What are the tools that you w ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 7 October 2017
Leveraging People
Leverage is about being collaborative and being open to the thrive tasks. Leverage is gained by working on higher value tasks more often, doing strategic work today so that it delivers the outcomes to ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 30 September 2017
Leveraging your systems
You’ve hear the old saying ‘if you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got’ … nothing is truer than wasting energy, time, and money by battling throug ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 23 September 2017
The M500 Wrap!
All month we have been exploring why some business owners consistently outperform their competition, why some people are able to push through while other give up and the skills and tools needed to rea ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 16 September 2017
Long-term thinking
The key to developing positive pressure in your business is basing your decisions on long-term thinking. The challenge with long-term thinking is that it requires creative energy and an outside-the-b ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 9 September 2017
Breaking through to productivity
We all know what it's like to be under the pump, to feel like we're being pushed and pulled in a million directions and we can't see the way ahead. The only way to break through and achieve high produ ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 2 September 2017
How much more do I need to do?
The simple answer to this is that you are never done building a business. There will be some periods where growth is stronger than others, but from the day you start in business to the day you leave ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 26 August 2017
Growth and the myth of work/life balance
When you are growing a business or trying to boost your productivity, work/life balance just isn't going to happen. Sorry. Don't get me wrong though, I'm all about your business being productive so ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 19 August 2017
Are you hitting a glass ceiling?
Continuing with the theme of grit and resilience and what it takes to push through, this week we are going to consider two key areas - Education and Growth. Education and Growth are not just about get ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 12 August 2017
The Imaginary CEO
When an opportunity moves from the head to the heart you will move forward. When you fully own and take responsibility for what you are doing, and when you are totally committed, good things start to ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 29 July 2017
Vision ... and why it's not enough
If I said your vision was worth nothing. Zero. Zilch. Would you agree with me? This week I'll explain why vision is the dream that gets you fired up, but execution is what makes the reality. It's ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 22 July 2017
What is Productivity?
Today people are overtired, overworked and overwhelmed. We race against the clock. We’re time poor. But did you know that productivity has nothing to do with the number of items you tick off your to ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 15 July 2017
The 5 Key Fundamentals of a Plan
Whether you run your own business or are part of a larger organisation, there are some fundamentals that must be part of your plan to give you a change to long-term productivity and success - but what ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 8 July 2017
Look Forward Now
The first step to avoiding a disappointing outcome when in the future you take a breath and look back is to take a breath and look forward now. This week we explore how to start this process, and why ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 1 July 2017
How to be a business owner, rather than operator
Last week we wrapped up June with a great M500 titled How to be the business owner rather than the business operator. Read on to find out more. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 24 June 2017
Strategies for building self-image
All this month we have been exploring what it means to be a business owner versus a business operator. We know how important self-image is, so this week lets have a look at some different strategies y ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 10 June 2017
What is my life purpose?
Me and my life – these are things that are linked. If I have a very clear understanding of my emotional drivers and my personal purpose and my goals, if I’m driven by that and I’m excited by tha ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 3 June 2017
What's your personal purpose?
This week we are explore why without a clear purpose in your personal life, you won’t have a clear purpose as a business leader. If you don’t have a clear purpose as a business leader there’s no ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 27 May 2017
May 2017 M500 Wrap
What better way to wrap up the month than with a fantastic M500 event this week. As a team, we sometimes forget what a great event it is, after all it’s what we do every month, but we really do eat ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 20 May 2017
Why We MUST Bring It All Together
Learn how aggregating is about bringing it all together and why you must have everyone doing their bit towards the common goal of where you are going. We also consider why it's very important to mark ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 6 May 2017
How do you make decisions?
We are going to touch on three different ways you can make decisions in your business and the three phases of building a business. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 29 April 2017
What is future proofing?
We are looking at what future proofing means to you and your business why is it important to all business owners. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 22 April 2017
Did you blink and miss it?
This week saw the culmination of our theme of scaleability with our M500 event, showcasing our guest speaker Joe Carbone and Champion in Business Aussie Plumbers & Gutters. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 17 April 2017
How to find the discipline to follow through
This week we are going to talk about the glue that holds all the areas of your business together - discipline and determination. These two have to be a part of the DNA of your team. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 8 April 2017
How to build a scaleable business
So how do you make sure your business is scaleable? How do you nuture and grow the tree that will be your scaleable business? One which has a believable vision, a solid team, processes that are docum ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 1 April 2017
How scaleable is your business?
If you watch Shark Tank you'll know that the most common concerns expressed by the Sharks are customer acquisition costs, revenue growth and of course scaleability. What is this secret ingredient of b ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 18 March 2017
Creating strong leadflow
How do you attract your future A-grade clients and make it easy for them to buy from you? It’s about finding the right people and having systems in place that ensure they buy from us. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 16 March 2017
Define Your Top 5 IGA's for Continuous Business Growth
If only it was as easy as turning on a tap, for our bank accounts to fill up! Well I have good news for you! It could be if you pay close attention to what we call 'incoming growth activities', or IGA ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 11 March 2017
Why Relationship Marketing is a No-Brainer!
We are focusing on marketing and the importance of ensuring we are attracting and retaining customers. So what is relationship marketing and why is it important? ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 4 March 2017
Are you spending or investing this month?
Marketing spend .... the stuff of nightmares right? Lets bust the myths around marketing and get serious about where our budgets are being spent and the results they are generating. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 21 January 2017
Is Fear Holding You Back?
Does Fear sometimes reach up and get you by the throat and stop you from even getting started? ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 14 January 2017
Is fear holding you back from telling success stories?
Does FEAR sometimes reach up and get you by the throat and stop you from even getting started? Are there times in your small business that you think you know what to do but every time you start you c ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 18 March 2016
What Happens at Small Business Coaching Events?
Business coaching events provide you with the opportunity to learn from speakers who have faced and overcome the same challenges that you're facing ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 18 February 2016
The Best Events for Melbourne SMB Owners
Business coaching events have many great learning opportunities. We know your time is a valuable commodity, so here are some tips for identifying the events that will be best for you ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 17 February 2016
4 Online Tools to Build a Better Business
Business Benchmark Group is proud to introduce our new website. With a host of new feature and a completely new design. See the improvements here ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 21 November 2015
5 Ways a Business Coach Can Help You be a Better Marketer
When it comes to marketing, what works and why? We share the 5 ways that a business coach can help kickstart your marketing efforts and strategy ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 16 September 2015
Building & Managing Business Partnerships
When you deal with so many stakeholders in your business, it can be easy to lose sight of what is important. Here we share some tips on managing business partnerships ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 19 August 2015
'High Tech & High Touch' Strategies for Business Growth
How can you keep human in today's modern and digital world? Find out here ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 10 August 2015
Are You Hungry For Business Success?
Warren Buffet, one of the worlds most successful and wealthiest investors states that “It is not necessary to do extraordinary things to get extraordinary results” ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 6 August 2015
Taking Your Team to the Next Level
Manage your team better, and reap the rewards. Find out how ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 3 August 2015
Top 5 Tips to Achieve Greater Financial Freedom
Does your small business provide you with the freedom you imagined it would? Improve your financial freedom with these essential tips ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 31 July 2015
Get Things Done: Create a Business Culture of Execution
Vision is deciding what to do, Execution is all about making it happen. It’s the follow through. Make your vision a reality by creating a culture of execution. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 27 July 2015
5 Ways to Increase Conversions
Every business owner great or small wants improve customer conversions. How can you achieve better conversions? Find out here ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 20 July 2015
Why is the Entrepreneur So Important to Any Business?
Do you see yourself as a small business owner or an entrepreneur? If you think they are the same thing there may be a flaw in your judgement ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 16 July 2015
Do You Have an Elevator Pitch?
Be prepared to explain your business precisely and concisely at any moment. Find out why you should develop an elevator pitch ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 13 July 2015
The Power of Leverage
Business owners find that they become stuck in the day to day activities of running a business. Get more done for less, using leverage ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 9 July 2015
Be Inspired to Achieve, Not Influenced by Doubt
Find out why you need to surround yourself with inspirational people so that you can grow yourself and your business ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 6 July 2015
Just How Valuable is Customer Loyalty to Your Business?
Satisfying your customers is no longer enough. Old-fashioned approaches to customer service wont cut it with modern consumers ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 2 July 2015
Are You Battle Ready?
Business plans are like battle plans; they last as long as the first ambush and then you have to be able to think on your feet ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 1 July 2015
Who Wants More Time?
Do you genuinely believe that you are short of time? What about if I tell you that 80% of the things you get done are accomplished in 20% of the time you spend working? ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 29 June 2015
Create a Great Team Using the The Five R's
Your team is central to your business. How can you expect to have loyal customers without a loyal and happy team? A great team starts with you ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 22 June 2015
The 'Things to Achieve' List
Get more done, starting from today. Find out how a better 'to-do' list will help you stop procrastinating and start achieving real results ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 18 June 2015
The Top 5 Killers of Business Plan Success
If you have created a business plan as an exercise rather a well-thought out purpose statement, you are limiting your potential for long term success ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 15 June 2015
Are You a Leader or Manager?
What are the traits of a leader and a manager and how do they work together? ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 11 June 2015
6 Tips to Help You Build Your Brand
Branding does affect a customers decision to choose your product and is a reflection of your small business. Find out how to build a better brand ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 8 June 2015
Be Accountable and Reach Your Goals
Strategic planning takes much more energy than simply writing down your goals. You need to hold yourself accountable ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 4 June 2015
Are You Afraid of Failure?
Change the way you think about your business. Stop being afraid of failure, find out how here. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 28 May 2015
When the Going Gets Tough, Improve Culture and Core Values.
Research proves that a strong work culture leads to better performance and employee retention. Tough times are when it's most important to focus on the core values and culture. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 21 May 2015
Are Emails Really Making You More Productive?
Reading emails seem like a productive activity, but are they really? There are better uses of your valuable time. Get to work with this guide. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 18 May 2015
5 Tips on How to Boost Sales
Are your sales flat lining? Kick start your sales with these practical and achievable tips ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 14 May 2015
Are you a Diamond leader?
What is more strong than a diamond? Nothing ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 11 May 2015
How to Stop 'June Panic'
Here are some simple strategies to use when it comes to the end of the financial year. Stop panicking now! ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 7 May 2015
Refocus Your Business Plan Every Year
If you are lacking the discipline and focus to acheive your goals, then a great way to get back on track is to review your business plan ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 4 May 2015
Blogging: The Secret Sauce Needed to Secure Ideal Customers
Blogging isn’t just an opportunity for someone to share their opinion. It's an avenue for business owners to increase their lead generation ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 30 April 2015
Set Your Business Up For Steady Growth
Achieve steady business growth with these proven steps ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 23 April 2015
What is Your Business' Value Proposition?
Why do your customers buy from you? If you can answer this with a value proposition of one sentence then you are in a good position ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 20 April 2015
Do You Have Plan B Thinking?
When you look at decisions as strategic steps in the process to realise new opportunity, not simply costs, your whole business horizon will expand ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 16 April 2015
Guide to Webinars For Small Business
One affordable source to grow your business acumen and learn new skills is webinars. Find out how webinars can improve your business ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 13 April 2015
Following Through: How to Convert Potential Customers
Ensure that your team is consistently achieving an improved conversion rate. This is essential to increasing profit growth within any small business ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 9 April 2015
Is Execution More Important Than Vision?
Vision vs Execution – what does this mean, and what is more important? Read more to find out ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 6 April 2015
How Precise is Your Organisational Alignment?
If you had to think twice about this question then it is time to take stock. If your business is not aligned, growth will not move forward. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 2 April 2015
Has Your Team Got the Formula for Business Success?
Does your team have the traits of a winning team? Find out the formula for team success here ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 30 March 2015
Is Your Business Taking Enough Risks?
Professional decisions to embrace a risk is the fuel that keeps small business alive in Melbourne. Are you taking enough risk? ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 26 March 2015
Will Your Team Still Be With You in Two Years?
Think about your team. Are you doing everything to make sure that they will stick by you? Keep your A Team together with this advice ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 25 March 2015
Work Smarter with Better Team Meetings
At the heart of exceptional team performance is a rhythm of tightly run meetings. These meetings are to ensure we focus the team on what’s important ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 23 March 2015
Goal Setting: Are You One of the 8%?
Only 8% of people stick to their New Year's resolution. Are you one of them? Find out how to stick to your goals ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 19 March 2015
What's Your Hourly Rate?
Have you thought about the investment you are putting in to your business? Are you working for nothing? Or are you satisfied with the return on your personal exertion investment? ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 12 March 2015
Eliminate Unnecessary Business Expenses
If you want to increase the profitability of your business, you should't always be focusing on the revenue side of the equation. Reduce costs today. ...
Read moreStefan Kazakis on 9 March 2015
5 Steps to Achieve Business Success This Year
Has this year gone to plan, or have things fallen to the wayside? Start your path the business success here ...
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