Colin Pearce's Bookshop

Nearing retirement or just "tired"?

2010-07-23T17:03:00.000+09:30

This week two Directors nearing retirement and a CEO are sitting down with me to work through their final years of coming to work. We are going to discuss and think our way through The Legend of the Fire Bringer.

It's hard to give up a life-time of partnership in business while retaining ownership and maintaining the flow, but when we get tired and wonder what it's all about, that's the time to call in someone like me to help you think through how to pass the baton in a way that keeps the integrity of what you've built and ensures the legacy lasts beyond your time.

You can get the CDs and the book here or you can call me to see what it's all about. 0403 181-368

Sounds of Chickens

2010-06-22T14:32:00.000+09:30

Someone just ordered The Fox Proof Chook House pack and for some reason I had a flashback to the studio when I recorded the double audio CDs for the pack. I had recorded real live chickens and roosters at a nearby chook breeder's place and Andrew Bayfield (my favourite sound engineer) and I decided to embed the sounds in the reading of the story.

It was great fun and the chickens sound as though they are right inside your head as you listen. And strangely enough those same sounds take me back to my childhood playing around the neighbour's chook sheds on a hot summer day with the chooks contentedly clucking and scratching around on their straw and sawdust litter. The sound somehow brings back the smell of dry chook shed dust mingled with the smell of the wormwood bushes.

Billabong Songs in Germany.

2010-06-16T07:46:00.000+09:30

This just in from Germany.
"I don`t remember how, but once I found your lovely Billabong Songs of Koala Ted and Uncle Collie. I live in Germany, though, and now that my first cassette (or CD, can`t remember) is broken, I wonder how I can get another one, or even some more. We loved your songs, they are so cheerful and heartwarming and friendly. I am teaching English to children here and want to make use of your songs."

All stitched up and delivered. Want your copy. It will drive you mad but your 2 - 8 year olds will love it.

Tell 'em a Story – Storytelling made memorable.

2010-06-10T14:17:00.001+09:30

There's something about a story that sticks. Is it because stories garner our emotions? Are they more colourful? Do they bond with an experience? Do they let us wander off in our own imaginations and draw our own pictures, shoot our own movies?

All these questions are explored and answered in the 2 CDs in this pack.

A gift of listening – or something.

2010-06-04T23:18:00.001+09:30

I gave everyone in my Masters Class in Humanities a copy of my book, The Fox Proof Chook House yesterday, and all they wanted me to do was sign their copies and read it to them!

What's the point of being a writer if all people want you to do is read your stuff? What are they there for?

I might as well be a speaker... Doh! I am!

The Power of Stories

2010-05-27T15:19:00.000+09:30

I'll be speaking on the platform with Peter Fitzsimons on Sunday for the South Australian Office of Recreation and Sport.

The theme is Real People. Real Stories.

That's right up my alley. Peter's too. I say, if you have a sick culture, you have a sick story or you've forgotten your good story. And if you have a healthy culture, it will only stay that way if you keep your story alive.

This double CD will tell you all about what makes stories stick.

It's moved!

2010-05-14T16:52:00.001+09:30

With the new website we created a new site for the Colin Pearce bookshop.

It's laid out clearer and it's easier to see the goodies.

Come have a look.

This Glorious Quest

2010-04-29T22:47:00.005+09:30

This Glorious Quest is peppered with tales and anecdotes about great achievers, high fliers, champion athletes and business leaders all of whom started out seeing themselves as very ordinary folks. You'll be inspired as you read how their ordinary interests became extraordinary pursuits and Glorious Quests.

Also available as a course included for the one-low-fee-covers-all-courses in The Franchise Trainer Syllabus.

This just in from a reader 12th May 2010: 'Thanks for the book "This Glorious Quest Find and Fulfil Your Dream". It's very inspirational. I thought you may be interested in my glorious quest...... well... it's to become the managing director for (her firm – name reserved) Lauren.

The Legend of the Fire Bringer - For leaders wearied by enterprise

2009-01-04T23:01:00.004+10:30

Entrepreneurs (i.e. all business owners) don't have to be overburdened, get sick, break up their families or die before their time.

As an entrepreneur (i.e. a business owner) you are probably:

> expecting too much of others, your family included
> working long hours
> guilty about your poor quality of life
> worried about competition and the economy
> burdened with too many details and roles
> frequently lonely and misunderstood
> reluctant to trust your employees
> needing help but probably too self assured to ask for it

For a handful of coins you can get the help you need. Start by buying Colin Pearce's Legend of the Fire Bringer. You will see the light. get your life back, get your time back, and get your health back.

Five Star Service on a One Star Budget

2008-11-12T22:54:00.006+10:30

Five Star Service is Easier to Give than You Might Think!

Betsy Sanders writes in the foreword to the book, 'Whether you feel your company is starting from scratch, or whether you, like all great companies, are committed to ongoing improvement, Five Star Service on a One Star Budget will fuel your journey. This is one set you will want to share with your entire team.'

Betsy should know! She is a Director of Walmart, Washington Mutual, Wolverine Worldwide, Wellpont Health Systems, Advantica Restaurant Group and founding manager of Nordstrom's Southern Caifornia.

Get your copy here

Make More Money from Every Sale

2007-11-21T22:02:00.000+10:30

Colin Pearce has been teaching this topic since 1994 and has collected an amazing array of stories that prove it all works.

Just by following these ideas Bedroom Mazurka 's managers exceeded budget for the first time in years, and Bob Jane T-Marts sold 4 times their all-time sales record in wheels, both in their first month after Colin showed them how. Muffin Break sales increased from 8 to 12%. Chow King Stores in the Philippines had to ask Colin to stop teaching this stuff because his techniques made them run out of stock!!

In this entertaining live presentation Colin is speaking to 500 retailers and making the message fun and easy to listen to and even easier to put into practice.

When you know how, making money from add-on selling isn't a mystery. It is simple, smart business practice. This CD gives you the win/win you've been looking for...happy customers and bigger sales!

When all else fails, Character Works

2007-04-30T22:10:00.000+09:30

Call us. +61 8 8374-0711 We'll see if we can help you with this outstanding culture change program.

Organisations committed to character development report:
> significant decreases in employee turnover
> lower worker’s compensation costs
> radical reduction in grievances,
> less negligence, waste, accidents and damage claims
> healthier profits, gained easier

Their people are invigorated with:
> new-found initiative
> greater productivity
> higher degrees of loyalty, enthusiasm and respect
> workplace excellence reflected in improved physical, moral and mental health

Great Phone Skills

2007-04-16T22:12:00.000+09:30

Want to give yourself a fright?

Go to a friend's office and sit by a loud speaker telephone while your friend phones your business and asks for a quote and then tries to buy something that you know is out of stock.

Do it on three or four separate occasions, asking for something different each time.

Now ask yourself these questions and be brutally honest.

> Was the tone bright and enthusiastic?
> Was there a prolonged 'hold' time?
> Was there a 'can do' attitude?
> Was there the feeling that you were in safe hands?
> Was there any attempt to close the sale?

If not, you need to do something about it before you frustrate any more customers and see your business flushed down the drain. We know from first hand case studies that you can literally double your sales by improving your telephone skills.

Manage and Lead without Losing Sleep

2007-03-13T22:00:00.000+10:30

Management can be a cow of a job.

But it can be a whole lot easier than most managers make it and teams can be a whole lot happier - and productive - than their managers make them.

Learn how to have more fun, more control, use a tried and proven model for assessing teams and get it all done before bed time tonight. To read a sample, click here

"This information is applicable at all levels: It applies at board level and strategic management all the way down to the way one manager supervises the Saturday afternoon shift in a store. I've seen this material applied at all levels in our franchise system and I can attest to the fact that it makes sense - and it makes a difference."
**Michael Sherlock
Managing Director
Brumby's Bakeries, Australia**

Billabong Songs - Songs to shorten any journey

2007-02-07T23:48:00.000+10:30

I know you won’t believe me when I tell you this but I have a Koala of my own who talks. Not only that but he sings songs. Not only that but he has his own CD album.

I know a talking Koala is a bit unbelievable, and a singing one is a LOT unbelievable but if you click here will hear from Koala Ted and prove it for yourself.

• Some kids wouldn’t let their mother back the car out of the driveway to clear the way for the lawn mower man without hopping in the car for one minute to hear Billabong Songs.
• Some kids refused go to sleep unless they listened to half an hour of Billabong Songs
• One boy wouldn’t go to hospital without his Billabong Songs
"Jason (9) went to hospital for a few days. Of all his tapes he could have chosen to take, he chose Billabong Songs...'It will cheer me up', he said". Ann Graham, Ballarat, Victoria
• Some teachers couldn’t get their classes to settle at school without a couple of minutes of Billabong Songs
And you know what is really funny?
• Lots of Dads bought Billabong Songs for their kids but they loved it so much they kept it in the car and used to play it to sing along to on business trips! – And their kids had to fight them to borrow it.
• A grandma bought Billabong Songs for her grandchildren but ended up keeping it to sing along to around the house because she loved it so much
• And in my stage seminars thousands of adults all over the world have sung along to Ted’s favourite song: Suzy Had Baby.
You can too. It's only $20 for hours and hours and months and months of fun.

Balancing the Sale - Australian DVD sales training

2007-02-06T23:50:00.000+10:30

Balancing the Sale (2006 Edition) is out! It's fresh! It's ALL NEW! It's on DVD.

Your people can be expert salespeople too with:
> closing skills that don't put people off
> qualifying techniques that break down the barriers
> objection handling that won’t start fights
> putting benefits in plain talk that anyone can say
> sentences that sell and engage your customers
> questions that get the answers you need without prying or intimidating

Read all about it

The Fox-Proof Chook House

2007-01-27T19:43:00.000+10:30

In the the 21st Century four factors will determine your position and influence: Leadership, Creativity, Relationships, and above all - Character. 'The Fox-Proof Chook House' is a great starting point to think this all through.

The Fox-Proof Chook House is one of those unusual books people will be talking about for years to come at the water fountain, over coffee and in seminars. You can make it an integral part of the culture in your family and your business alike.

The book is Colin's quizzical tale of the motivational chicken who reveals the seven rules for building a fox proof chook house.

You must get the double CD set - Feature title recorded in the studio with three guests who have recovered from serious ' fox bites' and the Bonus CD is a recording of the live presentation of the title featuring the hilarious story of the day Colin's little girl was terrorised by a headless chook. Choose the book and CD pack when you place your order at colinpearce.com

The Fox-Proof Chook House is a great starting point.