This is my favourite advert on TV at the moment. I mean, how easy does it look to make an Apple Strudel from this advert. Now I’m no expert in the kitchen but how hard can it be. I’m going to put it to the test. First I’ll need a reliable recipe. Although Marks n Spencer mention some of the ingredients, I’m sure they have conveniently omitted a few. My research revealed the following are needed.

Bramley apples
Rum soaked raisins
Lemon zest
Castor sugar
Nutmeg
Brown sugar
Filo Pastry (Flour water salt and patience)
Butter
Icing sugar for dusting

I’ve decided to buy the ready made version of the Filo Pastry after trying my hand at the homemade type. Told you- no expert. The rest is fairly simple. And the result……. Less than fantastic. What I realise is that without vital ingredients, its just not that simple. I should have listened to the end of the advert more closely where they say “…or make life easy with the ultimate apple strudel from the M n S dessert menu……”

Now as usual I seem to be going off on a tangent and as usual I will now provide the method behind my madness and relate this to some good sound Startup Advise.

If we were to make an advert Marks n Spencer esq, it would sound something like this. “How to start the perfect Outsource Business using sound business advice naturally but also experience and a little investment. Start by writing a business plan. Write and rewrite until it is perfectly laid out. Simplify and add a mission statement. Ever so carefully, spread your investment across  the various functions and finally dust with a little hard work until it stabilises. Watch it develop into a profitable, manageable enterprise”.

Sound easy and should be but we would conveniently leave out the vital functions that are involved in running a business.

Before you go out and start up a new business consider the following functions needed to minimise the risk. You will need the following:

Legal support
Admin processing
Accounting
Business development
Marketing
Public relations
Banking
Experience
Original idea

Now as long as you have expertise in all of the above functions, you’re headed in the right direction. Or just find a package deal where all you have enough time to deliver customers daily and provide necessary training for business partners.

In short, i can go through the effort of making my own mediocre Apple Strudel or I can run down to my local M n S and buy one with less effort. The same applies to Business Startups.

When asked about what has brought me success over the years, I usually think of an over elaborate explanation of how I managed to work my way through the ranks more by who I knew and how I worked my way into successful positions and how it’s not about what you know but about who you know.

When setting up my own company I realised that as easy a solution it seems, giving preference to people just because of who they know really doesn’t bring out the best in people especially if results determine your success.

I’v managed over the years to narrow it down to 1 basic step. Before I tell you my secret I’ll tell you a story that best describes it.

I moved into Manchester in 2005 in search of a simpler life to London. I was after a fresh challenge and need less of a hustle and bustle that London provided for me for over 6 years. I had booked myself  a couple of interviews a couple of days apart and was staying in Fallowfield. The morning of my first interview I went through my usual preparation of shower, shave and shampoo. Put on a purple ‘power tie’. got a spare copy of my CV ready in case my interviewer has misplaced the one I sent. Had myself a healthy breakfast of fruit, yoghurt and honey followed by a cup of coffee and set off for my interview.

Due to a lack of knowledge about Manchester and it’s traffic I decided to catch a bus in to town. After waiting around 10 minutes for a bus, one arrives and I jump on in a good mood, ready to take on the world only to the welcome of the most miserable face I have ever seen in my life. The response to my ‘Hi How are you?’ was met by half a nod and some sort of grunt as if to say “Who the F^&* are you to be so happy?” Never the less I needed this person’s help so I ignored the reaction and proceeded to explain that I was a first time traveller to Manchester and had very little idea of where I was headed and politely asked for a shout out as soon as we arrived at my stop. the response was predictably the same as the first one as if to say “Sure, if I have to….”

Forty five minutes later I realised that we had to have at least come close to our destination. I politely enquired to ‘Mr Grumpylocks’ to which the answer predictably was “We’ve passes it mate”

Unsurprised at my answer I jumped off and managed to find my way back just in time for my interview.

Day 2, Interview 2

Same setup, same positive start, same request. Different driver. Here was his response.

“First time in Manchester mate. You’re in for a treat. Please take a seat”

My guided tour took me through the main student area, past the Cheshire Cat Pub, the Curry Mile, the Student Union, the Royal Infirmary, the Palace Hotel, Billy Rox Nightclub and finally to my stop on Piccadilly. I was left with a smile and a wish of luck with my interview.

If by now you haven’t guessed it. My 1 Step Secret to Success is this.

We all wake up with a choice. Either we wake up with a good attitude or we don’t.

For me attitude is the ‘ability to have people want to deal with you on a day to day basis.