How to Reach Your Full Potential - Think Bespoke

All businesses seek suppliers, clients, referrers and friends.  In YTM's case we also seek Sponsors and Partners.    Today I would like to introduce you to  someone who fits into every one of these categories and is a strong collaborator with YTM as we blend networking together,  online and face to face. 

 What’s your business name and how did you come up with that? 

My business name is Think Bespoke®. Think is what we encourage our clients to do, by re-thinking their approach to online tools such as LinkedIn. Bespoke is the approach we take with our clients. Bespoke means tailored and we take the time to listen to our client’s needs and tailor a solution that will help them achieve the outcomes they desire. We are also very honest, and so if we feel we can not help them, we will recommend someone who can!

How do you help others?

We help others by teaching them how to unlock LinkedIn for their business or career. My team and I offer a variety of services including LinkedIn Profile updates, online courses, DIY downloadable tools, tailored 1:1 training, group training solutions and business and career coaching.

Our mission is to help people reach their full potential. Everyone is on a different journey and so it is essential we work at the pace of our clients and provide helpful training and coaching that meets their preferred learning styles and desired outcomes.

“Why” do you do what you do ?

I believe we are all capable of great things and just need the right teacher to guide us.

I really enjoy helping quieter and more thoughtful folk navigate their online presence in a way that feels comfortable and meaningful for them. As the online world continues to play a larger role in how many decisions are made, it’s increasingly important to have an online presence that represents you and your business well. In many ways, your LinkedIn Profile has become your 24 hours a day, 7 days a week online ambassador.

My practical and down to earth approach and deep knowledge of LinkedIn helps take the guesswork out of the largest professional networking platform in the world. LinkedIn is one of the key touch points for an individual’s business or career, along with face to face networking and relationship building, to help you learn, grow and succeed.

What made you start your own business?

Would you like the long version or the short version of this?

When I established Think Bespoke® in 2010 I had 2 young children and my dear Mum had been diagnosed with alzheimers disease. In essence, I was keen to establish a more family friendly career where I could leverage my skills while still being able to actively participate in all aspects of my life.

My personal mission is borrowed from Gandhi, and is ‘to be the change you wish to see in the world’. I saw the entrepreneurial life and online tools, like LinkedIn and social media, as a new and exciting path to help me create change in how we all navigate our working lives.

For the longer version please visit my website here.

I am sure there are things that really give you a “buzz” about your business.  Could you share 2 or three things with us?

I believe your story is your unique selling point and so helping people rediscover or better articulate their background and experience (when they work with my team and I to update their profiles or write their online content) gives me a huge buzz.

As Australians, many of us suffer from ‘Tall Poppy Syndrome’ which can sometimes make it uncomfortable for us to talk about our successes and achievements. It is an absolute privilege to work with talented professionals and help draw out their stories. Part of our process is to shine a light on key aspects of client’s stories and develop narratives that are relevant for their business or career goals. We encourage our clients to gradually become more comfortable with sharing what it is that is unique about them and how they can help others. For so many of our clients this approach feels like a much more genuine and useful way to share information about themselves.

Another thing that gives me a buzz about my business is that I have tried new things along the way to ‘see how they would go’. Some have worked well, and others have not. I believe everything is sweetened by risk and, in an ever changing world, it’s important to trial new ways of doing things every now and then.

An example of this is when I first established Think Bespoke®.

I had no sales or marketing budget. I’d attended a local council seminar and heard a guest speaker share her ideas about ‘Content Marketing’ to attract your clients and community. The premise was that by sharing information that helped clients solve their problems, I could get found online. This concept was contrary to some of what I had learnt when I did my Marketing Degree at RMIT.

I had nothing to lose, and began implementing a content marketing strategy for Think Bespoke. 8 years on this has been a key way our services ‘get found’. While SEO plays a small role and we do generate new enquiries thanks to my weekly blog, this strategy has helped clients tell others about us.

Our loyal and growing client base actively share our online resources from the blog (which you can read here) and refer our services as a result of reading our newsletter, personally benefitting from our services or hearing me guest speak.

Where I am heading with all of this? It gives me a buzz that something I tried has become such a pivotal part of our success and is now also one of the core services we offer.

Importantly, developing a content marketing strategy is a medium-long term play. LinkedIn can play a very key part in this for your business.

As you know at Your Time Matters, we believe conversations, connections and knowledge enrich lives, personally and professionally, and can impact on the lives of  others, helping them learn, grow and achieve what matters to them.  What impact would  you like your business to make?

I’d like to continue to help people unlock their potential. We help clients achieve this through our business and career services and through a number of key collaborations I have nurtured over the last few years.

Career Grow is on online community (Facebook group) moderated by Marina Pitisano, a highly experienced Career Practitioner. Career Grow is a safe and private place where professionals can reflect, learn and succeed as they consider their next career move or return to study to further develop their skills.

Think Bespoke® is also officially aligned to The Indigenous Literacy Foundation and it is my hope that our 2-3 charity events each year, our Blog Brainstorming & Writing mornings, will continue to raise funds to help children in remote communities access books and resources to help them reach their potential.

In 3 years time, where would you like to see your business?

In 3 years time Think Bespoke® will be Melbourne’s first port of call for leveraging LinkedIn for your business and career. We’ll continue to help values based organisations wanting to make the world a better place, by teaching their communication and marketing staff how to navigate LinkedIn with a content marketing strategy. For business owners, we will continue to be an invaluable resource for how to establish your professional brand on LinkedIn and to maximise the platform and the frequent changes. We’ll also have accredited programs run by experienced career practitioners and recruiters for maximising LinkedIn.

Can you give us one tip on how to manage your time as a busy business professional?

Learn to outsource! While there are some core elements of your business only you can do, there are so many talented local service providers in Melbourne who can help you with all the other dimensions required to run a successful business in the digital age.

How have you benefited from being part of the YTM community?

YTM is a safe and rewarding place where I can learn and grow. Whenever I attend a YTM event I learn something new, meet someone new and very often end up with new business. Importantly, new business is not my primary reason for attending face to face events, but it’s a lovely bonus! Kerryn and Leigh have a caring approach to their community and actively nurture conversations, at events and after events. I value this connection and have met many interesting and highly talented local professionals.

Please share your favourite quote with us about time or business .

Be the change you wish to see in the world.

Gandhi

How can people connect with you?   

Please visit the Think Bespoke® website at www.thinkbespoke.com.au and invite me to connect on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenhollenbach/

Hello , I am Kerryn Powell, the Founder and Creator of YTM Business Networking and Your Time Matters. I have been connecting people with what they need since I was a child.  Through a diverse career portfolio, I have helped hundreds of people  realise their dreams, find solutions to their problems and build networks  that  support them, both personally and professionally.  I look forwad to meeting you face to face and finding out how I can help you achieve what matters to you.