This was perhaps the best run Expo I have been to and was certainly the most fun! Motive8 an Online Incentive Solution, a product of leading Australian Incentive Marketing Company AD+INC. was officially launched on Tuesday 24 July at the Expo.

The Motive8 product is a computer program that has been developed here over the last 2 years or so, which runs a fully contained Incentive Program for our clients. The program is fully measurable 24/7, includes an extensive communications package in the system and participants can redeem rewards online from our large catalogue of 1,000+ items. Our clients need only upload their data and monitor the effect and progress of the program – which runs from our website and is safe and secure, requiring no software to be added by our clients. The Program was written as an ‘off the shelf’ solution – but it has many customisable facets to suit our client’s needs.

We had many visitors to our stand over the 2 days of the Expo and fielded many enquiries and expressions of interest. We have already begun speaking to many leading Australian businesses about Motive8

I noticed a lack of new blog articles last week, due in part I presume the USA 4^th of July holiday. (Or was it because of the rain / arrival of USS Kittyhawk / Australia beating NZ in Rugby / new financial year / other insert here.) As a consequence, I had been searching extensively for other sites to read and found these two Australian sites which are excellent reads.

One blog site, flying solo is full of good information for ‘small business’ (it is actually aimed at soloists, those running a business on their own) but articles and topics can be applied to business in general. Especially refreshing was sage advice on the ‘health’ side of running a small business – taking a break for example – something from my experience few Small Business owners believe is productive. (NB: It is productive as the mind and body needs to refresh. It also might help you avoid a heart attack!)

The NSW Small Business web site is a well of information, provided by the New South Wales Government. From starting a business, marketing and finance, to subjects as directed as I.T., Exporting and Legal – this site is a very valuable resource and interesting reading.

Motive8 will have a stand at the Motivation and Incentive Expo, to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday 24 and 25 July, at Darling Harbour in Sydney.

I notice the Expo has spiked some interest from overseas, with Incentive Performance Centre in USA, mentioning it in coming events.

We shall be at stand C15 and have an interesting ‘change of behaviour’ for our visitors to try.

Motive8 recently commissioned an independent survey of Australian Small to Medium Business owners. The subject was Incentive Programs and 2 of the early questions surprised us:
The overwhelming majority – 87 per cent – of respondents agreed that incentives/rewards increase employee performance and/or loyalty…however, just 52 per cent of respondents provide rewards of any type in recognition of their employees’ performance.

Why Do Staff Leave,
An item by Brian Walker – The Retail Doctor – at Inside Retailing Magazine, makes for interesting reading. I have seen lists like this before, and as Brian points out, salary is down the list.

Studies and research I look at here reveal that cash, conditions, perks etc can get staff in the door, but keeping them there is a different story. A few items on Brian’s list point to Right Brain thinking – motivation, recognition, pride and passion – something we at Motive8 keep in mind when talking to people about Incentive Solutions and how a program at the workplace helps to retain (and attract) staff.

No argument about the first 2 items on the list though…if your management and leadership is poor there is only one thing to do.

“Don the Idea guy”, from the Duct Tape Marketing blog, wrote this on 29 May, referring to an e-mail he received.
The most recent Guerrilla Marketing email bulletin has Jay and Amy Levinson sharing the most important words in Human Relations:

• • The six most important words in business: “I admit that I was wrong.”
  • The five most important words in business: “You did a great job.”
  • The four most important words in business: “What do you think?”
  • The three most important words in business: “Could you please…”
  • The two most important words in business: “Thank you.”
  • The one most important word in business: “We.”

I would toss a few others in there for small and medium business owners

6 most important words “How do I make this better”
5 most important words “How do I work smarter”
4 most important words “May I help you”
3 most important words “Check another Bank”
2 most important words “Thank you”
1 most important word “We” or “Us”

…and I tell you, there would be a few big businesses that could start using these important words.