Chris' Blog

Do you need a coach to be successful?

No, but it will really help you if you are willing to listen and trust and want to grow and be more successful.

One of the benefits of my job is coaching start-up entrepreneurs and small business owners.

It is rewarding for them, hopefully, as they see how to improve their productivity, their business results, their management of themselves and others and to hear things others usually won’t or can’t tell them (or perhaps they just will not listen).

“Strategies too often fail because more is expected of them than they can deliver.” (Economist Nov 2nd 2013).

“As Helmuth von Moltke, a 19th -century German field-marshal, put it: “No plan survives contact with the enemy.” or Mike Tyson, still more pithily: “Everyone has a plan 'til they get punched in the mouth.” A strategy that starts with objectives and works backwards is one that is likely to fail.”

As usual a visit to Brazil filled me with energy and optimism. It is a wonderful country with wonderful people who are so welcoming and hospitable that one feels special, although they treat everybody that way.
The FCE was a great show, if a little slow on the first day and as the stands were badly laid out, some exhibitors were stuck in areas that few clients ventured into. However Ashland, Dinaco and others with a good spot and good relationships were filled to breaking point.

The people in the personal care industry are a great bunch. One just answered my call for a donation.

Recently I have become more active as a volunteer and fund raiser for the Special Olympics here in Florida. This is a really good cause.

After some unnerving news about L’Oreal and Revlon pulling brands out of China, finally some good news about emerging markets from Unilever:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/21/us-unilever-results-idUSBREA0K07W20140121?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews

Unilever’s sales in emerging markets rose 8.4% in the fourth quarter. More than half of Unilever’s sales are in emerging and developing markets.

Happi magazine (www.happi.com), my favorite industry magazine, asked me to write an "Expert Opinion" about doing business in emerging markets.

The first article, "Expanding into Emerging Markets?" can be found here: lnkd.in/RyM6DS, the second article, "Does gepgraphic Expansion Fit Your Long Term Strategy?" is here: lnkd.in/d6q_VJN and the next in the serioes should be published in the next couple of months.

Recently I received a compliment on my blog from a younger professional in the industry, and I found it very motivating. Look, at 58 most of the professionals in the industry are younger than me. So anyway, I had let my blog slip a little during an almost 2 month trip in South East Asia. On a long trip generally my exercise routine and my diet also slip, especially in SE Asia where I love the food.
So it got me thinking about compliments and where and when they are appropriate and how they can open doors in business.

I am privileged to have frequent contact with friends and clients across the globe. One of the most frequent questions I am asked (usually after “How is Luisa?”) is “What have you heard about the market in Brazil? (or France or the US or Mexico etc.).
In this context, they are not talking about the stock market, but the business of personal care and cosmetic ingredients.

Beauty is growing again, with Emerging markets key for multinationals to achieve growth targets
GCI June 2013 State of the Industry report has some very interesting facts and figures, and it is basically a missive on why companies should be investing in emerging markets to achieve their growth goals.
The most interesting targets seem to be India (retail spending up by 18%), Mexico, Brazil (Unilever generated over $1 billion in growth in Brazil last year) and China.

Last Sunday evening after dinner I was walking down the road in Paris when I saw an old colleague from Peru coming the other way. "How's things?" I asked. "I left my hotel this morning and there were so many people in the street, I went straight back to my hotel until now. It is too crowded!" He replied.

Before In Cosmetics, a couple of clients asked me how things are in Europe.

Well I guess it depends upon your perspective. But one thing is for sure: there are a lot of tourists in Paris.