Trust in business is completely critical. In his book, Lovemarks, Kevin Roberts writes about trust and respect being the two precursors to a Lovemark. I agree - for someone to love your business, they must first trust and respect it.
 
It's interesting being in Bali, thinking about the cultural aspects of trust in business. In Australia the government basically trusts us to pay our tax. We may get audited, but its largely an honour system. And the vast majority of businesses do pay their taxes. On the other hand, retail stores don't trust the public (and often the staff) not to steal stuff. If you were leaving your shop for five minutes you'd lock the door.
 
Here it's the opposite.

I had a very interesting experience a few weeks ago. A friend of mine generously offered to do an 'integrity and values' profile for me. (Thanks Lucy!)

I logged onto a website and spent 20 minutes answering some multiple choice questions. Then I was off to meet Lucy and find out if I have any integrity and values.

Integrity is something that is very important to me, and most people in my life would describe me as a person of integrity ... and that's generally what the profile indicated.

However one score surprised me... 

I caught up with Fabrice last night. Fabrice is a good friend of mine who works for Accenture - a large consulting company where I worked a lifetime ago.

A little while back I told him a bit about what we are up to with Love Your Business, and gave him a new business card. On the back of the card (as well as on our website and email signature) it says the more we love, the more we thrive.

Last night Fabrice told me something very cool.

Here is the first line of an article that came across my desk this week: 

LOVE has to be in the air at the workplace these days if managers and business owners don't want to lose their precious employees.

From the Herald Sun of all places. The article reported on the Australian Association of Career Counsellors annual conference. The conference focussed on how to keep staff in an employees market - and love is the key. To read the full article, click here .

My sister in law sent me a link to an organisation called Kiva (thanks Kim) - and I have to say I'm very impressed. I think it's a phenomenon ... and its all about love and business. Although not in the way we are used to.

Kiva is a website that allows people to make micro loans to individual borrowers in the developing world. Forbes says "Kiva mixes the entrepreneurial daring of Google with the do-gooder ethos of Bono."

One of the best things we've done for our business at LYB is changing from invoicing our clients at the end of the month to automatically direct debiting people at the start of the month. Its done two great things for us. Firstly its helped our cash flow ... we're getting paid on average two months earlier than we were. And as many of you know, in small business this can be critical. Secondly we don't have to chase people for payments anymore ... and that makes life much more enjoyable!

But we still had one outstanding payment on our books that had been hanging around for a couple of years. How do you deal with someone who isn't paying their bill when you are standing for love in your business? 

Thanks to everyone who came along to our office warming party last night. It was a great night full of inspiration, connection and love. There were old faces and new, hugs, great stories and lots of laughs.

Gwen Lucas cut the ribbon in honour of Peter Lucas, her husband and the first Love Your Business Client. 

I had a great night ... even if I suffered a bit this morning. 

To see more photos click below.

Over the last week I have had some profound coaching sessions with my clients and it never ceases to amaze me the power of nurturing. In the old realm of business 'nurture' is rarely spoken of. It may be referred to loosely as a preferred employer, caring for the people in the business and looking after staff. But is that really the same as nurturing? Does nurturing have a place in business at all and how can it help my business to thrive?

Last week I met the owner of what looked to be a very successful small business - let's call him Frank. Their income was well over a million dollars, profit margins were very healthy and their customers were happy.

However Frank wasn't loving his business. He was exhausted ... and scared that if things didn't change he would lose his commitment and his drive. He was working long days, 6–7 day weeks and asking his staff to do the same.

I know loving my business is a good idea. I believe that it is the key to having my business thrive. I really do. And in a way I don't have a choice ... I'm the CEO of Love Your Business, I have to love my business.

But sometimes loving your business is easier said than done.