Advice
Over the next 10 years we’re likely to see the greatest wealth transformation occur in Australian history as ageing baby boomers pass on their estates. Of the 2.1 million businesses in Australia, about 70 per cent are family owned, according to Family Business Australia and they employ more than 50 per cent of the workforce. […]
Just as computers and IKEA furniture can be hacked, so too can brains. In fact, NYC-based researcher and entrepreneur Patrycja Slawuta is in the business of helping entrepreneurs ‘hack, rewire and upgrade’ the human operating system to survive in a ‘faster, leaner, smarter world’. Slawuta is the founder of SelfHackathon, a boutique consultancy in New […]
For many people, the ‘big dream’ is that of entrepreneurship. We are a tenacious and creative nation and it is maybe that unique combination of quirky and clever ideas and the guts to see a job through that tempts so many of us to step out of the world of steady salaries and into less […]
Founders often ask me ‘how do you know when is the right time to leave a corporate role and start your own business?’ Despite the fact I have a strong accounting background and am very much a numbers person, life experience has taught me this initial decision often needs to be based more on a […]
I spent all of last week travelling around Australia with one of my clients. She heads up innovation at a top tier law firm and I’d been brought in to deliver innovation keynotes at all of the firm’s offices. In one of our taxi rides, the conversation turned to email. She told me she gets […]
Four years ago, Sydney’s Frank Andrews began to transition away from a nearly 20-year career in the banking sector, where he was earning a six-figure sum, to pursue his passion for coffee roasting as a legitimate business. With limited hospitality experience, he faced an uphill battle – especially considering the fiercely competitive nature of the local café […]
Leadership is a skill that everyone should learn. Saying “everyone is a leader” sounds like a platitude, but it’s true: you don’t need to be a manager to be a leader. If you do manage a team, however, being an effective leader is even more important. Good leadership is probably the single most important skill […]
Is Australia heading towards a recession? A combination of factors including rising Australian household debt, the state of the energy market and the fact that Australia hasn’t experienced a recession for 25 years, have led many commentators to speculate that a recession or slow down may be imminent. The good news is that SMEs can […]
The idea of having to develop a groundbreaking innovation can seem as terrifying as it is exciting to many entrepreneurs. Innovation is risky and won’t always go to plan. However, there’s no need to worry, because successful innovation isn’t about being perfect, it’s about continual improvement. Don’t get stressed about the risk: get excited instead. […]
Have you tried to hire a senior employee lately and have found the talent pool extremely limited? Trying to find senior staff in my industry – interior and architectural design – can be incredibly difficult. The reason for this stems from the GFC. When it hit, many firms in the design community put the brakes […]
When it comes to building businesses, coming up with an idea is only half the battle. It is, however, a necessary key ingredient. Creativity is essential to entrepreneurship – so much so that the two terms are almost synonymous: an entrepreneur is by definition an agent of change. And for change to exist there must […]
When it comes to business, culture is something of a ‘vegemite’ word: you either love it and embrace all that it stands for, or you hate it and avoid it at all costs. At Atomic 212°, we are tremendous believers in the virtue of strong culture, which we try to live by remembering that our […]
There’s a misconception among business owners that customers consider price to be the key factor when selecting a business online. Yet, our research is conclusive – fewer than 1 in 5 customers will choose the lowest priced quote when selecting a business. Today, more businesses than ever attract new customers through digital means – a […]
Today’s startup culture is faster paced than ever, and CIOs play a crucial role in keeping the company on an even keel. It isn’t just about aligning the company’s technology strategy with its business strategy anymore. Any CIO worth their salt needs to be bringing innovative ideas to the table and actively engaging with stakeholders […]
User generated content has revolutionised the way we exchange information about businesses. Whether you’re looking for a hairdresser, restaurant, film or holiday recommendation, ratings and review sites are an often trusted resource to get immediate feedback on other people’s experiences, and can influence many of our purchasing decisions. As a business, this presents a huge […]
As I started building my new cybersecurity company, through staff hires and client and vendor engagement, there was one question I was asked repeatedly: “Carlo, how will you start from nothing, with no customers, no revenue, and convince customers to trust you?” The concept seemed a complete mystery to every single person I spoke with. To […]
When I decided to start my own accountancy business ten years ago, my ambitions were modest. Like many female entrepreneurs, I felt torn between my intense work commitments and a growing family, and I wanted more control and a more balanced lifestyle. [Editor’s note: This is the first in an ongoing series, by serial entrepreneur Tanya […]
I want to talk to you about why it’s sometimes far more important to reject a potential customer or client than to say ‘yes’. In fact, if you are building a business, get used to saying ‘no’ – a lot. Having started my second cybersecurity company, after the successful sale and globalisation of my first one, […]
Most mornings I buy my coffee from the same beachside café. While I order the same coffee every morning, the waiters never remember my order nor do they show me any hint of recognition. In contrast, in The Strand next to my city office, my local coffee shop greets me by name, brings me my […]
In my first business, SE Net, I balked at going to industry conferences interstate. They were expensive, there was no airline competition – Adelaide-Sydney on special was $700 return and you HAD to stay a Saturday night due to local tourist board subsidies! And in general, whilst I had a hand in helping the local Internet […]
