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Small businesses are at the heart of our economy, with more than two million operating across the nation and more than half a million Australians involved in startup activity at any point in time. As a business catalyst, I dedicate my time to helping these companies thrive and reach their full potential. Small business owners […]
Self-Discipline According to a recent article in Forbes, a full five out of ten of the attributes employers are looking for in 2015 are related to self-discipline. As employers move away from the supervisory model towards a more team-oriented approach, they are looking for people who are more capable of working independently. That means having […]
7-Eleven store owner and operator, Harmandeep Singh Sarkaria will face the Federal Circuit Court over allegations that he underpaid two migrant workers almost $50,000 and created erroneous records for the workers. The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) who initiated the legal proceedings has alleged that Mr Sarkaria short-changed one migrant employee from Pakistan $43,633 between 2012 […]
Every business and brand that has a website should have a blog. But so many small businesses struggle to find the time to put together regular, high quality content and even if they did – they don’t have a clue what to write about. It’s a pretty normal scenario that leaves many business owners sceptical […]
Every small business owner knows that their most valuable asset is their employees, and managing them effectively is paramount to the success of the business. What are you currently doing to ensure that each of your workers is playing their A-game and performing to the best of their ability? According to Gallup’s 2013 ‘State of […]
With 270,000 businesses expected to saturate the market in the next five years, many business owners will be forced to accept a sub-standard price or walk away with nothing. According to the Exit Smart Survey conducted by national chartered accounting and advisory form William Buck, almost 80 per cent of business owners are over 50 […]
Lawyers accustomed to long working days might consider it a ‘good day’ if they made that 7pm dinner appointment they tentatively arranged three weeks prior. Thoughts of week-life being any other way could only mean one thing – a new career – a daunting prospect when you have come so far down the road of […]
Increasing your sales through marketing requires a deep understanding of who your customers are and their biggest wants and needs. Successful marketing also uses in depth knowledge of the reasons your customers decide to purchase from you and the process involved in making that decision. The consumer buying process has been modelled and studied intensively […]
According to recent PwC analysis commissioned by Google, SMEs have the potential to access an additional $49.2bn in output over the next 10 years by making better use of technology. Commenting on the $49.2bn figure outlined in the Small Business: Digital Growth report, PwC economics partner, Jeremy Thorpe said “that’s how much the Federal Government […]
If you’re in business, and even if you’re not, you have probably heard of the concept of digital disruption. Digital disruption is a term used to refer to the development of digital technologies over the past decade or so and the way they have impacted and disrupted our lives. For many businesses, digital disruption has […]
We often hear about entrepreneurs launching exciting new tech businesses across the country, but the Australian economy is still largely driven by many successful, long-running businesses that were born long before phones came without cords, and it was possible to operate entirely “in the cloud.” Cloud technology, and the hype around it has left many […]
The hype around the Internet of Things (IoT) does not always fit with a business case for management with an accurate cost overview, or prove how a return on investment (ROI) will be achieved. In reality, to deliver on the promise of the IoT, there is a pragmatic first step SMEs need to take when […]
Today’s leaders manoeuvre in an entirely different landscape to their counterparts of years gone by. Accepting that jobs are no longer ‘for life,’ scores of entrepreneurs join the game to take control of their own destinies while advances in technology become threats when not embraced. With the speed of change growing exponentially, now, more than […]
Lean techniques are a popular choice for organisations seeking to reduce the use of resources, eliminate waste, work smarter and improve efficiency. In particular, many lean teams enjoy the flexibility and creativity to develop new, smarter ways of doing things. But, if you want a truly lean organisation you need to be able to translate […]
Customer service vs. chasing payments – it can be tough to get the balance right between keeping a customer happy and getting your bills paid on time. There are few things tougher for an SME than trying to collect overdue invoices from clients while also keeping them on-side. To ensure this process is made as […]
SMEs in the food industry have traditionally turned to free samples, displays and one-off advertisements to entice customers. Now, business owners are turning to Instagram to wet the appetite of foodies all over Australia – and it’s taking them by storm. With 36 per cent of Australian Instagrammers following foodie accounts according to recent Aussies […]
When the annual financial results come onto the agenda at work, you’ll probably notice everyone’s eyes glazing over. This is incredibly unfortunate, with many not realising the huge opportunity missed to clearly and effectively communicate a company’s value and impact to both their employees and potential investors. With so many company financials falling into the […]
Starting a business is no simple task—there are often few or no guidelines to follow, the risks are usually high, and the pressure is always on. Despite this, while most entrepreneurs consider digital marketing to be an incredibly important part of success, only a precious few consider receiving formal training in the subject. As a […]
Telstra CEO, Andrew Penn, has been announced as the most viewed CEO in Australia according to LinkedIn’s 2015 Power Profiles Australia. The power profiles reveal the most viewed CEOs and leaders across a range of industries including technology, finance, internet, human resources, marketing and advertising. Following Telstra’s Andrew Penn at the top of the list […]
The Commonwealth Bank has introduced a Real-time Alerts feature for their Business Transaction Accounts following a new study that revealed small businesses spend more 10 days a year managing finances. According to the survey of over 500 small business decision makers, 75 per cent of the time spent included tasks such as chasing payments, scheduling […]
