Business Essentials

Do you know what you really stand for? Perhaps you’re too busy running your business to ask such deep-seated personal questions. But delve deep you must! says John Di Natale, mentor, keynote speaker and author, because these days it’s more important than ever to consider what you represent. It’s all part of personal branding, he says, it’s important for business, and by the way, it’s not just abou...

In 1982, Jim Penman was earning a PhD in history while mowing lawns on the side. It was the beginnings of Jim’s Mowing. Not only did he franchise the business, but has since created multiple franchises, including Jim’s Cleaning, Jim’s Dog Wash and Jim’s Fencing. You could say that he has made history, because today he’s the CEO of Australia’s largest franchise group, Jim’s Group, with more than 50...

Despite consumers being highly discretionary with their spending, they’re still willing to splurge on themselves from time to time. That’s according to Alistair Leathwood, APAC Head of Analytics, Insights and Media at Circana, a leading advisor on the complexities of consumer behaviour. Alistair outlines other consumer trends, including a focus on ‘good value’ for products and services. Artificial...

A. Raptis & Sons is your quintessential migrant-family business success story. In the 1950s, Arthur and Anna Raptis migrated from a Greek fishing village to South Australia, where they opened a fish and chip shop, with a wholesale fish area at the back. Three generations later, Arty Raptis, Arthur Senior’s grandson, is CEO of a multi-million-dollar enterprise with a fleet of boats fishing for...

Has growing your customer base stalled? Are you struggling to attract people to your website? Or maybe you have a tonne of online visitors but they’re just not buying. Whatever the case,  it’s time to check for bottlenecks. Amy Miocevich, marketing guru and Founder of Lumos Marketing, has developed a framework, outlined in her book, ‘The Very Good Marketing Guide: How to Grow Your Business on a Bu...

How healthy, or unwell, is the small business sector? Luke Achterstraat, CEO of the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA), discusses the complexities of economic uncertainty, regulatory changes, and the growing threat of cyber-attacks, and provides valuable perspective on the challenges ahead. He talks about the need to understand the resilience of small businesses amidst a ma...

A great team is one that can collaborate. But collaboration doesn't always happen naturally – it requires active effort and commitment from all team members. Professor Martin Bean discusses his ACL framework – align, collaborate, learn – which provides a roadmap for effective teamwork and decision-making. It’s outlined in his new book, ‘Toolkit for Turbulence: The mindset and methods that leaders...

A manager needs to embody a group of distinct archetypes if they are to reach their full potential, according to recruitment expert and Director of Talent X, Marnie Jones. From the pusher to the mentor, the trainer to the policeman, Marnie Jones explains her seven management archetypes and why embracing them all can lead to a better workplace, retention of staff, and higher profits. Business Essen...

Soon, employees will have the legal right to ignore contact from their employer after hours. The “right to disconnect” law takes effect in August this year for employers other than small business operators. SMEs will have a full year to prepare. Cheryl-Anne Laird, Head of the HR and IR Division at Forvis Mazars, encourages employers to consult with their workforce, review contracts, develop polici...

How often have you sent an email unsure whether the person you sent it to would read it?  Most of us blithely type an email and click ‘send’ hoping for a good result.  Problem is, with so many emails in their overflowing inbox, yours might not ever be opened, let alone acted upon. Productivity and leadership expert Scott Stein, has five mini hacks to help guide the recipient to open and read your...

Small business owners need dual personalities, says Anne Nalder, CEO of the Small Business Association of Australia. As well as being a brave entrepreneur, she says there’s also a diligent, prudent side that needs to be nourished if a business is to be successful. From risk management systems to tax compliance and customer service, Anne delves into the essential but often overlooked aspects of bus...

A generation vital to the workplace, Millennials, or Gen Y’s, are now approaching their mid-40’s. As lovers of technology, they’re not fearful of AI, but rather engage with it to seek workplace improvement and explore how it can improve the world around us. Leadership expert, Dr Paige Williams, explains how to nurture and value this vital, next generation of leaders. Reference: Paige has also auth...

Building brand value rather than just brand awareness, and understanding algorithm requirements, is the secret to success on social media, says George Hawwa, Growth Director of social media agency, Attention Experts. George says the social media landscape has changed dramatically in the last couple of years, and that “likes” and “shares” are no longer a metric of success. To help foster business,...

A measly $325 in small business energy relief in the 2024 Federal Budget has left business owners deflated. At a time of often drastic economic uncertainty in the sector, there was a valid expectation that more assistance would have been forthcoming. But according to Monash University Economics and Statistics Professor, and Deputy Dean of Education, Robert Brooks, there is an upside, with structur...

As a businessman, John Wood built Fleetwood Corporation – the largest integrated company of its type in Australia, with caravan parks, park homes, lifestyle villages and much else in between. Then he walked away. Disillusionment set in, followed by a hiatus in John’s life as he explored what really matters in business and life. John discovered a transformative way of thinking. It opened his eyes t...

If you’re wondering how other businesses are handling their teams working-from-home, you might be surprised that most people are coming back to the office. But not everyone – a significant percentage are working a hybrid arrangement. Roxanne Calder, Managing Director of boutique recruiting firm, EST-10, says implementing a successful hybrid model requires understanding individual needs and alignin...

Most of us at some stage will suffer from imposter syndrome – that feeling of fraud-like inadequacy, despite having a reputation for success. According to behavioural expert Charlotte Blair, recognising and naming imposter syndrome is the first step to managing it. Charlotte is a partner at The Strengths Partners, a company dedicated to strength-based development of individuals, teams and organisa...

Sales calls – for some they come with a sense of dread, but what holds a lot of people back is not knowing what to say and a fear of rejection. Bri Williams is a behavioural specialist who’s studied the words that best hold the client’s attention and engage them naturally, to ideally, avoid the brush off. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333 See...

The corporate world has been dealing with “ESG” for years, but now the system is encroaching on small business, and is threatening to bring with it a new world of bureaucratic pain. Environment, social and governance considerations, collectively known as “ESG” are likely to become a bigger issue for SMEs in coming years, as governments and big corporations crack down on compliance. Anne Nalder, th...

A core element to great customer service is a recovery strategy. It’s how you react to those times when, inevitably, your business makes a mistake. Often, businesses do the bare minimum to assuage their customers, when in fact they could and should go above and beyond to fix the error; which will help markedly in a creating a positive impression. That’s according to entrepreneur Roy Osing. He call...

It’s budget time, so what is Australia’s enormous small business sector expecting — particularly given the state of the economy. Well, CEO of the Council of Small Business Organisations (COSBOA), Luke Achterstraat, discusses the pressing issues facing small businesses and their expectations from the upcoming federal budget. Luke outlines two main areas of interest: short-term relief, including ene...

A new proposed tax in Victoria aims to bolster the revenue base of the state government, which, like other states, is grappling with substantial debts. The Commercial and Industrial Property Tax (CIPT) will be applied to properties acquired from 1 July 2024 onwards. Steve Baxter, National Indirect Tax Partner at Mazars, discusses the proposed levy and which properties it will likely affect. Busine...

Do you know your responsibilities under Australian consumer law? If you think it only applies to certain types of businesses, think again. According to Business Lawyer, Tracey Mylecharane, it’s absolutely vital that you do everything necessary to comply with this law. She says it’s important to look at your documents, systems and processes to ensure both you and your potential customers and client...

No doubt there are some in your team who are facing money worries. Financial stress, like any forms of stress, can have a negative impact on performance and can lead to further problems, including depression. As a boss, you can help with support and education, says Jacqui Clarke, author of ‘Stop worrying about money – start planning now to secure your financial future’. She explains how you can en...

A perception still exists among many in business that sales is a combat sport. In order to be good at sales, you need a thick skin and be hardwired to win at all costs – qualities that tend to favour men. Well, those stereotypes fall well short of reality, says Sue Barrett, CEO of Barrett Consulting Group. She says women bring specific qualities that differ from traditional sales stereotypes leadi...