Business Essentials

When Paris Cutler left the corporate world to pursue her own start-up dream, little did she know she’d be the undisputed champion of high-end cakes. Her internationally-acclaimed Planet Cake enterprise has created cakes for mega-star celebrities, and developed its own high-rating TV show. When the GFC hit, fewer people were splashing out on discretionary goods, sending her business into a nosedive...

If you’re looking for customer service inspiration, a large telco probably wouldn’t be your first port of call. But, there is one little-known teleco brand whose customers are raving: Macquarie Technology Group. New York Times best-selling author and customer experience expert, Dr Joseph A. Michelli, has built a career analysing the secrets behind world-leading brands. He’s published best-sellers...

Divorce can be stressful enough, but more so perhaps when running a business. Is there a way to separate without breaking up the business and without resorting to law courts? Yes, there is, says family lawyer Jennifer Hetherington. It's called collaborative practice – a mediation process for couples to finalise the legal aspects of their separation without court. It’s about meeting the needs of th...

Yes, we could all manage our time better. And the best way to do it? Kate Christie will tell us that we must stop thinking “management” and start thinking “investment”. Because time is a very precious commodity and we need to make sure we’re getting the best return on it. In fact, Kate, a time management expert and Founder and Director of Time Stylers will tell us that the investment approach will...

People do business with people they like and trust. That's why it's more important than ever to build your personal brand. Andrew Ford of personal brand building company, Social Star explains how to build your profile online to reflect your personality, credibility and to help you stand out. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333 See omnystudio.com...

Inflation and cost-of-living pressures have contributed to a tightening of household budgets, which leads to employees scrutinising their pay packets. Some feel they should be getting paid more. If a staff member asks you for a pay rise, rather than dismissing them out of hand, it’s wise to give sincere consideration and be empathetic to their request. That’s according to Karen Gately, CEO of Corp...

Great leaders are there to serve their staff and be of service to others. That’s according to customer service specialist Monique Richardson, author of ‘They Serve Like We Lead’. The more you care for your people, she says, the more they will care for your customers and provide a better experience.  Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333 See omnyst...

No business is immune to cashflow issues. And now, many business owners are feeling the pinch more than ever. Cashflow specialist, Paul Roach draws upon decades of experience assisting SMEs to provide a practical guide to business growth and profitability. He offers simple changes and ways of working smarter, which are outlined in his book, 'Smarter Business Stronger Cashflow'. Reference: To purch...

If you're hiring new sales staff – or anyone for that matter – don't be lax with on-boarding them, insists sales expert Colin Pearce. A proper induction process is important to get the best out of your sales team, and it's one of the training programs that Colin provides through his Colin Pearce Academy. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333 See o...

While the economy continues to take a pummelling and businesses struggle to forge ahead, is there any room for optimism? Former politician and barrister Victor Perton certainly believes so – in fact, he says it's undeniable that an optimistic attitude can lead to opportunity and, therefore, business growth. As Director of The Centre for Optimism, Victor shares his tips on how to be more optimistic...

How often do you think about the way you look, the clothes you wear, the way you sound, and even the way you walk, stand or sit? These are all elements of your personal brand, that can help you make a strong impression with your audience. Personal brand consultant Emma Duzhnikova shares some of her secrets when developing a personal brand and discusses why authenticity is more important than ever....

In good times the temptation can be to spend surplus cashflow, a habit that can hurt during an economic downturn. Brad Kasell, Principal Technology Strategist (APAC) at Domo, insists that you need to understand how to analyse your data, and do it regularly. Because, as we know only too well, things like world conflicts, pandemics and natural disasters, drive change all the time. So being on top of...

One of the biggest differences between professional football and business is football's focus on talent and teaching. As an AFL CEO for close to 25 years, Cameron Schwab saw first-hand how elite sport focuses almost entirely on the players and how they work together. Now, as Founder and CEO of designCEO, Cameron reckons that a lot of business leaders don't go deep enough to improve the performance...

Your staff look to you for direction, encouragement and inspiration. And how you lead will directly affect the way they work. So, how do you become a better leader? Corporate psychologist and Director of the Barrington Centre, Rhonda Andrews, examines the three characteristics which shape true leadership: emotional intelligence, social intelligence and technical competence. No industry has a monop...

A coach of coaches, Remi Pearson has built an international training business by practicing what she preaches. In her book 'Simple Strategies for Business Success', she promises to reveal how to dominate markets and conquer competition by providing value to customers, rather than just seeing them as a source of cashflow. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61...

What happens when the person you’ve hired isn’t performing as you’d hoped? It’s important to have an onboarding process that continues well after the employee’s first day, says workplace expert Michelle Gibbings. Without it, their underperformance could be a result of not properly communicating your goals and expectations. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +6...

You know what it’s like when your phone vibrates or a message pops up on your computer screen. Your attention is piqued. It’s like a dopamine hit – you want to stop what you’re doing and check out the message. But for the sake of your business, you can’t afford to allow interruptions take you away from the important stuff. Productivity expert Les Watson has some timely advice on getting back contr...

Over the past few years, the depreciation rules for eligible businesses have changed significantly. As businesses look to prepare their tax returns, it’s important to consider the difference between the temporary full expensing measures available for 2022-23 and the proposed changes that are expected to come into effect from 1 July 2023. That’s according to Joel Orbita, Associate Director at Mazar...

Becoming an authority in your field of expertise and making a heap of money in the process – now that’s not so easy. Why not shortcut the process and learn the lessons of a master at the game? Tom Matzen has spent years perfecting the art of guaranteed scalable success and he loves sharing his lessons with other aspiring entrepreneurs. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcar...

Bosses are often so focused on putting out fires that they neglect to recognise the good work done by their staff. HR consultant Karen Gately, at Corporate Dojo, says employees are energised when their achievements are noticed and then rewarded. And, no, money's not always the biggest motivator in the workplace, as Karen offers some smart and creative ways to reward employees. Business Essentials...

Yes, it's true we can all learn from our own mistakes – but sometimes it's better to learn from others' mistakes. Alan Rodway has a list of common mistakes he sees in business and he takes us through the poor choices that abound in decision-making and planning. A common thread is using a traditional or default way of thinking by avoiding new ideas, not engaging with different people and ignoring n...

There’s a myriad of rules around employment and It’s important that employers understand the obligations to their staff and keep up to date with changes to employment law. Lawyer Paul Cott, Principal at Law on Lydiard, discusses some of the new rules, including flexible working arrangements, domestic violence leave, paid parental leave, and issues around workplace sexual harassment. Business Essen...

Former AFL footballer Wayne Schwass has spent decades dealing with depression and anxiety, so he knows first-hand the debilitating effects it can have on one's personal and professional life. Today, Wayne's a mental health advocate through his organisation, PukaUp, helping to spread the word and provide support about mental health issues in the workplace. He tells his own story and what can be don...

Did you know that just 7% of businesses achieve annual revenue of $2 million? There’s a lot of books written and advice given to businesses starting out, but few cater to established businesses looking to scale up. Strategy advisor Jenny Stilwell explores why businesses falter as they approach $2 million and beyond. She outlines the reasons and provides solutions in her new book, ‘The 7% Club: How...

Have your ever wondered how the best salespeople win over their clients? With decades of experience, Mike Adams says the common thread is storytelling. Mike insists stories help establish rapport and trust, inspire action and close the deal. He shares tips from his book, ‘Seven Stories Every Salesperson Must Tell’, based on extensive research and his own international sales career. Business Essent...