Business Essentials

Many small business owners spend too much time and money outsourcing core tasks like sales and marketing when they should have a handle on them themselves. That’s according to management coach and consultant Leela Cosgrove, who is the Founder and CEO of Strategic Anarchy. Leela says that, if you want to be a good CEO, then sales and marketing are YOUR job, and that to be a good manager, you must g...

Several recent surveys have shown that a huge proportion of Australian SMEs have yet to make the transition to selling online. And of the firms that have tried, many have digital management platforms that are not integrated, leading to some software being neglected or ignored. In an effort to transform the sector, the Federal Government has funded training firm Navii Digital to offer free digital...

The tough road out of mental ill-health is not to harden up and soldier on. Joel Clapham found that out in the saddest of ways when at the age of 35, his father took his own life. Joel was 16 at the time and severely impacted by his dad’s death. His biggest fear was that he would “follow the same script”. Instead, he’s taken a different road and has founded Hearten Up – helping others, and himself...

Economic figures published by the government are leaving small businesses behind, according to the CEO of the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia, Alexi Boyd. She says that, because data is used to form policy, it is crucial that statisticians start breaking down measurements by sector, and that government should start demanding figures that reflect what small business is actually ex...

Being a coach and umpire at the highest level of elite AFL sport has taught Jeff “the Giesch” Gieschen a thing or two about leadership and the nurturing of star performers. Now he’s transferring those lessons to the business world. Leadership’s tough, he’ll tell us, but fairness, empathy and team spirit are paramount if you want to move from good to great. Business Essentials Daily is produced by:...

Despite the intensity of competition and the power of consumers, it surprises Roy Osing that most businesses are doing very little to differentiate themselves from their competitors. Many resort to the same clap-trap and aspirational statements. If you really want customers to notice you, Roy recommends using the ONLY statement, i.e., “We’re the ONLY ones that…”. Roy Osing is a former company pres...

Who wants a more profitable and stress-free business? We all do, right? Well, Tony Gattari of ActionCOACH has eight ways in which you can build a business with more value, and which allow you to free up more of your time. Not only will it be a better business, but a potential buyer will pay top dollar for it. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333...

An online brand personality helps build an authentic connection with your market. That’s according to Joel Gerschman, CEO of Digital Pilot and The Change Coach, who’s identified 12 personality archetypes to help businesses achieve growth online. Joel outlines the six components to build a successful brand strategy. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882...

Is your business an all-round nice-guy Tom Hanks type, a fun Adam Sandler, or maybe an elegant Cate Blanchett? Business coach and digital marketing guru, Joel Gerschman, reckons that adopting a Hollywood archetype can help you differentiate yourself from the competitive online world. Joel Gerschman is a leading business coach, best-selling author, co-founder of  Digital Autopilot and CEO of  The C...

One of the biggest factors holding businesses back from expanding overseas is not knowing where to start. Well, according to Cynthia Dearin of Dearin Associates, you could be missing out on massive opportunities if you don’t give it a go. Don’t rely on your gut feel. To be successful overseas, she says, you need crystal clear vision, a powerful plan and the momentum and resources to make it happen...

With thousands of government and other grants being offered at any one time, applying for funds can be a fast way to expand small businesses, or keep them thriving. However, with thousands of businesses applying for each available grant, the process can seem intimidating. The Founder and CEO of The Launchpad Co, Ruchi Gupta, says the key to success is to know where to look for available grants, an...

The Commonwealth Bank, which has about one million small business customers, has come up with what it calls an industry-leading new technology, that allows owners to draw credit from their unpaid invoices. The new product, called Stream Working Capital, promises to unlock capital so that businesses can put extra cash to work. The bank’s Executive General Manager for Small Business, Clare Morgan, e...

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 are looking to sell your business, you need to build it to a stage that it can run without you. Even if you don’t want to sell, it’s still a worthwhile goal to shoot for. So says Tony Gattari, who has joined one of the world’s largest business coaching franchises, ActionCOACH. Tony takes us through a 6-step process to build growth, a formula which has been tried and tested by ActionCOACH an...

How can you turn the fantastic customer experience you offer into a goldmine? We’ve heard from Darrell Hardidge, CEO of Saguity before, about striving to provide a 10 out of 10 client experience. So, when it comes to selling your business, he says that accurately documenting the results of extreme client loyalty can make a significant impact. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel s...

Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barriers to growth are many - none more so than finding capital. Small businesses in particular struggle to find extra money to fund growth because of a lack of time and resources. Business mentor, John Di Natale offers some interesting alternatives to the traditional means to raising capital. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333 See omnystudio.c...

It’s a new world of communication for small businesses, with customers demanding time and attention on their own platforms and on their own terms. And according to Elise Balsillie, Australian Head of the Thryv business software company, any owner or manager who doesn’t do the work to quickly talk to their customers is being left behind. She says businesses today need to build channels...

It’s much tougher to get your message heard these days among all the other messages vying for customers’ attention. Harry Mills, CEO of The Aha! Advantage, says your messages must pass the SAUCE test to pack the punch needed in these days of information overload. It’s detailed in his book, ‘Secret Sauce: How to Pack Your Messages with Persuasive Punch’. Your sales mes...

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 the Talent X agency, 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, the retention of staff, and higher profits....

Culture is often regarded as an advantage of world-class organisations. But, how do you build a great culture and how much does it rest on the person at the top? Business coach Shane Hatton addresses this in his new book, ‘Let’s Talk Culture: the conversations you need to create the team you want’. He discusses five types of conversations leaders should have with their team to he...

Discretionary trusts have been popular structures among family businesses and other groups because of their flexibility, their protection against assets, and their limited tax consequences. Evan Beissel of Mazars says you need to be aware of a new guidance proposed by the Australian Tax Office, which has set its sights on trustees. Evan explains what this all means and what trustees should be thin...

The old rules of selling won’t cut it any more as consumers become more savvy and far more cynical. CEO and sales guru, Harry Mills of The Aha! Advantage offers a technique which aims to have consumers persuade themselves to buy. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The labour crisis gripping the small business sector is putting many owners on edge. Not only can they not find new workers, but there is also a constant concern that top talent could be poached at any time. Recruitment expert Marnie Jones says it’s not just a matter of offering higher wages, and that the best staff can be retained if a company is willing to look at its policies and make cha...

All the best intentions in the world won’t fix problems down the track if you’ve failed to do proper due diligence. As a lawyer, Jennifer Irwin-Persson has seen a lot of business relationships left in messy and costly break-ups — most of which were avoidable if proper planning was considered in the first place. Jennifer is Principal of JIP Legal, and she explains what small busin...