Business Essentials

‘It’s All Possible!’ – the book title sums up Rob Hartnett's positive approach to personal development and business. From positive thinking to positive action, he says we can all achieve our dreams. Rob outlines his four-step possibility system to help us all achieve our goals. He combines his own story of personal development and achievement, with the inspirational stories...

Everyone has a role to play in a winning team — and leadership is an important part of that. Having played 378 games for the Essendon Football Club, footy legend Simon Madden has proven his mettle on the field both as a player and as a leader. And now, as founder of Simon Madden Consulting, Simon advises organisations on how to build winning teams. He says if you can improve your people, you...

A lot of business owners find it uncomfortable to provide constructive feedback to staff, and when they do it's often ineffective. Business and leadership coach, Mandy Holloway - who has examined numerous businesses across Australia - says feedback should not be about fixing someone. Instead, she says, it's about holding a mirror up to staff to make them aware of their behaviour. Business Essentia...

We all want to live happily ever after work, don’t we? And that means shoring up all those superannuation savings we’ve made over the years so there’s money in the bank come retirement. Question is, do we leave it to those huge industry or retail superannuation funds or do we take control ourselves through a self-managed super fund? Here’s some super advice from the experts...

Because of COVID-19, 2020 has brought immense opportunities for online businesses. Gabby Leibovich describes the current digital market and reflects on his own success of building and then selling the Catch group of companies for more than $1 billion. Gabby and his brother Hezi have written about their journey and they offer more than 200 tips for those looking to build their own digital empire in...

One of the best sales opportunities that's often ignored is customer enquiries from inbound phone calls. Colin Pearce explains how to win long-term loyal customers with his six-P's approach. When the phone rings in your business, Colin insists, be prepared to answer promptly. And then, be positive from the outset, be precise when scheduling an appointment, be personal, and – most importantly...

What started as an accidental hobby has become a fully-fledged business and the foundation for a perfect lifestyle in far north Queensland. Casey Willetts and her husband, Jesse, make chips, granola and muesli from naturally grown coconuts close to their home in Port Macquarie in far north Queensland. Television appearances and awards have helped build the reputation of their label. Despite offers...

The idea of reducing waste is great one, but how do you start? Back in 2018, Lottie Dalziel decided to dramatically reduce her waste but quickly realised how difficult it was to find the right products and reliable information. So within just two weeks, she started online store and education platform, Banish. It not only provides consumers and businesses a one stop-shop for education and informati...

Dom Crawley reckons a recession, like the one we’re in, or an industry downturn is an opportunity to re-evaluate processes, examine your waste, and focus on providing the best value for clients. If you can maintain the discipline in the tough times, he says, you and your business will be in a better competitive position when things turn around. Despite a downturn in the building industry, Do...

Much has been said and written about entrepreneurs and the success borne from those committed to building and growing their own business. Less appreciated are the “intrapreneurs” – those talented employees who are as committed to your business as you are. It’s those intrapreneurs that Gabby Leibovich and his brother Hezi recognised and rewarded to help grow Catch, Menu Log,...

Buying a gift, at the best of times can seem like a chore, especially when it comes to corporate gifting. But what if you could outsource this to an expert and have one less thing on your to do list? Laura Szkudlarek, Founder of Gift Hunters Australia, says that corporate gifting is not a just a chance to send hamper at Christmas, but a relationship building opportunity, that should be built into...

If your employees don’t know what they’re supposed to do, how do they or even you know whether they are doing a good job? A job description is key, and it’s something that you should be updating regularly. Carmel Brown, Director of The Proven Group, explains what should go into a job description and outlines some of the common mistakes she sees business owners make. Business Esse...

Start-up life is never easy, but entrepreneurs are born with an innate desire to create and build. There are however some well-worn pitfalls that entrepreneurs keep tripping up on. Tara Shelton is founder of a number of successful businesses, including 'Dream & Do', a creative agency that helps start-ups build their brand and communications. She says that she’s seen it all before —...

Does your business have a uniform? It's not only beneficial for frontline staff, a shared dress code can improve morale for all members of an organisation – and it’s great for your brand. Pamela Jabbour is CEO of Total Image Group, which designs and supplies uniforms for some of Australia's biggest brands. In fact, it was the official uniform supplier for the Australian Winter Olympic...

It’s come to this at last, and as the whole world watches on, just two names now count on the global stage. Trump – or Biden. Who’s it to be? We’ll soon find out as voting in the 2020 US election draws to a close – or maybe it won’t be so soon if the result is a close-drawn thing. But as the world sits on edge, what’s happening to the sharemarket and how s...

In 2006, Gabby and Hezi Leibovich launched Catch of the Day, a website selling just one deal a day. By 2010, it was Australia’s number one shopping site, and in 2019 they sold the business to Wesfarmers for a whopping $230 million. How did they do it? Well, it’s detailed in the brothers’ new book: ‘Catch of the Decade: how to launch, build and sell a digital business’...

It might be that you meet someone that comes across as your new best friend, but the charming behaviour of a sociopath is merely a front for their own selfish intentions. The best thing you can do, says Professor Gary Martin, is not hire them in the first place – but it's not always easy to spot someone with sociopathic tendencies. Professor Martin, CEO of the Australian Institute of Managem...

Innovation is supposed to help drive growth. If you don’t innovate, they say, you’ll stay stagnate and eventually fall behind. So, how does a business innovate? If only there was a toolkit that could show us the way. There is! It’s called 'Innovator’s Playbook: how to create great products, services and experiences.' It’s a new book by Nathan Baird, Founder and Managi...

There’s no end of advice on how to run a business. But often you just want to hear it from the horse’s mouth – someone who’s taken all the hits, fallen down, picked themselves up and forged ahead. Alan Manly, CEO of Group Colleges Australia, is one such individual who shares his lifetime of lessons in his book, ‘The Unlikely Entrepreneur’. In this episode, he re...

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 tha...

Andrew Ford, Founder of Social Star, has turned the elevator pitch on its head with his own pitch structure which aims to be more conversational. The standard elevator pitch, he insists, is one-directional and lacks true engagement. With practice, your pitch shouldn't feel like selling; instead, it should feel like you're providing answers to someone's questions. The challenge Andrew sets out to s...

If you want your team to be fully committed to your idea, first it's worth spending time with them to connect and develop a level of trust. That's according to Simon Dowling, business coach and author of ‘Work With Me: How to get people to buy into your ideas.’ You’ll achieve the best results, he insists, if you have a team who’s as enthusiastic and willing as you are about...

Sometimes your most talented employees are also the hardest to manage. How do you keep them in line? It’s a common dilemma for business owners. The standout performers in your business are often the hardest to manage. They make good money for you but in the process, they upset others and can be unwieldy in conforming to the best interests of the business. Aaron Goonrey, Partner at Lander &am...

Sure, it’s easy to be a fine upstanding business citizen when everything’s going well. But what happens if times get tough – like now? Are you tempted, just a teeny bit, to compromise your integrity for the sake of a few dollars more or just to get that deal over the line? Well don’t be, warns veteran business coach, Alan Rodway. That slippery slope will lead you nowhere. B...

There’s nothing good about bad bosses. Often, they are the reason a workplace is toxic, they can lead team members to suffer stress and mental health problems, and they’re the cause of staff turnover. However, bad bosses are not necessarily bad people – and they can learn to be good or even great. That’s according to workplace expert, Michelle Gibbings, who shares lessons f...