NEWS
Friday November 6, 2020
Cairns Journalist and Playwright Laurie Trott
Cairns Local News
| 15
Making a business plan
DR RAY HAMEY So you’ve decided that you are ready to start your own business. Your business needs a business plan to make you think through the consequences of the actual operations including the cash flow. Your business plan comprises your thoughts on how the business is to operate. As a part of the business plan, it is essential to work on the cash flow.
The event, organised by the far northern branch of Women in Media (WIM), will feature the inspirational Kerstin Pilz of ‘Write Your Journey,’ whose writers retreats at her home in Mission Beach and recent TED X talk in Townsville extol the healing power of writing. According to Ms Pilz, personal expressive writing is a simple and powerful self-care tool, freely available to everyone. “In our grief-adverse culture that commends positivity over vulnerability, writing can be a helpful tool that builds resilience by giving a voice to ‘messy inner lives’ and negative emotions,” she said. “Writing is a way to let go of storylines and memories that keep us stuck so that we can write new and empow-
ered self-narratives.” Also speaking at the event will be Cairns local journalist, poet and playwright Laurie Trott whose play ‘To Kill A Cassowary’ opened at Bulmba-ja Theatre on Friday March 13 this year. Opening night was a sell out and the performance received a standing ovation. But this work that was honed over five years enjoyed just one more night of an eight-performance season at JUTE Theatre Company before it was shut down due to COVID safety regulations. Ms Trott said resilience was key in surviving a major disappointment, as well as ‘keeping the faith’ in oneself and one’s projects. “Things happen for a reason and the gold is in how you respond and prepare for what comes next,” she said. “The shutdown provided me with the chance to take stock of my story ideas and to reorder them in the face of a changing world.”
Also speaking at the event is Angela Murphy, whose play Prospect Terrace will appear at the Cairns Performing Arts Centre from November 20 will share firsthand insights of both writing and producing a play.
Most small businesses start off with an absolutely minimal amount of money and struggle for years to overcome the situation. As stated in the previous article, the banks are not stupid and from experience, they know the failure rate for small businesses is extremely high.
Do not underestimate how difficult it is to get a start into a small business.
One of the prime reasons is lack of cash to fund the operation properly.
Let us say that you have decided you are start a small business within the area of your expertise.
Doing up a cash flow statement and then making the income match the expenditure and to provide their living expenses is often the case.
First of all, do not take no-
A TRIO of highly inspiring local female writers will speak at an upcoming Writer’s Breakfast to be held on Friday November 13, at Flynn, a Crystalbrook Hotel from 7.00 to 8:30am.
The cash flow of the business is the blood flow and as soon as it stops the entity dies!
One of the first things to consider is, where are you going to get the money from when you cease employment?
The money comes from your savings or from the bank.
Inspiring Women Writers
tice of people who say things such as spend a lot of money to save tax. It is gross stupidity.
People do not realize how hard it is to get money in to
make these things work. Once you have worked out the actual overheads and your living expenses, then you have to work out what income you will need to undertake the business. Now the problem is, people simply plug in income figures that will make the system run. Anybody can put in figures to make the cash flow look good but, the reality is often very different. First of all, when you have a small business, such as operating a landscaping business, not everybody pays immediately. The Landscaper has to buy materials and probably hire equipment and so forth as the job unfolds, but the income does not come in until the job is finished, generally speaking. This can be a nightmare, particularly when you are grossly underfunded.
S hipping gifts early for Christmas? Come in and see our great Christmas Gift ideas Scented Candles
Money Boxes
In Far North Queensland, WIM was launched in 2014 with an event attended by patron and esteemed journalist, Caroline Jones AO. Founding branch committee members, ABC Radio Far North chief of staff, Fiona Sewell and public relations specialist Pip Miller are joined by radio producer and presenter Sarah Speller, ABC Radio Far North journalist Marian Faa and WIN News journalist and news editor, Sophie Lester. This event is not to be missed by anyone with an interest in writing. Tickets are $35 on Eventbrite. For more information visit the ‘Women in Media FNQ’ Facebook page.
Diaries 2021
Many gifts to choose from!
Bag a gift
Love my Dog gifts E: admin@mtsnewspower.com.au | P: 07 4036 3699
Find us at Shop 33 MT SHERIDAN PLAZA
