GWP M a g a z i n e s
S yd ney
®
B u s i n e ss
SYDNEY - Issue 51 | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2013
M a g a z i n e
S i n c e
2 0 0 5
The Bucket List… What are you ticking off this year? Page 20
Are your employees doing WELL? Page 18
Politics, plebiscites and the world’s oldest profession Page 14
Anthony Banek | OzHosting.com Head in the cloud - feet on the ground
Business Resource & Lifestyle | Issue 52 | March 2013
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Business Resource & Lifestyle | Issue 52 | March 2013
Business Resource & Lifestyle | Issue 52 | March 2013
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GWP Magazines Distribution
®
Key locations for a free pickup
Editor and Publisher: Dmitry Greku Cover Story: Adrian Payne
Contributing Writers: Charlie Lynn Roslynn Scheuch Darryn Fellowes Angry Anderson Daniel Moisyeyev
Adrian Payne Dave Walker Elly Beck Stephen Frost
Chatswood CBD
Ryde
Touche
Ryde Planning + Business Centre
Zenith Gourmet Foods
Warriewood Business Park
Cafe II duo
Cafe Quattro
St Leonards CBD
Parramatta CBD
Blue Duck Cafe
Parramatta Council
Macquarie Business Park
TAFE
Avenida Cafe
Di Pacci
Westpac Bank
Caterez Espresso
Cafepronto
Coffee House
Cafe Pinnacle
Cafe 31
Glasshouse
Rendevous Point Café
Cover Design and Cover Story Layout: Xabier Goñi, XDesigns
Presse Cafe
Rhodes Corporate Park
Dural Business Park
Caterez
Photography: Francesca Surace, Stilz Fotografika
Get Stuffed Catering
Cafe Rhodes
Lane Cove West Business Park
Castle Hill Trading Zone
wickedfoods.com
Hillz Kitchen
La Kantina
CBA Branch - Home Hub Hills
Norwest Business Park
CBA Branch - Castle Towers
Nexus Cafe
Westpac Bank
Servcorp
Café Gionta
Crowne Plaza Norwest
Cafe Tsakali
Lexin Kebabs
Hills Lodge
The Hills Shire Council
Brookvale Business Park
Westpac Bank
Cafe 20
Telstra Business Centre
Espresso Italia
Norwest Business Information Kiosk
Frenchs Forest Business Park
IC Frith
Forest Cafe
QCafe
Equinox Café
Caterez - R esmed
Austlink Business Park
Caterez - Woolworths HQ
Cafe Locco
Brothers Cafe
Wetherill Park
Jazzveh Woodfired Pizza Cafe
Wetherill Park Bakehouse
Century Cafe
Blacktown
Cafe Peregrine
Lander Toyota
Rave Cafe
Rosehill Business Park
Kitchen Inc.
Cafe Grand
Parkview Cafe
Rouse Hill
Morsels Cafe
CBA Branch - Town Centre
The Original Frango
Baulkham Hills
Sushi Culture
CBA Branch - Stockland Mall
Just Catering
Art Director: Svetlana Greku Executive Officer: Daniel Moisyeyev Director of Public Relations: Angry Anderson
Printing: Pegasus Print Group Business Resource & Lifestyle Magazine® is published by GWP Media® and GWP Magazines® ABN: 82 096 352 064 www.gwpmagazine.com.au Office Address: Unit 31, 7 Hoyle Avenue, Castle Hill, NSW 2154 International Standard Serial Number ISSN 1837-199X Advertising Enquiries p | 1300 889 132 e | info@gwpmagazine.com.au To Subscribe w | www.gwpmagazine.com.au
Copyright GWP Media® and GWP Magazines® 2011. The opinions expressed in this journal do not necessarily reflect and are not to be regarded as the official opinion of the editor, publisher or their agents. All information contained within this journal is provided for general information purposes only and on the understanding that none of the content herein constitutes professional advice. The editor, publisher or their agents accept no responsibility for any claim, loss or damages arising out of or in connection with any materials contained in this journal. Readers should not rely on the publications in the journal and seek appropriate professional advice in respect of their own circumstances.
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Business Resource & Lifestyle | Issue 52 | March 2013
CONTENTS
CONTENTS 26 16 Cover Story
Regulars
32 Features
Business Advice
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Anthony Banek, Doug Endersbee: Heads in the cloud feet on the ground Adrian Payne
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20 The Bucket List ...
Regulars leadership
14 Politics, Plebiscites and the World’s
Oldest Profession Charlie Lynn
Are Your Employees Doing WELL? Roslynn Scheuch
What are You Ticking off This Year? Darryn Fellowes
22 New Year Resolutions
Elly Beck
28 Mobile Apps and Mobile Sites: Does
Your Business Need Them? Daniel Moisyeyev
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34
A Time for Reflection – A Time for Planning Stephen Frost
Robert Cliff ... A ‘Sparkling’ New Beginning Adrian Payne
Grow Your Commercial Connections Nicole Baines
38 Classifieds
Local Government
16 The Year in Review and the Year
Ahead for The Sydney Hills The Hills Shire Council
Society & Life
30
In Search of God Angry Anderson
Australian Sport
32 Panthers Spread Christmas Cheer to Some Very Special Kids Penrith Panthers
Business Resource & Lifestyle | Issue 52 | March 2013
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editor’s letter
Did You Send Your Wish-List to Santa Before it was Too Late? - I Did! Dmitry Greku, M. Sc. - Editor and Publisher - GWP Magazines®
Last year made us a bit stronger and tougher. Circumstances brought us plenty to think about and we had to deal with a lot of new and sometimes unexpected challenges. These times are not easy, yet they are rewarding for those who stay strong, do the job in the best possible way and treat their staff and clients with dignity. As we all know from our parents, Santa likes these kinds of people.
I’m not sure if Santa is one of my admirers, however it looks like he likes me a lot! I haven’t spoken to him for a long time of course, but before I went to my Christmas holidays, I was brave enough to ask for some benefits for my family, my business and of course, myself in 2013. After all, we are in the business of helping our clients with their challenges. Here, I would like to share with you my recent letter to Santa which I sent at the end of 2012. This letter is published with Santa’s personal permission of course. Dear Santa. Please read the list of my wishes below carefully and do your best to make them all come true: 1. Please send more loyal business clients our way, the GWP Media way. We already have a solid group of clients, in our case I can call them partners due to their long-lasting commitment. We enjoy regular discussions to improve their businesses, the quality of the content they provide and how they have added value to our publication which has serviced Sydney’s business community during the last eight years. 2. Please help my team and I bring more great business ideas to our clients and those who are
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still not utilising the full force of benefits working with GWP Media and GWP Magazines. My only requirement is that ideas must be as good as our last year’s Flyer Delivery Guys project. This new project finally provides good business operators with an opportunity to deliver their message/ flyers/booklets to virtually all receptions (not mail boxes, not PO Boxes, not door drops – but actual receptions). They do this in major Sydney business parks and areas like Parramatta CBD and Chatswood CBD. 3. Please bring more genuine business guests to our “Wine and Cheese at GWP Media” events where decision-makers have a chance to communicate and get to know one another as just good people. These good people make their businesses more profitable through invaluable new connections they build during these Friday afternoons in our hospitable and happy business premises. 4. Please make people in business less shy. This extra courage will give them a better chance and more opportunities to communicate, especially with us at GWP Media. When we spend around 15-20 minutes together we come to understand each other better. This invariably provides both parties with a chance to be more successful and profitable. Please bring more guests to our office for a chat. We are always happy to see more people and serve them with the best-possible quality products and services and help find more clients for them. They always pay less and get better results than their competitors. 5. In 2013 please give us good Australians, a new government in the New Year. However, don’t waste your valuable time on those who were ‘naughty’. Especially those who were stealing tax payers’ money, shooting on our streets and coming to this beautiful country illegally. And of course, those who order products and services from good business people and are not willing to pay for them.
I’m sure this was enough for Santa in 2013. As we all know, Santa is a pretty hard- working dude and my wishes are probably making him far too busy. As you can see, I was not too shy with my wishlist and finally asked Santa to deliver something substantial but practical, instead of some fire truck, a brand new sports car or a boat. I also completely understand my own undertaking with Santa to behave even better during this year myself! I will treat my clients as best I possibly can, by providing them with more effective and more affordable business solutions. I will continue to show them respect and fight for their business success. I wish all our business associates and readers the very best in this New Year. I hope it will bring more successful accomplishments in their business and personal lives while utilising the amazing marketing opportunities Santa so kindly provided through GWP Media services. G
e | editor@gwpmagazine.com.au
Business Resource & Lifestyle | Issue 52 | March 2013
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Business Resource & Lifestyle | Issue 51 52 | January March 2013 - February 2013
great australian Business People
Anthony Banek | Doug Endersbee: Heads in the cloud feet on the ground by Adrian Payne
These two people are leading the way as the future unfolds around communications technology. Unlike most of us, tagging along behind and scarcely understanding what it is we’re tagging along with, Anthony and Doug are among the few who are grasping new technology with both hands and crafting it into ‘systems’ that the rest of us can understand and use to our advantage.
Doug’s is the sales and marketing mind that connects the systems they have developed with business people, many of whom don’t yet know that they need ‘OzHosting.com’ services. Doug’s is the sales and marketing mind that connects the systems they have developed with business people, many of whom don’t yet know that they need ‘OzHosting.com’ services. Anthony Banek, CEO of OzHosting.com, has spent fifteen years in Information Technology. A qualified electrician, he held several positions in the 1990’s which gave him an insight into the direction communications technology was starting to move. In 1993 he was asked if he could build a website for one of Australia’s first service providers based at St Leonards in Sydney’s
Business Resource Business & Lifestyle Resource| &Issue Lifestyle 51 | | January Issue 52- February | March 2013
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Anthony and his brothers
Doug Endersbee has worked in online marketing for major multinationals both here and in New York. (Struggling to come up with something)
thought they ought to have a website! Anthony at that time wasn’t even sure he had his head around the internet, let alone building websites, but he worked on it and built the website for KE Brown on the OzEmail’s hosting platform. In 1995 Anthony saw that there were business opportunities around the internet for new players, so he set up his first business ‘Webtrader’. Webtrader became one of the first really successful classified advertising sites, selling cars, caravans, boats and domestic items. While classified websites like eBay, Trading Post and Gumtree are commonplace in 2012, just seventeen years ago this was a brave new idea. By 1996, Webtrader had over ten thousand listings. Growth like this rarely goes unnoticed and soon big companies like Fairfax began to move into classifieds online. Anthony, who started Webtrader with forty dollars, realised he would find it hard to compete with big players in this space in the longer term.
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After experiencing repeated frustrations with websites going down, Anthony saw an opportunity to provide a better, more reliable hosting service. The focus of Webtrader shifted from classifieds hosting. In the first 18 months Webtrader had fifteen thousand customers. Anthony had built a robust system and it was gaining a reputation for reliability, at a time when businesses were all realising they needed to have a web presence or perish!
reputation grew the phone began running hot with people wanting domain names and he realised that he could no longer go it alone. Within a year he had an office space and employed twentyfive staff. Business was booming and as Anthony constantly reinvested Webtrader profits back into the business, he hadn’t needed to borrow capital..
Initially Anthony was a one man band, operating Webtrader out of his back shed, but as Webtrader’s
In 1999, he received an informal offer from OzHosting.com, back then part of public
Business Resource & Lifestyle | Issue 51 52 | January March 2013 - February 2013
company destra Corporation. They were looking to acquire businesses to grow their customer base. Initially Anthony wasn’t interested... but then the twin towers came down in New York... It was a memorable milestone in history and he began looking at the longer term for himself and the business. Realising that there would be value in the involvement of others to further develop his place in this fast-moving technology sector, he made contact with destra again in 2001.
great australian Business People
Doug and Elena Endersbee getting into a Great Gatsby party theme.
It was agreed that OzHosting.com would buy Webtrader, gaining their customer list, provided Anthony could launch OzHosting. com ‘Enterprise’ business, ‘OzHosting.com Advanced’. Within two years he grew the business to turn over n million dollars per year. As a group, OzHosting.com became the number two hosting business in Australia. As just one business under the umbrella of a public investment company, much of the profit that OzHosting.com was making under Anthony’s leadership was being ‘hived off’ to support other enterprises in the destra online media / music Caption portfolio. OzHosting.com Advanced still had plenty of room to grow in the marketplace, but was being starved of funds for growth. destra Corporation sold the hosting business, at the time named destra Hosting, under a roll up to BlueFreeway in 2007, where Anthony became CEO of the renamed divison BlueCentral, BlueCentral Mobility and OzHosting.com. He continued to build the three brands against a background of takeovers and sales going on above his head, including BlueFreeway being acquired by IPMG. In 2011IPMG decided to go in new directions. Anthony pulled together a group of people who were prepared to invest. Anthony gained control of the OzHosting.com business, complete with the customer base that he had built at the rate of over 1000% per year.
Doug and Elena Endersbee stepping out to a school function.
One of the people who came on board at that time was Jason Frisch. Originally from Toowoomba, Queensland, Jason saw an opportunity to develop a Cloud hosting company in Japan in
1999. Jason’s Japan-based company Tsukaeru now has over 40 staff and is one of the top hosting providers in Japan. As a director, Jason’s involvement has enabled OzHosting. com to gain a foothold, and enter markets throughout Asia. Another colleague invited to invest was sales and marketing guru Doug Endersbee. Doug had held senior management positions in the pharmaceutical, consumer goods, publishing and digital marketing services sectors and has considerable experience working as an interface between technology and marketing. He launched the first Readers Digest website in Australia and while he was based in New York he engineered various initiatives for the delivery of online content. Since then, Doug has specialised in digital marketing and particularly in the areas of email marketing, search engine optimisation and search engine marketing, working with some of Australia’s leading companies. Since becoming a shareholder and key member of the new OzHosting team, Doug’s main focus has been ensuring that customers have a great user experience and can readily find, buy, and maintain their OzHosting. com services. Their tag-line is ‘Cloud Made Easy’. Their deliberate point of difference in the market place is their friendly and helpful relationships with customers, being aware that many competitors present a ‘foreign’ voice to customers who don’t speak the language of the high-tech boys in the backroom. For a time, BlueCentral was still handling their call
Business Resource Business & Lifestyle Resource| &Issue Lifestyle 51 | | January Issue 52- February | March 2013
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Proudly Presented by
centre enquiries and some high level technical work. They also had OzHosting’s equipment in their Melbourne premises. Anthony and Doug made the decision that at Easter time, the time of least business traffic, they would have a truck fitted out for the purpose data backup in a secure location in Sydney, collect their ‘kit’ and drive it to Sydney. They would then be completely independent, able to model their business without outside limitations. Foregoing the company of the Easter Bunny, Anthony and Doug flew to Melbourne and in just three hours loaded servers, switches and routers into the truck... this was the precious cargo that represented their future. So with BlueCentral behind them, in the fading light of Easter Saturday they headed for the Hume Highway. As they drove through the night, the highway was alive with kangaroos! Predictably, a huge eastern grey, jumped into the front of the truck knocking out the lights and doing serious damage to the front of the cab.
Anthony crouched on the foredeck of the Etchell with crew mates Todd and Steve Trevillion
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Business Resource & Lifestyle | Issue 51 52 | January March 2013 - February 2013
They pulled up about six hundred metres along the road to inspect the damage, wondering if they were going to get to Sydney in time to get back online! With Anthony’s electrical skills and Doug’s encouragement, they were able to get one headlight working, and set off again, hiding behind a large truck all the way into Sydney. Jason was there to meet them and was gleefully taking pictures of the front of the truck saying that this would make a great story about kangaroos back in Japan! Dog-tired, and with Jason’s help they unloaded the battered truck, connected everything together in the new space and without a hitch, the whole system came back up, and they were online again. They used the opportunity of the move and reinstallation to upgrade some of their hardware and software. Now based in Seattle, a specialist group of people from Russia developed the ‘Parallels’ hosting infrastructure platform. This software is recognised as the best option for hosting businesses, as it is constantly being upgraded to
meet modern needs and to interface with new applications as they become available. Jason in Japan has a particularly close relationship with the Parallels team and can represent OzHosting.com as well as his own hosting business at a senior level in the Parallels organisation. Now they are completely up-to-date and maintaining their upgrades to ensure their platform is the best and most up-to-date that it can be. With a growing business base, and a comprehensive range of services for small business clients, OzHosting.com has a bright future. They are keen to develop their business model, so when the time is right they can take it overseas. Probably their first move will be in Indonesia. Anthony stresses that they want to get it right in Australia before making any move to replicate it. With a watchful eye on their competition, not only
great australian Business People on the hosting side but also in IT support, they recognise the need to convince small business owners, that it’s not necessary to pay large monthly fees for in-house computer systems maintenance and systems development. The concept of ‘the cloud’ is becoming better understood as a secure means of storage and as a flexible working platform. In the long term it is certainly a better and less expensive option than having in-house servers. OzHosting.com offers IT services at all levels for small business and support clients’ individual preferences for hardware and software. On November 20th, OzHosting.com announced their relationship with Google, as a reseller for Google Apps, meaning clients wishing to use Google software can do so directly with OzHosting.com here in Australia. G
Doug Endersbee with Jason Frische (owner of Tsukaeru Hosting) with colleague Nadya Kalnina, Jason’s wife Yuki and their four young boisterous boys! Tsukaeru is one of Japan’s largest hosting companies and is a co-investor in Ozhosting with Anthony and Doug.
Anthony racing his Etchell yacht on Sydney Harbour
Business Resource Business & Lifestyle Resource| &Issue Lifestyle 51 | | January Issue 52- February | March 2013
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Leadership
Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Oi, Oi, Oi The Hon. Charlie Lynn - Member of the Legislative Council
Another Australia Day has just passed with the usual bleatings from the chattering class about what it means to be Australian. They want a new flag. They want a republic. They want boat people, aborigines and immigrants to have entitlements to everything – except a pad in their inner city neighbourhoods. Fortunately Post Code apartheid will protect them from such an incursion and besides, there’s plenty of room in Western Sydney anyway.
They were spawned from left-wing unionists who refused to load our ships with urgent supplies as our diggers fought the Japanese along the Kokoda Trail. Or the ‘white feather brigade’ who campaigned against austerity measure whilst our troops were dying on our doorstep in New Guinea. Or their sons who refused to load ships or deliver our mail during the Vietnam War. Or the quislings who attacked and denigrated our Vietnam Veterans after they returned home. But for those who grew up in the bush, or those who call Western Sydney home, it is not that complicated. It’s about a secure environment for raising a family. It’s about keeping family and relatives together. It’s about giving your children the best education you can provide for. It’s about access to a modern health system. It’s about sport. It’s about mates. It’s about choice. It’s about opportunity. It’s about freedom. It’s not about intellectual masturbation over our identity. A couple of years ago I stopped by a small service at the Cenotaph in Martin Place. The speaker, a former army sergeant in Malaya in World War 11 summarised the actions of his beloved Eight Australian Division which was captured after the fall of Singapore. He spoke about their gallantry against the advancing Japanese war machine. As people paused, then scurried on in the bustle of the city, he spoke of their fate and their legacy: “Many died’ he said. ‘They sold their lives dearly at great cost to the enemy. They inflicted so much damage to the Japanese 25th Army that it was
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unable to continue past Singapore. This Army had planned to occupy Brisbane and Sydney.
“And remember - remember - we solemnly promised God that we would never forget!
“Those who did not die in battle died later as Prisoners of War and many died from the effects of privations after the war was over.
I felt proud and sad. I asked him if I could have a copy of his speech which he handed to me – handwritten on crumpled paper. His name was Sergeant Stan Bryant. Sadly he has since passed on but his message still resonates with me.
“And we honour them. They gave Australia the time to gather together her fighting men and drive away the depleted Japanese invaders when they finally attacked. “You widows and other relatives here today, we sympathise with you, and regret their death. ‘We regret that they still lie in cemeteries at Kranji and Kankuri, but, you must feel only pride in your men and women who lie in those places. You know that Australia owes them a debt that none of us can ever repay. “Their death was a major contribution to us keeping Australia for Australians. We can never repay them. We owe them all we have and our future as well. “I say to all you people were today. To you who are responsible for governing this country, to all you who hold positions of leadership in the community, to all Australians. It is from the men we honour today that you inherited this land. “These were the men who helped build this nation. They were the ones associated with building of our harbours and our bridges. They sealed the roads across the black soil planes, and they built the railways across Australia. Then they fought off the Japanese invasion so that you could inherit this country.
Stan was of a generation that didn’t need symbols to mask their personal insecurities. They didn’t need a medal for every good deed they did. They didn’t do group hugs, sing Kumbaya or say sorry for anything they didn’t do. They respected our Westminster system of government, our national symbols and the monarchy. Corporal Les Cook fought in the Kokoda campaign in 1942 and trekked it with me 50 years later. He recently observed that ‘the character of a people is developed and tempered in the fire of adversity. History shows only too clearly that this strength of character can diminish or indeed change altogether in times of peace and plenty such as we now enjoy, when it may no longer seem necessary to aspire to the high ideals on which it was built.’ One can only feel sorry for those who still can’t work it all out. Perhaps they should leave Australia Day to those who respect the anniversary and develop their own national ‘Kumbaya Day’ with their own flag, perhaps one with a wine glass on a yellow background, and their own chant ‘Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Oi Oi Oi’. G
“You now have the fruits of our labours. The cities and the harbours and the plains are yours. We few survivors are aged and can only look on with pride and wish you success in the future. “But we do charge you, to accept the responsibility of your inheritance and nourish and guard them with care. “And remember always, the men of the Eighth Australian Division and the two ships who stood between the Japanese invasion and Australia. They paid the price of your future. Only they know the real cost.
For more topics and to contact Charlie Lynn, please visit www.charlielynn.com.au/blog.
PROGRAM ell rk w train well - wo
What is WELL? The WELL (Workplace English Language and Literacy) program provides funding to improve workers’ English language, literacy and numeracy skills and communication skills in the workplace.
WELL helps you... • enhance efficiency and workplace productivity • improve flexibility in adapting to technological changes • retain staff and develop career pathways • increase compliance with WHS and industry standards • boost staff confidence and team work
Resulting in... • improved communication skills • fewer workplace accidents and downtime • fewer errors in paperwork • more engaged workforce • less absenteeism and improved skills retention
How is training conducted? • On-site in the workplace • Customised to suit you • Workplace documents used for training
Get up to
75
%
ernment from gov g! fundin
It works WELL!
Contact Roslynn Scheuch Phone: (02) 9208 9618 Email: roslynn.scheuch@tafensw.edu.au Online: wsi.tafensw.edu.au
WSI Business Business Resource & Lifestyle | Issue 52 | March 2013
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LOCAL Government
The Year in Review and the Year Ahead for The Sydney Hills Dave Walker - General Manager, The Hills Shire Council
The year 2012 has been a year of change for The Sydney Hills, and 2013 will see that theme of change grow stronger.
The Hills Shire Council will move to 3 Columbia Court, Norwest, to make way for the North West Rail
The Hills Shire Council’s Local Environmental Plan 2012 was approved by the NSW Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, and is the new land use plan that sets what can and cannot be done in the Shire. We are proud of this significant achievement. The new LEP is an important step forward in the future management of the development and growth of our region, and includes a number of positive changes for rural land. Council has focused throughout 2012 on our infrastructure renewal program – carrying out a number of projects to revitalise playgrounds, footpaths, local roads and other community assets. We have also invested in a number of new initiatives to improve the quality of life for our residents. In March, we experienced ongoing torrential rains and Council allocated half a million dollars to quickly address rain impacted roads. During the year, we also responded to the State Government’s long-term transport plan for Sydney, outlining our community’s vision for improved transport networks. As a community, we recycled more and kept more rubbish out of the waste stream – congratulations to everyone on this great effort. Council encouraged pool owners to learn CPR, and in 2013, we will see a tightening of pool laws across the state, designed to improve safety and save lives. During 2012, Council’s biggest decision was to relocate Council’s Administration Centre to Norwest Business Park, in order to make way for the construction of the North West Rail Link. This decision has not only meant residents will have easier access to Council throughout the construction phase, it has also enabled the State Government to revise plans for the station aligning with Carrington Road to better serve commuters. During 2013, we will begin the process of moving to the new premises. We will be consolidating a range of Council services to the new location, that will better serve the needs of our customers.
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We saw significant progress on The North West Rail Link with the release of Environmental Impact Statements 1 and 2, establishing the detail of the new stations and defining how the train line will operate. We welcomed this progress, and will continue to work closely with the State Government to ensure best outcomes for the community, and to help manage the big changes this will bring about in The Sydney Hills. Looking to the future, Council will continue to reinvest in our existing assets and serve the community through the construction of new infrastructure of high importance. We will be working on a number of master plans to embellish our new release areas, as well laying the groundwork for the changes coming to the Sydney Hills over the next few years. Local business people have articulated that traffic flow along Norwest Boulevarde is critical for business and in response, Council is seeking Federal funding to bring about improvements. In a win for the community, Council will be bringing to market a new land subdivision on Withers Road, Kellyville, that will provide essential funds for future community projects. This subdivision was made
possible through a ‘biobanking’ agreement – one of the first in Australia. The impact of The North West Rail will be considerable – both during its construction, and once it has arrived. I urge business owners and residents who may be impacted by these changes to take the time to consider how they will be affected and plan for the future. Council has developed an initiative that encourages business owners to re-engineer their business in time for the changes the North West Rail Link will bring, and if you will be directly impacted, you can contact Council and take advantage of this service. On behalf of The Hills Shire Council, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and a safe holiday season, and I thank the Councillors for their continuing leadership and direction that will ensure an enviable quality of life for residents of the Hills. G
NEW IDEAS FOR HOME BUSINESS OWNERS Did you know that there are over 20,000 home-based businesses in the Sydney Hills?
Contact us today for FREE confidential business discussion on 9762 1108.
Council understands how important home-based businesses are to the local economy, and how good information can lead to more informed decision making. The two most frequently asked questions by home-based business owners are: where can I get a list of businesses in the area, and how can I find out about new local business activity? And many more people ask: do I need a permit to run my business from home? Council has a range of FREE business information that can answer these questions and more... AN INITIATIVE OF
business
THE HILLS SHIRE COUNCIL
www.businesssydneyhills.com.au
HOW’S BUSINESS? Tell us what you think. SYDNEY HILLS BUSINESS CLIMATE SURVEY • Are you a local business person? • What do you think are the benefits of operating a business in the Sydney Hills? • Which business workshops would assist you and your employees in the future? Take the Sydney Hills Business Climate survey and have your say. VISIT www.thehills.nsw.gov.au and follow the links from the home page.
9843 0555 | www.thehills.nsw.gov.au Business Resource & Lifestyle | Issue 52 | March 2013
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Business Advice
Are Your Employees Doing WELL? Roslynn Scheuch - Training Consultant, TAFE NSW - Western Sydney Institute (WSI)
If you can read this, thank a teacher. It is very easy to take literacy and numeracy skills for granted, despite the fact that reading is not a natural skill but one that takes time and patience from learners, and expertise from a teacher.
For many, the skills of literacy and numeracy were conquered back in primary school and have been used since then as a basis for a significant amount of theoretical learning, day-to-day functioning and for the many pleasures that reading and a confident grasp of numeracy can provide. But around half of the Australian workforce is yet to conquer these skills. Many of these are migrants who have not had the opportunity to learn to read and write English, and many others somehow ‘slipped through’ the Australian system without meeting minimum numeracy, reading and writing standards. For them, literacy and numeracy skills remain a great barrier. This barrier stands between them and full participation in Australian society. It stands between them and the ability to communicate in written form and it stands between them and the ability to thrive in the workforce. Literacy and numeracy can be taught successfully to adults. In my work for TAFE NSW – Western Sydney Institute, it is a great pleasure to see the empowerment which comes to our students because of their new skills, and to see barriers broken down. We see happier employees who are able to fully function within their roles, and to progress in their employment. We also see better functioning teams of employees as a result of the training we provide to groups. As a result of the training, organisations are able to more easily adapt to technological changes, have fewer workplace health and safety issues and better staff retention. Language and numbers do not exist within a vacuum – they are anchored to objects and concepts, actions and history. Because of this, when we teach adult literacy and numeracy, we do so building on existing knowledge. This helps our learners to have confidence in their knowledge and abilities and to feel comfortable as they gain additional skills.
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I am involved in providing Workplace English Language and Literacy (WELL) programs, which take into account the specific skills in a workplace and build upon the shared knowledge of the group of learners. The training has a dual purpose of teaching vocational skills that are relevant and useful to the employees’ workplace and teaching skills in language, literacy and numeracy.
wholeheartedly recommend them to organisations wishing to support the development of their staff. If your employees aren’t already doing WELL and would do better if they were doing WELL, feel free to give me a call on 9208 9618 and we can see if we can help.
Skills development is a priority in Australia and programs such as WELL are supported by federal government funding. WSI can advise on the most suitable ways to attract government subsidies. Skills development is a priority in Australia and programs such as WELL are supported by federal government funding. WSI can advise on the most suitable ways to attract government subsidies. WELL programs can run up to three years, with government funding subsiding 75% of the cost in the first year and 50% in the subsequent years. We make it easy for employers to access our program by providing a free initial consultation to establish whether the program would be suitable and how it could help. We also develop the funding applications and submissions and project manage any reporting requirements for the organisation. When organisations commence a WELL program with us we assess each learner for his or her learning, reading, writing, oral communication and numeracy skills in line with the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF). After assessing existing workforce skills we come up with a training program that will most suit the organisation in terms of content, location, duration and timing. For example, we often use existing workplace documents in our training and provide the training on-site to fit around work shifts. I have seen firsthand the benefits these programs bring for a minimum of investment and
Case Study 1 Associated Gaskets Associated Gaskets (AG) have a niche market in providing high quality gaskets, electrical and thermal insulation, electronic components, tapes and safety products. AG has around 60 employees, the backgrounds of whom are culturally and linguistically diverse. In 2011 AG contacted Western Sydney Institute (WSI) for help with various training needs and a Workplace English Language and Literacy (WELL) program commenced in the same year for around 30 employees. AG’s WELL training has been combined with training in competitive manufacturing and other specific manufacturing training. In 2013 a second program of language, literacy and numeracy will commence with a focus on IT skills. AG’s Training Manager Vijay Singh said that he was very impressed with the training provided by WSI and that he has seen immediate benefits in terms of productivity. “Our manufacturing WELL program has improved the accuracy in paperwork and has therefore reduced waste,” Vijay said.
Business Advice
Case Study 2 SummitCare SummitCare is a well-established aged care provider with residential aged care facilities in Sydney and Newcastle. SummitCare has 900 employees who work in roles such as personal and health care, food preparation, cleaning, recreation and management. WSI has been providing training for SummitCare employees for six years in training programs covering aged care courses, higher level management programs and two WELL programs. In 2011 SummitCare approached WSI for assistance with training their catering staff in Food Safety and basic language literacy and numeracy as required for their role in catering. WSI provided a free consultation service to SummitCare and gained an understanding of SummitCare’s unique training needs from which it developed funding submissions to subsidise training costs. As a result, SummitCare achieved a 100% subsidy for its WELL program and its mix of 43 traineeships in Certificate III in Hospitality (Catering) and Certificate III in Health Support Services.
WELL and manufacturing training were combined for the employees of Associated Gaskets
In 2012, training commenced combining WELL with traineeship qualifications. The WELL program supported the trainees throughout their vocational studies through team teaching and small study group sessions. The training was delivered at different sites and included hospitality training programs especially designed to suit the organisation’s chefs and kitchen hands. The training program was completed in December. As a result of this WELL program, 100% of the trainees achieved competency in the Food Safety Supervisor qualification and many of the SummitCare catering staff have successfully completed training in the Certificate III in Health Support Services. General Manager Operations Judith Leacock said that the training was particularly relevant and focused on the direct needs of these catering employees. G
WELL training has been combined with catering and health support training for SummitCare
TAFE NSW - Western Sydney Institute (WSI) p | 02 9208 9618 e | Roslynn.Scheuch@tafensw.edu.au w | wsi.tafensw.edu.au
Business Resource & Lifestyle | Issue 52 | March 2013
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Business Advice
The Bucket List... What are You Ticking off This Year? Darryn Fellowes, Wealth Adviser - Skeggs Goldstien
Happy New Year and welcome to 2013.
Last week I was watching one of my favourite movies of all time…the “Bucket List”. If you have seen the movie you would be familiar with Carter Chambers and Edward Cole, two terminally ill men who go on a road trip with a wish list of things they want to do before they “kick the bucket”. The plot started off with Edward being reluctant to share a room with Carter, complaining that he “looks half-dead already”, but as they undergo their respective treatments they become good friends. They had a blast experiencing all of the things they had never had time to do in their lives. Whilst I have already developed my own personal bucket list and even ticked a few things off already, it got me thinking about the relevance of this to business. Now the term Bucket List has come about as a list of things to do before you die. I certainly don’t want anybody’s business to die in the next 12 months, but this time of year sees many businesses planning their strategies and actions for the coming 12 months whilst everyone is still enjoying time off with their family and friends. How does your business look in 2013? What do you need to “tick off”? As you prepare for the New Year, here are six areas that we have found will have a significant impact on both you and your business. 1. Focus on Your Strengths Rather than trying to fix your individual weaknesses you should instead play to your strengths. Do this by focusing on activities that you enjoy and energise you, and find ways to delegate or get rid of activities that drain you. Now is a good time of year to write down all of those activities you enjoy or loathe. 2. Stop Doing What Doesn’t Work This may sound really obvious to you but you might be surprised at the number of people who continue to do the same old things in their business and expect a different outcome. I believe that is the definition of insanity? Whilst doing your planning for 2013 I challenge you to decide on two significant “Stop Doings” for this
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year…customers who will spend less time with, products or services that can be eliminated. Share these with your staff and get them to prepare their own “Stop Doing” lists to share in your weekly meetings. Who knows what great ideas they will come up with!
modelling for your business based on your budget for this year.
3. Develop a Smaller Number of Specific Objectives When developing your planning are you guilty of writing down general objectives like “improve customer service” or “grow revenue”. To ensure you can get engagement from all the key stakeholders in your business get specific about your objectives and name four to six specific and measurable changes. It may be areas such as reducing your debtors collection days to 42, respond to all client enquiries within 2 hours etc. By being specific about the business goals I expect it will create a positive outcome for your business.
However, whilst you will have the best intentions to achieve what you have set yourself, there will be many obstacles thrown in your way. We believe that implementation is the key, so create yourself an actionable plan, bring meaning to what you desire, commit to it and ask for help when needed.
So there it is…six focus areas for you to use when you start preparing your “Business Bucket List” for 2013.
Good luck in 2013 and as per the last item ticked off Edward Coles Bucket List, I hope you “witness something truly majestic” during 2013. G
4. Engage Your Employees In 2013 I encourage you to engage your employees so they understand what success looks like for the business and for them as well. They also need to know what the rewards may look like when business success is achieved. Share with your staff the three key targets you want the business to achieve this year – and get them involved in a brainstorming session to come up with ways to help the business get there. 5. Leverage Your Network In good times, business seems to come through the door without too much effort. But during difficult times like we have been experiencing over the past few years, it takes hard work to maintain profitability. Take advantage of your network, reconnect with them and let them be relationship brokers on your behalf. Some connections will be successful and others won’t be so successful but don’t stop trying. Skeggs Goldstien Associates 6. Financial Management Managing your financials is one area that can be quite intimidating. If you don’t understand your company financials, sit down with your accountant or hiring an accountant would actually be a great first step. Have them explain the basics – Balance Sheet (Assets & Liabilities), Income (Profit & Loss) Statement and Cash Flow Statement (movement of cash through the business) and get them to prepare some financial
p | 1300 753 447 e | admin@sgapl.com.au w | www.sgapl.com.au
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Business Advice
New Year Resolutions Elly Beck, Practice Manager - The HR Department
Christmas and New Year have been and gone and we have hopefully had a chance to rest, relax and recover. This sets the scene for reviewing the past twelve months and resolving to do things differently in the year ahead.
How can you put things in motion for a good year with your employees? Here are a few hints and tips. Communication Every employee in your business needs to know what is happening in relation to their role. Make sure you have a clear communication process. Whether this involves meetings, memos, emails, toolbox talks ensure people are kept in the loop. Even if there is no progress on an issue let your employees know so they don’t gossip and invent their own outcomes. Compliance Now is the time to check your compliance with various legal and industrial obligations. WHS Does PCBU (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking) mean anything to you? If it doesn’t perhaps you need to spend time making sure your business is up to date with the new Work Health and Safety Act. This Act has now been in force for 12 months so you need to ensure you are across the obligations of a PCBU, the Terminology, Officer Due Diligence, Consultation, Right of Entry and Management Systems. Fair Work Act and Employment Legislation Have all of your employees been supplied with copies of the National Employment Standards? Have there been any changes to the relevant Modern Awards covering your workforce? The Australian Government has delivered on their policy to improve women’s workforce participation and equality with the passing of the new Act which evolves the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999. The new Workplace Gender Equality Act and the Workplace Gender Equality Agency will focus on gender equality, equal remuneration and caring responsibilities.
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If you are an employer of over 100 people you need to report annually under this new legislation. For more information please go to our website. Consistency Managing employees relies on a planned consistent approach. If you want your employees to contribute to the success of your business you need to consider: Job descriptions – they should be current and relevant and consistent across the organisation.
but from the loss of experience and corporate knowledge. Culture The culture of an organisation starts at the top – with the owner or manager. Lead your employees by modelling behaviour that demonstrates honesty, integrity and fairness in line with your organisation’s mission, vision and values. Focus on the appropriate behaviour you want and clearly articulate to all. Set clear guidelines for behaviour through a Code of Conduct.
The culture of an organisation starts at the top – with the owner or manager. Lead your employees by modelling behaviour that demonstrates honesty, integrity and fairness in line with your organisation’s mission, vision and values. Annual Goals – Make them relevant to all employees by establishing individual tasks / responsibilities which give employees direction and certainty.
Management are living examples of an organisation as employees will remember what managers do, rather than what was posted on a memo board.
Training and development – ensure employees are provided with the opportunity to learn and develop so they master their jobs
Ensure you have a zero tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviour. G
Review – this is about a continual approach to managing the performance of your employees. Whilst formally it may be an annual process employees need to aware that this is ongoing. Recognise and reward when they achieve and set performance indicators that make them accountable for their actions.
If you have resolved to make a difference to your business this year and need a hand to navigate the five C’s call the HR Department 02 88506124. One of our experienced consultants can help steer you in the right direction.
The HR Department Conditions Ensure the working conditions are acceptable and that employees have the tools required to do their job, and a pleasant environment in which to work. A thorough induction not only outlines the expectations, but orients the new employee to your workplace, the staff and the organisational culture – and makes them feel welcome. Recruit the right people in the first instance and provide competitive remuneration. Turnover of staff is costly not only from a dollar perspective
e | elly@thehrdepartment.com.au w | www.theHRdepartment.com.au
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Business Resource & Lifestyle | Issue 52 | March 2013
23
Feature
A Time for Reflection – A Time for Planning Stephen Frost, Managing Director – BREED Inc
With the Christmas and New Year festivities and holiday season behind us for another year, have you taken time to reflect on the events of the previous 12 months? Did you get hooked into the annual end of year rush to get everything completed before Christmas? Thinking back, is there anything you could have done differently to reduce the end of year rush and resultant stress on you, your family, colleagues and clients?
Every year I have a reflection session with my team and work through a wish list and an event and activity calendar for our organisation. This is all good in theory but all too often I find something crops up and I end up working on ‘urgent’ or ‘squeaky-wheel’ activities rather than continuing to allocate and stick to scheduled time to ‘work on the business’ like we all know we should. There have been some wonderful inventions to streamline work processes, distributing information quicker and more efficiently (email for one), but these same inventions are being used by our clients and colleagues, often placing implied expectations that we can respond quicker and be available 24 / 7 to attend to their enquiries or ‘urgent’ needs. Yes, we do have to respond. ‘Urgent’ needs are often new opportunities for our business but we still have to take time out to focus ‘on the business’. During 2012, at BREED we have been reviewing our corporate structure, governance, strategic planning and positioning for the next five years. We recruited a number of new Directors with expert knowledge and connections to assist us in achieving our plan. I was reminded as recently as today that I do not need to know everything but I do need to surround myself with respected people who collectively do know everything or know people who have the knowledge and connections to continue to drive our organisation to achieve our goals. Our Board has a good mix of Baby Boomers through to Gen-Y, ensuring we capture learning’s from the past with the ability to implement into the future. We work with a wide variety of School Business Community Partnerships and youth. Apart from
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being our core business it is a way of ensuring what we do and how we communicate our business activities is carried out in a way that is appropriate and receptive to our wide demographic client base. In developing our goals and strategies it has been a strategic advantage to work with our Partnerships to ensure our thinking is in the right direction for their needs and expectations.
If you would like assistance to work with your local youth to improve their educational attainment and transition through school to further education and / or work, contact your local Partnership Broker.
For more information on Partnership Brokers, please contact your local office listed below.
A number of years ago I came across a saying, “Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part” but this can equally be turned around to “Lack of planning on My part does not constitute an emergency on Your part”. A number of years ago I came across a saying, “Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part” but this can equally be turned around to “Lack of planning on My part does not constitute an emergency on Your part”. My task for 2013 is to get back to some basic business principals and ensure that I keep to a schedule of allocated time to ‘working on the business’ with the aim of reducing the number of ‘Urgent’ and ‘squeaky wheel’ activities throughout and in particularly at the end of the year. G
Stephen Frost is the Managing Director of BREED Inc, managing the School Business Community Partnership Broker initiative of the Federal Government.
Members
Blacktown www.breed.org.com.au p | 9853 3200
Parramatta www.aussip.com.au p | 9633 7100
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Penrith www.schoolsindustry.com.au p | 4725 0310
Business Resource & Lifestyle | Issue 52 | March 2013
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LOCAL Government Feature
Robert Cliff... A ‘Sparkling’ New Beginning
by Adrian Payne
(l-r) Daniel Cliff, Alex Hawke, Federal Parliamentarian for Hills, Robert Cliff, Susan Cliff, James Cliff, Dr. Michelle Byrne, Mayor Hills Shire Council
Situated on the middle level of Castle Towers, opposite Myers is Robert Cliff Master Jewellers. Twenty-eight years ago they first opened their doors here. At the time Robert and his wife Susan shared the day with their first child, a girl who was then just three years old. Susan was also pregnant at the time. The identical twins James and Daniel who were born three days later, are now partners in the business.
Robert Cliff’s talent in design and management has drawn many public figures to Castle Hill to commission Robert and his team to create something unique. This year they have completely refurbished their store to provide a fabulous modern showroom environment in which to present the beautiful jewellery they manufacture and sell. On Wednesday December the 5th, this newly refitted showroom was opened with a grand flourish! Robert is not only a designer of beautiful jewellery, but also channels a great deal of his energy into the local community. So it’s not surprising that invited guests and those contributing to the staging of the opening event, were people from the local area. Don Shields and his Jazz group from Don’s music school in Castle Hill for example, played the live music which provided a background of contemporary jazz for the occasion. Many local Councillors and leading business people we there too and after the formalities, enjoyed finger-food by Townsy’s Café which specialises in corporate catering.
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As part of the celebration, each guest was given two keys, one to keep ... another was put into a draw. Mayor Dr Michelle Byrne drew five keys from the ’hat’. Each of the winning keys fitted the lock on five cash boxes. In four of the boxes was an exclusive gift-coin, each valued at two hundred and fifty dollars. In the fifth box a magnificent diamond pendant worth five thousand three hundred dollars was won by a lucky lady who prefers to enjoy her winnings privately ... and be anonymous! Alex Hawke, Federal Member for Mitchell officially opened the new showroom. His kind words were much appreciated by Robert, his family and the team. State members Dom Perrottet (Castle Hills) and David Elliot (Baulkham Hills) were also there to
help mark the beginning of a new era for this celebrated family business. G
Robert Cliff Master Jewellers Middle level, Opposite Myers Castle Hill Towers, Castle Hill p | 1300 721 400 w | www.robertcliffmasterjewellers.com.au
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www.inoneprojects.com.au Business Resource & Lifestyle | Issue 52 | March 2013
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Business Advice
Mobile Apps and Mobile Sites: Does Your Business Need Them?
by Daniel Moisyeyev, B. IT – GWP Media
With the advent of Smartphones and Tablets, mobile computing and mobile internet access became mainstream. Mobile devices are seen as trendy by the general public, with the traditional PC being gradually pushed towards professional, office and workstation roles. If anybody needed further proof of change, the new version of Microsoft Windows – Windows 8, is clearly geared for mobile devices.
With mobile devices taking hold, business owners are starting to ask questions. How can I benefit from having my business available on mobile devices? How can I access the huge user base and start converting them into clients? How do I get my business out there? In this article I will discuss business-specific apps and sites. Please note that mobile applications designed for leisure (e.g. games) and sold for a fee at application stores operate on a different business model. What kind of businesses offer products and services that need to be accessible by mobile devices? The first step is to identify the target market of your business. Traditionally, mobile applications and mobile sites cater to mass consumer market. There are some exceptions where businesses have built mobile applications that cater to a specific niche market (e.g. purpose-built customer service tools), however this is not the case for most. If your business has a niche target market (this applies to most B2B type products and services), you will not get much benefit from mobile applications or sites. For example, an accountant or a solicitor would unlikely to ever get a return on an investment in a mobile application. On the other hand, if you are selling a mass product that an average person would like to buy “right now”, you may be the right candidate. Ordering pizza through a mobile phone? Definitely. Booking a cab? Yes. Reserving a seat at a restaurant? Could be. What is the difference between “native mobile apps” and “web apps”?
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A native mobile application is a purpose-built software application designed to run on a mobile device. That device will run some sort of an Operating System, such as Apple iOS, Android, etc. – all these platforms all require development of distinct applications using different technologies. Native mobile applications have some advantages, such as being able to access the unique features of a phone and generally being faster than web applications. Web applications are simply websites catered to mobile use. There is no functional difference between “web apps” or regular websites – they are both built using the same web development technologies, just catered to different devices. A new technology called “HTML5” has recently become available that offers better functionality and flexibility for building web applications. Native mobile applications often require a dedicated server for storing user data. Web applications can make use of a set up as a regular website, where user data is stored on a web hosting account. How much does development cost? Native mobile applications have to be built by qualified personnel using a regular software development process. Although mobile devices are everywhere and the task of building a mobile app may seem trivial to an average person, mobile apps are as difficult to build as standalone PC applications.
a real world example, the application “Twitterrific” cost $250,000 USD 1. There is virtually no limit to costs in software development, the price increases as more features are introduced. “Web Apps”, on the other hand, are much more affordable due to the lower set of skills required from developers and the time required. If you are looking for a typical project such as an online ordering system catered for mobile devices, the prices can be more than reasonable for a small business owner. Are mobile applications a marketing tool? There is a common misconception that mobile applications somehow give your business access to a massive supply of Generation Y customers that will start buying your products and services as soon as your business is mobile ready. No, mobile applications are not a marketing tool and never will be. Mobile applications can be thought of as a customer service tool that enables your clients to easily order your products and services. This is the reason why these tools are effective for well known enterprises and franchises, but often not as relevant to your average small business. G Conclusion If you are interested in mobile application development, please get in touch with GWP Media. 1.http://stackoverflow.com/questions/209170/how-much-does-itcost-to-develop-an-iphone-application/3926493#3926493
If you decide to build a native mobile application, you would need to go through the Software Development Life-Cycle (SDLC). The following steps would need to be followed: • Planning and Requirements Analysis – Your particular software development needs and requirements would need to be analysed • Design – A solution would be designed to suit all of your particular needs • Development – The code for the application would be written • Testing – The application would be tested and checked for conformance to requirements The development process for a native mobile application is very involved. The pricing for a native mobile application could be from as much as $10,000 for simple solutions. As
GWP Media p | 02 8090 1730 e | daniel@gwpmagazine.com.au
Business Resource & Lifestyle | Issue 52 | March 2013
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Society & Life
Faith Angry Anderson
The dictionary defines ‘faith’ thus: complete trust or confidence, firm belief without logical proof, duty or commitment to fulfill a trust or promise. Faithful: showing faith, loyal, trustworthy, accurate, true to fact i.e. faithful account.
Belief in a ‘higher being’ or some entity that has no physical substance will require faith. Belief in a part of ourselves that we cannot taste, smell or touch will require faith because it is something we ‘feel’ rather than something proven by visual confirmation; we believe it is there; we believe we have it, so it is, we do have it. There is no doubt whatsoever in my mind that we all need something that is not material to believe in. I have no doubt that without a belief in that ‘something’, whatever we perceive it to be, we will wander aimlessly, not totally but partially through life never knowing the true wonderment that life can be and therefore in reality, is. In keeping with the basic principals of Yin and Yang there are always two opposites working at all times to keep things in balance. Life as a physical experience and life as a non physical experience, life in the material world and life in the non material world. Life in the material world is just that; all things material. The opposite is life in the spiritual world where all things spiritual happen. When this occurs there can be balance but first we must be aware of both realms so that we ‘work’ towards creating that balance. When that balance does not, or is prevented from happening, trouble begins and if that imbalance is not attended to, then chaos will eventually result. Historically we have seen where and how misguided faith in something as powerful as religion can be. We have seen wars fought to defend or extend a particular faith or belief that some people claim is the one true faith, the word of God, the only way to righteousness and salvation. Our history is awash with terrible examples of how a misguided few can influence
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the many through fear and persecution and the use of imprisonment, torture and execution to bring the ‘unbeliever’ to enlightenment. The crusades into the ‘Holy Land’ are a prime example and the ‘Holy Inquisition’ is a dark period of Christian history that most people would rather forget and wish had never happened. I got into a little trouble with some readers after the last article because I ‘singled out’ the inadequate response and dealings that some Christian churches have displayed so far in their handling of the perversion of paedophilia and paedophiles within their ranks. I was only using that particular example because it is current and it is a glaring example of a wrong within the Christian church that must be put right if the Church is to retain any credibility. Credibility is required in order to attract any young new followers and believers, without whom the Christian church is doomed to diminish in its power and will eventually succumb to the threats from without. The world needs a strong Christian religion practiced, a religion with no contradictions hanging around its neck weighing it down and preventing it from doing what it should be doing. One of the reasons young people are not embracing this wonderful experience is that they can smell hypocrisy and deceit through a concrete wall from a distance. Most people at some stage in their personal development come across the idea that life is about more than the material world in which we all live and it is at that time that they start looking around for something or someone to provide answers to the growing number of questions forming in their consciousness. These ideas that they instinctively know, spring from their inner being, from that tiny voice that cannot and will never lie...the voice of their God. There are still dangerous ‘fundamentalists’ within the Christian church who would drag us all back into the dark ages, just as there are within the religion of Islam and most of us know only too well that for any of us, Christian, Islamic, Buddhist or Hindu, in fact any spiritual path you may choose to follow, what we do not need is crazy people telling us how we can find grace in the eyes of God. The beautiful messages written in the spiritual works that have come into being over the years are there to guide us and teach
us. They are there, I believe, to provoke us to thought, meditation and contemplation that will lead us to a fuller and deeper personal experience of the ‘Divine’. I believe with my whole being that a man without God is only half a man, a woman without God is only half a woman, a life without God can only be half a life. My personal Spiritual experience teaches me that I cannot deny any other man, woman or child their own experience. That would be an affront to all that their experience has to offer. I choose to ‘follow’, if you like, an experience based largely on the Christian experience but I cannot deny any other person their own experience. I choose to allow the thoughts, beliefs and teachings of someone that is referred to as ‘The Prince of Peace’ to influence my thoughts and musings as I work each day to find, follow and honour my own spiritual life. I choose to reject the teachings of old that tell us that we should fear our God, I would rather find a ‘God’ that I can love and be part of; a ‘oneness’; a true connectedness that embraces love, that nurtures all that is good in man, not all that is vile and destructive. I say again, a life without some vision of God is only half a life. May you find yours, as I have found mine. Go in peace and fellowship. Go with your God. Until we meet again, I remain your friend, Angry. G
e | angry@angrymarketing.com.au w | www.angryanderson.com
Business Resource & Lifestyle | Issue 52 | March 2013
31
Australian Sport
Panthers Spread Christmas Cheer to Some Very Special Kids The Penrith Panthers made a visit to the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, to spread some much-needed happiness to some tiny patients just in time for Christmas.
Players Blake Austin, Cameron Ciraldo, Ethan Cooke, Jake Grace, Adam Docker, Nathan Smith, Mosese Pangai and Sam Anderson joined the team from Wishing Hearts and Mates on a Mission, to tour the wards and hand out some very special teddy bears. Established in August 2012, Wishing Hearts and Mates on a Mission is a charity that raises muchneeded funds to support children with congenital heart disease. The bears were sold at the charities’ annual gala night, hosted by Panthers Executive General Manager of Rugby League, Phil Gould. $90,000 was raised at the gala from fundraising efforts, including the sale of the bears. This was used to purchase two Radio Frequency Puncture systems, including one for the Heart Centre at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. The players visited several wards in the hospital, handing out close to 300 of the beautiful bears, all individually named by their donors. There were some incredible stories of bravery among the young patients we met, ranging from those who were waiting for organ transplants, to those who had already received life-saving surgery and had begun the long journey to recovery. The players saw first-hand how giving back makes a significant difference, and many remarked on how much they enjoyed seeing the kids smile. “It was intense but an incredible experience. Seeing tiny kids smiling through their pain makes you realise how lucky you are”, said Jake Grace. The players were struck by the courage of the children. “The little boy who said he wishes he was getting a new heart for Christmas, that was rough. He’s one brave kid,” remarked Adam Docker. As the group left the hospital, the players were asking when they could make a return visit. Everyone at the Penrith Panthers would like to thank Wishing Hearts & Mates on a Mission, and the Children’s Hospital at Westmead for giving us the opportunity to visit and meet the inspirational kids. G
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Business Resource & Lifestyle | Issue 52 | March 2013
(l -r) Adam Docker, Sam Anderson, Jake Grace, Nathan Smith and Blake Austin with a young patient
Business Resource & Lifestyle | Issue 52 | March 2013
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Feature
Grow Your Commercial Connections
Nicole Baines, Director – All My Admin
After stepping out alone mid 2011 to start Gvirah, a new business established to facilitate community and corporate partnerships, 2012 was planned to be a year of building foundations. But as 2012 came to an end, I found myself sitting on a beach in Bali, in a state of exhilarated exhaustion (yes, they can exist quite nicely together), thinking about the contrast between the year that was “supposed to be” and the year that was.
forward to meeting many of Business Resource & Lifestyle Magazine’s readers over 2013, as we begin to collaborate with GWP Media and other business support bodies in the Hills. Gvirah powers forward, taking the concept of “Sticky Partnerships” forward, encouraging and assisting corporate and community based organisations to engage for mutual commercial benefit. Please visit www.gvirah.com.au if you would like to know more. For too long, business owners have recruited poorly. RQ+ launches a series of mini seminars in Nicole Baines
As well as building Gvirah, I somehow found myself establishing a further two businesses, All My Admin (AMA) and RQ+. Taking on three new business partners and launching these businesses turned 2012 into a year of opportunity, risk taking and courageous faith leaps. Whilst this had all turned out quite nicely, I had an overwhelming sense that, before launching into whatever 2013 has in store, I should take stock and try to understand what had taken me so far off course during 2012. Here are my thoughts: 1. Opportunity trumps planning – At the outset of 2012, I had a good plan but the opportunities put before me during the year were better. Don’t let a boring plan get in the way of exciting opportunities. 2. You reap what you sow – For 13 years I have heavily invested into the local business community through my relationship with the Board, Partners and members of Sydney Hills Business Chamber. My Chamber colleagues are now a limitless source of help, support, suppliers, clients, advice and encouragement and this is converting to a variety of commercial opportunities. Give generously and without expectation. 3. Share the load – My own capacity is limited, but by working with carefully selected partners, we have leveraged our time and expertise. It was important to balance letting go with teaching and coaching along the way. Teach more and you can do less. 4. The ride is smoother when both feet are on the wave – My over cautiousness had caused me to have one foot in and one foot out of many projects. It was slow and hard work. Surfers
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Business Resource & Lifestyle | Issue 52 | March 2013
know that when you fully commit to the wave, the ride is smoother and easier as you ride on the wave’s momentum. 2012 had been a year of courageously committing to things, jumping in with both feet, and it paid off. So having these lessons in mind, what does 2013 have in store? Within two weeks of moving into our new premises, the AMA team arranged a morning tea for all the building’s residents which was attended by the Mayor, State MPs and the media. 2013 will continue to be another year of gathering people together to support each other and to seek out business opportunities. We look
February 2013 to help you raise your recruitment intelligence – www.rqplus.com.au By taking all or some of the administrative and support tasks off the hands of small business operators, AMA improves their clients’ profitably. Bringing systemisation and order into the admin tasks of a business releases key staff in any business to generate income or deliver services to clients - www.allmyadmin.com.au G If you would like to grow your commercial connections in 2013, please call me on 02 9894 8682.
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Business Resource & Lifestyle | Issue 52 | March 2013
Business Resource & Lifestyle | Issue 52 | March 2013
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Business Resource & Lifestyle | Issue 52 | March 2013
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Business Resource & Lifestyle | Issue 52 | March 2013
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