BiziNet Magazine - Issue #74 - Issue July-August 2015

SYDNEY - ISSUE 74 | JULY - AUGUST 2015

GWP Magazine

BANKRUPTCY AND THE FAMILY HOME

– IT’S MINE TO DEAL WITH ISN’T IT? Page 22

Mental Health and Leadership – Lessons from the Front Line Page 24

DELETING THE

INVISIBLE

FOOTPRINT Page 26

BEKIR KILIC Ears to the Ground Feet Planted Firmly BiziNet Magazine

#74 July/Aug’15

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Editor and Publisher: Dmitry Greku Cover Story A. Charles Smith Contributing Writers: Charlie Lynn Daniel Moisyeyev Angry Anderson George Mavros Cathy Krimmer Bekir Kilic Bruce Gleeson Melissa Harries

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Art Director: Svetlana Greku

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Executive Officer: Daniel Moisyeyev

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BiziNet Magazine, former Business Resource & Lifestyle is published by GWP Media® and GWP Magazines® ABN: 82 096 352 064 www.gwpmagazine.com.au

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Cover Design & Cover Story Layout: Xabier Goñi, XDesigns

Office Address: 85-91 Grose Street North Parramatta NSW 2151 International Standard Serial Number ISSN 1837-199X Advertising Enquiries: p | 1300 889 132 e | info@gwpmagazine.com.au To Subscribe: www.gwpmagazine.com.au

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Copyright GWP Media® and GWP Magazines® 2015.

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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.

Contents Cover Story

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Bekir Kilic Ears to the Ground Feet Planted Firmly A. Charles Smith

Regulars

09 16 18 20 22

EDITOR’S LETTER Dmitry Geku

26

LEADERSHIP

30

Christmas in July… Fairy Tale

Could 100 Leaders Benefit Your Business?

DIGITAL CORNER

Deleting the Invisible Footprint Bekir Kilic

WP: Pros and Cons Daniel Moisyeyev

SOCIETY & LIFE

Charlie Lynn

32

WORKFORCE

Features

Cathy Krimmer

34

A Post Political View of ‘the System

TAFE Western Sydney Recognises Best of the Best

BUSINESS ADVICE

Diplomacy vs. Decency Angry Anderson

WSABE Award Winner Partners with Founder of Boost Juice Parramatta Chamber of Commerce

Bankruptcy and The Family Home – it’s Mine to Deal with isn’t it?

Bruce Gleeson

24

Mental Health and Leadership – Lessons from the Front Line Melissa Harries

28

Synergy - 1+1=3… Crazy Maths!

Watch More @ bizinettv.com.au

George Mavros

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Introducing New Contributors

Bekir Kilic Bekir Kilicis a Managing Director of PRO IT. Founded in 1999, PRO IT’s objective was to provide an alternative to the conventional IT support and outsource services model for banking, finance and the media industries by focusing and understanding the clients core needs, can do attitude and close client/vendor relationship.

IT support and outsource services is delivered throughout all major cities located in Australia and New Zealand.

Today PRO IT provides data centre “smart & remote hands” for many multinational organisations.

proit.bizinet.com.au

PRO IT Pty Limited p | 1300 727 553 f | 02 872 4 3311 www.proit.com.au

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George Mavros Bruce Gleeson Melissa Harries Melissa Harries has been practicing as a psychologist for ten years. The first six of those were as an Army Psychologist were she was responsible for enhancing soldier mental health and performance. This included deployments to East Timor and Afghanistan. Since leaving the Army Melissa founded Mindset Abilities and has provided a suite of EAP services including counselling, training, coaching and mediation to a broad client based. She particularly enjoys assisting individuals and teams to improve workplace performance and wellbeing.

mindsetabilities.bizinet.com.au

Melissa Harries m | 0422 473 203 p | 02 9687 9776 www.mindsetabilities.com.au

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Bruce Gleeson is a Registered Liquidator and Registered Bankruptcy Trustee with approximately 20 years experience in assisting SMEs and individuals in financial crisis. He is a Director of Jones Partners Chartered Accountants. As an Insolvency Practitioner he believes it is vital that stakeholders (particularly directors and individuals) get the right advice from qualified professionals on the options available to them. Bruce is passionate to ensure that directors / individuals throughout the Greater Western Sydney area have access to quality advice and solutions.

jonespartners.bizinet.com.au

Bruce Gleeson p | 02 9894 9966 e | bgleeson@jonespartners.net.au www.jonespartners.net.au

George Mavros is as he says a man of many hats. With over 30 years experience in sales marketing and business development, throughout most segments of the market place. Some know him as a coach, business mentor while others know him as a authority in intellectual property and commercialisation of products or ideas and yet others, as an Urban Philosopher.

They all know him as a person that just says it as he sees it and who lives by his personal mission statement “honesty and integrity ahead of commercial expediency.”

georgemavros.bizinet.com.au

Patent Solutions p | 02 9890 3777 e | george@patentsolutions.com.au www.patentsolutions.com.au

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Contact: 02 9843 0324

Contact: 02 9894 8682

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Christmas in July…

Fairy Tale Dmitry Geku, M. Sc. Editor and Publisher - GWP Magazines®

Tsunny here was a marvellous day when

Rooppert* decided to start his own business.

Rooppert was brave and very smart. He thought everything through; prepared a comprehensive business plan, and conducted some robust discussions with his multi-talented family. He would become a professional Fairy. Yes, an ordinary every day, Fairy. His business was to bring joy and happiness to people and prosperity to their businesses using his top quality magic.

The beginning was smooth. But shortly, not everything turned out to be happening as expected.

Bad news came from his financial professional, namely Pinoklio. Pinoklio went successfully through almost three Universities. He invested all Rooppert’s funds into a tree. The plan was to wait until money eventually started growing on this tree some time later. That never came.

They both worked hard. But one day, when the project dissolved, Pinoklio said, “What do you want from me? I tried my best and I don’t know why your money is not growing.” Pinoklio sent Rooppert a bill for his “hard work” and left to another more promising project.

The sales team was a disappointment too; they turned up to be Sleeping Beauties. They were not sleeping for all 24 hours of course; just from 9 to 5. This was their strict daily routine - they were very active and happy at all other times. Unfortunately they couldn’t do much for Rooppert and all his Fairy Projects before nine and after five… His clients didn’t want to adjust

their diaries to the Beauties’ sleeping schedule.

Rooppert tried his best to save his Fairy enterprise and even hired a magic glass thing.

Every morning and night, he was posting stuff about himself and his business on this glass and the ‘Glass Thing’ was sending him a lot of Likes and other insignificant nice messages, but they were all redundant.

A couple of times, Rooppert even put his most beautiful and elegant pair of high-heeled shoes on and went to some after hours events expecting to loose one of them, so his Prince Charming would find him and everything would become awesome again. In fact, neither the Prince, nor the Prince’s white horse turned up and his accurately calculated plan melded to dust.

Problems were still accumulating. In a vain attempt to improve the situation, Rooppert even borrowed magic tall boots from his old retired mate, one Prooss. But the boots were out of fashion by then; didn’t provide him any extra confidence and couldn’t inspire other good-looking ladies and gentlemen to buy his Fairy products and services with the oldfashioned visionaire of the supplier.

This was not good and unpromising for poor Rooppert. The business was in a pretty sad state until he openly spoke to a very helpful business owner. This guy knew what he was talking about. Everyone knew him as Mr Marvellous.

the best and most pleasant imaginable venues, other business guests were so friendly and willing to listen to Rooppert talking non-stop about his business and his outstanding ideas.

He found The Place!

And Rooppert lived with his business happily ever after…

The End. I’ve never met Rooppert personally. But I know that this story is an immutable truth, and his outstanding success happened through networking with other people, great marketing campaigns and top-end quality marketing materials that he could only produce in The Place with these great people who also became his clients in vast, innumerable numbers.

I wish you, boys and girls, to find your Mr or Mrs Marvellous and a group of great people, talk to them, keep your eyes and ears open, make the right decisions and succeed.

Have a marvellous day. Take care of yourself and your clients… G *Rooppert is an absolutely real fictional character.

e | editor@gwpmagazine.com.au

Previously during those harsh times, Rooppert lost a lot of his contacts in the business community. No doubt, he was so happy to find out from Mr Marvellous that there was a place where he could go and promote his business effectively and so affordably, where outstanding networking events were held. In

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BEKIR KILIC Ears to the Ground Feet Planted Firmly

by A. Charles Smith

Old timers are fond of saying that hard work always brings success.

That ethic was instilled in Bekir Kilic from a very early age. It served him well in the long road that led to his stewardship of PRO IT. The business is one of the most significant players in the modern computer age servicing the technological support and broadranging IT needs of business, large, small and medium.

As it so often does, circumstance fashioned the boy, the youth and now the man, his jib cut by tough, early times. Yet he looks back benignly on those formative years without the slightest hint of self-pity, let alone a resort to victimhood.

“I didn’t think I was badly done by at all,” as he details coming to Australia the second time, an eight year old with his other siblings and a recently widowed mother, still a relatively young woman.

Going back even further, Bekir was just two

Year 2013 – Pro IT Fairfield team at their Warehousing, Procurement, and spares management facility

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months old in 1969 with two older brothers when his parents brought the boys to Australia. Turkish people are known for their strength in adversity. His parents were intent on working their hearts out for five years and returning to Turkey with enough capital for the family to start a business or buy a farm of their own.

Until he was weaned at ten months, his father worked solely for Sydney Railways, but it was extremely difficult to get ahead on just one wage. So the children were sent back to live with their grandparents.

GREAT AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS PEOPLE

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Year 2012 – Bekir congratulating one of the graduates from WSI during a graduation ceremony at Panthers.

Year 2009 – Bekir Getting on the job with his team in calibration of wireless connectivity of two remote client sites on Brisbane.

His parents stayed on for the next four years as planned to attain their original goal.

One can only contemplate the enormous heartache they felt with that decision and all it entailed, especially for Bekir’s mother.

them. All the time, he was under the watchful eye of a kindly newsagent who admired the spunk of the boys in using their initiative to approach him for an opportunity to work and establish a paper run.

Unfortunately, things did not work out in Turkey as the family had planned. Not yet thirty, widowed and with four children to look after and support, she decided to come to Australia permanently. Soon after the family arrived, Mrs Kilic became what is now known as a, ‘day care mother.’

Their endeavours continued for the next six years, Bekir taking a more hands-on role in distributing newspapers as he became older.

The money they made went straight back into the family budget to be allocated according to his mother’s astute management.

“We lived in a two bedroom apartment.

Without resorting to government support and housing, somehow Mum managed to look after up to fifteen youngsters within the confines of our flat. What a woman she was then and still is,” he speaks lovingly of her. “She is still working at age seventy on weekends, not in any way enriching herself materially but helping others especially needy families and worthy charities.”

He and his brothers entered the newspaper selling business. They did the deliveries and Bekir, as an eight year old, took on the role of minder of a wheelbarrow chockfull of

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third child, minding his r ki Be – 03 Year 20 lyn, whilst Daughter Eve 3 month old nical support in his Pro IT ch providing te n. ur office in Aub

“We were always well-fed. Mum was determined to see all her four sons educated.

She managed to realise her dream but in the process, it is fair to say we exceeded even these expectations making her enormously proud of ‘her sons.’ ” One of Bekir’s happiest memories of his early teenage years was wearing his McDonalds uniform when he started at the famous fastfood chain. “At the statutory minimum age of fourteen years and nine months,” he hastens to add. He was still going to school of course.

“There I was on the train heading to my first real job, savouring the looks and feeling on top

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of the world. These things you never forget.”

That experience proved a springboard to further enterprise. But before that, school.

He shifts sheepishly in his chair to concede that schoolwork for him was not all that his mother had hoped.

“I didn’t do well at school,” preferring the environs of the Flemington Markets where he began work at two in the morning, making up food packs of vegetables. Here he felt at home working alongside his mother.

Still, Bekir recognised that something was missing from his attainment of real personal development.

So he worked, saved and then studied parttime at a Private Training Institute, then later at ‘TAFE’ opting to focus on computer technology.

‘The days must have been long,’ I asked.

“Were they what! But I found my niche and won an internship, obtaining a position with AAP Reuters as a computer operator.”

These days, the job would be designated as

GREAT AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS PEOPLE an, ‘IT engineer.’ In that capacity, over time, his role evolved to one where he prepared data and electronic distribution of stock trades to all the media industries in Australia.

Then, somewhat incongruously, (since he had no bent towards the racing game) he ended up compiling form guide layouts for the whole of Australia.

“It might shock everyone to know that I was even, temporarily, a racing journalist. I actually wrote one-liners on form!”

I was loath to ask him how his predictions went, especially as he did not hold out the slightest impression that he wanted to be quizzed about them. However, Bekir was immodest enough to imply that he was never pestered by irate punters.

In the nine years at AAP Reuters, he advanced to Data Process Manager by 1994, and in that capacity, reported to the Chief Executive Officer. “At the end of my time there, I had become the Deputy Operations Manager.”

Bekir recognised that at this juncture in his career, he could not go any further there. But he was not content to fossilise or let wane an unquenchable desire to learn.

2002 - At a fundraising dinner in support of The Hon. Barbara Perry. (l-r) Premier of NSW The Hon. Bob Car, Aleta Gooley (Pro IT), Bekir Kilic (Pro IT), The Hon. Barbara Perry, Arzu Agacayak (TNW)

“I never stopped studying the whole time and was awarded an Advanced Diploma in Information Technology and, best of all, the TAFE version of the MBA. This was the fillip I needed and the impetus to becoming my own boss.”

He resigned and somewhat incongruously, bought into a locksmith business. He had married a master locksmith’s daughter and it seemed the inevitable step to take on the road to business acclimatisation.

“It was called, ‘National Locksmiths’, and expanded dramatically. We had some powerful clients like, P & O, Amcor, local councils and large jewellery chains.”

At this point in the narrative, Bekir became more reflective. It was an understandable interlude, for no marriage break-up is ringed with gold lace.

“Actually left the whole business, after signing it over cold and then back to Mum, with her open arms to greet me of course; what else would she do with any of her sons, turn me away?” he says with warmth, prompting the listener to feel that he would like to meet the matriarch of this household.

Bekir remained steadfastly optimistic at the time. Reminiscent of the great travel writer,

Year 2013 –Pro IT team members taking time out for quick photo at the Fairfield Office From left to right . Alexey, Greg, Bekir, Frank, Shenel, Jonathan

Peter Fleming when he wrote, after being forced to choose between an overweight suitcase and his typewriter in 1930’s China, Better to have nothing to wear, than nothing to do, and so the proud Aussie set out to be a ‘doer.’

Although hardly appreciating it at this trying time, the dramatic change in direction in his life in 1997, chartered the footpath that ultimately melded into PRO IT. In those days, his IT venture began with a

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computer sales and services business located in Seven Hills. Bekir was in partnership with a man with whom he worked productively for two years. He makes absolutely no complaint about his partner, a facility that surprised, given that when the business was about to score with a major contract, Bekir was told that he was not a partner after all. The unilateral rearrangement signalled the cessation of his association with that business and he was back to square one.

Looking back, Bekir says,”Working in Seven Hills was a ‘blessing” as six months prior to the business break up, he hired Ireena, a part-time first year university student, to work as an office administrator.

Like any business, he found in the intervening years that there were periods of dormancy, then spurts of growth of more than 20 per cent. The finance sector has been a boon to his business.

to engulf us, but I would save the world,” he says with a smile bestowed by hindsight. He does not shrink from admitting that it was an opportunity to advance his operation, which he achieved with distinction.

The approach of 2000 was the defining year of change, presaging a chain of events. For the uninitiated, (and fifteen years is almost a generation in computer parlance) Y2K bug talk, aka, the mother of all Armageddon’s turn of the century was looming.

From here on, he recalls PRO IT’s association with Bridge Info Systems, an American conglomerate with whom Reuters was also involved in the days when he worked there.

“The time was ripe to pursue business outposts. The enfilading of all technological substance created by mankind, was about

“This was a business with 1500 servers around Australia and I quoted for the tender.

We were short-listed — way under-quoted, trying to outdo Fujitsu and other big names.

For some reason, they took an interest in

Ireena and Bekir’s friendship turned into much more. They married and proudly boast five children, the youngest being just 3 months old.

And with stability, he was propelled into bigger and more productive horizons. “There are no rewards from looking hindmost either in anger or sorrow,” he says philosophically.

He finds it hard to comprehend it all today.

“There was just one customer to begin with and I started with a paltry $2000.”

Bekir derives a great sense of achievement in reflecting on that original customer. “He is still with us. That I find almost more satisfying than anything. It’s not merely the fact of doing business, but loyalty, friendship and trust.”

Year 2013 –Pro IT team members taking time out for quick photo at the Fairfield Office

In 1999, PRO IT assumed substance and form and became registered. With much fanfare, its office was opened in Auburn by the local member and Minister in the Carr government.

me and offered a three month trial, even upping my quote a little. ‘I believe there is a spark in you’, I will never forget one of its executives saying.”

He needed qualified people too, and remembered his early courses and studies.

“Because of my training at what is now Lidcombe TAFE, I felt that anyone who had come through that regimen as I had, would be eminently suitable to work for me.

So a recommendation was sought and I interviewed several applicants.”

Bekir did not rest on any false assumption that he had cracked the big-time. He headed for Melbourne in an old Corolla, importuned a mate to put him up and gathered the necessary expertise around him to fulfil his obligations. The work was replicated in Sydney and Brisbane. Back to back contracts followed.

Bekir was very fortunate in the choice he made. His first employee stayed for six years.

The business kept expanding in the first few years and several more IT engineers were added to his staff.

“TAFE was my first port of call in each case when looking for recruits and I was very grateful for its co-operation. Skill levels were outstanding.”

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Year 1988 – Bekir at his office at AAP Reuters, Glebe NSW then 19 Years old preparing the shift roster for the Engineers using one of the earliest XT based IBM computers.

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The cliché, ‘one thing leads to another’ worked for him and he expanded into the financial market side of the IT business, an insight into which had been gained in his time at Reuters. Leveraging off from that knowledge and experience led to a five year deal worth over eight million dollars.

These were the building blocks for making

Year 2001 – Opening of Pro IT office in Auburn by The Hon. Barbara Perry. (l-r) Aleta Gooley, Ireena Kilic with Baby Jasmine, Bekir Kilic and The Hon. Barbara Perry.

GREAT AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS PEOPLE determination to succeed has guided him.

“Give 100 per cent in what you believe; never give up and you will achieve what you want.”

He also emphasises having an open mind and keeping his ears to the ground, as well as his feet planted firmly on it.

“Don’t be cocky or rude. Your customers will always remember the personal touch. By the same token, they will never forget discourtesy.”

PRO IT a formidable leader in the field and those companies have remained loyal customers of the company today.

information technology environment. This is something of which I never lose sight,” he says.

The business is growing still further through international partnerships. This has seen it reach into Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia and in the last twelve months with the United Kingdom.

Currently the company is working with Telstra connecting a sub-sea cable between Hawaii and Sydney along with the installation of switch gear. Similar connectivity development is under way with Hong Kong.

Bekir puts much of his success down to flexibility and a readiness to fasten hard to technological developments, “PRO IT has adapted to the many changes in the

So what are the precepts underpinning PRO IT’s success? Bekir underlines the concept of ‘fairness’— to his employees, his suppliers and to the customer. Secondly, a

These are the principles Bekir applies to any jobs being undertaken by PRO IT. He adds, “Be big enough to admit and rectify mistakes. Finish the job you have promised to do. There is no more dissatisfied customer than the one who believes he has been shortchanged.”

In an Australia where so many have come to expect the government to provide for them, it is refreshing to see a successful man driven by his own sweat and risk-taking.

Surely Bekir Kilic in shaping PRO IT, is a model for others to emulate in achieving their goals. G

Year 2015 – Bekir’s Family, from left to right, Back row - Shenel, Bekir, Ireena, Evelyn, Jasmine.

Middle – Baby Darcy and Dylan in Front.

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LEADERSHIP

Could 100 Leaders Benefit Your Business?

Have you often sought the opinion of someone who is a great leader? Did that information change the way you thought about your business? Could you benefit now from the wisdom of a range of contemporary leaders? Now you can gain access to the thoughts of great leaders at 100 Leaders - an innovative business event at Event Cinemas.

What is 100 leaders?

100 Leaders is the largest leadership project of its kind globally - and this September, XVenture is delivering its program specifically for The Hills small business community in partnership with The Hills Shire Council.

The event is designed to inspire, educate and entertain you adding to the business support already offered by The Hills Shire Council to local businesses.

You can learn inspirational lessons in leadership in a unique, facilitated cinema experience filled with insights and messages from contemporary leaders from a diverse range of industries including: • finance • marketing • sport • manufacturing • mining • construction • education and more.

What can the event offer?

This event will be tailored to suit each audience via a voting app. You and your event attendees choose what and who you see on the big screen.

And within hours of the experience, everyone will get a summary of the key lessons and messages – priceless information and inspiration to take your small business forward.

What else has XVenture done?

The revolutionary cinema experience is the latest advance from XVenture, who started out delivering a special experiential learning challenge program for business teams on freeto-air channel ONE and subscription television channel SKY Business in 2011.

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Since then, XVenture has delivered challenges and experiences to some of the world’s best organisations in Australia and overseas, including China, Singapore, Indonesia, UK and New Zealand. They also now deliver an MBA unit at MGSM, Australia’s number 1 business school (Financial Times 2015).

With 100 Leaders, XVenture’s partnership with Event Cinemas opens up a fully interactive learning experience designed to engage, inspire and motivate the masses.

How was 100 leaders made?

Over an 18-month period, XVenture business partners Adj. Prof. Mike Conway (Founder and CEO) and Daniela Kraus (Director and Chief Operating Officer) interviewed and recorded 100 people from all walks of life to create the 100 Leaders program. From LA to London and Hong Kong to Sydney; from small, medium and large organisations, doctors, dancers, designers, educators, entrepreneurs, artists and musicians to business executives, financiers, manufacturers, technologists, charity leaders and sports people – all have participated in this exciting project.

The XVenture team has produced these interviews into short video clips, supported by animation, music and imagery to deliver some of the most inspiring contemporary thoughts and views about leadership ever seen.

Who are the 100 leaders?

“Just imagine turning up to an Event Cinemas first thing in the morning, having a bite to eat with other local business people and then experiencing a 100-minute 100 Leaders program, where you get to choose three leaders and three themes which resonate with you. The live group vote will determine what is experienced with audience thoughts and reflections captured too,” Mr Conway said.

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“Whilst we’ve interviewed some very highprofile and amazing people including Steve Waugh, Laura Geitz, Ronni Kahn, and Zuckerberg advisor, Chris Adams, every person we’ve met has had an incredible story to tell and wisdom to share,” said Mr Conway.

Included in the mix are also local leaders including: David O’Neill (CEO Castle Hill RSL), Mark McCrindle (McCrindle Research), Andrew Nunn (MD, Parex Davco), Terry McFlynn (GM, Sydney FC) and Leanne Campbell (F1 World Ski Champion).

“We are blending state-of-the-art learning techniques with the content delivered, so the retention of the content is very high. We are thrilled to be working with The Hills Shire Council to bring together the local business community for what is set to be a Global first.”

Want to know more?

You can see the trailer for 100 Leaders at: www.100leaders.com.au To purchase tickets to 100 Leaders on the 2nd of September, Event Cinemas, Castle Hill go to https://www.outix.com.au/tickets/ event/100leaders To find out how The Hills Shire Council can help your business, go to Councils website and search for ‘Business’ or visit http://www. thehills.nsw.gov.au/Business-Investment Interested in a free face-to-face business visit with Council? Call today on 9843 0324. G

thehillssc.bizinet.com.au

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Enjoy breakfast, relax and experience three contemporary leaders and themes determined by you.

TICKETS https://www.outix.com.au/tickets/event/100leadersBiziNet Magazine

#74 July/Aug’15

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LEADERSHIP

The Hon. Charlie Lynn

A Post Political View of the System If a week is a long time in politics it is almost an eternity out of it.

After almost 20 years in the game I am no longer hostage to a media driven theatrical process. I no longer have to worry if I laugh at a politically incorrect joke. I am no longer eligible for an award at ‘Ernie’s’ annual dinner run by the hairy-armpit brigade. I no longer have to attend excruciatingly boring meetings to ‘make up the numbers’. I no longer have to deal with one-percenters who demand 99 percent of your attention. I no longer have to sit through the highly orchestrated ritual of questions without answers.

I am no longer subjected to the daily audit of a veritable army of public servants engaged to ensure I don’t misuse a taxi voucher. I am now able to spend more than the value of a tank of petrol without the approval of an unelected nerd in the bureaucracy. I am no longer subject to pedantic remuneration rulings by idiot judges.

I no longer have to participate in a Parliament that has long been held hostage by a lunatic fringe of Green zealots and minor parties whose influence far exceeds the proportion of the democratic vote they receive.

Over the past two decades we have endured a ‘Better Future for our Children’ party represented by a bloke who didn’t have any. We had the ‘Outdoor Recreation Party’ represented by a bloke who developed indoor computer games. We had ‘One Nation’ represented by one bloke. We had ‘Unity’ represented by a nonentity known as ‘Dr Duplicitous’. We had ‘Reform the Legal System’ represented by a maverick lawyer. We had the ‘Democrats’ – a light red version of the Greens. All are now politically extinct but their demise has been cushioned by generous lifetime parliamentary pensions.

Is it any wonder that the NSW Upper House is sometimes regarded as God’s waiting room for politicians!

NSW voters ensured that three minor parties would remain in the waiting room after the last election. These include a lunatic fringe of five Greens, two Shooters and two Christian Democrats (sometimes referred to as a ‘Guns ‘N Moses coalition!).

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Fortunately for Premier Mike Baird the Christian Democrats, led by the wiliest politician of all, The Hon Rev Fred Nile, provides him with a balance of power which will allow him to govern without the ideological obstruction of the Green oxygen thieves who inhabit the place. There is no doubt the Premier will have to make a regular contribution to Fred’s political plate but it will be a small price to pay for the State of NSW to achieve its potential.

He would have a greater majority if he allowed the Shooters to hunt ferals in National Parks!

Retirement from the political game is akin to being on parole – it takes awhile to adjust to the freedom of release.

Despite the restrictions on a normal life the honour to serve in Australia’s first Parliament for such an extended period is a rare privilege.

I believe I was fortunate to have the experience of an army career and a small business background prior to being elected in 1995. I was in awe of the institution when I first arrived and reminded of the respect it commands every time I entered the foyer of the building.

I soon learned that you didn’t have to be in Government to be an effective MP – all you had to do was use the dignity of the institution to bring good people together – and treat your political opponents with respect. I was alerted to the networking potential of the place by the late Doug Moppett, a veteran National Party MP, when he asked ‘how many people say they can’t make it when you invite them to lunch at Parliament House?’

I found that MP status provides one with a

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privileged opportunity to develop positive relationships with people of influence and people of need. The Parliamentary dining room provides the venue to bring such people together for a common good. Most of the outcomes of such introductions are below the public radar but very rewarding for MPs who facilitate them.

The reverence accorded to the place by daily visits of primary and secondary students was a constant reminder of the significance of the institution to me.

The one issue that needs to be addressed if we wish to improve the quality of Parliament is the remuneration of our MPs. If we want to attract the best and brightest from our communities around the State we need to pay them more than junior executives. They should be able to run their electorate offices as if they were running a small business by being responsible for the personnel they employ, the equipment they use, the travel they need to take, the entertainment their position demands, etc.

They should be subject to audit but not to the pedantry of minions in the public service or the rulings of judicial idiots.

Voters should be arbiters of whether or not they deserve to be re-employed at the end of each election cycle. And from now on I will share that privilege with them. G

charlielynn.bizinet.com.au

AUCTION 29, 31-33 MiLe enD RoAD, RouSe HiLL

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We have not verified whether or not the information is accurate and do not have any belief one way or the other in its accuracy. We do not accept responsibility to any person for its accuracy and do no more than July/Aug’15 pass it on. All interested parties should make and reply on their own enquiries in order to determine whether or not this information is in fact accurate.

WORKFORCE

Cathy Krimmer, TAFE Western Sydney

TAFE Western Sydney Recognises Best of the Best Recently TAFE Western Sydney congratulated more than twenty students and three organisations for their outstanding achievements and work in 2014 at their annual Student Excellence Awards. Held at Penrith Panthers World of Entertainment, the presentation dinner celebrated achievements of outstanding apprentices, trainees and other vocational students.

Nearly 250 guests attended the event, including award winners, their guests, employers, event sponsors and government representatives including the Hon. John Barilaro MP, Mrs Louise Markus MP and Mr Kevin Conolly MP. The event was made possible through the generous support of sponsors such as NewsLocal, Billboards Australia, the University of Western Sydney, NOVA 96.9, Val Morgan Cinema Network, Go Transit Media Group, Learning with Technologies and ACER.

Safety barrier systems manufacturer Ingal Civil Products, employment services organisation Break Thru People Solutions and The Sebel Resort and Spa’s day spa Villa Thalgo were recognised with Industry Awards.

Villa Thalgo - Work Skills Provider of the Year This award was for the industry enterprise which provided the best opportunities for TAFE Western Sydney students to develop work skills through placements, resources or other work experience programs.

Villa Thalgo is Australia’s largest day spa and is located onsite at the Sebel Resort and Spa in the Hawkesbury Valley. Villa Thalgo has been nominated for the outstanding workplace opportunities it provides to TAFE Western Sydney’s Hair and Beauty Academy students.

While on placement at Villa Thalgo, students experience what it is like to work in a worldclass hydrotherapy spa, seeing best practice modelled in a range of duties from front-ofhouse, behind the scenes treatment and laundry duties. Students are able to offer additional treatments to patrons under the guidance of Villa Thalgo staff. Through this arrangement, TAFE Western Sydney is also able to ensure that competencies of its beauty therapy students match industry requirement.

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“The students develop their skills and underpinning knowledge by actively participating in a spa environment reinforcing the spa elective units that are delivered”. Dina Marongiu, nominator.

Break Thru People Solutions - Enterprise Training Program of the Year This award was for the enterprise training program which provided the most outstanding outcomes.

incorporating TAFE Western Sydney training.

Break Thru is a not-for-profit organisation which empowers people to create better futures. The organisation was nominated for its part in a pre-employment training program advancing the skill sets of long term unemployed people.

One of the aims of the program was to create a supply of job seekers with specific industry skills for the iconic North West Rail Link project, Australia’s biggest public transport project.

Three groups of employees were enrolled into traineeships and nineteen employees achieved nationally recognised qualifications in Competitive Systems and Practices.

Break Thru sourced candidates who had the potential to meet employment needs. Through the program, a number of Break Thru clients were transformed into motivated, job ready candidates with entry level technical skills to suit a range of employers. The program has had a very high completion rate and participants have had strong employment outcomes.

“As a result of a high level of consultation and collaboration between Break Thru, Transport for NSW, Salini Impregilo, Workforce International, Thiess John Holland Dragados and Global Skills, participants gained exposure to live workplaces, developed their communication and presentation skills and have improved their future prospects.” Sonja Malcolm, nominator.

Ingal Civil Products - Apprentice and/or Trainee Employer of the Year This award was for the organisation which provided the best apprentice/trainee program

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Ingal Civil Products is a leading manufacturer and supplier of safety barrier systems and part of a large network of companies employing 8000 people in more than 20 countries. In 2014 the enterprise entered into a traineeship arrangement with TAFE Western Sydney with the aim of improving safety and efficiency for its operations in Minto where nearly 100 people are employed.

As a result, Ingal Civil Products increased output and sales, decreased waste and overproduction, developed a culture of continuous improvement and facilitated career pathways within the organisation.

“The trainees’ true abilities have been highlighted and recognised by management.

This provides them with more control over their work and a greater voice within the organisation. In short if they speak, somebody will be listening.” Robyn Lambert, nominator. G

TAFE NSW - Western Sydney Institute (WSI) p | 02 9208 9104 e | catherine.krimmer@tafensw.edu.au www.wsi.tafensw.edu.au

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BUSINESS ADVICE

Bruce Gleeson, FCA – Principal, Jones Partners Insolvency & Business Recovery

Bankruptcy and The Family Home – it’s Mine to Deal with isn’t it?

Undoubtedly one of the most important questions asked by individuals who may be contemplating bankruptcy is what will happen to the family home? It is understandably a question that emotionally occupies the mind of the individual [or couple] as other key aspects centre around it, such as: the impact on children and schooling [including before and after school care]; and concerns regarding the ability to otherwise find somewhere with similar amenities.

Such emotion can be heightened where the spouse/co-owner who is not subject to financial distress is unaware of the current predicament. In my view, it is vital that empathy is shown in dealing with this aspect, whilst still properly dealing with same. It is the latter point, particularly where I continue to see individuals receiving incorrect advice [including that available on the internet] from supposed experts in the area.

Equally, it is vital that individuals who enter into bankruptcy understand what future impacts there may be regarding the property – even after they are discharged! A bankrupt cannot assume that once they are discharged [which usually occurs 3 years after the commencement of bankruptcy] that they will be free to deal with their interest in the property.

This article will help explain some of the key considerations to be given when property [particularly the family home] becomes intertwined with the bankruptcy process.

1. What happens to Property [ie the Family Home] upon Bankruptcy?

In accordance with Section 58 of the Bankruptcy Act (“the Act”), upon bankruptcy all property of the bankrupt, with the exception of property outlined in Section 116 of the Act (for example certain household furniture and effects) is realisable. Hence the family home or any other real estate (including interests overseas) are available for Bankruptcy Trustee’s to meet the claims of creditors.

The effect of bankruptcy, particularly regarding real estate is that at the commencement of the bankruptcy, the bankrupt’s interest is severed from being that of a “joint owner” such that the Bankruptcy Trustee can seek to realise

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or sell this share for the benefit of unsecured creditors.

Shortly after the commencement of the bankruptcy, it is quite normal for a Bankruptcy Trustee to place a registered caveat over the family home (and other real estate) so that parties enquiring about the property are aware of the interest of the Bankruptcy Trustee. We regularly write to the bankrupt and co-owner (if there is one) informing them of the overall position and what options are available in terms of dealing with the equity position. It is this communication that I find from time to time which is forgotten by bankrupt’s with the passage of time.

2. So who can realise the Property/ Real Estate after the commencement of bankruptcy?

Whilst a mortgagee over real estate can still exercise their rights (Section 58(5) of the Act), in the absence of this, it is the Bankruptcy Trustee that would seek to realise the bankrupt’s share in the property or the family home. Importantly, this power also this needs to be considered with Section 129AA of the Act. In short Section 129AA contemplates when the bankrupt’s interest in the property/real estate will revest or revert back to them. Generally speaking this does not occur until the end of the 6th year after they are discharged from bankruptcy.

Consequently the Bankruptcy Trustee has up to 9 years to realise the property/real estate.

We have seen particularly over the past two years as real estate markets in Sydney and Melbourne have significantly increased that real estate which may not have had equity at the commencement or end of the bankruptcy now has and the discharged bankrupt (as their three year period of bankruptcy has ended)

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becomes quite understandably frustrated when informed that the Bankruptcy Trustee still have an entitlement to realise the equity (subject to certain considerations) for the benefit of unsecured creditors. In some cases the equity position might have increased by close to $100,000 or more!!

3. What are the key considerations to be given when considering keeping the family home or other real estate?

Shortly after the commencement of bankruptcy, a Bankruptcy Trustee will write to the bankrupt and co-owners informing them of the appointment and what options are available. Certainly this is the practice of Jones Partners. Among the options are: a “Deed of Forbearance”; or a “Deed of Sale”.

The former option contemplates a position where the real estate is owned solely by the bankrupt and there is an offer put forward to the Bankruptcy Trustee which results in the realisation of an amount equivalent to the equity in the property.

The later option, generally involves the coowner or a family member making an offer to acquire the bankrupt’s share of the real estate.

Whilst it is entirely a matter for the bankrupt/ co-owner or family member, our view is that once the Bankruptcy Trustee has had sufficient time to determine the equity position in the real estate, if the bankrupt (and their family) is desirous of staying in the family home, the sooner an offer is put to dealing with the equity position, the better.

BUSINESS ADVICE

Even if an offer cannot be put forward early on in the bankruptcy, we strongly suggest, particularly with regard to the family home, that the bankrupt re-consider the position annually and certainly when they are due to be discharged at the end of the three year period of bankruptcy.

The present property cycle as mentioned in point 2 above is clear evidence of what happens when the matter is delayed for considerable time. In making this comment, we of course realise that the act of bankruptcy itself may mean that available funds may be scarce for the family.

Ultimately, if there is sufficient equity in the family home and the bankrupt, co-owner or other family members are not able to put forward an acceptable offer, then the Bankruptcy Trustee will have to consider placing it on the market for sale. However, there are obviously considerations that may impact this, such as co-ownership of the property etc.

4. How is equity determined?

In determining the equity position,

the

Bankruptcy Trustee will generally obtain a number of market appraisals and a formal valuation.

They will also seek to confirm the present mortgage outstanding and any other particular factors (which may vary from matter to matter, ie doctrine of exoneration claims). Once they have this information, they will be able to determine the equity position.

5. The Family Home Doesn’t Need to be Lost in Bankruptcy Whilst each particular position will need to be considered in its own right with regard to equity, individuals should not automatically believe that the family home will be lost in bankruptcy.

We have and continue to be appointed to Bankrupt Estates where the bankrupt and their family reach a satisfactory arrangement with us as Bankruptcy Trustee which not only means that they do not have the significant emotional stresses to deal with by relocating, but quite often the outcome minimises the professional costs of dealing with the property and optimising the chance of a dividend to

unsecured creditors.

In my next article I will consider the “Doctrine of Exoneration” and how this issue can be critical for the co-owner when putting forward an offer to the Bankruptcy Trustee for the bankrupt’s interest in real estate. G

jonespartners.bizinet.com.au Jones Partners p | 02 9894 9966 e | bgleeson@jonespartners.net.au b | www.brucegleeson.com.au www.jonespartners.net.au

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BUSINESS ADVICE

Melissa Harries Principal Psychologist, Mindset Abilities

Mental Health and Leadership – Lessons from the Front Line During my last deployment to Afghanistan, I was privileged to travel to four Australian patrol bases and speak with the Army search engineers midway through their deployment. These are the guys detecting the improvised explosive devices (IEDs), down on their guts in the dust with their faces just centimeters from a bomb that can kill them and their mates. It doesn’t get much tougher than that. While individual hardiness of course plays a large role, how well diggers coped with the constant exposure to threat was also impacted by how well they were led. The actions of their chain of command throughout their deployment and during critical incidents (e.g. IED blasts and small arms attacks) would impact on how soldiers coped.

So here’s the thing; the leadership actions that would buffer soldiers in Afghanistan were the same actions that helped soldiers cope with non-combat operations like peacekeeping missions in East Timor. And they are the same actions that promote good mental health while soldiers are in barracks in Australia. Good leadership is good leadership regardless of the task and supervisors and managers in Australian businesses can employ the same tactics to get the most from their staff and mitigate the impact of workplace stress.

Provide top cover Organisational stress (stress resulting from workplace factors like role overload and poor role clarity) is just as problematic as critical incident stress. A soldier would rather be shot at than deal with a boss who micromanages which can happen when sh*t rolls downhill.

Create a buffer between your staff and difficult workplace factors that may be out of your control. Train (and trust) your staff to do their jobs well and give them a level of autonomy.

Take responsibility for the inevitable mistakes that happen within your section and have a lessons-learned rather than punitive approach with your staff. Ask for their version of the situation before concluding what went wrong.

You may have to cop one on the chin with your boss but the loyalty, trust and open communication this will promote with your employees will make it worthwhile.

Know your people Part of the military ethos is that a commander works for his men, not the other way around.

Good leaders know their staff. They talk to their staff about career progression and

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vocational goals with a view to assisting them to be successful. They also understand each employee’s family dynamic and the particular stressors they face at home. Consider flexible working arrangements and how you can support your employees to achieve their goals.

Get comfortable with straight talk Since 2002 the ADF has had a mental health strategy Keep Your Mates Safe (KYMS). Part of this includes specific training on how to ask your mates about mental illness, specifically about suicide. While there is a way to go, the Army has been working hard on reducing the stigma of mental illness by making even suicide a safe topic to discuss. Soldiers by nature are comfortable with conflict and the culture of straight talk means that problems can be addressed before they become emergencies.

You may not be comfortable talking about mental health concerns with your staff however as a manager you have a level of responsibility for the health and safety of your employees.

Learn skills on how to directly address mental health concerns with your staff so that performance (and wellbeing) is optimum.

Give regular performance feedback (good and bad) The military has regular formal feedback mechanisms throughout the year to ensure that there are no surprises when the annual appraisal occurs. There is also informal, immediate feedback that allows for instant adjustment of behavior. While this has a tendency to be negative in nature (feedback about errors, shortfalls etc) it is constructive as it explains how to improve. Provide a pathway for your employees to follow to improve

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performance and don’t forgot to recognise work well done. You may not feel that staff deserve a pat on the back for doing their job however acknowledgement, praise, gratitude and recognition are all powerful emotions that can help buffer against workplace stress. The more specific the praise, the bigger the impact.

Consider the difference between “Thank you for that. Good job.” and “Thank you for your work on the [project]. I know it was tough for you to balance your other tasks and still meet the deadlines. You did a good job”.

Workplace Health and Safety legislation imbues managers with an increased responsibility when it comes with employee mental health because supervisors have a significant impact that can foster resilience in staff. If you would like to learn more about how to improve your skills as a manager in supporting workplace mental health contact Mindset Abilities. G Mindset Abilities holds free mental health and wellbeing talks at the Parramatta RSL on the second Tuesday of the month. See the website for times and topics.

Mindset Abilities p | 02 9687 9776 www.mindsetabilities.com.au

02 9687 9776

www.mindsetabilities.com.au

MINDSET ABILITIES is a multidisciplinary Employee Assistance Program (EAP) who has been providing psychological services to Western Sydney businesses since 2012.

Our mission is to help organisations and their employees to improve performance and well being through the delivery of skills-based training, coaching and counselling.

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To discuss the current status of mental health in your workplace and what practical strategies you can implement right now call MINDSET ABILITIES and speak to one of our registered psychologists.

BiziNet Magazine

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DIGITAL CORNER

Bekir Kilic, Managing Director, PRO IT Pty Limited

Deleting the Invisible Footprint Recently, there has been a great awakening in the media about user’s sensitive data being left on everyday devices such as smart phones, tablets and notebooks.

your phone:

If your Smartphone, Tablet or hard drive has long passed its prime and you plan on selling it or passing it on, you need to make sure you permanently erase your data from it.

(a) Factory reset (located in different places depending on your phone, but should be under something like “Backup & reset”) which will wipe everything you’ve ever stored in any useraccessible area of storage. For most people, this will be enough to ensure that no one will be able to access data you’ve ever stored.

A recent study found that a 60% of all second hand devices are sold without scrubbing the data on it. While this might seem like a minor mishap at first, it actually poses a serious security risk for the seller if the device falls into the wrong hands. There are many recovery tools out in the market place than can easily retrieve sensitive files containing social security numbers, passwords or bank account information within minutes.

With our recent interview with data recovery experts in Sydney, we were advised that when a data recovery process was performed on customers hard drive, USB stick and SSD, customers were shocked with the results and surprised to see that some or all of the recovered content included files, pictures etc. which had been removed and erased some years ago.

As you’re probably aware with standard hard drives, data isn’t really erased when you delete something; however the internal flash memory in your smartphone isn’t quite the same.

Because it’s not a magnetic storage medium, the methods used to recover data on an old hard drive won’t be the same as tools to pull from your phone.

To prevent this from happening, it’s also a good idea to consult specialised removal programs that can securely wipe possibly compromising information from your hard drive, laptop, smartphone, tablet, USB stick or SSD. That being said, for most of the average user’s needs, any current smart phone already has the tools built in to securely erase your phone’s data.

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For iOS users, your job is pretty simple. The iPhone has built-in options that securely erase your phone. On old phones, it goes through a long secure erase process, but on the iPhone 3GS and iOS 3.0, Apple moved to hardware encryption on its phones. From that point on, all data you store on the internal storage (which, aside from anything on the SIM card, is everything) is automatically encrypted. Your phone uses a device-specific key that’s never stored anywhere but your handset.

When supported iOS devices wipe your phone, what’s really happening is that the hardware specific encryption key is securely wiped. Everything else on your phone is left an unintelligible mess, even if someone were to use a fancy forensics lab to physically examine the memory chips which 99% of you will probably never have to deal with.

Android phones are set up a little differently from iPhones, and they vary somewhat from manufacturer to manufacturer. However, in general the default options are mostly secure.

With Android, you have two options for wiping

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(b) Enable encryption, Android encryption is not done on a hardware level, and if you want to have your phone encrypted, you’ll need to enable it manually in Settings. This process will take a while and, from then on, you’ll need to enter a PIN when you first boot your phone (not to be confused with your lock screen PIN).

It can also cause some slight performance decreases, so keep that in mind. This process also can’t be reversed without wiping your phone, so consider carefully before you commit.

Alternatively, there’s the ultimate security tool if you’re worried about someone pulling data from your phone: don’t sell it. G

proit.bizinet.com.au PRO IT Pty Limited p | 1300 727 553 f | 02 872 4 3311 www.proit.com.au

PRIVATE

ISL AND

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27

BUSINESS ADVICE

George Mavros, Urban Philosopher, Patent Solutions

Synergy - 1+1=3…

Crazy Maths!

Michael Angier wrote in his eBook “Strategies for Success”: “Synergy: It’s a word that most of us are familiar with and yet one not so easy to define. It’s more than two or more people getting along and benefiting one another. It’s when the combination of energies, resources, talents and efforts equals more than the sum of the parts - when 1 + 1 = 3 (or even more).”

Have you a need for Sales – Marketing Business Development Strategies for your products, services or maybe your business as a total?

Do you think you could benefit from an external business partner who could not only develop concepts for your Logo, Branding and marketing material but also deliver the printed materials, the online presence and even host and manage your website?

Do you accept that if you get the right people that individually can deliver benefits to you to meld into a team then the benefits and outcomes can be even greater for you?

If the answer to these questions are “Yes” then read on!!

I’ve been a business consultant for over 30 years, predominantly in Sales-Marketing and Business Development. This has been with clients to grow and develop their products and in other cases those that wanted the same skills and services applied to their company as a whole.

Over the years it has amazed me the number of people/organisations that spend huge sums of money on rebranding or relaunching their business just because some marketing or “branding” guru says you have had that logo or design or image and sometimes even name for too long. Equally I am staggered at the number of people that embark on some form of advertising or marketing without a clear and strategic objective that answers, “Why are we doing this and what is the next step after I spend this money on this part of the advertising or marketing?”

Last but no least it surprises me the number of people that embark on a marketing or branding

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strategy and then complain that they did not get the immediate response that one should expect from a true advertising campaign, not realising they are from the same jigsaw but are very different parts of the puzzle.

All creative people have their view of telling the story, that’s what makes them creative but that does not guarantee that all creative people have the same vision. Imagine what would happen if you could meld your Sales, Marketing and Business Development team.

Create a team that not only looks at you and your product or service, but your organisation as well and only then offers you a strategy that is holistic.

Consider the requirements of combining a print and online marketing team that has print media - from letterheads business cards to promotional flyers and corporate presenters all the way through to Magazine placement, all these aspects often needing to be created as well. We now live in a world that also demands that digital and social media is part of the mix, not forgetting things like a Website, Videos plus personal blog strategies. Unless this is all brought together with your internal and external sales and marketing team, you could end up with 10 fantastic ideas and representations, but alas none meshed and supporting one continuous story.

all together, with the various advertising, media and creative suppliers. Who could also communicate that with your management and internal sales and marketing team and be there to assist in the implementation. Once the project is completed you then are left with the a strategically implemented cohesive campaign, where the total business is “on song” and your targeted audience is receiving the one consistent message or story, be it through print media or online strategies or face to face or over the phone.

How is it done? Well, it’s not through spending more time and money on fancy long winded presentations. It’s not by always looking to engage the people that have expensive flash offices that are so extravagant, you could fit your business in their foyer. It’s not by engaging a consultant who tell you of strategies and techniques that work, provide you have the budget and resources of Macdonald’s or Coca Cola, when you are a small medium business enterprise. It’s by sitting down with business people that have “been there and done that” and that are willing to talk to You about Your business, Your needs and Your budget and then providing Your strategy.

It’s about You getting Your guide to take You on Your journey, not you being taken on someone else’s vision of your trip. Maybe it’s time for you to do some crazy maths? G

Consider what’s required to bring that all together, especially if your internal team is a young one or lacking in the specific skills and experience of all the aspects we’ve identified.

So what and what does all of this have to do with 1 + 1 = 3 and what does that have to do with you, where is your WIFM? Why not engage an external consultant for a specific time and outcome project? Who has the knowledge and experience mix you need to bring this

#74 July/Aug’15

georgemavros.bizinet.com.au Patent Solutions p | 02 9890 3777 e | george@patentsolutions.com.au www.patentsolutions.com.au

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BUSINESS ADVICE

Daniel Moisyeyev, B. IT, GWP Media

WP: Pros and Cons WP (see wordpress.org for more information) is a brand that most known or at least heard of, irrespective of their business background. This free, easy to use and open source Content Management System (CMS) became the most widely deployed platform for simple business websites and blogs. In this article, I would like to explain some of the Pros and Cons of WP as a solution from the perspective of a web developer – i.e. when this system is the perfect solution, as well as when it should definitely not be used. And, I would also like to mention the licensing system that applies to WP and why caution should be used where it is used for custom and proprietary projects.

General Information According to the information published on Wikipedia, WP was started off as a separate project some time in 2003. This was a time before Content Management Systems were widely used. It look a long time before WP became popular, and even longer before it took the crown from other competing Content Management Systems available on the market.

According to some statistics [1], WP is currently running 24.1% of all websites and has a market share of 60.4% amongst well known Content Management Systems (as of June 2015).

Why did it become popular?

WP became popular due to its competitive edge in some select areas: • Ease of use in terms of technical expertise requirements from web designers • Ease of administration in relation to customers and end-users • A packaged and integrated blogging platform • Easy access to a wide variety of templates (WP Themes).

The main popularity with WP lies with the fact that it allowed experts in fields close to web design and development, but without the necessary web development technical expertise (e.g. graphic designers) cross over into the web design industry. The key advantage of WP is that it is a simple system to deploy and customise within certain limitations. This is the reason why there is a massive number of web designers that specifically cater to design of basic company websites.

WP is an exception compared to other Content Management Systems offered on the market – competitor systems are often delivered as a barebones skeleton that is left up to a professional web developer to customise. WP is a true plug-and-play piece of software – it is the easiest solution to rapid web design on the market.

WP also offers a simple way to edit pages for

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end users. A very simple and intuitive text editor and image publishing tool make it quite easy to teach clients how to update their website with no technical expertise.

Source system. Regular patches have to be applied to keep it up to date • Selling derivative works - See below for licensing issues.

The blogging functionality of WP is probably the most important and well executed feature. WP was originally a dedicated blogging platform – it only entered as a solution for general web design at a later stage. The templates mentioned earlier are what allowed WP to transition from a blogging platform to a fullscale digital publishing platform. Very few web designers design their own WP themes – for the majority, the development process simply involves downloading a pre-made Theme and publishing the required customer content.

Licensing Factors Licensing is an important factor with WP development that is often overlooked. Below is quote from the WP website [2]: “There is some legal grey area regarding what is considered a derivative work, but we feel strongly that plugins and themes are derivative work and thus inherit the GPL license. If you disagree, you might want to consider a non-GPL platform such as Serendipity (BSD license) or Habari (Apache license) instead.”

Where does WP succeed?

WP can be an effective solution when used for these: • Blogging solutions • Basic company websites that require no custom functionality • Rapid web design – WP websites are fairly quick to develop, as long as the content is prepared • Web design situations where there is limited access to a professional graphic designer • Low budget projects Where does WP fail?

There is a quite a number of situations where WP does not fare well: • Complex websites where custom development is required. Once the limitations of WP are met, the costs to customise WP backend code to suit particular customer needs will quickly exceed those of proper planning and development of a custom system • Using a custom layout - if you decide to have your graphic designer do a custom layout for a website, it will be much quicker and cost efficient to build a custom website instead of attempting to build a custom WP theme • Security faults - WP is prone to security breaches as it is a widely deployed Open

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WP is licensed under GPL (GNU General Public License). We won’t go into details in regards to open source licensing systems, however the GPL is a copyleft license and severely limits what can be done with derivative work.

This should be to those that are looking for a developer to bend and extend WP to specific business requirements and still keep their project as intellectual property that can be sold and transferred. G If you are interested in web design and development, please get in touch with us.

We can do basic five-page WP websites – and we can also do secure payments and bank transactions, custom database design, custom shopping carts and other business systems tailored to fit your business.

References [1] http://w3techs.com/technologies/details/cm-WP/all/all [2] https://WP.org/about/license/ budget and resources of Macdonald’s or Coca Cola, when you are a small medium business enterprise

GWP Media p | 1300 889 132 e | daniel@gwpmagazine.com.au www.gwpmedia.com.au

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1300 889 132 BiziNet Magazine

#74 July/Aug’15

31

SOCIETY & LIFE

Angry Anderson, AM

Diplomacy vs.

Decency For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his own soul?

Truths that are written, like this, have survived through the ages because, as ultimate truths, they are true from one age to the next and stand the test of time.

I have pondered this truth many times over my life span, in the same way that I have with other truths and as I believe we all should in an effort to not only understand our own life but life in the larger sense, life in all of its layers, the total experience that is life.

I believe that the core or essence of a truth does not change but as life changes, so will our understanding and use of that truth.

I was taught once that the understanding of truth can be appreciated or understood better by using the story of how Jesus Christ turned water into wine at a wedding feast.

Basically it goes like this, the stone jars represent the first level of truth; rigid and with a definite shape, the water represents the second level which is truth as a fluid that takes the shape of the jar but remains fluid to take the shape of any vessel in which it is poured.

The wine represents the third level which is truth maturing and becoming a truth to its full potential.

Like most of us I struggle, almost daily, to make some sense of all that is going on around us in our world. Every day there seems to be yet another absurdity to deal with, another atrocity to try and comprehend, another tragedy to try and make some sense of.

I try very hard not to judge but is that possible?

I try very hard not moralise but is that realistic?

I am sometimes wracked with anxiety and pain over not being able to solve the ills and pains of my fellow man; over my inadequacy to solve the problems of the world.

Is this what we all have to deal with? Is this the way it is meant to be?

No! It isn’t! None of us can save the world from pain.

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None of us can feed the starving millions. None of us can solve the problems of the world.

to make my voice heard in protest at what is clearly a crime against humanity.

Why? Because we are not meant to! It is not our responsibility. It is not our role.

In China people guilty of no more than practising a meditative form of exercise known as Falun Gong are arrested, imprisoned and tortured, even to death.

I believe our role, if you like, is to live our life in the best way we can and if that means caring for or about our fellow man, then so be it.

If it means being troubled about the injustice of man towards his own, then so be it.

If it means realising that we can only do so much to relieve some ones suffering, then so be it.

I firmly believe that we are meant to care for our fellow man but at the same time know that ultimately it is not our responsibility to be responsible for his welfare.

I believe that we should do what we can to help relieve his suffering but at the same time know that in the doing of that we are really working on ourselves and that the benefit derived is as much for ourselves as it is for him.

Men, women and children are taken and in most cases never seen or heard from again.

Ultimately behind these and many other disgusting practices you will find some political gain or another is at play, in other words politics is behind most of the worlds suffering...politics and money.

I have long thought that much of the pain and angst that our young are experiencing, our older folk too, is a direct result of us all feeling the pain but being left with the feeling that there is little we can do about it. This feeling of helplessness turns to sadness and when that sadness is not addressed or cannot be soothed that very same sadness and the ensuing feeling of frustration quickly turns into anger.

It seems that our world is awash with anger.

By ‘him’ I mean fellow man and/or woman, of course.

‘Man’ from here on will be my way of referring to the species recognised as man, not man the gender, we wouldn’t want to upset the inanely politically correct now would we?

I’m outraged, offended and angered at the Indonesian occupation of the western half of Papua. They call it Irian Jaya. They commit atrocities against the people that are the original inhabitants. There are reliable reports that while the world looks the other way genocide of those people is taking place.

I can’t change that but I will do what little I can

#74 July/Aug’15

I have wrestled with these issues for most of my life, the search for truth, the sadness of the plight of our race, the contradiction between what most of us know is right and the reality that what we know is wrong seems to pollute our daily lives on so many levels.

I will follow and support, where ever and how ever I can, those who go into foreign countries and open orphanages or build houses or dig wells or perform surgery, those wonderful people who realise that their efforts will not ease all the suffering but will ease some of it.

They know that to change one person’s life is as valuable as changing a million lives.

I have found a truth that eases my pain, which brings me some measure of peace and comfort.

I did not arrive at this conclusion in an effort to absolve myself of my responsibility to my fellow man but it has made my role in the drama more tolerable.

The simple truth is that I am not responsible for mankind’s suffering so I should feel no guilt; I am not the cause of anyone’s pain but my own.

The powers that cause the chaos have not been of my making.

Are you thinking of buying, selling or renting ?

Faceless men and women plot and scheme to bring about that which we all see as evil, they are driven by and are slaves to the lust for power and the greed to have more.

Those things are not my master.

Call Jeff

Are you thinking 0417 0 AreAre you Are you thinking you thinking Rouse Hill thinking of buying, selling of buying, of buying, of buying, selling selling selling or renting ?

What I have found and what I now accept,which has and does bring me some level of comfort, is just this; my personal belief is that we are not meant to solve all these problems our role , if you will, is to grapple with these things daily in our lives in an effort to be part of the solution not part of the problem.

Personal growth is our goal but more on that later. Take comfort in the age old wisdom that we change nothing until we change ourselves, once we change ourselves we change every thing.

Hopefully we will talk again. Until then I remain your friend, Angry.

G

or renting or renting or renting ? ? ?

Call Jeff Dagg on

Rouse Hill

0417 069 945

Call JeffCa D

0417041 06

Rouse Hill RouseRouse Hill Hill angrymarketing.bizinet.com.au

BiziNet Magazine

#74 July/Aug’15

33

FEATURE

WSABE Award Winner Partners with Founder of Boost Juice Only a few months after winning the Excellence in Innovation Award at the 2014 Western Sydney Awards for Business Excellence, Skye Blackburn hopped in the fast lane of business growth.

Skye is the founder of Edible Bug Shop, an online store that sells edible insects and is also part of Butterfly Skye’s insect education business.

With insect farms located in Sydney’s Western suburbs, Bug Shop is the only company in Australia that breeds inspects specifically for human consumption.

“Winning the Award for innovation was very important for the growth of our business,” said Skye Blackburn, Founder of Bug Shop.

“The bug business is quite new in Australia, so winning the award has helped us become recognised within the food manufacturing industry as leaders in alternative health and nutrition products,” she said.

Since winning the Award, Edible Bug Shop has rebranded their edible insect range to help highlight the health, nutrition and environmental aspects.

The business was also featured on Shark Tank where Skye pitched $170,000 to the judges in return for 20% equity.

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“Shark tank was an amazing experience. Like the Awards, it helped us to spotlight certain areas of our business and identify areas where it can improve and grow with an ever changing market.”

Registration for award entry are now open and accessible through www.wsabe.com.au

Boost Juice Founder, Janine Allis, was the only judge to make an offer for 50% of the business to which Skye accepted.

For helpful tips on the award submissions, follow WSABE Facebook or Twitter and use #WSABE2015 to join the conversation.

Since then, Edible Bug Shop has launched five new products specifically designed for health food stores and is aiming to continue the growth of the business.

The 25th edition of the WSABE Awards is hosted by the Parramatta Chamber of Commerce.

“We find the awards very good for assessing our business.”

Parramatta Chamber of Commerce p | 02 9635 0022 e | romina@parramattachamber.com.au www.wsabe.com.au

“We can take a step back and look at our numbers, products and customers to see how we have improved over the last year, and also how we can improve for the years to come.”

“Our story shows that Western Sydney businesses are among the best in the world.”

Skye believes that Edible Bug Shop’s success “will help other small businesses take the next step.” G

#74 July/Aug’15

Deadline for submissions is noon on Monday, 29th June, 2015.

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