About Business March 2015

SUCCESS

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

THE DIGITAL AGE

INSPIRE

THE LIFE OF AUSSIE ICON RAY MARTIN

TOM O’TOOLE TELLS HIS STORY OF RAGS TO RICHES

WHAT THE FOX BRINGS YOU INTO THE 21ST CENTURY

GERRY MORRIS DELIVERS WORLD-CLASS SPEAKERS

A LIFE LESS ORDINARY

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE COASTʼS LEADING LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE www.profilemag.com.au

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JACK AND CHRIS CHILDS

WELCOME to the first edition of About Business!

We are delighted to bring you interesting and uplifting stories as well as all the latest tips and tricks from professionals in their respective fields.

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his month, we kick things off with expert advice from local creative design agency What The Fox, who share just how important it is to be internet savvy in today’s business world. They will teach you how you can launch your business into the 21st century and maximise your digital reach.

We also share the story of iconic Australian TV personality Mr Ray Martin, who is visiting the Sunshine Coast later this month and will be presenting stories from his amazing career at our Think Speakers and Events workshop over breakfast at Maroochy RSL on 20 March. We also chat with larger than life business magnate Tom O’Toole, who shares his amazing tale of how he went from poverty to prosperity and now runs a multi-million-dollar bakehouse empire.

His enthusiasm and passion is contagious.

Gerry Morris tells us about some of the amazing personalities he is bringing to the Sunshine Coast, who will uplift and motivate you both personally and in your business. Profile’s editor Ingrid Nelson, catches up with Rachael and Matt Yurko who open up their home to a bevy of local businessmen to discuss their thoughts on what it takes to create a successful business. Plus Drew Grosskreutz, CEO of Otium Group shares how podcasting allows business owners and entrepreneurs to tap into a wealth of knowledge and has recently launched his own podcast series, Take My Advice.

We hope you enjoy this first issue of About Business and look forward to sharing lots more business advice with you throughout the year.

For any enquires or the be involved in the next About Business magazine email chris@chrischilds.com.au

WWW.CHRISCHILDS.COM.AU

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RAY MARTIN We take a look at the life of multiaward-winning journalist and presenter Ray Martin in anticipation of his visit to the Sunshine Coast this month.

BLOKES ABOUT TOWN We catch up with the movers and shakers in business on the Sunshine Coast to discover their thoughts on what it takes to run a successful business.

BRIEFCASE We chat with Heather Andrews, owner of The Edge Mooloolaba and calligrapher Ros Klauke-McHugh.

WHAT THE FOX These digital experts share their tips and tricks on how to maximise your digital reach.

TOM O’TOOLE Business tycoon Tom O’Toole shares the secrets behind building his multimillion-dollar bakehouse empire.

GERRY MORRIS ‘Miracle man’ Gerry Morris shares some of the amazing personalities Think Speakers and Events is bringing to the Sunshine Coast this year.

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY THINK MONEY

GERRY MORRIS

I am very excited to be part of About Business.

It’s a wonderful opportunity to reach out to the local community and raise awareness of the great plans we have in store and the outstanding presenters we are bringing to the Sunny Coast for all to enjoy.

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e have a great calendar of events coming up this year, with something for everyone at our breakfast, lunch and evening presentations.

Recently we brought you the wonderful Amanda Gore, who had us dancing in our seats, laughing out loud and feeling great about the year ahead. We asked for your feedback and we got it loud and clear – you want MORE of the feel good factor, more local success stories and more inspiring people to share their journey with us.

We are delighted to announce an exciting new partnership between Think Speakers and Events and Profile magazine and together we are going to knock your socks off!

Speaking of which, later this month we are bring you Aussie icon and stalwart of Australian current affairs, Mr Ray Martin who will share highlights of his remarkable career with us. This is one event you can’t afford to miss.

April is just as exciting as we bring you one of our all time favourites Robyn Moore who will make you feel ten foot tall and bullet proof (on a funny note she is also the voice of the much-loved Blinky Bill!). We also bring you, well-known journalist, presenter and co-host of The Today Show, Lisa Wilkinson in July.

We have the blokes covered too, as we launch Lunch with a Legend with Queensland legend Shane Webcke.

Gerry Morris For a full list of events and dates go to www.thinkspeakersandevents.com.au Like us on Facebook to stay up-to-date with all these great events. Email gerry@thinkspeakersandevents.com.au

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BUSINESS

“I can’t believe that 45 years ago I walked into the ABC, and THEY GAVE ME A JOB.”

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ay Martin has been a familiar face in Aussie households for more than four decades. First appearing on our television screens as a young fresh-faced cadet reporter for the ABC in 1965, the Sydney-born journalist’s nose for news and passion for storytelling saw him rise quickly through the ranks to become the ABC’s New York correspondent where he remained for 10 years.

But it was his move to commercial television in 1978 when Ray launched 60 Minutes with fellow journalists George Negus and Ian Leslie on Channel Nine that saw Ray catapult into celebrity stardom, his trademark polished looks and flawless interviewing style earning him five Gold Logies throughout his stellar career.

The early ‘80s saw Ray launch his own daytime television show Midday with Ray, which was a huge ratings success, earning around $10 million in profit a year for 10 years running. He became almost part of the furniture in people’s homes and no one missed Ray at

midday! Ray has been quoted as remembering these as the most enjoyable 10 years of his life.

“Midday was unique in the world. There was nowhere in the world in the 1980s and ‘90s where you were doing live television. Certainly not 90 minutes a day, five days a week. This was a lunchtime program that I was told at the time was making about $10 million in profit a year. And I did almost 10 years there, probably the most enjoyable 10 years of my life. So there was no seven-second-delay on Midday as there is in radio, so if someone said magic words, as they did, then you had to bear it and suddenly get over it,” as told to Talking Heads with Peter Thompson in 2010.

But it hasn’t all been a bed of roses for Ray, in fact quite the opposite. Born Raymond George Grace in 1944, the youngest of four, Ray was born into a somewhat dysfunctional family and was at times homeless, spending time under the roof of the Salvation Army and during desperate times sleeping on the benches of Central Station

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BUSINESS

A LIFE LESS

ORDINARY WORDS INGRID NELSON PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Sunshine Coasters are in for a treat later this month when Think Speakers and Events present their most iconic speaker yet … Mr Ray Martin. A long-time visitor to the Sunshine Coast, Ray will share stories from his remarkable career spanning an incredible 40-odd-years with guests over a delicious breakfast at the Maroochydore RSL on 20 March in what will be an event not to be missed. Profile will bring you an intimate one-on-one interview with the award-winning journalist and presenter in an upcoming issue. Don’t miss it!

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TH N T O IN OAS T AR C H! M INE RC Y H A RA NS M 0 E E SU 2

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in Sydney before being moved to a housing commission settlement in Hargrave Park. His mother changed the family surname to Martin to prevent her abusive, alcoholic husband from finding she and the children when they fled from him in 1955. The family moved several times before settling in Adelaide and Tasmania.

“We think there was a sign somewhere there that had Martin on it.

And so she wrote the name Martin on the form for the railways, not expecting it would be anything more than just a temporary thing.

But it became very much part of our persona, and a short while afterwards she changed it by deed poll, and I became Ray Martin,” he told Talking Heads.

Proud of his Irish and Aboriginal heritage Ray has been a longterm supporter and activist of Aboriginal rights. He is also an avid supporter of the Fred Hollows Foundation and counts the eye-doctor as one of the most amazing people he has ever met, referring to him as a saint.

Married to his childhood sweetheart Dianne for 40-plus years, he describes her as the rock and commander of his life. The couple has two grown children and currently resides in Sydney.

Ray returned recently to 60 Minutes in a part-time capacity and something tells me his story is far from over. With 10,000 interviews under his belt, I’m sure he has a few more in him yet.

In talking to Talking Heads, he summed up his love of the chase of the story – even after 45 years.

“Oh, I love it. The notebook and the contact book goes with me everywhere. And I can’t believe that 45 years ago I walked into the ABC, and they gave me a job. I’d never come to a Sunday night in which I say, ‘God, I’ve got to go to work tomorrow.’ I say, ‘Yes, you beauty. Here we go’.”

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TO BOOK TICKETS CONTACT GERRY MORRIS, 5430 4714 OR GO TO WWW.THINKSPEAKERSANDEVENTS.COM.AU

JOE

BUSINESS

CAMERON

TIM

JACK NIGEL

MARK

GERRY

blokes about town WORDS INGRID NELSON SPONSORED BY RACHAEL YURKO INSURANCE WORKS CATERING THE CANAPÉ PROJECT

This month, we kick off ‘blokes about town’, where we will catch up with the movers and shakers on the Sunshine Coast to talk all things business.

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t’s not every day you are invited to dine at a talented Sunshine Coast chef ’s home to sample some of his culinary delights, so I was very excited about my lunch-time visit to the lush Hinterland town of Woombye, where Matt Yurko of the Canapé Project and his lovely wife Rachael Yurko of Insurance Works opened up their home to a bunch of local businessmen to discuss the secrets behind what it takes to run a successful business and learn a little more about the importance of insurance along the way. Co-hosting lunch was the lovely Rachael Yurko, joining us was Gerry Morris of Think Speakers and Events, Tim McGee, venue coordinator at Nambour Civic Centre; Mark Higgins, musician and owner of Shake it up Music, Nambour; Joe Biggs, CEO JBD Steel Detailing Pty Ltd; Nigel Clarendon and Jack Swanepoel, owners of All Computer Services; and Cameron Scott, owner of Nook and Cranny, Nambour. profile: What do you know now that you wish you had known when you started your business? mark: That I should have been more onto the internet and tech savvy.

Luckily I have a good team around me that takes care of that! gerry: Just how important due diligence is. Do you homeword and then redo it again. matt: How important it is to put yourself out there and to be present in the circles of hospitality suppliers. joe: That I did too many years working for others before I started out on my own (and the value of networking). jack: I wish I’d had a better understanding of the acounting and

financial side of business. Also, I wish I’d had access to the contacts in business I now have to help me make good business decisions. profile: What would you tell your younger self? mark: Work hard to achieve your goals, strive for your dreams, don’t let other people bring you down and trust your gut instinct. rachael: Don’t take the opportunity to discover and explore when you are at school for granted. cameron: You are not going to be a millionaire by 21. Make small mistakes often and learn from them even quicker. joe: Take a chance when you’re young – you can always have another go if it doesn’t work the first time. jack: Don’t wait until you’re 40 to start your own business. profile: What is the biggest lesson you have learnt in business so far? mark: Never let your guard down, you can’t trust everyone. gerry: Plan, plan and more planning and if that fails get a better plan. cameron: How to live off nothing while building the business and how personally enriching that is. nigel: Value your time, once it has gone past, you can’t get it back. It is a resource, use it wisely. matt: Keep the momentum going. Networking, advertising, letterbox drops, contacting fellow industry suppliers, expos. tim: If you want to achieve something you need to write it down and put in place strategies to get there. It doesn’t just happen, you need to work at it.

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profile: What are the three things that make a successful business, regardless of the industry? rachael: Making people (staff, clients, everyone else you come into contact with) feel valued, noticing the little things, and genuinely caring about people. cameron: The most important thing is the owner, everything else develops from their decisions. matt: Positivity in the workplace, like-minded professionals, believing that your business is the best it can be … everyday! tim: Being unique and creating a niche or point of difference in what you offer. Being passionate about what you do. Taking calculated risks. mark: Passion, dedication and commitment. nigel: Cash-flow management, capable, efficient staff and regular goal-setting. profile: Who do you admire in business – who is your inspiration? gerry: Tom O’Toole the larger-than-life baker from Beechworth. cameron: My father has been the biggest inspiration to me, because he has shown me the hard road of losing it all and rebuilding. matt: Rachael Yurko. She is the most motivated person I have ever met and has a big heart.

Not afraid to put herself out there, fantastic at her job, believes in what she does, helps out others along the way without hesitation assisting them to become who they were meant to be.

“Don’t wait until you’re 40 to start your own business.”

– Jack Swanepole profile: How important is marketing your business? mark: Extremely! Marketing is a major part of our business and we are always thinking of varied ways we can creatively and successfully market our business. rachael: I would say incredibly important to me … not just for the results it brings, but for the confidence that marketing my brand generates in me. cameron: For those who truly invest the time to understand their market and advertise appropriately this is the most lucrative investment you can make. joe: Marketing and branding are so important – and you should never stop perfecting this, one solution will not work forever. tim: I believe marketing is one of the most important parts of running any business. You can have the most amazing product or service, but if no one knows about it then it’s a wasted opportunity.

MATT YURKO

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BUSINESS

profile: What advice would you give someone starting in business on the Coast? cameron: Develop multiple revenue streams within the business, treat each customer as a long-life friend, look at problems as opportunities and never be afraid to look at overseas markets. rachael: Just do it. The worst that can happen is you fail. It doesn’t change who you are. If you believe in yourself from the start, there’s a good chance you won’t fail. joe: Do your homework, understand your market, and get some knowledge of how to run a business, you might be great at what you do, have all the best ideas, but business is a lot easier if you don’t have to learn from mistakes of the actual business part, read The E’Myth.

FAQ

WITH RACHAEL YURKO INSURANCE WORKS Let’s face it, when it comes to insurance, most of us are far from experts. Often it’s when we need it most, we realise we are not adequately protected should we fall ill, or are unable to work.

Rachael Yurko answers the frequently asked questions. profile: How much insurance should I have? rachael: The most important thing to remember is, some cover is better than none at all. Income protection and trauma insurance are generally more expensive than life, or total and permanent disability insurance – and the reason is they get claimed on much more often. If you have a specific budget to stick to, you can choose to go without some benefits, while still maintaining an adequate level of overall protection. profile: Do insurers actually pay when you need to claim on your policy? rachael: All the time! Tell the truth when you apply for your insurance and you have a promise you will get paid your benefit when needed. profile: Why is my insurance more expensive than my partner’s – even though we have the same level of cover? rachael: Insurance premiums are based on each company’s claims history, and that’s why the premiums can vary. Statistically, women live longer than men. There are certain age brackets that experience a spike in trauma events (cancer, heart attack, stroke etc). Certain occupations are more accident prone than others. All of these factors come into play when a company works out what to charge for their policies. Just because one company offers the best priced cover today, does not mean they will always offer the best value for money. profile: Can I claim a tax deduction for my insurance premiums? rachael: Income protection premiums can generally be claimed as a tax deduction by everyone. Life and some types of total and permanent disability cover can be set up with tax deductible premiums if you are self-employed and trauma insurance premiums are never tax deductible.

INSURANCE WORKS www.insuranceworks.net.au

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ROASTED LAMB

on the menu

You can taste the love that has gone into the dishes Matt Yurko creates. Watching him move around his kitchen, it is obvious this talented chef is exactly where he is meant to be. Passionate about creating unique dishes, using the freshest, local ingredients, many of which come straight from his garden, Matt thoroughly enjoys sharing his love of food with his guests. Each dish he presents is like a work of art.

Seated on the patio overlooking the lush acreage backdrop, guests were treated to a delicious tasting plate to kick off our dining experience including goats cheese croquette, beetroot relish, truffle mayonnaise; Morton Bay bug, mahi mahi, perino tomatoes, lime basil; Mooloolaba prawns, chorizo, smoked pepper tapenade; Seared beef rib fillet, mustard, duck fat potato; Hervey Bay scallop, pork belly, nectarine, mint.

Each morsel presented on the plate was perfectly combined, beautifully presented and cooked to perfection.

It was followed by roasted lamb leg, spiced pumpkin puree, rocket, feta and pomegranate salad. Perfectly cooked, the lamb was moist and full of flavour, the salad simple and delicious. Rachael Yurko (also a trained chef) presented the perfect end to what was a sensational lunch. The lemon posset, with passionfruit and elderberry jelly straight from their elderberry tree was to die for. With dishes as good as these I am not surprised that the Canapé Project is one of the most sought after catering companies for stand-up and cocktail events on the Sunny Coast. The proof is in the pudding!

BRIEFCASE

WORDS NICOLE FUGE

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Heather Andrews

ROS KLAUKE-MCHUGH

The Edge Location: Mooloolaba

Ros Klauke-McHugh Calligraphy Location: Golden Beach

he wedding day is approaching and Heather Andrews is giddy, there are no cold feet around here – this is the moment Heather has been waiting for. But it’s not Heather’s wedding she’s preparing for, it’s one of her beautiful customers who has chosen The Edge to host their wedding reception.

Heather took over ownership of The Edge in Mooloolaba in January last year, formerly See Plus Function Centre, where she had worked as their function manager since April 2013. She says while she loved her job, she looked forward to the days when there was a function on and she could truly shine. “I had a dream and was wanting to share it,” says Heather. “So when the opportunity arose, I took it and I love it.

“We are doing more functions, it’s probably because it’s open all the time and people can just walk in and have a look. We’ve also changed the whole decor, it’s now very beachy and shabby chic, the weddings look totally different to previously.

“I had a dream and was wanting to share it. So when the opportunity arose, I took it and I love it.”

“With the black chairs it looked very formal and corporate, I love anything shabby chic and I was trying to bring the sea in. I’ve always loved this decor, I come from South Africa and you recycle everything … I’ve always done it this way.”

Heather says the change in decor has made customers feel more comfortable and relaxed and she’s received a lot of positive feedback.

“It’s quite funny, we never painted the inside of it, we just washed the walls and everyone thinks it’s all nice and painted and fresh,” she says.

“All we changed was the furniture and changed the ceiling drapes.”

The Edge’s customer base is full of locals and plenty of weddings, just the way Heather likes it. “We have more locals than we’ve ever had, we’re busier out of holidays than we are in the holidays,” she says.

“We do have a lot of returning locals, which for us is more important than tourists.

“It’s busy, it’s manic, but we get to meet lovely people. I love the brides as well, I love the weddings and I’ve always loved that. I love making the room look pretty for them. I love work even more now.”

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os Klauke-McHugh slides a personalised envelope across the table, inside it are two neatly-folded pieces of marbled notepaper with perfect cursive script adorning the pages – right down to a delicate curl in her capital B. “I began my ticket writing business in 1981 and then after many requests to do wedding certificates and invitations, calligraphy gently weaved its way into my scope of skills in my career,” the words read.

As the eye runs over Ros’s notes, the letters are so intricately perfect it’s as if they’re dancing with each other. But this is what Ros does, so it’s impossible to expect anything less.

“... the personal touch of writing a name beautifully brings with it a sense of occasion.”

Ros is a calligrapher and has penned countless certificates for schools and universities, wedding certificates, invitations and place cards, corporate business certificates and even poetry for special occasions.

When Ros adapted her business from ticket writing (traditional, handlettered signs) to calligraphy, it was an easy transition. “Calligraphy is very similar except one exchanges a brush and paint for a steel nib and ink,” she says. “Both arts make such a difference whether it’s to be a sign in a store or calligraphy engraved on parchment.”

Over the years, Ros has created and refined her preferred script of choice as it’s easy on the eye and enables her to work quickly. “People are paying a certain price, you’ve got to be swift and precise, it’s got to look very tidy and clean to the eye, so it’s important you design something that suits its purpose,” she says.

Ros’s business grew and became ‘hugely successful’ making great inroads during Brisbane’s Expo ‘88. As times changed and technology has advanced, it could have spelled the end of Ros’s business, but she maintains you can’t beat the personal touch.

“I acknowledge the computer has played a part in attempting to put a lid on my artistic expression,” she says. “Yet I still believe that the personal touch of writing a name beautifully brings with it a sense of occasion.

“I feel like I’m a part of their wedding, I’m just like a lady selling them the dresses or the rings or the function place and if I can help improve their day that fraction more it’s important and it’s important to me too,” she says. “It’s an honour, it’s a privilege to be a part of it.”

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car side oPtion 2

Catherine Joy Life Coach linedwithsilver.com.au Change your life From the inside out

Catherine Joy Life Coach linedwithsilver.com.au Change your life From the inside out

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BUSINESS

HARDEARNED

dough

WORDS ANNA RAWLINGS PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

From poverty to prosperity, Tom O’Toole has been down the proverbial hard road and then some, on his rise to ownership of a highly profitable bakehouse empire and as a successful speaker.

He is now one of the nation’s biggest retail success stories and shares his journey from rags to life’s riches with Profile.

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ho would believe where I came from, a tent with no bathroom, to where I am today as a multi-million dollar business owner, I’m in love with life today,” Tom O’Toole enthuses with his trademark exuberance.

Appearing on stage as an international speaker to add to his baking chef whites, Tom easily captures his audience’s attention, weaving his own incredible life story within business acumen advice – possessing

a somewhat eccentric approach to motivational speaking is one of Tom’s calling cards.

Listening to Tom as he starts to masterfully spin his tale of Aussie battler from the bush, it’s easy to be transported back to that dusty era of poverty, the quintessential hard-living lifestyle and unforgiving land that formed his childhood in Rivertown, New South Wales.

“It was Mum, Dad, and five kids living in a tent together for many years … and then we had a little asbestos shed. It was a very ‘bush’ upbringing. We had no water, and were the last family in town to go onto the sewage system,” reflects Tom. Tom also makes no secret of the fact that he has very little formal schooling education, graduating to high school only when he physically grew too large to fit the smaller primary school desks, leading him to leave school at age 14 to work in a cordial factory before commencing a baking apprenticeship at 16-years-old.

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BUSINESS

The next few years saw Tom obtain his ‘Master Baker’ certificate, officially change his surname from Toole to O’Toole – “The best $23 I’ve ever spent, I had low self-esteem and low self-worth associated with the name” – and spend 18 months in Maningrida, a remote Indigenous community in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory; would prove to be a pivotal experience.

There were 13 different tribes and 23 different dialects, but to the white boy from the bush who had been sent there to teach

“I had a chip on my shoulder because of my learning difficulties … I was an ANGRY BUGGER.”

them how to bake, they spoke the same language.

“These people didn’t judge me, they taught me a lot … they treated me wonderfully. I had a hard time accepting myself and they accepted me and it was probably where I got quite a lot of belief in myself.”

Tom refers to this self-belief often in his presentations, and it was this secret ingredient that began to guide the frustrated anger of his youth.

“I had a chip on my shoulder because of my learning difficulties … I was an angry bugger,” says Tom. Despite the hardship, there’s no shred of self-pity or indulgence in Tom’s engaging words. As a speaker, he is as upfront as they come, as he divulges his first forays into creating a new future for himself.

“I got into business and didn’t have a bloody clue! I couldn’t balance a till, didn’t know my alphabet, didn’t know my times table,” he shares freely.

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Nevertheless, his own brand of business savvy was working. At 25-years-old, Tom was making serious headway in business, a self-confessed ‘workaholic’ living in Western Australia with his then-wife. But then, four months following the couple’s relocation to Beechworth in Victoria, his wife left the marriage and the country – leaving Tom a single parent of their two young children.

“And that’s when the whole story of the Beechworth Baker and Tom O’Toole really started,” confides Tom. At 32-years-old, Tom had to ask for help. He received counselling for crippling depression suffered from his marriage breakdown, admitting it was “one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.”

He had relied on his ex-wife to look after the books in the business. When she left, Tom had 23 staff, and no clear knowledge of the numbers and figures of running a business – a bitter throwback to his lack of early education. It was a

BUSINESS

TOM’S TOP TIPS FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS: Goal setting has changed my life.

It’s the thing that holds me responsible.

Write down goals that are measurable and hold you accountable.

Have belief in yourself.

Believe that anything is possible, take a risk, live. It’s about giving it all you’ve got.

Ask for help.

None of us can do it alone. If you sit at home and isolate and talk to yourself, you will get bad advice.

Get out of your comfort zone.

Talk to the winners, talk to the believers, talk to the people who are doing it.

dark period of Tom’s life riddled with fear and insecurity.

“I had suicidal thoughts for many years, I didn’t think they’d ever leave me”.

“So, here I was at 32, a single parent, and I had to take 100 per cent personal responsibility. If I wanted things to be different, one of the things I had to do was to stop blaming everybody.”

Tom took charge of his life.

“I went to a seminar and heard about goal setting, and when I wrote it down, it dramatically changed my life – it holds me accountable. And it’s really, really changed my life.”

This now forms a large part of Tom’s business strategy and advice, and his ability to set and subsequently reach goals is a key contribution to his success.

He asked his sister and brother-in-law to join the business with him, and began to work on his self-belief, practicing positive daily affirmations, something he continues to this day. He also re-married, to Christine, had two more children and looked forward.

He began to grow Beechworth Bakery; his hard work and business acumen eventually expanding to the now six thriving Beechworth Bakery stores in Beechworth, Echuca, Albury, Bendigo, Ballarat and Healesville.

Tom currently has 250 employees, a business partner, and an annual turnover in excess of $15million cash.

“We sell meat pies and lamingtons, sandwiches and coffee. They aren’t big items,” he says.

So how do these small treats translate to a multi-million dollar profit?

“It’s good value and it tastes good. And then we have good people – it’s about people and product and marketing,” he explains.

“We also get out there and we are involved in the community, we give a lot to charity.”

This charity work includes Tom’s establishment of a bakery in East Timor, and another in Uganda. While back home, charity endeavours include recently raising nearly $30,000 for the ‘SES Tour de Beechworth Bakery’, riding from Ville to Ballarat, to Beechworth. He is a strong supporter for Lifeline too, taking his 1930 A-model Ford on a tour to promote Lifeline, who he desperately reached out to during his own depression.

For a man who once struggled to find words in the English language, Tom, at age 62, is now a highly-sought after public

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speaker with a range of books, training DVDs and material.

“I travel the world, speaking has been absolutely incredible … I’m out there on stage speaking to all sorts of people from all sorts of companies. I’ve spoken in Argentina, South Africa, India, Glasgow, Malaysia and Asia, Howard Islands, Charleville and the Gold Coast,” says Tom. “I’m living a pretty good life at the moment.”

Tom believes his words and advice resonate with audiences because of his ‘real factor’.

“I have a real business, I have a front door, you can walk in the front door. I have to get my staff to walk the talk, and that is the whole secret.”

BUSINESS PROMOTION

DREW GROSSKREUTZ AND GORDON MCGREGOR

photos cheryl nonmus, onq photography

For smart business owners and entrepreneurs, podcasting allows you to tap into a wealth of knowledge from anyone in your industry deemed worthy of your attention. Otium Group CEO Drew Grosskreutz is no stranger to the power of podcasting and has recently launched his own podcast series titled Take My Advice. Often spotted cruising around with earbuds plugged in, immersed in the latest audio offerings of his choosing, the decision to embark on his very own podcast venture came naturally to this industry leader.

“In any given week I will have listened to at least 10 hours of audio on topics as far ranging as sport, business, marketing and non-fiction,” says Drew. “At your convenience there is a podcast on any subject you can imagine, available on demand – right there on your smartphone – for free. Experts in just about anything are offering up their views for your listening pleasure, it is like having a programmable radio station to yourself whenever, wherever you want.”

To share all he has learned and offer guidance to others, Take My Advice reaches out to small business owners and anyone interested in learning how a Sunshine Coast business tripled in the space of two years.

“Being able to consume what you want, where you want, on demand from experts in your field allows you to expand your knowledge base, which in turn allows you to apply best practice initiatives to your business,” he explains. “Otium started as ‘just another accounting firm’ on the Sunshine Coast who dared to change with the times. We challenged the traditional business model of accounting and financial planning.”

DREW AND THE TEAM AT OTIUM

will be hard but it will be worth it – culture can improve your bottom line and should be used as part of an overall business strategy.”

Since 2012 the business has grown from five staff members to now employing 15 staff and expanding services to cover four key areas; Business and Investment Accounting; SMSF Accounting and Advice; Financial Advice and Retirement Planning; and Life Insurance and Income Protection Brokering.

“By the end of 2015 we aim to grow to 30 staff across six business units all under the one roof,” says Drew.

Co-host and Otium Group CIO Gordon McGregor joins Drew on Take My Advice as they conduct thought-provoking interviews with other leading experts to better detail how their ideas, mixed with actionable tips and tricks learnt along the way, all contributed to Otium’s success.

Never afraid to challenge traditional business models and do things differently, ‘culture as a strategy’ is one of the key secrets behind Otium’s success and a topic Take My Advice listeners get a firsthand look into. Drew talks about his vision and commitment to implementing this strategy and the ups and downs he overcame to successfully build his business with a strong team culture at its foundation. His discussion on this serves as a handy resource for business owners wanting to know how to go about implementing this particular approach.

“When I became focused on culture as a business strategy on the back of my university study, I was certainly very green at explaining what was going to happen. And some people didn’t agree with how I was shaping the business, and at the time that was hard,” he explains.

“If you are a business owner who is interested in focusing on culture, know this – it will take all of your courage, you need to focus on it daily, it

Otium’s success is also pinned to the simple experience it delivers to its clients. “Another key lesson learnt along the way was be clear on the value you are adding for the client,” says Drew.

“When you start out – it takes a long time to really get across your firm’s value from the point of view of your client. Commonly known as the elevator pitch, it will take years to really articulate what you are best at doing for them.”

From the get-go Otium Group has embraced digital innovation and Drew’s advice to entrepreneurs and start-up small business owners is don’t be afraid to share, consume, produce and take advantage of the abundance of digital content at your fingertips.

“Just start writing. Just start blogging, writing, reading and applying content to your website and social media channels. Being in business you need to be ‘on message’ and there is no better way to keep clear than by writing to an audience. Google loves it too, and we all now use Google to find – well everything. Start listening to podcasts and consuming audio, of course starting with Take My Advice! But don’t make the mistake that all podcasts are about business. Check out what’s on offer in the iTunes or Google Play store for yourself!”

For advice on how to grow your business, subscribe to the Take My Advice podcast in iTunes or visit the website www.takemyadvice.com.au.

Drew Grosskreutz EMBA, Dip.FP is the CEO and founder of Otium Group. To find out more about Otium Group, visit www.otiumgroup.com.au. Phone: 1300 468 486

BUSINESS

CHANGING

gears WORDS INGRID NELSON PHOTOS CHESTERTON SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY

The Irish are known worldwide for their love of storytelling … it’s in their DNA, so it makes perfect sense that Irish expat and all-round nice guy Gerry Morris is at the helm of bringing some of the best inspirational speakers in the world right to our doorstep and loving every minute of it.

GERRY MORRIS

“A

n Irish man selling ‘speakers’, you would think I was made for the role,” laughs Gerry as he and I wax lyrical about his journey so far … a remarkable story in its own right.

Call it the luck of the Irish (as cliched as it may sound) but Gerry was given a second chance, having survived an horrific bicycle accident at Mooloolaba that almost claimed his life four years ago.

Touted “the miracle man” Gerry, an avid cyclist, was hit by an oncoming vehicle and dragged for 25 metres, sustaining serious injuries.

“Someone opened a car door without looking and I hit the door and flew into

oncoming traffic and under a car that dragged me along for 25 metres. I thought I was dead,” says Gerry.

“I remember hearing voices but I couldn’t see. I thought, this is it! Then I heard the paramedics saying, ‘we’ve got ya big fella’.”

Fortunately, everything was in Gerry’s favour on that fateful day. The accident happened in front of a cafe, from which 10 men ran to lift the car off his crushed body and an ambulance that had passed him just seconds before turned around and came to his aid.

“It wasn’t my time,” reflects Gerry.

“Everything just worked in my favour that day, well other than being trapped under a car,” he adds in true Gerry style, his signature

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laugh lightening the mood.

“I think the man upstairs was thinking, ‘he has too many words left, keep him down there a bit longer’,” he says with a chuckle.

But Gerry is quick to point out out that it was the love of his life who is the true hero in this story, his beautiful wife of 28 years, Donna.

“She was running the business, keeping the family going, and running back and forth to me in hospital. Then she became my nurse, changing my dressings and looking after me when I finally came home. I could not have done it without her,” he says.

As is often the case, the near death experience was a turning point in Gerry’s life, a catalyst that prompted him to focus

on what he was truly passionate about. But let’s go back to where it all began for the Belfast-born father-of-two.

Arriving in Australia in the late ‘70s at the height of the political troubles in Ireland, Gerry and his family emigrated to Elizabeth in Adelaide, home to many Irish, English and Scottish immigrants at the time … it was also where he met Donna.

The couple fell in love with the Sunshine Coast during a holiday visit and made the move to the ‘sunshine state’ in 2001.

“I call the Sunny Coast ‘Australian postcard living’,” says Gerry. “We feel so lucky to live here, it’s just stunning.”

Open to new employment opportunities when they arrived, Gerry and Donna took the reins of what they were led to believe was a thriving business, booking wellknown speakers to present to corporate organisations and businesses.

“We connected the phone and the first day it didn’t ring, the second day it didn’t ring either and we thought something was wrong with the line but it turned out we basically had to start from scratch and build the business from the ground up. During the next 10 or 11 years we got to know all the celebrity speakers and entertainers,” says Gerry.

“It was a very steep learning curve. The first couple of years were the hardest, especially as we were in an industry we didn’t know a lot about to begin with. But we got to know an array of incredibly inspiring people

“Everything just worked IN MY FAVOUR THAT DAY, well other than being TRAPPED under a car.” including business entrepreneurs and people who had overcome incredible odds. We really fell in love with what we were doing and we were always trying to raise the bar.”

But it was only after his accident that Gerry had an epiphany about where he wanted to take his business next and that was directly to the people, and Hot Business Events was born.

“I had such great community support after the accident. It was incredibly humbling and I wanted to give back somehow. I thought why not bring these inspirational speakers to the people? Why is it only big companies that get to see them? That was my crusade from then on.

“I knew it would work – it just took me to be dragged 25 metres under a car to decide life was short and I had to do what I loved.”

Securing the likes of Leigh Matthews, Wayne Bennett, Wally Lewis, Tania Kernaghan, George Negus and Ray Martin to share their knowledge and remarkable life stories with Sunshine Coast locals is something Gerry is proud of and having recently joined owner of Think Money, and creator of Think Speakers and Events, GERRY AND HIS WIFE DONNA WITH STEVEN BRADBURY

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the formidable Chris Childs, the dynamic duo have some amazing things in store for 2015.

“Meeting Chris was one of the best things that could have happened,” says Gerry. “I am blown away by her generosity. Donna and I were trying to do the work of 10 people so to have the backing of Chris and the team at Think Money is just incredible.”

So who are some of his favourite speakers so far?

“It’s funny ... it’s not the big names. My favourite would have to be Tom O’Toole, founder of the Beechworth Bakery, if only you could bottle his enthusiasm for life.

Robyn Moore is another favourite, she makes you feel 10-foot-tall and bulletproof and Paul De Gelder, survivor of an horrific shark attack who has turned his life around and makes you laugh while talking about his arm and leg being ripped off … truly inspirational.

“George Negus was another highlight.

With 40 years of journalistic experience, to be given a glimpse of what is in that grey matter of his is just priceless.

“You don’t have to be in business either to get something from the events. To be in the same room as these inspiring people is so uplifting. You can learn so much through others and through their stories.”

Always thinking outside the square and pushing the boundaries to bring audiences the best experience, Gerry is currently working in conjunction with the Caloundra Events Centre to offer an up-close and personal lunch with visiting artists who are performing at the centre.

“I’m talking about the likes of Suzi Quatro, Ross Noble, Jimeoin, the list goes on. These are going to be the hottest tickets in town. Imagine having lunch on stage with your favourite artist and have a Q&A with them! It’s going to be amazing,” says Gerry, his eyes lighting up at the thought.

Gerry is quick to add that without the support of the sponsors none of the events would be possible.

“It’s our sponsors who are responsible for bringing the great speakers, we are just the facilitators,” he says.

Watch this space, something tells me Gerry’s story has only just begun …

BUSINESS PROMOTION

a shift to ctrl On the world wide web these days, the internet is exactly that – online shopping, work emails, the ability to run a business remotely, are all just a mouse click and a few keyboard combinations away.

words anna rawlings photos cheryl nonmus, onq photography

T

he transference of our lives to the online medium has drawbacks however; when the internet goes offline or when it comes to implementing a new server, database or workstation, the confusing jargon tech-speak requires a troubleshooter.

This is where SafeData Solutions owner Ean Hungerford specialises – providing the skills and experience necessary to build and maintain the vital system of small to medium business enterprise computer systems.

“It’s not just computers, it’s the network, internet and their industry specific software,” he says.

“We build entire computer systems from start to finish. It’s an end-to-end solution for the client.”

With his industry experience of more than 30 years, and extensive employment background working for tech giant Telstra, Ean is also equipped to do the cabling, literally building a thriving IT portal from the ground up, as well as upgrading and troubleshooting.

SafeData Solutions provides services to clients from southside Brisbane north to Noosa, generally focusing on small to medium business enterprises, and industries such as accountants, solicitors, medical organisations, realestate agencies and retail management.

“We look after industry specific software, that has become a very specialised area and that’s the same for all industries, they rely heavily on their software,” says Ean. “Most are database-driven and because of my background in database management I know how to keep it running.”

Most of his work is done onsite, and he spends much of his working week on the roads, travelling from client-to-client to ensure his services are hands-on and accessible. He can also remotely log on to computers from his home office in Buderim.

Ean first started as an IT specialist for Telstra, complementing his work with studying a Bachelor of Information Technology, mastering in Data Communications at QUT. He worked on a national project, travelling Australia-wide to attend to offices in the capital cities.

Ean was also involved in software development during his Telstra days. With that experience he has designed, developed and now

Ean HungErford

supports an end user rostering application with a database backend. This was commissioned by a department within Queensland Health and is still in use today.

Today, he is assisted in SafeData Solutions by his wife, Maree who has worked part-time on the business books since it was set up in 2002.

“I love problem-solving and helping people out,” he says of his profession.

“It wasn’t long ago that someone’s internet could be down for three days and I wouldn’t hear from them until they would all of a sudden then realise ... but now it can be off for 10 minutes and I’ll get a phone call to say, I’ve got no internet, no emails, no Facebook!”

In a world of competing brands and technology developments, Ean’s particular forte lies in the Microsoft products realm, sharing that the latest release will be Windows 10 in the next 12 months.

His other forecast lies in the future of internet security in the face of the ‘Cloud’, which is an internet-based platform.

“One thing affecting the industry now is the cloud, security is the main issue there … most of my regular clients will look at it but aren’t willing to commit because of the fact they’re worried about where their data is going to be,” he says.

With ever increasing globalisation and cost-cutting, there can be no guarantee where the storage servers will be located and consequently how safe they are.

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Phone: 0419 703 114 info@safedata.com.au www.safedata.com.au

internet and cyber security The Internet has become one of our greatest resources for almost everything in our personal and business lives, but it can also be our greatest enemy.

M

ost computer users are aware of standard procedures, such as virus and malware protection to guard against threats to our cyber world. These are effective in keeping a lot of the “internet nasties” at bay. This is provided the software is kept up to date and regular scans are conducted. The user can take a range of additional precautions to ensure they are less likely to be attacked.

Many viruses are developed for fun by young computer users trying to prove they can stay one step ahead of the rest of the world.

The designers of these invasive threats are becoming more deceptive in their efforts to thwart the defenses of the anti-malware software, but the antivirus companies have many more resources to overcome these threats.

The more sinister and devious attacks come from scammers, who use fraudulent methods to convince the user they are from a reputable company who require payment to perform a service.

One of these scams involves a phone call to a computer user claiming the consultant is from Microsoft. They advise the user their computer has been automatically detected as being infected by a virus. The “consultant” then asks the user to download software that will provide them access to the system so that they can clean it.

This provides open access to the system and the scammer will then install a variety of software to log user details, track keystrokes and in extreme cases, lock the computer so that a payment must be made to regain control of the system. This is known as a cryptolocker virus.

Many other scams are delivered via email. These may look very authentic, with company logos and contact details. Well known email scams include: • Financial institutions; banks, credit unions, etc (eg ANZ, NAB, Westpac) requesting theuser to enter their Internet banking details. Courier companies; (Fedex, Australia Post, etc) advising that there is a delivery awaiting pickup.

• ATO; advising there is a refund to be paid.

• A new email scam surfaced at the beginning of February purporting to be from the NSW Office of State Revenue advising of a speed camera offence. The email contains two buttons: “Invoice” and “View Camera Images”. Clicking on either of these will lead to unwitting installation of a cryptolocker virus.

In each of these instances, the user will be asked to click on a link and/ or a button to perform some action to proceed to the next step. This will either upload information (sometimes private and personal) to the scammer or install rogue software to allow access to the system. The end result is usually a request for payment to the sender. The worst case scenario is the system becomes infected and may need to be reinstalled.

How can we best protect against these scam and fake alert messages: 3 The most important key is to be vigilant.

3 Most major institutions, banks, telcos, Microsoft, etc will never ask for your personal login details.

3 Check the sender’s email address. If the address is not from the main Internet address of the company (eg @nab.com.au) then it is usually not legitimate. Most scams are sent from the free email addresses; gmail, hotmail, etc.

3 If you are unsure about emails or links, never click on them or open them. Seek advice.

3 If you are unsure, contact the company to enquire if the sender is legitimate. Search for the contact number of the company/department, DO NOT use contact details in the email.

3 In the event of the telephone scams, ask for their toll free number to call them back, then check the number against the company’s website. Usually they will not give you their number

Being precautious and alert when using your computer system, particularly with emails and the Internet can ensure that you continue to enjoy the many benefits the World Wide Web has to offer.

If you wish to discuss any of the issues raised in this feature, please contact SafeData Solutions. Call 0419 703 114, email info@safedata.com.au or visit www.safedata.com.au

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