Rural Entrepreneur Australia - Issue 4

Published March 2023 (Issue 4)

By The Rural Publishing Company.

Founders & Editors: Sarah Walkerden & Toby Billing

Design & Layout: Monique Kleidon

Wethankallourcontributorsandadvertiserswhohavesupportedthisissue.

For any contribution, advertising or publishing enquiries please contact: Email: hello@theruralpublishingcompany.com.au Website: https://theruralpublishingcompany.com.au

© The Rural Publishing Company 2023. All rights reserved. All material in Rural Entrepreneur Australia magazine is wholly copyright and reproduction without the written permission of the Publisher is strictly prohibited. Views and comments expressed by individuals do not necessarily represent those of the Publisher and no legal responsibility can be accepted from the use of the information or advice by readers. Readers are encouraged to seek individual and independent professional advice before implementing any advice contained within this publication.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

From the Editors

Marketing

The Best Way to Market Your Business in 2023

Blogging for Business

Using Instagram in your Business

Stop Overselling the Sizzle

Real Business Lessons

Believing in your business when the nearest shopping centre is over 100kms away

How I Rebuilt my Business in the Country

My First 10 Years in Business - Then Vs Now

Drones Open up Immeasurable Opportunities

Servicing Clients all Over the World from Regional Australia

Business Management

Farm Management Planning - Write it Down

Pay Yourself, Smash Debts & Grow Profits using Profit First A Q&A Session with a Grants Master

Protecting your Business in the Event of a Divorce

Why Outsourcing isnt the Monster Under the Bed

Five Top Financial Management Hacks

Tech Corner

Cybersecurity for Entrepreneurs

Horse Corner

Common Hoof Problems in Horses

Health, Mindset & Philosophy

Burnout - What it is & How you can Prevent it

Be an Influential Confident Communicator

The Beniefits of Positive Counselling

How Rural Businesses can Honour Indigenous Lands

Hello!

Welcome to Issue 4! And despite this issue coming out slightly later than we’d hoped, it still contains an absolute treasure trove of business inspiration and advice.

We’ve headed up the magazine with some great marketing tips and tricks, including our feature article The Best Way to Market Your Business in 2023 (by us!), alongside Blogging for Business and Using Instagram In Your Business.

Next, we dive into some Real Business Lessons. The insights you gain from these personal stories and experiences could just change the entire direction of your regional business.

A big feature this issue is our Business Management section – something no small business can afford to ignore. With fantastic articles on financial management, farm management planning, outsourcing and grants, you’ll be able to run your business much more smoothly and successfully than ever before.

New to this issue is our ‘Tech Corner’ and ‘Horse Corner’. We hope these sections will be a regular feature.

Technology can be a massive hurdle for many of us in small business.

And being out in the country means that many of us have a horse or two (or 20!) in our lives. Horses are clearly a huge passion of ours as a family.

A few weeks ago, our two kids competed in their very first Gymkhana (or pony show).

Despite limited time for preparation (mostly due to our time constraints, rather than their enthusiasm!), they both very bravely spruced up and turned out their ponies and themselves, and gave it a red hot go.

They took ‘Snowball’ – a super tiny Miniature/ Shetland gelding (all of around 8HH), who at the ripe old age of 26 was their ridden mount. And ‘Puzzle’ is a slightly bigger Welsh/Shetland, and as he’s just a baby at 5 years old, his job was to get used to being out and about and keep Snowball company.

So, Miss Sophie at 7, is quite a keen and well-balanced little rider. She was initially nervous, but tackled the classes with great professionalism. You literally could not wipe the smile off her face for the entire 2.5 hours. To say she loved every minute she was out competing is an understatement indeed.

Oliver, at 10, is not the most confident pony rider out there. He loves his horses, and the horses love him, but after a fright on a young pony a couple of years ago, has been reluctant to ride. But when Sophie was practicing and Mr Snowball needed some extra muscle to remind him who was boss – Oliver bravely lept to the challenge. With each practice ride, his

confidence slowly grew – but still, competing was very much out of his comfort zone. Riding in front of a crowd was a very big deal to him. His intention was to ride in just one or two classes – but he ended up doing four. He surprised himself by loving it too.

Both kids ended up with about 12 ribbons between them. Mr Snowball proved that even stately old gentlemen ponies could turn into enthusiastic, speedy Thoroughbreds (he came second in the final trotting race against some much bigger horses!). And Mr Puzzle soon decided that the big wide world wasn’t as scary as he first thought.

Sophie even ended up winning the big ‘Rider of the Day’ award at the end for smiling so enthusiastically and having so much fun throughout the day.

But, why on earth am I telling you this story? Sure, it’s kind of cute – but what’s the relevance to the magazine and to running a regional business?

Both kids learnt that they could achieve far more than they believed possible for themselves.

Sophie’s aim was two ribbons for the day, Oliver didn’t even think he could ride at all. Both of them bravely gave it a go – and found enormous success and a lot more confidence.

Did you know that you can’t expect to feel confident when you tackle something new? Like ever?

The only way that horrible, nervous, churning feeling in your stomach goes away, is by pushing through it and doing the things that scare you anyway.

Not even the most confident-looking or skillful people you see in the world, started off that way. They all started as nervous, bumbling beginners. But they were brave enough to push through, to try, to practice and to improve.

Through dedicated practice, and continually pushing yourself – even if it’s a teeny, tiny bit each time – the more confident and skillful you become.

But you have to start somewhere. Face your challenges and blocks head on. Take tiny steps towards your goals. Try the things that scare you.

It’s the only way towards greater success.

And if Oliver & Sophie can do it, so can you.

Sarah (& Toby)

Rural Entrepreneur Australia

P.S The kids are now pretty keen to enter in some more pony shows, to keep progressing their skills. But it was their bravery in tackling something new and daunting that impressed us the most. #proudparents

It’s all about stepping yourself out of your comfort zone, in order to grow.

THE BEST WAY TO MARKET YOUR BUSINESS IN 2023

(Hint: Go Big, Bold & Brave!)

By Sarah & Toby –The Rural Marketing Company

Marketing is getting harder and harder. Most markets and industries are saturated, and consumers are getting bombarded with endless marketing messages left, right and centre. Particularly, on social media. Which means most people are really tuning out to a lot of advertising. They scroll through social media feeds and ignore the vast majority of ads.

So, what to do? How does a small business stand out and succeed?

Our advice for 2023 to our clients at The Rural Marketing Company is to think BIG and think BOLD.

The business owners who succeed are the ones who are prepared to go the extra mile. And this doesn’t mean you need to work harder or longer hours to produce more (which tends to be our natural tendency!) –but you do need to be willing to go where other business owners aren’t. To tackle the strategies and tactics that scare the vast majority of other businesses.

It starts, with the right approach and mindset by:

• Focusing on Building Relationships

• Satisfying Clients & Customers More

• Getting Clear & Consistent

• Being Truly Authentic

• Remaining Innovative & Iterative

• Keeping Things Simple.

And, by implementing the following bold tactics:

• Writing Books

• Producing Videos & Podcasts

• Implementing Clever SEO

• Creating Better Content & Messaging

• Devising Bigger Lead Magnets

• Crafting Bolder Sales Funnels & Nurture Processes.

The Big, Bold Mindset & Approach

All successful business building strategies and marketing, starts with the right mindset and approach.

Without thinking about these aspects, your marketing TACTICS just won’t work the way you want them to.

FOCUS ON BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

More and more, people and consumers are craving real relationships.

When looking at any marketing you produce for your business, you MUST have the aim, not just in the back of your mind, but at the forefront, of forging and building relationships with your customers.

But not just your customers. You also need to think about creating relationships with suppliers and strategic industry partners who could assist you. You should also forge relationships with other business owners, whether that be locally or online.

While you should always approach ANY relationship building exercise with an attitude of ‘how can I help THEM’ – you just never know how that generosity will come back to help you.

SATISFY CLIENTS & CUSTOMERS MORE

The stock standard approach to customer service and client liaison will just not cut it in 2023. People expect more than that.

To set yourself apart from your competitors, whether you sell products or provide services, you must go that extra mile in keeping them happy and delivering more than they expect.

Meeting their expectations isn’t enough. Exceeding them will create an impact and generate positive reviews and referrals.

And often, it’s easier to do this than you might think.

GET CLEAR & CONSISTENT

Clarity will always win the day. If you’re muddled on what value you provide to your ideal customers, your messaging will be muddled, your strategy and marketing will be muddled – and your customers will end up muddled.

A confused mind does not buy. Therefore, you need clarity – and so do they, so they can clearly see the value they’re getting.

Once you have clarity, you need to portray that clarity consistently. Consistency helps with clarity and helps people to get to know your brand and to trust you.

BE TRULY AUTHENTIC

One of the biggest advantages we have as smaller businesses is that we can make our business really personal. Our customers crave connection to the purchases and investments they make, and also to the businesses they support.

Gone are the days where business and marketing have to be stiff, formal or corporate. All of that, equals boring.

People love connecting with other REAL people. Be yourself, quirks and all. If you’re engaging with your marketing – you’ll win over more customers.

REMAIN INNOVATIVE & ITERATIVE

The most successful businesses out there today aren’t the ones who follow the rest of their industry. The successful businesses innovate, disrupt and dare to be different within their industries. And they do so, continuously.

They’re constantly changing things up, reviewing what works and what doesn’t, and finding the opportunities that no one else has spotted.

Innovation stands out and cuts through the noise.

KEEP THINGS SIMPLE

Simplicity is seriously underrated. And from this article, you may well get the impression that business and marketing is quite complicated. It certainly can be. However, often, it’s the simple things that work. Even when you’re going bigger and bolder than ever before.

Simple should never be underestimated.

The Big, Bold Marketing Tactics

WRITE BOOKS

Writing a book for your business can be an incredibly powerful strategy. Becoming an author establishes and showcases your expertise and positions you as a leader in your space. It also enhances client and customer trust.

But it also seems hard to many of us. Books can take months to write, require a lot of dedication and the publishing process can be daunting.

Which is why it’s so powerful. Not everyone will dare to do it. Which means if you do –you’re well ahead of them.

The only thing more powerful than writing and publishing a book? Writing and publishing several.

And while it might seem daunting, it doesn’t have to be. You might actually find that you already have a lot of great content within your business, that you can repurpose into your book content.

PRODUCE VIDEOS & PODCASTS

As mentioned earlier, people love connection and relationships. And one of the best and quickest ways to do this online, is through videos and podcasts.

When people can hear your voice, and see your face on videos, they’ll trust you more.

IMPLEMENT CLEVER SEO

SEO or Search Engine Optimisation is such a tricky one, as it’s complicated and such a dodgy industry at times. We don’t blame you if your sceptical, as so many business owners get burnt by overpromising agencies who deliver crappy results (#harshbuttrue).

However, SEO brings in so much potential website traffic and therefore, so many potential customers, purchases or leads.

You probably know yourself, that if you search for something you need, you’ll head straight to those first few websites you find on Google. The trick to SEO is to educate yourself on the different aspects, and to find the RIGHT support to assist you.

Here’s what you need:

• Keyword Research

• SEO Website Copywriting

• Technical Website Optimisation

• Quality Ongoing Content

• Quality Backlinks

Create Better Content & Messaging

Your business messaging, or copywriting, really can make or break your business. And it’s the number one thing most businesses struggle with, besides their tech.

Good content and messaging speaks to your ideal client or customers true desires and the outcomes THEY want. It doesn’t just describe the features or your process.

Processes or features don’t sell. Outcomes do.

DEVISE BIGGER LEAD MAGNETS

This is one of our biggest tips at the moment. Go bigger with your lead magnets!

For those who don’t know what they are, they are basically a free incentive to offer your target customer, to get them onto your mailing list – and hopefully upsell them into something paid.

And once upon a time, a simple checklist or a little eGuide would suffice. Or, in the case of eCommerce, a discount code. These days, we firmly believe that you need a little more.

Often in the eCommerce or product world, you can get away with a discount or coupon code offer. But it needs to be a decent discount. 5% won’t cut it. 10% may. But 15 –20% is better. Remember – even if you make less on their first order, the aim is to turn them into repeat customers. That’s where the money is.

However, We really like the idea of offering a ‘pack’ or a ‘bundle’ of something. Rather than just offering ONE thing, you bundle a few different little items together, to make it more appealing.

Most people know that they’re being bribed for their email address – and they expect to be spammed with marketing as a result. And the same old ‘freebies’ just aren’t working, as they are no longer viewed to be as valuable. When you offer a bundle of items, you provide more value.

For eCommerce, this might be a physical sample size product (or 2 or 3), plus an eGuide and a first purchase discount.

For a service based business, you might want to offer an eGuide and a video masterclass. Or, a masterclass series, a mini course, a book (see the book section above) etc.

It doesn’t have to be complicated or costly, but it does require a little bit of effort to really showcase your expertise and wow your audience.

CRAFT BOLDER SALES FUNNELS & NURTURE PROCESSES

Once you have a lead magnet sorted, and you start to get people on to your email list, you need to nurture them.

This involves a series of automated emails that get sent to new leads that hopefully encourages them to take the next step with you – whether that be to book a call or purchase something.

Some sales funnels can be quite simple –with 5 or so emails that encourage someone to buy something specific (either something little or large).

Other funnels may include multiple steps, with cheaper products leading to larger purchases, upsells and downsells, or tripwires.

This can get quite complicated and needs to be very well thought out, planned and executed.

But always remember that you want to establish a relationship with your potential client or customer. And not just a ‘singleuse’ relationship – but a long term one.

Therefore, make sure your funnels and messaging isn’t overly ‘used car salesy’ or pushy. You want to forge a genuine connection and establish trust. Give, before you ask.

A Clear, Cohesive Strategy

All businesses need to develop a very clear and cohesive strategy that guides EVERYTHING they do.

None of the above will work if you use them as a scattergun approach. You must determine what your individual target audience needs and then create the right plan and utilise the right tactics that will help them.

Any marketing you do, also needs to work for you. We’re all busy and time poor. And business shouldn’t be a drag or a chore. It should light us up and give us a sense of fulfillment and purpose – while also helping our customers.

If you really don’t want to tackle a tactic we’ve mentioned, then don’t. It won’t work if you don’t believe in it or can’t get enthusiastic about it. However, keep in mind that nothing is ever as complicated as it might seem or feel at first. And as business owners, we really need to push ourselves to do the things that make us uncomfortable.

Plus, there’s always help out there. We help lots of regional small businesses all around Australia to implement big, bold tactics that

really cut through the noise and put them on the map. Everything from planning through to implementation.

But there’s lots of great help out there who can help you get these things done and working for you.

Never be afraid to be bigger and bolder than your competitors – and never ever think that you can’t reach out for help.

Here’s to a fantastically successful 2023!

Sarah Walkerden & Toby Billing –The Rural Marketing Company

Sarah is a multi-award-winning copywriter and marketer with over 19 years’ experience. She holds a Bachelor of Technology and is recognised as a CPM (Certified Practising Marketer) with the Australian Marketing Institute. Sarah is also a best-selling author of multiple books.

Toby is an experienced business founder, with multiple businesses and accolades under his belt. His current business, Billing Metals & Manufacturing, supplies specialty metals and element samples to schools, universities, and amateur scientists.

They love nothing more than combining their skills to empower like-minded rural business owners and regional authors to succeed.

More information, visit: theruralmarketingco.com.au

BLOGGING FOR BUSINESS

By Crystal Leonardi –Bowerbird Publishing

No matter the decade, content marketing has always been the go-to strategy for organisations to advertise their products. Think about the massive impact television had on content marketing, not to mention the print press. Products such as washing machines and vegemite were splashed across print media and on TV advertisements, displaying their benefits and price in a blatant attempt to convert their audience into paying customers.

Like everything, however, content marketing has evolved, and the outburst of digital technologies has changed the face of traditional advertising. Furthermore, the world wide web has also revolutionized how businesses think about advertising. Businesses today, big and small, are adapting to inbound marketing strategies, such as blogging, to create value for their customer base and sell products in a non-salesy way.

As the owner of a regional business, I’m here to share how an active blog has helped to grow my business and keep me connected and relevant in the competitive world of online marketing.

My business, Bowerbird Publishing, is located in Julatten, a small Queensland farming town with a population of around 1,000 people. I began as a self-published author and have grown my business substantially by including publishing and public speaking services to clients throughout Australia. My business operates out of my home office on the farm and consists of one employee –me. Blogging became an integral part of my marketing strategy in 2021 when my budget was tight, and my business plan was simple – to grow my online audience.

Let’s dive in head first by further exploring the benefits of blogging and why you should have a blog if you don’t already. You’ll learn how to blog well and maximize your already established blog, taking it to the next level.

What is a Blog?

Put simply; a blog is a collection of facts, thoughts and expert opinions about a business or its audience.

It is a written piece of information (or article) that lives online and can be accessed by anyone who visit’s a company’s website.

Benefits of Blogging

Unlike traditional advertising, blogging is informative rather than sales based. It’s affordable to individuals, big corporations and small businesses alike and is a more creative and adaptive marketing option. It can generate leads and facilitate repeat business just as effectively as traditional advertising.

Though the scope of online advertising is substantial, blogging brings many benefits to regional businesses like yours and mine. In a business where face-to-face networking is often not an option due to our remoteness, a successful online presence is a must.

How to Blog Well

Building trust and confidence in your brand helps your readers develop a deeper bond with you. A blog is customized to you and can be made to suit your personality and your brand. This will build your following and help your blog stand out from the rest because it creates transparency and a brand that customers will love to deal with.

The secret to blogging is being an expert in your brand and providing the reader with reliable information before trying to sell them your products or services. Here are some essential tips on how to blog well.

MAKE SURE IT’S EASY TO FIND. Your website should be interactive, have distinct headlines, pages, directions and be clear and concise. On my website, BLOG is on my home screen menu and is included throughout various pages with links to my blog.

MAKE IT INTERESTING. Use high-quality images to catch readers’ attention and entice them to read your content. Including product images or your corporate banner are great ways to break up text sections; a picture is worth a thousand words!

Or, include helpful checklists, how-to topics, ideas, or recipes, for example, to project value for money and increase satisfaction through a something-for-nothing customer experience. Educating before selling is a great tactic for attracting new readers and achieving customer loyalty.

IT’S ALL IN THE DESIGN. Great content deserves great design. Consider your line and character spacing so readers can easily move through your content. Include widgets and place links to relevant posts to make the reader’s experience both informative and user-friendly.

MAKE IT PHONE-FRIENDLY. Avoid big chunks of text, and consider that your target audience will probably be people on the move. When creating your blog post, break up long sections of text to improve both the appearance and readability.

GET CREATIVE. How you highlight your blog’s essential information will help readers get the most out of it. Use bold text, quotes, questions, and callouts to bring attention to essential information within your blog.

In my own blog, I have found that certain styles, images, and layouts attract more readers. My blog predominately includes content about work/home balance, writing, and book reviews.

Regardless of the topic, I have found that images of me or my children in everyday situations have attracted the most readers. Audiences want to feel connected to you when they read your blog, and the easiest way to help them do this is by creating an honest portrayal. Connection coupled with trust will be your key to attracting a loyal audience.

I also have a particular style that I follow, which includes catchy and sometimes ominous headlines coupled with an image. My formatting includes short and sharp information, in concise paragraphs, with critical points highlighted in bold and/or italics to ensure maximum impact and avoid a missed opportunity to make an impression on the reader.

How to Take Blogging to the Next Level

A good entrepreneur will take an opportunity and make the most of it. Have this mindset when thinking about your blog, ensuring that if you manage to engage a reader, your impact is unsurpassable. Blogging has the potential to reduce your overall marketing spend whilst generating more leads than any other form of advertising – why not maximize it? You can take your blog to the next level in two ways.

FEEDBACK. So far, I’ve shared how to inform your customer through your blog, but have you ever thought about the positive impact your customer’s feedback could have on your blog? Your blog is already easily accessible to potential customers, so why not give readers a platform to leave comments and feedback on your product or services? This encourages

engagement and builds consumer confidence through real-life experiences with your products and services.

Think about blogs associated with predominantly online businesses such as Trip Advisor and Airbnb. They conclude their blogs with a comment section where users can leave their opinions, feedback, and suggestions about their stay. This is a great way to take advantage of feedback, engage with customers, and improve their business. We can all agree that the feedback found on Trip Advisor and Airbnb has played a huge part in helping people decide where to travel and stay. It’s a basic tool with immeasurable value.

YOUR SEO. It stands for Search Engine Optimization. Again, put your entrepreneur hat on and really think about another opportunity to get the most value out of a service you’re already using. Adopting your SEO correctly should be one of your critical marketing strategies, as it will drive traffic to your website.

To break it down, your SEO has two purposes; making your business visible on search engines (such as Google) and making your business MORE visible than your competition. There are two ways you can optimise these purposes.

When adding your search engine keywords to your website settings, ensure they’re not too general. In my world as an author and publisher, the keywords I use are: Crystal Leonardi (my name), Bowerbird Publishing (my business), Childhood Cancer (theme), Oncology books (specialty area), and Selfpublishing (specialty area), rather than the obvious; Author, Publisher, Speaker, Julatten, Books. My keywords are specific and unique to my business. Think like a customer and add algorithms you think someone would enter into Google if they couldn’t remember your business name.

Once you have your keywords set, ensure you use them as often as possible in your actual blog because, due to their relevance to your algorithms, your business will rank higher on a search results page, such as Google. For example, to conclude each of my blogs, I add information about where customers can buy my books with a link to my website bookstore. It’s simple, but it makes all the difference.

Gather some ideas about your products or services that you could blog about. If you already have a blog, ensure you’re making the most out of a captive audience.

When you consider your blog your most affordable and effective marketing tool in this fast-paced, ferocious world of online selling, you will want to optimise it.

Blogging can boost your brand identity, drive traffic to your website, and create value for your customers – I’m sure we all want that! It can be done by you, the business owner, for no extra cost to your business – so, make the most out of your blog today!

As an award-winning, best-selling author Crystal Leonardi reaches into hearts by reflecting on her son’s brain cancer diagnosis in 2020. Crystal has worked hard to overcome mental health battles and become a spokesperson for anyone willing to rise above the ashes of tragedy and survive. She educates her audience about how publishing the ups and downs in her life has led her to a path of positivity and a winning attitude.

As a publisher, Crystal empowers writers to share their stories. Her unique publishing company, Bowerbird Publishing, works with writers rather than for writers, educating them on how to selfpublish independently and still become successful authors and advocates for their own purpose.

As a motivational speaker, no topic is off limits; Crystal’s willingness to open up to her audience leaves them feeling uplifted and inspired, believing that they, too, have the power to succeed, no matter what life throws at them.

Website: www.crystalleonardi.com

Blog: www.crystalleonardi.com/blog

Facebook: Crystal Leonardi – Author, Publisher, Motivational Speaker

Instagram: @bowerbird_publishing

Crystal Leonardi –Bowerbird Publishing

A small business supporting small businesses.

Hello! My name is Monique Kleidon and I am a qualified Graphic Designer & Photographer, specialising in small businesses. I offer a range of packages targeted towards businesses, ranging from Personal Branding and content photography to logo and branding design.

Creating an amazing brand identity for your business is the difference between showing up online and standing out online. Your brand is the visual representation of your business and it needs to shout from the roof tops. Are you ready to invest in your business?

Contact Monique to find out more: moniquekleidon@gmail.com or check her out online:

Personal Branding & Content Photography Logo & Branding Design

The Complete Branding Package Monique is based in Melbourne’s South East, but she is happy to travel across Victoria or work with you remotely to help you achieve your branding dreams!

USING INSTAGRAM IN YOUR BUSINESS

By Nur Halik –(F)empowered Communications

Do you remember a time before social media?

Can you recall how people in small, rural communities shared news, or information about important events?

I grew up in a regional community (Port Hedland) and I remember either getting carefully folded pieces of paper in the mailbox inviting us to some community event, or piles of flimsy catalogues with the latest sales or new products. It was pretty exciting to be honest, and as an adult, I’ll still check the mailbox occasionally in case someone has decided to send me a flyer made up on Word or Publisher, and hand-folded with the precision of an army drill sergeant.

I don’t quite remember when social media became a ‘thing’ in our town. I remember the exact date I joined Facebook (end of 2006, when my American flatmate asked to connect with me on Facebook, and laughed when I said I’d never heard of it), and I remember my incredulity when a friend of mine told me Instagram was all the rage (2012).

But I don’t know the exact point that our community, and I’m sure many other small communities like ours, became obsessed with social media and deemed it to be the new town crier. Do you?

Love it or hate it, social media is an important part of communication, and community building in small communities. It’s how new people to town make friends, it’s how residents sell their old furniture when they’re leaving town, and it’s how the vocal minority amplify issues that may or may not be important to the rest of the community.

From chatting to a number of small business owners living in regional or rural communities, Facebook is the preferred choice of digital communication. So more often than not, they choose to ignore building their business on Instagram which I think is a huge oversight.

As a social media manager living in a regional town, and working with other small business owners in my region, I like to remind them that Instagram still has value in their marketing plan. While it may not have the countless public Facebook groups for you

to promote your products or services, the one thing Instagram does have going for it is its ability to build genuine, intentional relationships with your online community and customers.

I don’t know about you but I find Facebook completely devoid of all human emotion. Even videos which are designed to give you the warm and fuzzies, still leave me feeling a bit cold because I know it’s for pure clickbait, and also, I don’t even know the person who created this video so why on earth should I connect with it?

Instagram on the other hand, is built to encourage conversations in comments or DMs (direct messages), and with new features like notes in your messages, and engagement stickers in Stories, it’s never been easier to connect with other people in your industry or niche, or with people who have a genuine interest in your and your brand.

Another benefit of Instagram is how the content itself is presented. Unlike Facebook, where if you visit someone’s page you have to scroll through just to see what they’ve posted, and even then, it’s a bit of a mess. I personally HATE having to scroll through countless posts just to get a feel about who they are as a brand, and understand what they do; and I’m sure I’m not alone.

Whereas on Instagram, everything is presented so neatly in a beautiful grid, which by the way, you have complete control over how it looks, plus the highlights section means people can easily access information without having to spend time trying to find that info in posts that are 6 months old.

First impressions are everything, and I find that Instagram has nailed it.

First impressions are everything, and I find that Instagram has nailed it.

And you know what? There’s so much information out there about how to succeed on Instagram, that you don’t need to spend hours trying to figure out how to make your content stand out amongst your competitors (if you have any in your area!).

I find it harder to make organic (unpaid) content to stand out on Facebook, because of the sheer number of ads that are on there, and often get prioritised ahead of organic posts. And unfortunately, unless you can build that consistent engagement and presence on Facebook, which takes a lot of time and more often than not a team or outsourced agency, you have to rely on those annoying little Facebook groups to get the word out.

That’s the beauty of Instagram. While they still do push ads and suggested posts, the algorithm (AI) is pretty good in that it will show you highly relevant content based on your behaviour, not based on whatever parameters someone has put into their ad. I enjoy my experience on Instagram far more than Facebook, probably because I don’t have to see every post in the world just because a friend commented ‘lol’ on it.

So if you’re on the fence on whether you should join the Instagram community, take it from me: it’ll be one of the best business decisions you’ll ever make. And if you need advice and help, I’m just one Instagram follow away.

Nur Halik is a social media strategist based in Port Hedland, in Western Australia’s extremely sunny North-West. With over 15 years experience in marketing and public relations in a range of fields, and an obsession with Instagram, she is your go-to gal for your social media needs. She runs (f)empowered communications, a social media management company, servicing small business owners in the Pilbara, offering complete social media management and free workshops in partnership with the Port Hedland Chamber of Commerce.

Her approach is all about collaboration - she’s not there to take over or tell you what to do, but listen to what you need and work with you

to create a solution that you are comfortable with and able to contribute to. Though based in the North-West of WA, she works with clients across Australia.

STOP OVERSELLING THE SIZZLE

By Lydia Kalleske –For Abel Photography

Have you heard these statements…?

‘Hey guys just thought I’d pop on and let you know, I only have 1 spot left for this month so you better get in and book now!’

Or…

‘I have just the template or secret formula for you, and it’s going to blow your mind and up level your business/mindset/personal growth!’

Or this little chestnut…

‘I can help you grow your following by x% and show you exactly how I grew my clients’ social media following from nothing to hundreds and thousands in x amount of weeks!’

These things all sound amazing, yeah? NO!

I’m getting right up on my soap box here, this new wave of prying on individuals and businesses insecurities or pain points and over selling the sizzle, is getting a little bit nutso over here!

I’m here to talk about, my 3 top pet peeves swirling around on social media and in the business world at the moment, because I’m certain, if you're reading this you’ve seen one of these examples or let’s face it, probably ALL of these — circulating with in social media platforms and business groups. Maybe you have thought some of the same things as me and if you haven’t I truly hope I can help you see through some of these…smoke and mirror tactics.

A few months back I purchased something from a small business that was being sold as a ‘downloadable template,’ for a bit of social media planning.

I’m thinking — ‘yes template…drag and drop. Easy!’

But after handing over my cash, I got a word document that looked like something my 10 year old son could have put together.

Something’s not right here?

I mean, it was only a small investment but what I got was a far cry from what I believed I was getting.

What about these social media superstars? You know the ones, you see them when you are scrolling through your feeds? They’ve grown hundreds and thousands of followers for their clients, and you think ooo…’they’re worth a follow’. You head on over to their page and they have 300-400 followers?

Every time I see this I cringe, just a little, because my brain automatically thinks, ‘Wouldn’t they have a bigger following of their own if they’ve grown their clients’ base

SO large?’ Surely if they are a whizz at social media the proof should be in the pudding? Their social media following should be indicative of the sizzle they are selling! No?

I get it everyone has to start somewhere. Heck I look back to my work from the first five years in business and far out, I sure have come a long way. But in those days there’s no way I would have advertised that I could enlarge my prints, if I hadn’t tested them myself beforehand. I was confident to promote my business being able to sell enlarged prints, because I knew I could — because the proof was in the pudding.

And lastly I am here to debunk one of the most seen and most cringeworthy hard sell tactics, the ‘book now before you miss out’ posts!

Yep, sure! There are certainly companies out there who really are sold out or booked out, but I can tell you now, most of the time they aren’t shouting that from the rooftop. Honestly, when was the last time you clicked on an advertisement that said, we're sold out but come and look at the products you missed out on?

You get to their website and see they are sold out and go on their wait list!

9 times out of 10, the ‘book now or miss out’ businesses are preying on the current epidemic that is the FOMO epidemic! Urgency gives people a reason to finally bite the bullet and overcome inertia. Don’t buy into it.

Do it with passion, honesty and integrity.

It’s likely you’ll be disappointed, because you didn’t just book in with the company you first started looking at! You got distracted by the bright shiny lights, the FOMO preying company, was shining in your eyes because they are really good at nailing the algorithm!

I am happy to stand corrected if this isn’t a justified thought process I have about these peeves.

The thing is, popularity doesn’t make you good at what you do. Preying on people’s serious FOMO makes you really great at marketing, but heck if it works go for it, you do you!

However It is my humble opinion that these kinds of sell tactics are misleading and will eventually end up coming round to bite your business ass in the butt, probably in more ways than one!

I am here to encourage you, to believe that running your own business should be more than just bottom lines and targets. It should be more than just a popularity contest or a way to get ‘instafamous’.

This is a career you’ve chosen for your foreseeable future, emotional investment in business is what will get you through the tougher times, that lord knows we have been having and will have more of into the future.

Emotional investment and passion are always the silver lining, the driving force behind why you do what you do. The passion I have for my business is seeded deep within my very being.

If a farmer, who relies solely on the weather, only ran his business based on bottom lines and targets, there would be no generational farmers, they all would have given up! PASSION is the only thing that gives them hope for the next year.

Do what you do not because you have to, not because it’s what someone else is doing or thinks you should be doing.

Do it with passion, honesty and integrity, no ones saying it’s going to be easy, but I promise getting through the harder times will seem just that bit easier if you do.

And remember, you selling you is how you will sell what you do (you like that I came up with that one?).

You won’t need any of those cringeworthy marketing tactics, you won’t need to be over selling the sizzle and serving up rump steak when you promised people it was going to be rib eye.

Simply because you will operate your business from a soul led, passion led and heartfelt place and that will always see you though.

So…will your ideal clients be on your waiting list or blinded by the shiny lights?

Lydia Kalleske –

For Abel Photography (The Baroassa’s Storyteller)

If you’re searching for honest, transparent and fluff free photography, I photograph you, your family, your business, doing you, real people, real stories, real photos with timeless consistency always. Bringing people together, highlighting the beauty of connection across all of my photography.

With over 12 year of experience, we pride ourselves on our timeless, high-quality images, capturing real people real photos and telling real stories through our imagery.

Offering Business Session, Family Sessions and Luxe Barossa Experiences, with flexible payment options and yearly subscriptions. Having your photos taken doesn’t need to be expensive or stressful.

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH LYDIA

Web: forabelphotography.com

forabel@internode.on.net

Facebook: forabelphotography

@forabelphotography

By Julia O’Connell –Crops & Sequins Styling Image Credits – Roslyn Clare Photography

Moving to a farm, being surrounded by dust, tractors and big farm machinery could easily have you thinking that fashion has no place amongst the crops – but it has!

Standing out amongst the crops isn’t always easy but believing in myself and my business has been key to my success. My name is Julia O’Connell, and I am a regional fashion stylist helping mums rediscover their style, feel comfortable in their body and build the wardrobe they love to wear.

Having lived in the suburbs I never really appreciated the convenience of how close everything was. The shops were down the road, the nearest shopping centre was only a 15 minute drive away. I could take the train to the city and shop the latest fashion whenever I wanted. I was surrounded by the glitz and glamour the fashion industry had to offer and I never took a second to really think about it.

Fast forward a couple of years, falling in love with a farmer, moving to our farm in the middle of nowhere, the fashion glamour was quickly replaced by sweltering heat, sturdy boots and a hat. I didn’t think my qualification as a fashion stylist was ever going to be used again.

BELIEVING IN YOUR BUSINESS WHEN THE NEAREST SHOPPING CENTRE IS OVER 100KMS AWAY

Along came our first baby with all the ups and downs of motherhood. It was through becoming a mother that my passion for fashion was reignited or better put, it was fuelled by anger.

Having grown as a person and experienced my body grow another human, I really came to reflect and see the fashion industry as a notoriously unattainable standard setting beast. I started to resent my body and my wardrobe as I no longer fit what once was. Suddenly, the tag on the clothes had gone up a few numbers and I felt deflated. Brands I used to shop at were no longer drawing me in because I knew I had to reach for a size ‘Large’. I reached the point of ‘enough is enough’! There must be another way, and there is.

Initially moving to our farm appeared to be the sudden death of my styling career, but it has been a blessing in disguise!

Moving away from all my supports, throwing a pandemic into the mix, and a new baby gave me a lot of time to think and reflect on what I wanted my business to be. I trusted myself and Crops & Sequins Styling came to life.

I am super proud to have turned something personal into a business. My why is and was the journey to motherhood. Losing myself in the process of having kids (yes along came a second!), not really feeling confident in my new body and looking at my wardrobe with resentment. Far away from the initial runways and fashion shows, I have learnt a lot about myself and the journey of loving yourself as you are. Bundled with creating a wardrobe you love and will actually wear. I have grown into a stylist that loves to teach and share my knowledge with other women along their styling journey.

My name is Julia O’Connell, and I am a regional fashion stylist helping mums rediscover their style, feel comfortable in their body, and build the wardrobe they love to wear.

I empower you with my styling knowledge, so you can stop wasting money on clothes you won't be wearing anyway!

How do I do this?

By being your trusted style coach.

I am a qualified stylist and I am teaching you about YOUR body, and how you can look beyond the trends and sales, to create your own amazing wardrobe to suit your style and personality.

Fun Fact: I do it all from a rural farm in NSW!

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH JULIA

Web: cropsandsequinsstylingau.square.site

Facebook: CropsandSequinsStyling

@crops_and_sequins_styling

Julia O’Connell –Crops & Sequins Styling

5 Things I have learnt along my business journey:

1. IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, WHO WILL?

YOU are your number one cheerleader. I used to be embarrassed about sharing that I am a stylist, let alone have my face on social media.

That is my business though! I am the face of my company. I am the product and/or service I am selling.

These days this is exactly what you are seeing on my website and social media – me. People like to see who they are spending money with. When they invest in my services, they are trusting me as a person.

2. SWIMMING AGAINST THE FLOW MAY LEAD TO GREATER PLACES. When I studied to become a stylist, and probably even for some time after, I thought I had to be super glamorous and always wear the latest fashion to be a ‘real’ stylist. That’s what I thought. That’s not who I became!

Finding my niche and knowing my target audience has been my key to feeling aligned with who I am, my business and achieving business success.

3. YOUR POSTCODE DOESN’T DEFINE YOU.

Initially I had limiting beliefs that fashion has no place on a farm. Sometimes a mix up of perspective or in my case location, gave me the opportunity to approach my business from a different angle and flourish.

The closest shopping centre is over 100 kms away, however what I teach is irrespective of that distance. In a world of online shopping, I don’t have to be close to a shopping centre. Some of my clients are in a different state. How I teach means I can reach you on an outback station, on a farm across the state or living in town.

4. MAKING CONNECTIONS. Reaching out to others, forming connections and building a community of trusted women in business has been vital to overcoming the physical isolation that working on a farm creates.

I am big on supporting small, and as such making connections with small business owners has helped me discover new fashion brands and accessories across Australia. Another reason why I don’t need a shopping centre close to me. I know I can reach out to Leonie or Tracey, or Sarah and they’ll have me spoilt for choice for my clients.

5. NETWORKING AND UPSKILLING. I never stop learning. Whether it’s learning from others leading by example or upskilling in other areas. There are always gold nuggets to be found when getting another perspective.

If you are curious to know a little bit more about me and how I can help you with your clothes, then you can find me on Instagram or Facebook. To find out about my services and courses head to my website. Let’s stay connected by signing up to my email newsletter, links can be found on my socials and website.

HOW I REBUILT MY BUSINESS IN THE COUNTRY

By Melissa Woodward –Fearless Health

For the past three years, I have been no stranger to rebuilding my business after the two significant lockdowns in Sydney. I am the owner of a Health and Wellness business offering Remedial Massage and Personal Training services to women, in particular pregnant and post natal women. Alongside my husband, we were growing a strong business in Campbelltown NSW when the first lockdown occurred.

We made swift decisions to ensure the continued viability of our business but it also meant letting go of premises that we had worked so hard to transform into our space, as well as staff that we loved working with. When the lockdown occurred we lost every avenue of income that we had built in one day. Everything stopped. Our contracts, working with children at a community centre, fitness classes and of course my hands on massage clients all stopped.

It was an intense time made worse when my Dad was diagnosed with Leukaemia and later lost him to the disease. It was a period where I felt like I was losing everything I loved or worked so hard to achieve.

During the second lockdown and after the loss of my Dad, we decided that we couldn’t keep living like this with so many hours dedicated to work. Also watching the rising costs of housing taking our dreams of home ownership further away. We felt the urge to make a change as life could be taken away at any moment.

Then the idea of relocating came up in conversation. We started looking at the Domain property app to find which areas still had homes available within a price range we felt we could comfortably afford. This took us on a wild ride over the next 12 months as we made a change for our family and rebuilt the business one more time.

I wanted to share the process I went through in relocating and rebuilding my business in a new town to highlight the simple steps and resources you can access should you feel the urge to make a change too.

Let The Research Begin

1. MOVE TO MORE WEBSITE

As we began to research we had to figure out which direction we were heading. While the Domain app was helpful in property available, we also went through the Australian government funded website Move to More. The website showed population, median house price, infrastructure, weather, community and gave us the ability to compare our options.

We chose Dubbo as it had a good sized population, was a regional hub servicing a larger area, house prices within our expected affordability and still accessible to Sydney to visit my family. movetomore.com.au/

2. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

As a business owner who had been a member of the Chamber of Commerce, I wanted to get a feel for the types of businesses in the region so I looked up the Dubbo Chamber of Commerce website. I liked the variety of people featured on the website and that they also had a women in business initiative.

3. DUBBO REGIONAL COUNCIL

I looked up the region’s strategic plan for the years ahead, as well as the infrastructure investments being made. I noticed that they had recently redeveloped the hospital to include a state of the art maternity ward so I figured there must be a need with plenty of pregnant women who may also need to utilise my services. I have since learnt how vital the Dubbo Base Hospital is, not just for those in this town, but also in the far reaching towns of Western NSW that this hospital services.

4. SEEK

Relocating was a scary prospect so while I had plans to open my business, I also considered a back up plan of securing stable employment. Seek gave me an idea of the types of jobs available but also helped me find other businesses within my industry. I almost applied for a job as a way to get to know people but turns out I didn’t need it.

5. SEARCHING GOOGLE FOR SIMILAR BUSINESSES

As part of my research, I looked into what businesses were already in place and if there was a place for me. I looked up Remedial Massage, Pregnancy Massage and explored the fitness options.

6. ASK THOSE THAT HAD GONE BEFORE ME

I reached out to a colleague who had moved to a regional town on the North Coast of NSW. I asked her if Massage was needed and how she was finding the transition. She told me that the regions are in desperate need of all services, massage included.

7. A FAMILY HOLIDAY

After completing our research and deciding that Dubbo was likely the best place for us, we booked a week in Dubbo after Christmas in 2021. We took the opportunity to have fun by exploring the zoo and aquatic centre but also looked at rental properties from the outside (as most real estates were closed for the holiday period) and got to know the areas we could aim to live in. My favourite moment of the holiday was striking up a conversation with a pregnant mum at a playground. She asked what I did for work during the conversation and when I shared my business, her response was ‘we don’t have anything like that here’. This encounter was what sealed the deal for me as I was talking directly to my target client and there was space for me here.

Reaching Out To Make It Happen

1. BUSINESS NSW - WESTERN NSW CONTACT

On the Business NSW website I located the contact for the Western NSW region. I sent her an email asking for any assistance or advice with relocating my business to Dubbo. She gave me a call to discuss my move and gave insight into the region. We discussed the benefits of choosing Dubbo over smaller towns nearby. She also provided me with contacts for Dubbo Regional Council and Dubbo Chamber of Commerce.

2. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM AT DUBBO REGIONAL COUNCIL

I reached out to the team at Dubbo Regional Council to ask about any support or advice for relocating. One of my biggest challenges was securing a rental property for my family as this needed to be secured before even thinking about moving my business. They were kind enough to send through the list of real estate agents and recommended contacting them directly to discuss our situation and not just through rental applications. He even suggested dropping his name to help get some traction or attention with the agents.

3. REAL ESTATES

The first stage of our relocation plan was to secure a rental property before looking to buy a home. We wanted to get to know the area and also build solid employment. We applied for around 30 rental properties and felt lucky when one real estate agent took interest in our situation. She was able to get our application approved for a property.

One fun part of this relocation story is that my husband moved to Dubbo before the family. When we knew we were going to move and his workload was still significantly impacted following lockdowns in Campbelltown, he decided it would be best to get a job, move closer to be accessible for rental inspection. For six weeks he lived between pubs, donga at a worksite and came home some weekends. I stayed in Campbelltown with our two young boys, packing the house and continuing to work full time to see clients until our move date was set.

After a particularly stressful 48 hours which included floods, a large tree crashing into our yard and a drunk neighbour climbing the fence then sleeping at my bedroom window, I was almost ready to give up. But on that day, our rental application was approved so we began our next adventure.

Setting Up In My New Town

1. FINDING SPACE

While commercial Real Estate agents were my first port of call for a premises for my business, I also started to get creative and look at working alongside other health practitioners. I reached out to a Physiotherapist, who turned out we shared a mutual contact and asked about space with her. Turned out that the room she worked from was rented from a Psychologist, so she put me in touch with him. The rent was affordable and a lower commitment to help me get started. I was able to set up my massage room alongside health practitioners who are supportive and were quite keen to get on the massage table for treatment themselves.

2. GOOGLE

When researching other businesses within my industry, I noticed that there were not many with a strong marketing presence. Most likely because they were already booked out but as a new business to town, I needed to build that presence. I had my website in place so I updated the contact details for Dubbo, while also updating SEO for my new location. I was determined to get my Google Search ranking number 1 for Remedial Massage so while it took some work on the actual google set up, it also meant making sure my website reflected the same information and was easily searchable. The majority of my new clients come through Google, including those that have to come to town for shopping, medical appointments etc and are now able to book their Remedial Massage online which was found on google.

3. NETWORKING

Business networking has been a very important part of my business for the past 8 years so I knew I needed to tap into new networking opportunities here in Dubbo to get myself known, as well as learn more about the businesses here. I joined a local community membership at The Exchange and started to attend masterclasses to meet new people. I have since presented a masterclass for them as I wanted to give back for helping me get started. I also attended the Women in Business event hosted by the Dubbo Chamber of Commerce.

4. CLIENT NETWORK

One interesting thing I discovered in the move is how connected we all are. I was able to reconnect with an old client who had also relocated to Dubbo, 7 years after last seeing her. I also had my Campbelltown clients referring their friends and family in my new area. These became my first clients while I continued to work on improving my presence.

5. SOCIAL MEDIA

On top of the usual content shared on social media about myself and my services, I made sure I added my location on posts and location hashtags to get found. I also used the #dubbo to find other businesses to follow and connect with on Instagram. I genuinely looked to connect with businesses that I resonated with and not just for vanity numbers. I connected with one business in particular who I fell in love with straight away. Her business name is The Baby Loss Mentor and I thought this woman is doing something important. While we initially started to like each other’s content, I walked into the room of the Women in Business Chamber event and there she was standing in front of me in real life. We immediately clicked and have become great friends. We share my clinic room, spend days co-working and are each other’s biggest business cheerleaders, as well as support each other through our unique grief experiences. The power of social media is that it works alongside the real world. Online connections can lead to significant in person connections too.

Before I share the successes of our decision to relocate, I also want to acknowledge some of the challenges we faced so you get the full picture. Childcare places were in short supply with many centres only taking names for their waitlist. Once securing childcare, I was also the default parent who needed to take time off if my son was too sick for daycare.

And we had so many germs come home last year. In the past my husband and I could have juggled our schedules but his job meant working 6 days a week, 10 hours a day and as a casual, no paid leave. I really had to fight to keep going with my business. I did not want to waste all the knowledge and experience that was needed here but it was definitely a challenge to find a way to make it all work together.

On to the good stuff. In January, we purchased our very first family home and are settling into the fun of making the space our own. My business is thriving and massage bookings are filling up each week. I won two awards at the end of 2022 at the Altitude Awards for the Purpose Driven Award and the overall Inspiring Individual of the Year for my bravery in relocating and rebuilding. I was then featured on the front page of the local newspaper, as well as mentioned on ABC Western Plains Radio for my wins.

I have built a wonderful network of friends and small business owners here in Dubbo. I am preparing to launch a new chapter of the Women with Altitude networking group, to allow more women in the Western Plains region to connect together and be supported in business. And maybe there will be a place for more women like me who choose to make a change for their family, to achieve their goals and thrive in a new town.

Fearless Health

Melissa Woodward is a multi-award winning business owner of Fearless Health. She is a Remedial Massage Therapist and Personal Trainer focused on supporting women through the significant physical and emotional changes that come with pregnancy, post natal recovery, motherhood and menopause. She now calls Dubbo NSW home with her husband and two young boys.

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH MELISSA

Web: fearlesshealth.com.au

Melissa Woodward –

MY FIRST 10 YEARS IN BUSINESS –THEN VS NOW

By Nicole Coggan

I started my resume writing business in 2012 and as of last year, have been operational for 10 years. Before going into business for myself, I had worked as an Employment Consultant for major employment services such as DSDS, ITEC and MAX.

After the birth of my first child, I really didn’t want to be bound to the normal 9-5 routine, so I started my own resume business. This has allowed me to work from home to service private clients located right around Australia.

Marketing

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Of course, the first thing I did when I started my business was to sign up for Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook but to be honest, I didn’t find it that worthwhile. Other advertising mediums

such as AdWords were much more effective for the time and money spent. I did try my hand at Facebook and LinkedIn advertising but didn’t see any results.

Now I only have LinkedIn and Facebook, but I don’t really do any marketing on them. I just keep them updated and post about twice a week. About 1% of my customers come through these mediums.

ADWORDS:

When I first started out, 99% of my customers came from AdWords. I used the strategy outlined in The Four-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris and had my first customers within hours of going live. It was so exciting! Now, most of my customers come through referrals from previous customers so I only advertise during quiet periods such as school holidays and Christmas. Last year around 15% of my customers came through this medium.

If I wanted to go big and hire more staff, I would use this medium to get my customers, but I LOVE owning a small business and don’t want the stress of hiring staff.

WORD OF MOUTH:

At the start I relied on Google AdWords for nearly all my customers. Now over 50% of my clients have been referred to me by a previous customer. This is great news because it means that my past customers are happy with my work and spreading the word, and I don’t need to pay for advertising.

WEBSITE:

My website was a major pain point for many years. When I first started out I had my website on Webs but I got the idea in my head that I should transition to WordPress. Huge mistake! My tech skills are not the best so I really struggled anytime I needed to do an update or get something to work.

Now I use Wix and I couldn’t be happier. It’s so EASY! The rest of my clients come through my website. I have a blog and it brings in quite a bit of traffic which then converts to paid clients.

GOOGLE MY BUSINESS:

One of the best FREE ways of advertising my business has got to be having a Google My Business profile. Even though I service clients Australia-wide, I saw a massive increase in local traffic once I started using this medium.

AWARDS:

This year I also won the Australian Enterprise Awards 'Best Independent Resume Writer of the Year' Award which has resulted in some great publicity for my business and really helped with my marketing.

Financial Management

CASHBOOKS VS XERO:

For the first two years I was in business I used a simple free cashbook online to keep track of my finances. I had to input everything manually and it took way more time. I also managed my own accounting the first couple of years including the end of year returns.

Now I use Xero and it’s super simple to keep track of my expenses. I have also outsourced both the book-keeping and the accounting to the professionals. It has ended up saving me heaps of money because the accountant knew how to legally claim much more than I did.

Customer Service PAYMENTS:

When I first started out, customers didn’t have to pay me until they had the work. I used this strategy to set myself apart from the competition but the follow up was time consuming and occasionally people would take the work I had done and run, never to be seen or heard from again. Also, sometimes it would be literally months before they would pay me.

About three years in, I switched to upfront payment. I thought this would plummet my sales but 99% of people were good about it and most expected it anyway. It saved so much administration time.

BUSINESS BOUNDARIES:

One of my biggest issues at the start was business boundaries. This was completely on me. I wanted to provide the best customer service out there, so I responded to calls and

emails as soon as they came in – even if it was 1am in the morning (CRAZY), on weekends and on public holidays. I remember once I was on a family trip with my husband and kids to the coast and I spent the whole holiday glued to my laptop. I ended up completely overwhelmed and crying all day because I couldn’t relax.

Now I switch the phone off outside of office hours and leave the laptop behind if I’m on holiday. Down time is so important. You can’t serve anyone if your cup is empty!

HIRING/OUTSOURCING:

At one stage I decided that I wanted to hire some help. Mostly for the time consuming tasks such as social media management, answering the phone and responding to emails. I tried outsourcing a bunch of things with limited success. Originally, I outsourced the phone calls to a Virtual Receptionist who was located in rural NSW. She was amazing and this worked for about two years. When she retired, I tried to find an alternative Virtual Receptionist but the service was nowhere near the same and I moved it back inhouse. In about year five I hired a full-time assistant to do everything except write the resumes. She was amazing but I found that I didn’t quite have enough work to justify a full-time employee.

Now I have a Virtual Assistant who works five hours per week and handles most of my social media, graphic design tasks and website updates. I also have my original fulltime assistant who now works for me on a casual basis when I am on holidays or super busy and a bookkeeper who manages all my accounting and invoices. This seems to be the best mix.

THE OFFICE:

I kept the home office for the first 8 years and then identified that I really missed an office environment, so I rented a small office in a coworking centre. This was amazing however after about a year the centre shut down and I had to find a new office.

Now I rent a small office in the Toowoomba City for days when I see clients and work from the home office on the days when I don’t have meetings which brings a nice balance to everything.

The Future

I’m really happy with the way my business runs, and I love working with clients from around Australia to help them get more interviews and the job of their dreams. When I first started out, I priced a resume at $99. Ten years later I’ve only raised it to $159.

At some point this year, I will need to raise my prices again to keep up with inflation but at the same time I really want to make sure that everyone can afford a professional resume. It’s the number one thing anyone can do to improve their career and I don’t want people missing out because they can’t afford it.

Nicole Coggan is an experienced resume writer with over 12+ years’ experience helping Australian clients write a resume that gets more interviews. Specialising in resumes, cover letters and selection criteria writing, Nicole uses her experience to create resumes that get results.

When she’s not writing resumes or criteria, Nicole is an avid Game of Thrones fan who loves playing netball, indoor rock climbing and exploring lifestyle and music festivals around southeast Queensland.

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH NICOLE

0439 160 982

nic@nicolecogganresumes.com

Web: www.nicolejessicacoggan.com

Facebook: nicolejcoggan

Nicole Coggan

REAL BUSINESS LESSONS

Drones have come a long way in a very short period of time from first being used in the US military to carry out surveillance in enemy areas to now being used for everyday use around the world.

I discovered drones a few years ago and could see the benefit to enhance and expand my photography business (Cliff Shipton Photography) in the Bega Valley on the NSW far south coast area. Bega valley is in the southernmost part of NSW along the eastern seaboard of Australia, better known as the Sapphire Coast due to its pristine coastal beaches and rich dairy farmland that produces the famous and tasty Bega cheese. I grew up in the Bega Valley with a dairy and beef farming background and although I don’t own or work on farms full time I still manage to get out and help family, cousins and friends regularly to assist with tractor work, farm maintenance, mowing, pruning, cattle handling, solar panel cleaning and anything else that may be required, including photography.

I moved away when I was 18 to join the Australian defence force and to see the world, to learn a new trade and meet new people. I served 6 years in the defence force as a Combat Field engineer at Holsworthy Army base in Sydney. There I learnt and developed many new skills and acquired not just truck licences but all my earthmoving and civil experience from building roads, carparks, bridges, airfields, culverts and demolition tasks. Since being discharged from the Australian defence force in 1992, I have gone on and continued my earthmoving and civil construction career which has led me to the position of Roads Coordinator at Bega Valley Shire Council.

DRONES OPEN UP IMMEASURABLE OPPORTUNITIES

By Cliff Shipton –Cliff Shipton Photography

To cut a long story short, I have always had a passion for photography but never really did much about it until around 5yrs ago when I decided to buy some good quality camera gear and a couple of lenses. This helped me to start my journey, only as a hobby to begin with, and learn the art of good photography. From here photography has progressed into a lot more than just something to do or a hobby, photography has begun my little business (Cliff Shipton Photography) in the Bega valley and beyond as a very reputable and award-winning photographer. So much so that I have been asked to judge the photography competition at the Far South Coast National Show in Bega - quite the honour! I’ve generated quite a nice little side hustle away from my full time job at Bega Valley Shire Council. Cameras are always in my Ute no matter where I go these days because if I don’t have them then I will inevitably have missed an opportunity to capture something special and everlasting.

I purchased a drone about three years ago and this has been a game changer for me. I can now offer exceptional photography from above. I carry out all sorts of drone photography, from still photos, videos, farm mapping, large panoramas and many other requirements from the air.

I currently have two drone devices I use and each year I spend around 2500 minutes in the air capturing awesome images. I get a lot of requests to drone large and small properties, for photos, videos, searching for cattle, farm survey, checking property boundaries and hard to reach places on foot. I photograph anything from landscapes, seascapes, rural scenes, weddings, portraits, real estate, animals, construction companies, new buildings, silage harvesting, crop harvest and flood events. Wedding photography and imagery is a real hit using drones. If you have

approval to operate them over and around people then, in most cases, it’s possible to do.

I’m currently looking to upgrade my current drones to a more advanced model with so many more capabilities which will only increase my ability to capture better quality photography, video and offer farm mapping at a more advanced level.

Drones have so much capability and what they can achieve is endless whether it be just photography, video, weed spraying, search, and rescue, shark spotting over coastal beaches, cattle/sheep mustering, fence line inspections to quantity surveying in construction.

Drones require different levels of licensing and registration, depending on weight of the aircraft, what you are using it for and what you would like to achieve. I operate my drone as a sub 2kg category. All the required information for drones and licensing is available on the CASA’s (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) website.

I have sold many photos from my social media page to people, on which I post almost every day. This is usually photos from somewhere I’ve been, an event, wedding, or anything that I think my followers like to see. I see photography as a semi-retirement plan that I have been working on over the past two years. It’s certainly gone from strength to strength and to think it started with purchasing a camera then hearing friends and family say ‘why don’t you have a go at taking and selling photos for a living’.

My drones and cameras go everywhere I go just about, with a few exceptions of course where there may be restrictions or basically, I

need a break away from them.

Recently I have just completed a drones in agriculture course through Tocal College which was fantastic. I have just enrolled into an on-farm mapping and survey two-day course also, as I feel that on-farm mapping is the way of the future.

Drones can help to manage:

• stock

• crops

• fodder

• assets

• irrigation

Along with many other activities from the air. So much valuable information can be gained this way which will inevitably increase productivity across the board.

Photography and drones have opened my eyes to a bigger world out there, even though I have travelled the majority of Australia and been to many places overseas. Photography has taught me to stop, take a breath and appreciate the awesome beauty the earth has to offer.

My photos tell a story from wherever I go, and I have many awesome memories of my travels and adventures through the viewfinder of a camera or my drone.

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH CLIFF

0403 230 459

REAL BUSINESS LESSONS

SERVICING CLIENTS ALL OVER THE WORLD FROM REGIONAL AUSTRALIA

By Ondina Montgomery –omcre8tiv

Who would have thought that you could start and successfully operate a consulting business providing marketing and branding services, produce and finance local and international movies, provide mentorship and communication ethics services to a wide range of businesses from all around the world – without leaving your home in the hinterland the northern rivers in regional Australia. At omcre8tiv we did!

After living many years abroad in Europe and Asia we initially thought returning to live in rural Australia would put us out of reach for most of the things we love to do in work and play. And we returned during a global pandemic that gripped the world and seemed to signal the end of civilization as we knew it! We wanted to live in rural Australia to give our young children access to a lifestyle that provided quality living with clean air, great beaches, nature on tap, organic foods and if we were fortunate enough quality education, extra activities and engaging entertainment.

We were prepared to compromise our business opportunities to get these great life building skills for them. What has resulted is beyond

our wildest imagination. Living and working in Australia has proved to be idyllic and it feels like a model for the rest of the world to follow. And we have had experience living in multiple countries so we can compare. Sure, there is the need for kaizen, the continual improvement of the process, but realistically what a great base we have to work from. As Pink Martini sings in the song ‘Lemons give you lemonade’, there was an upside to the pandemic. It fast forwarded everyone getting online in both personal and business at such a rate it made the virtual world feel and be more ‘real’.

Business truly became a case of ‘meet you on zoom’. And thankfully business for us as creative strategists increased, not waned. We were able to expand our key team to include specialists from around the world to work with us virtually, and to deliver world class services to meet our client’s needs. Mentors from Bucharest, professors from London, specialists from Canada and the USA, designers, and manufacturers from all across Asia and the Middle East, consultants Australia wide…and clients from all around the world. And all this happened from our house overlooking the rolling hills of Bungalow.

The children’s education was well catered for with a local mini-bus collecting them from a bus stop tucked away on a beautiful country lane. After school activities were endless, from traditional karate, drama, and dancing to surfing and the more exotic trapeze training at the local circus. Strong internet and wifi allowed for all our work to be stable, while streaming services are easily accessible allowing access to great movies and interactive games and numerous apps. There is nothing really lacking to hold back the avalanche in technology for the children and us. And cultural opportunities like museums,

opera, theatre and interactive art spaces were only two hours away either by car or regional air travel.

Australia provides affordable top level medical care, and has supported an economy through devastating fires, record flooding and global pandemic. It’s not the sort of support we were expecting or you would receive in other countries, and while there have been some mistakes it is by no means what I would call inappropriate or questionable considering the depth and breadth of the issues we have faced as a community.

Ondina & Mark Montgomery –omcrea7tiv

omcre8tive is a strategic design group that defibrillates your ideas and visions.

When we think about the situation we are in and talk to our friends living overseas, especially those with children, we feel blessed to be living in the hinterland of Byron Bay with all its fresh home-grown organic vegetables, meats, dairy and conserves all available at the regular markets or in cute little roadside stalls that you drive by on a daily basis.

We see business all around us thriving. For us life could not be more idyllic under the circumstances and with the rise of the virtual world we are living in paradise and working online.

Founded by Ondina and Mark Montgomery during the global pandemic, they have fused their unique set of skills that they perfected in the fashion and entertainment industries and made them available to entrepreneurs, founders and established businesses who are looking to avoid making critical creative mistakes in their business planning.

With an atom to multiverse approach, and innate knowledge of enterprise and strategic design learned along the start-up path to commercialisation their counsel is succinct, unexpected, innovative and omnidirectional.

We consult businesses, providing practical and strategic solutions to create exceptional experiences. We design integrated business, brand and communication strategies for established companies, and emerging startups.

With a focus on the end-user and technology, we identify key areas of discord and opportunity within the market, utilising design thinking and strategy to meet business objectives.

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

FARM MANAGEMENT PLANNING – WRITE IT DOWN

By Court McCauley –Homestead Ag Advisory & Accounting

Making a business plan might sound like something you would do when starting a new business. This business plan might be the portfolio you take to banks and investors when looking for your startup funding. But the truth of it is, every business needs ongoing planning. Given the host of variables farmers face, good planning becomes even more crucial.

Honestly, ‘planning’ can be such a broad term and include things like workflow planning, risk management planning, financial planning

and more. The list goes on! To keep things on track, I’m going to focus on the types of planning I deal with day to day as a farm management accountant that can have a huge impact on your farm business.

Farm management planning can include everything from your daily or weekly tasks and to-do lists, to your annual budgets, your 5-year goals, and all the way to your longterm succession or retirement plans.

What could we be doing?

Different people will tell you to prioritise these forms of planning differently. I believe you can work through them in the order that is right for you. If you need your daily task list squared away before you can even begin to think about your overall business goals, then do that first!

When I’m speaking with clients and helping them through their initial management planning, this is the process I like to follow:

1. STRATEGIC PLANNING (MEDIUM TO LONG TERM)

Where do you want your farming business to be in the next five to ten years? What goals do you want to achieve?

Setting these goals gives you the target you’re aiming for, which makes it much easier to determine how you’re going to get there. Your goals can be anything! To buy another farm, to move from working on and off farm to being solely supported by the farming business, to drought (or flood) proof your farm, invest in various property improvements, to grow an award winning wheat crop, develop your livestock to meet specific benchmarks, market your products to local consumers, add in a contracting business – the sky's the limit! Pick what you’re passionate about and write it down.

2. BUDGETING – THE ROAD MAP (SHORT TO MEDIUM TERM)

Every business needs a budget. They are an essential tool for owners and managers. Budgets set out what you plan to achieve in your business and lay out your road map for getting there. Doing them in your head does not count – you must write it down!

Once you have a written budget you can review the impact of your plan on your cash flow, and deal with any funding gaps early, determine if your plan is viable, trial different scenarios, make any tweaks or improvements and share your plan with your team.

The biggest value from your budget comes later, when you compare what happened with your budgeted figures. You get to find out where you were right, where you were wrong, and, more importantly, why? Did something change, or were your assumptions wrong? You get to learn how to improve both your budgeting and what you’re doing on farm. You get a deeper understanding of how your farm business works.

When you’re comparing your actuals to your budget, and figuring out the reason behind the variances, write it down. Write down the what and the why. It holds you accountable and can be invaluable when you’re looking at what has happened in order to make a decision to move forward.

3. TASK LISTS (SHORT TERM)

Tasks lists are one of the most basic things that you can do to keep yourself and your team on track. I like to use the planning that I’ve done in preparing my budget as the basis for my task list – is sowing coming up? Then I need to make sure all the machinery is in working order, seed, fertiliser, fuel and chemicals are ordered or in the shed.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by everything we must do, which can lead to nothing getting done or the wrong things being prioritised. One of the best things a previous director of mine used to do was get us to write down our task lists, then when we went through them together he would give us our top 1-5 priorities. By having us write out our own task lists we were taking responsibility for our jobs,

then allowing the boss with the oversight of the whole operation to determine which were most important at any one time.

It is much easier to prioritise a list of jobs than to try to think of everything that may need to be done.

Of course, tasks and priorities can change without warning, especially in farming. Having a task list doesn’t mean that you can’t deviate from it.

4. TAX PLANNING –ANNUAL AND LOOKING AHEAD

Tax planning won’t be required in every business every year. In the third year of a drought with large carried forward tax losses, I wouldn’t recommend it!

However, when the outlook is good, you’re selling livestock, harvesting decent crops, contracting round the clock, or punching out hay bales, a little bit of tax planning can make a big difference.

If you’re not quite sure where you sit, it’s a good idea to check in and see. It doesn’t have to be a full-blown tax plan, but a review of your position and a chat with your accountant can ease your mind or show the need for a more detailed plan.

The bigger the decision that you’re looking to make, the further out you need to start your tax planning. For selling trading stock (grain, hay, livestock, etc.), pre-30 June tax planning is generally sufficient. If you’re looking at selling a property, you might need to start planning for that 5 years out or more.

5. SUCCESSION PLANNING (LONG TERM)

Succession planning is still underutilised in farming businesses.

It’s a tricky area, full of tax and legal implications and can be highly emotionally charged.

The four best bits of advice I’ve come across in relation to succession planning are:

i. it’s never too early to start

ii. keep communication open, honest, and respectful

iii. engage the experts

iv. the succession plan is never ‘done’.

Every member of every family will have different wants, needs and expectations, which can be very difficult to manage. And it’s unlikely that everyone will be happy with all of the outcomes.

Yet, just because something is difficult, doesn’t mean it’s not worth doing. Starting succession planning in your farming business

can allow for the older generation to plan for a well-supported life after farming, while the younger generation have something to base their longer term on or off farm plans around. It can remove unmet expectations and, in some cases, help to prevent costly litigation and bitter disputes between family members upon the death of a loved one.

How can we start?

Start by looking at what you’re already doing and build from there. You don’t need to throw everything out and start from scratch, and it doesn’t have to be perfect to start with. Are you already preparing an annual budget for the bank? If so, think about how you can start to turn that into a management tool in your farm business.

You’re already running your farm business, so you’re already carrying out daily and weekly tasks. Can you streamline these? Utilise an app, set repeating tasks, delegate, prioritise and make it clear who has what responsibility. For strategic planning, I’m betting you already have an idea of what you’re trying to achieve. Start by writing it down. Define your vision for your farm and set some goals to measure your success.

If you’re not already doing regular tax planning and developing the succession plan for your farming business, start the conversation with your accountant and solicitor, and start to get some plans and advice in writing.

The key takeaways:

When it comes to your farm management planning, my top three tips and take aways are:

1. START WHERE YOU ARE.

It’s never too early to start planning, and you can make the most difference the sooner you start. There’s no such thing as being in the ‘right’ place to start planning.

2. CONTINUOUSLY REVIEW AND IMPROVE.

As Brian Tracy said ‘Practice the philosophy of continuous improvement. Get a little bit better every single day.’

3. GET EXPERT ADVICE.

Engaging experts to provide you with good advice can save you a lot of time, money, and frustration in the long run.

You don’t need to throw everything out and start from scratch, and it doesn’t have to be perfect to start with.

Court McCauley –Homestead AG Advisory & Accounting

Court was raised on a beef cattle and cropping farm near Cowra on the Lachlan River. Her love of agriculture started from a very young age, always out helping her dad on the farm. Even when things weren’t going to plan the process of problem solving, learning, collaborating, failing, pivoting, and, eventually, winning was exciting and still drives Court.

After studying at UNE in Armidale, Court worked as an accountant in Dubbo for nearly 10 years, working nearly exclusively with farming clients whilst qualifying to become a chartered accountant. She was able to learn from clients about their farms and farming practices and see what information the top tier of farmers wanted to know before making decisions.

After a further couple of years working with farming clients in Moree, Court and her husband Brett knew it was time to move their young family back closer to home. Currently living on a property near Canowindra and raising three very strong-willed children, Court has opened her own firm, Homestead Ag, specialising in advisory and accounting for farmers.

Court now gets to use her agricultural background and accounting expertise to bring management accounting to farmers, to strengthen and grow farming businesses.

PAY YOURSELF, SMASH DEBTS, AND GROW PROFITS USING PROFIT FIRST

By Emily Sinderberry –EJS Business Services

Profit First is a cutting-edge method of money management for businesses. You pay yourself first, which is a somewhat astonishing concept but should sound wonderful to any business owner.

Using the Profit First approach to money management you can make sure you pay yourself first, always have money available to pay GST and tax on-time, have money to cover expenses, all while growing a healthy profit!

Mike Michalowicz created the Profit First system of bank balance accounting and money management, which is still relatively new but is quickly gaining momentum and results. He outlines this system in his book, Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine.

How Can Profit First Help Small Businesses?

The Profit First system is a fantastic fit for an entrepreneurial way of thinking given the constant stream of start-ups and entrepreneurs striving to carve out their own niche in business.

Start-ups frequently fail despite having new ideas because they employ antiquated accounting practices and have no understanding how to handle their finances in a way that will be advantageous to the business over the long term.

Modern business practices are everything but conventional, and a time-tested approach to math doesn’t really apply.

The conventional way that a business manages its money is:

Revenue – Expenses = Profit

Profit First, as you might be able to guess, rearranges this equation:

Revenue – Profit = Expenses

Profit First is an established system with proven results, not just an idea. Using the Profit First methodology, you pay yourself first and put aside money to grow the business, before you allocate funds to expenses.

This cash management system ensures that the business owner is always paid, no matter how small the income may be. It also gives business owners solid spending boundaries and ensures debts are taken care of before adding more expenses or cutting owner’s pay to pay bills.

After all, we don’t go into business to not get paid!

Well, all of that sounds tremendous, but how is it possible?

In the Profit First system, you pay the owner’s wage, profit and taxes first using set percentages of the total revenue gained. The remainder is allocated to expenses.

If your expenses do not fit into the allocated expenses budget, you will need to focus on aggressively reducing the expenses to operate within your means. A Certified Profit First Professional can help you do that!

Working with me as your money mentor (or any Profit First Professional), you can learn strategies for growing profits and reducing expenses. Even expenses you thought of as fixed can be reduced.

We have a natural inclination to spend all the available funds to maintain the business and pay our bills. We will therefore be forced to learn how to manage our operation within the budgets allotted if we are aware of the exact amount of money that is available to pay our expenses.

Profit First forces you to manage your debts efficiently, develop efficient operating processes, and make informed decisions that will grow your business.

It does take some adjustment and a good dose of discipline, but I guarantee it works – especially with the guidance of an accountability partner such as a Profit First Professional.

A Change in Mindset

Regardless of income level, money is a persistent source of stress for many business owners!

There are a multitude of business owners who have no idea how much revenue they will have made at the end of the financial year. They just live invoice to invoice hoping everything will work out. This is not an efficient way of making your business’ cash flow work! By the end of the year, you will have spent everything and be left wondering where all of that money went…

Through implementing Profit First, money stress is reduced considerably because you are getting paid every month, debts are being managed, and you have enough cash to pay tax and GST on time, every time. PLUS you are growing your business and your profits! What’s not to love about that?!

Profit First can involve challenging choices to cut costs, but it also puts sensible solutions at the forefront of your mind, rather than just worrying about the basic survival or functioning of your business.

This cash management system has some similarities to the Barefoot Investor’s way of thinking if you are familiar with Scott Pape’s work. You don’t spend money growing the business or buying the things you want to make your business broader. You cut your costs first, pay debts and your tax, and build your profits in the bank.

The Growing Evidence…

There are a multitude of online reviews and testimonials for the Profit First approach to money management, and the evidence is growing rapidly that it really does work. I personally have implemented the system in my businesses, as well as helped many other small business owners across a range of industries to implement it in their businesses and the results are astonishing!

Small businesses who have waded into shallow cash-flow waters through mismanagement are finding they can pull their business back from the brink of collapse easily, and successfully thrive as they move forward with this system.

The system works because it leverages our human behaviour, rather than trying to change our natural behaviour.

Whether you are just starting out in business, or you are looking for an easy to follow and implement money management approach that helps you grow your business, you can definitely benefit from Profit First. You don’t have to read the book to implement the system. You can simply engage a Profit First Professional to guide you on the setup and implementation.

If you are interested in learning more about the Profit First cash management system or if you are keen to get started, reach out to me and let’s have a chat!

Emily Sinderberry –EJS Business Services

Emily is a passionate rural woman, Profit

First bookkeeper, money mentor, podcast host, farmer, and mother. She lives on a property North of Condobolin in Central West NSW. Emily and her team support overwhelmed and time poor business owners to transform passion into profit, and focus on their families and parts of the business they love.

EJS Business Services provide bespoke bookkeeping and business strategy services to rural, regional and remote small businesses across Australia. They deliver high quality, long-term bookkeeping solutions using the Pure Bookkeeping system which follows industry best practice. Their rural knowledge and holistic suite of bookkeeping and business strategy services is why they have built the reputation as the go-to for rural bookkeeping services.

Web: ejsbusinessservices.com.au

ejsbusinessservices

@ejsbusinessservices

0429 688 689

A Q&A SESSION WITH A GRANTS MASTER

With Prue Saxby –Indigo Gold Pty Ltd & Grant Writing Academy

The team at Rural Entrepreneur Australia recently spoke to Grant Master Prue to uncover some important tips on how you can secure more grants, to grow your business.

What common mistakes do people make when applying for grants?

A lot of mistakes occur right at the start, when people fail to read the guidelines in enough detail. It’s important to check what is, and isn’t, eligible (allowed) under the grant opportunity. If they haven’t been careful enough, and they apply for ineligible items their application may be deemed ineligible. This is a shame when it’s a lost opportunity.

I encourage would-be applicants to contact the funder and discuss anything that needs clarification. Most grant personnel are super helpful, so it’s well worth the effort.

When I talk with grant personnel and ask them the key things that applicants struggle with, ‘the budget’ is always mentioned. I recommend you create a budget early and make sure it’s accurate with enough detail.

Give yourself enough time to get the application completed without rushing!

When there is limited time, people tend to omit important information and the whole application can be messy (not cohesive) and confusing to read. This is likely to result in the assessor noting that you aren’t organised (so you may not be a good recipient of their funding).

When people come into my grant writing community, I ask them to list the three things which are a struggle, in relation to grants. A common response is ‘knowing what to write.’ And this is reflected in drafts I see from applicants. It’s obvious that they don’t understand the question, and this can result in waffling on about the same topic, or including irrelevant information and not explaining other information the funder is wanting.

During the response-writing process, applicants can fail to understand or communicate the benefits of the project and impacts to the wider industry or community –things like employment or the flow-on effects to residents or other organisations in their industry.

You want your application to be enjoyable for the assessor, so make it easy to read. Think about breaking up large amounts of text with dot points. You don’t want to make it confusing to read, so make sure your sentences are in the correct order.

What are important things to keep in mind when engaging a grant writer?

Do a bit of prep before you contact them. Do a bit of homework first to understand the requirements of the grant and write down the questions you want to ask. Do you want them to write the responses, or do you also need them to prepare attachments (such as a Project Plan) and help with support letters?

Does their availability match with yours? Can they confirm they will have it finished when it suits you?

Don’t just ask for an hourly rate; get a price for the complete job. One grant writer may have a low hourly rate, but may take them three times as long to do the job as another grant writer. Ask if you will get the originals of all the documents that they create; i.e. who will ‘own’ the documents? If they aren’t asking you for more details that could be a flag that they haven’t got the experience required for a quality job.

It’s important to ask them about their experience writing grants for your industry, and with the amount you are requesting. Ask for at least two names of referees, and then phone the contact to check on the quality of the grant writer’s work. You might expect their experience will be reflected in the price, so expect a fair and reasonable cost for the service and complexity of the grant and attachments that are needed.

What are the common questions which will be asked in a grant application?

The first thing to keep in mind is that grant applications vary. There will be a mix of questions; some needing just a few words, and others which will require longer responses. The smaller questions will confirm your eligibility, ask you for a project summary, capture project start and finish dates and general organisational details (key contacts, project location).

Longer responses, in a non-complex grant application, will require you to explain:

• What your organisation does

• About the project (what you want to do)

• Why the project is necessary and who it will benefit

• How will you deliver and manage the project

What should I do if my application is unsuccessful?

It’s important to persevere. If you believe your project has great alignment with the intent of the funding, keep trying. Your application may have been a worthy application, but unfortunately didn’t make the final ‘cut’ this time.

I encourage you to find out if the funder provides feedback on individual applications, and if they do, ask for it.

Sometimes they provide general feedback, so reviewing this can also be helpful.

Evaluate your application and consider why it may have been rejected.

Consider: what else you could have included; the quality of your attachments; did your project align well to the intent of the funding?

When the successful applicants are announced, review the information and compare successful projects with yours. Do a bit of research to determine: their successful applicant’s organisational size and experience; length of time in the industry; how far (geographically) they will administer the project (if it’s a service delivery grant).

Note what you could do to improve your grant writing and process for next time.

Have an independent person, with grant writing experience, review your unsuccessful application. Ask them to let you know how well your responses answered the questions and met the objectives listed in the guidelines.

What can I do if I’m struggling with grants?

I offer heaps of free help and information. You can enjoy weekly grant tips, a monthly grant list, and a blueprint for grant writing. If you want to ask questions you can do this in my free Grant Writing Academy Facebook group.

It’s all easy to access at www.indigogold.com.au

PROTECTING YOUR BUSINESS IN THE EVENT OF A RELATIONSHIP BREAKDOWN OR DIVORCE

By Emma Maxwell –Anchored Family Law

Every profession seems to have its own patterns or trends. As a family lawyer, one of the patterns I’ve observed is that there are several common triggers for relationship and marriage breakdowns. Those triggers could be multiple young children, children leaving home and, quite often, one spouse establishing their own, successful business. This means that I often have matters coming across my desk where the parties are dividing their assets and one party in particular is very concerned about protecting their business in the separation.

Even if you’re not contemplating separation, turning your mind to how you would deal with your business in the event of a divorce or de facto relationship breakdown is a good idea. The first challenge is understanding how the Family Law Act deals with businesses when dividing matrimonial and de facto asset pools, which is through the ‘four step process’.

The first of these steps is determining what is in the asset pool. Essentially, all assets, liabilities and financial resources of the parties are pooled together – even assets from prior to the relationship or assets in individual names or held in a trust or other company arrangement. This is called the ‘one asset pool approach’. This means that, yes, even your business is part of the matrimonial asset pool, even if your spouse never worked in or on the business.

The second step is considering what the various contributions of the parties were. This includes financial contributions (such as your income, or an inheritance), non-financial contributions (such as renovating a house and increasing the value of the asset pool that way) and parenting and homemaker contributions. The third step is assessing the future needs of the parties – and what could make those future needs greater or lesser for one of

the parties. This could be factors such as poor health and its impact on your ability to work, care of young children and even family violence.

When I explain steps two and three to clients, I like to describe a set of scales with contributions and future needs tipping the scales back and forth until we have what is a ‘fair’ percentage of the asset pool for each party. And that’s not always a 50/50 arrangement.

The final step is considering whether the property settlement is just and equitable.

So, what does this mean for you as a business owner? Well, firstly, in the event that you separate, your business is effectively ‘up for grabs’ in the settlement. And depending on how those scales balance out for you, may mean that you retain your business rather

than another asset such as a house or all of your superannuation. Or it may mean that your business is sold so that the assets of the business can be divided between you.

If the thought of this happening is worrying, there are steps you can take prior to separation to protect your business. One of those steps is considering a Binding Financial Agreement which is also known as a BFA or a prenup (even though they can be made at any time, including after marriage).

A BFA is essentially contracting out of having your matter dealt with under the Family Law Act. For this reason, BFAs are highly regulated and a complex area of family law.

If you would like to enter into a BFA, or otherwise protect your business after separation, you should seek advice from an experienced family lawyer.

Emma Maxwell –

Anchored Family Law

Anchored Family Law was founded by Emma Maxwell in 2022. A respected solicitor of 15 years, Emma has long observed a number of separating people fall into a gap in the family law system — they don’t qualify for legal aid, yet the services of traditional family law firms are simply beyond their financial reach. By unbundling family law services and delivering them using the power of technology, Anchored Family Law makes quality legal assistance accessible to such individuals.

Family law is about people and their stories, and this is truly where Emma shines — telling those stories effectively, clearly and in the best possible light. After becoming a mother — and subsequently finding herself living, working and raising a baby during the COVID-19 lockdowns — Emma decided that she wanted to practise family law differently, and Anchored Family Law was born. Honed by years of expertise, Emma produces exceptional quality Court documents for her clients, which have been used by the Courts to teach other lawyers.

More than anything, she understands that her clients need strength, reliability and support at this time in their lives and takes a trauma-informed approach to her work. She is passionate about helping clients through the family law system and into the next phase of their lives.

Emma currently lives and works on the regional property she shares with her family, and an array of animals including several dogs, horses and a goat.

WHY OUTSOURCING SHOULDN’T BE THE MONSTER UNDER THE DESK

By Meredith Nowlan –The Regional OBM

Are you scared to death by outsourcing? You may be up until 1am catching up on the bookwork or your client experience is more spotty than the internet, but you feel that has got to be better than waking up the monster that is outsourcing.

Rather than actually contracting someone to assist you in your business. You chant to yourself that:

• it’s too expensive

• it’s not the right time

• training new people is just too timeconsuming and you don’t even know where to begin anyway

• I can’t until I’ve got [insert extremely unachievable goal here] finished…but you actually don’t know how to do [insert extremely unachievable goal here].

When I threw this question into a Facebook group recently, these were just some of the

answers I received. And throughout all of the answers, a fear of the unknown was the underlying message.

And I get it. I’ve been a victim of each one of these hesitations at one stage or another. Still, as I move further into the virtual space, I come to realise that it’s the newness of virtual services as a whole that frightens people away from outsourcing. Gone are the days when you sat down, eye to eye with potential candidates. Nowadays, we utilise Zoom, and hell, they might not even be wearing pants during the interview! How could you trust a person with your business when there are so many unseen variables?

There are simple steps you can take to gain a better understanding of how to successfully outsource. These practical steps can help you take control of your outsourcing fears and go forward with confidence.

1. GET SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT FROM YOUR OUTSOURCING QUEST

Don’t go into your first outsourcing venture blind or with unrealistic expectations. To find the right fit for your business, get specific about the tasks you need to take off your plate. Once you start listing tasks (e.g. email management, social media creation, website updates), you may realise these tasks may require very different skill sets and that’s ok. It’s better you start looking in the right direction than for an Administrative Unicorn that doesn’t exist.

If you aren’t sure about what tasks you need to take off your plate, start thinking about what you don’t enjoy doing or what you are leaving until last (and taking ages because you are dragging your feet or you know it’s not income producing). Nine times out of then, that’s where you should start.

2. FIND SOMEONE WHO’S BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

Oh my gosh - outsourcing for the first time is similar to when I let someone look after my firstborn. You aren’t keen to do it with someone when there is no existing relationship. So turn to a business buddy who’s been down this road before. Tell them your plan and ask them what their experiences have been. Can they recommend someone? What did they like best about them? Where did they struggle?

Word-of-mouth recommendations are powerful. People don’t make the effort unless they feel it's deserved. If trust is a biggie for you, this is the route I would take. You can also ask a service provider if you can contact some of their previous clients or have a paid trial run to see if you will work well together.

3. PREPARATION IS KEY

So you’ve found someone suitable. But have you given them any instructions for the task? If the person you are outsourcing to is a seasoned pro, chucking them in the deep end might not phase them. However, you should brace yourself for more backand-forth communication and the need to give feedback and constructive criticism on the finished product. Without guidelines, a standard to work against, and setting aside time for some task familiarisation, you will spend more time onboarding your new team member than you wanted.

Before onboarding your new team member, map out the process from start to finish, focusing on tasks that each of you will be responsible for (this is called creating a workflow). Write down where all of the templates/links/assets you’ll need for the task can be found and use a screen recording app (such as Loom) to show and explain exactly how you have been completing the tasks. This step will change your life and your new team members will thank you for it.

4. SET A BUDGET

If spending money or having the project blow out is one of the factors that is holding you back, then knowing exactly what you can afford to spend is key. During your research stages, you’ll be able to gauge if this is a realistic amount or not. You may need to tailor what you outsource to your spending.

Implement these actionable steps to your outsourcing and that lurking monster turns into a kitten. Yes, there might be some teething issues in infancy, but this next step for your business is not scary. Not only is it very doable, but it’s also the key to achieving growth in your business as you get to focus on your zone of genius for longer. Saying goodbye to burnout and hello to a better work-life balance is definitely a great recipe for success!

Meredith Nowlan –

The Regional OBM

I’m Meredith, a mumma to 3 girls, lover of smoko time (twice a day, please) and an avid gardener - although my husband thinks I’m more of a garden planner than the get-dirty kind. Don’t listen to him.

With over 18 years of experience in Administration and Planning roles, I’ve picked up a few tips and tricks about how to be an Organised Queen. In 2020, I decided to found a gift parcel subscription service that stocked only rural and regional women-led businesses. It allowed me to champion my favourite kind of people and challenge myself to learn more about systems and tech than ever.

It also gave me much needed clarity about how much more I could be doing to help service-based businesses, so in 2022 I sold my sub-box service to focus on helping frazzled and overwhelmed business owners implement systems, utilise automation and how to outsource to suit them and their business.

Web: theregionalobm.com.au

theregionalobm.com.au/book-a-call

@theregionalobm theregionalobm

Providing people just like you with the systems and tools you need to own your time and grow your business gives me a seriously happy vibe. Similar to the one I get when I take a messy house and make it tidy (however the kids aren’t usually as keen on my suggestions and transformative powers).

If you feel like you need a little more help inside your business, why not book a free discovery call to see how I can help?

FIVE TOP FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT HACKS FOR REGIONAL BUSINESS OWNERS

By Michael Nuciforo –Thriday

Small business owners in regional Australia, particularly those in the agriculture and farming industry, face unique financial challenges. However, there are several financial hacks that can help business owners to manage their finances more effectively and, ultimately, become more successful. We chat with the CEO and co-founder of Thriday, Michael Nuciforo, about his top tips for achieving financial bliss.

According to the most recent research from the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO), 2.3 million small businesses are operating in Australia, out of which around 31% are located in regional areas of the country.

Running a small business in regional Australia is unique in several ways. Firstly, most businesses gravitate to operating in farming, agriculture and mining. These domains are heavily dependent on weather conditions and natural resources, making it challenging to plan for and manage financial risks. Farming businesses in particular, have long lead times between planting and harvesting, which can create cash flow challenges.

Mr Nuciforo, whose company Thriday has partnered with Regional Australia Bank to offer new financial services solutions to regional businesses, highlighted that these industries also rely heavily on a seasonal workforce, which is an added challenge to manage. ‘Finding, retaining and motivating employees who know they will only be employed temporarily can take a lot of work. Additionally, farming and mining equipment costs can be very high, and the need to constantly update and maintain equipment can strain finances.’

When running a business in regional Australia, it is particularly important to learn different financial management hacks, as the economy is vastly different to running a business in a metropolitan area. The cost of living may be lower, but access to resources, talent and customers is limited. Some popular hacks that regional businesses can take advantage of include government grants, tax deductions, cash flow management, budgeting, and negotiating good terms with suppliers and lenders. Let's dive into each one to find out more.

HACK 1: GOVERNMENT GRANTS

The government offers a variety of grants and loans for small business owners in regional Australia, particularly those in the agriculture and farming industry. These can include grants for research and development, equipment purchases, and marketing initiatives. It is essential to thoroughly research the available options and apply for any that may apply to your business. Grants can provide a significant cash injection to help fund your business, but they can also provide valuation networks and relationships to support your business.

Mr Nuciforo commented that grants were one of his favourite strategies, ‘State and Federal Governments want to support small business. If your business is successful, it's good for the economy and great for jobs. Many businesses are unaware of the grants available, so do some research online and put your best foot forward.’

Some popular grants to apply for are:

• Regional Business Development Fund

• Export Market Development Grant

• Research and Development Tax Incentive

For a complete list of available grants, check out the Business. gov.au grants finder.

HACK 2: TAX DEDUCTIONS

There are several tax deductions that small business owners in regional Australia, particularly those in the agriculture and farming industry, can take advantage of. Claiming any applicable tax deductions will reduce the amount of taxable income, thus lowering your overall tax liability. This can result in a higher tax refund or a lower tax payment.

Common deductions for regional businesses include:

• Home office expenses.

• Vehicle expenses.

• Equipment and supplies.

• Professional fees such as accounting and legal

• Rent or lease payments for business premises.

• Advertising expenses.

It's essential to keep accurate records and receipts to support these claims, as the Australian Taxation Office may review them.

Mr Nuciforo said many businesses were shooting themselves in the foot regarding tax deductions, ‘I have seen many business owners completely miss the mark on their tax claims. Keep accurate records and receipts so you can claim the maximum deduction.’

HACK 3: CASHFLOW MANAGEMENT

Managing cash flow is crucial for any small business, but it can be incredibly challenging for those in regional Australia. To manage cash flow effectively, it is important to track all income and expenses, establish a budget and forecast cash flow for the next few months.

Farmers and their accountants have historically used accounting software like Xero and MYOB to track cash flow by linking to bank feeds. New services like Thriday automatically monitor cash flow and accurately predict the business's future cash flow. This can be helpful when planning ahead as you can see any situations where you could be low on cash and need to conserve spending to stay above water.

HACK 4: BUDGETING

There are various budgeting and forecasting tools available to small business owners that can help them manage their finances more effectively. These tools can help business owners to track expenses, forecast cash flow, and create budgets that align with their financial goals. Tools like Agworld and AgriWebb can help farmers to manage their crops, equipment, and labour via an online dashboard.

Agtuary is another new tool with a focus on financial management. Designed specifically for farmers, it provides a comprehensive view of financial performance, allowing farmers to make data-driven decisions about their operations. The tool offers crop and livestock

tracking, budgeting and forecasting, and financial reporting.

Mr Nuciforo was a big fan of Agtuary, ‘I have seen this company go from strength to strength. The tool can help farmers identify areas where they can improve efficiency and profitability and use their resources better. It takes the guesswork out of budgeting.’

HACK 5: SUPPLIER NEGOTIATION

Small business owners in regional Australia, particularly those in the agriculture and farming industry, can negotiate with suppliers and lenders to secure better terms and rates. This can include negotiating payment terms, interest rates, and other terms and conditions.

Mr Nuciforo highlighted that research was paramount, ‘If you do proper due diligence, you can identify suppliers and lenders that specialise in regional businesses, and they will be willing to structure their terms better to suit the ebbs and flows of your business.’

By implementing these financial hacks and using the right software tools, small business owners in regional Australia, particularly those in the farming, agriculture and mining industries, can better manage their finances and, ultimately, become more successful. Best of luck!

Michal Nuciforo

Michael is the CEO and co-founder of Thriday. Thriday is an all-in-one financial management platform for small businesses. Thriday uses AI to eliminate time wasted on financial admin by automating banking, accounting and tax.

CYBERSECURITY FOR ENTREPRENEURS

By Rick Bushell –WestVIC Technology

You are a smart, savvy, modern entrepreneur. This means that you are going to be reliant on technology, the internet, the cloud, and other online tools and systems.

It has become second-nature for us to use email, social media and messaging to grow and promote our businesses. Increasingly we are also starting to rely on a whole range of other systems and solutions in the cloud –enabling us to sell our products online, keep track of new and potential customers and help us provide specialised support and services.

So, with all of these bits and bytes of important information flying around, we open our businesses up to the possibility of cybersecurity threats and issues.

Did you know that in Australia, over 500 million dollars was lost to scams in 2022?! The recent 'big' hacks into Medicare and Optus have also heightened risks for online identity theft and scams.

When it comes to cybersecurity, it is better to be proactive and get on the front foot. Invest a bit of time to educate yourself about different solutions and what to watch out for (we recommend having a solid read of www. scamwatch.com.au as a starting point if you are new to all of this).

We know that you are already pretty independent and will be juggling a lot of different things – but sometimes you might not have the time or deeper expertise in this area. Don't be afraid to call in some experts to help you manage the risks if you think it might help you stay on top of your cybersecurity.

The most common or significant issues that we have seen with our customers are:

• Malicious or unnecessary software and extensions getting unintentionally installed on devices (PC's, laptops, tablets and phones).

• Ransomware (really nasty) – this is a type of malware but focused on locking your computer or network.

• Phishing through scam messages –predominantly via email or facebook. These mostly angle for ways to get your personal information or bank details.

• Email compromise and identity fraud or theft. Worst-case scenario, this is the sort of thing that can end in black-mail.

The good news is that there's plenty you can do to avoid these threats. We've put together our top five tips and actions we think you should take to reduce your risk.

These are the TOP 5 ACTIONS that we recommend you undertake to ensure you stay safe and minimise any risks:

1. Use strong and unique passwords, and implement two-factor authentication where possible. In particular, make sure you're on top of your key digital identities (Microsoft, Google, Financial Institutions etc). Make sure those identities are watertight and then use them to secure any other accounts and passwords.

2. Keep your software and systems up-to-date, including operating systems, applications, and security tools. I know a lot of people take the ‘no updates = less problems’ approach to software, but the game has changed and it's important to keep software up to date to ensure that security holes are consistently closed as new threats emerge.

3. Educate yourself (and employees) on cyber threats and best practices, such as avoiding phishing attacks and using secure passwords.

4. Regularly backup important data and get it into a secure spot in the cloud (which has lots of other benefits too).

5. Use anti-virus, and anti-malware tools to protect your network and devices (we recommend MalwareBytes Premium as it's not only the best tool, it also doesn't hassle you unnecessarily or try to up and cross sell you every five minutes).

As a closing comment, keep in mind that there is always one simple rule – don't click on any links (and make sure employees know this too) unless you are 100% sure you know where that link is going to take you. We hope this has helped you with your cybersecurity, and if you have any questions or would like to discuss your risks further, then drop Rick a line at WestVIC Technology.

Rick Bushell –WestVIC Technology

WestVIC Technology provides IT advice, products, and support, for both home and business across regional Victoria. We are a full-service IT business, and we can help with all IT problems - large or small. We enjoy implementing new software and technology face to face, but we can also help you out with problems remotely if required. Integrity, common sense and customer service are our core business values and are reflected in every job we undertake.

COMMON HOOF PROBLEMS IN HORSES

By Julie Wright –Bare Equine Australia

Horses’ hooves are an amazing structure. They are designed to dissipate concussion, continually grow to replace wear and travel great distances each day. At speed, the hoof is designed to land heel first and dissipate ground forces through the digital cushion and lateral cartilages in conjunction with the tendons and ligaments of the leg.

However, there are many hoof ailments horses can suffer from which can be detrimental to this form and function. Unfortunately our domestic housing and introduced high sugar grasses and hays can play havoc with their hooves which can lead to several common hoof problems. Here's an introduction to some of the common ones.

Thrush

Thrush in horse hooves is a very common infection. The infection can be brought on by excess moisture, paddock bacteria or fungi, manure trapped in hooves or diets high in sugar and starch.

HOW DOES THRUSH OCCUR?

Even horses that live in drier conditions can be susceptible to thrush if their hooves are allowed to collect dirt and debris. The hoof also secretes moisture which will accumulate under the packed in debris if not cleaned out daily. Heat and humidity also play a factor in Thrush infections. Thrush is fairly easy to recognise based on the dark, black discharge and foul odour.

Minor thrush is easy to treat with some basic care and topical applications, but more advanced cases may require farrier or veterinarian intervention.

Severe thrush infection in the central sulcus has eaten through to soft tissue and would have made this horse incredibly sore. Heel first landings would probably have changed to toe first landings which can lead to navicular pain and associated problems.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU IGNORE OR DO NOT PICK UP ON THRUSH INFECTIONS?

Your farrier or trimmer SHOULD be well versed in what it will mean for your horse if they leave Thrush unchecked. They should be able to quickly identify Thrush and remove as much of the infected tissue as possible and not leave any ‘flaps’ for thrush to continue to thrive under.

It’s such a common problem and one that you should keep a solution on hand at all times to knock it off as soon as the hoof shows signs of it taking hold. Better still – daily prevention and maintenance should be part of your routine.

Thrush infection in the frog prior and mid trim. Part of the frog has been cut away to allow owner access for topical application and prevent further pathogens being trapped.

Thrush left unchecked especially in the central sulcus is highly detrimental to the horse. Thrush can invade the central sulcus through into soft tissue as shown here in a dissected hoof.

HOW TO MANAGE THRUSH?

Keep your horses on schedule with your farrier and trimmer (4-6 weeks max) and ensure your farrier is keeping an eye out for any signs of the start of Thrush – in all nooks and crannies of the hoof.

If the infection takes hold and the farrier needs to cut back some areas of the frog, let them as this is an opportunistic bacteria which thrives in an anaerobic environment. Working with your farrier to ensure there are not hidden pockets of thrush within the frog which will then allow you to be attending daily with easy access and a topical management plan.

• Pick the hooves daily and give them a good brush with a wire brush hoof pick.

• Use a cleansing spray which works on hoof pathogens.

• Use a topical application which draws moisture from the hoof with proven ingredients which are gentle on soft tissue.

SEEDY TOE

WHAT IS SEEDY TOE?

Seedy Toe (sometimes referred to as White Line Disease) is an opportunistic bacteria that invades the white line in horses' hooves. These microscopic bacteria thrive in an anaerobic environment – meaning that they thrive in the absence of oxygen.

HOW DOES SEEDY TOE OCCUR?

Present in the horses’ environment, these anaerobic bacteria enter via small deviations in the horses hoof at the white line. Commonly seen in horses with compromised white lines, horses overdue for trims (hoof wall leverage), laminitic horses (stretched white lines), metabolic horses and high heeled horses (creating leverage at the toe).

Climatic conditions play a role in this as well. Obviously horses standing around in wet boggy paddocks will be more prone to hoof

conditions such as Seedy Toe, White Line disease and Thrush as the hoof will be softer and more prone to bacteria, fungi and yeast infections taking hold.

If your horse is on a regular maintenance schedule with your farrier or trimmer (trims are optimal at 4 weeks, no more than 6 weeks) then any small issues with Seedy Toe starting should be able to be nicked out quickly with a hoof knife to stop the progression.

It is imperative your farrier attends to the first signs of Seedy Toe. This bacteria can travel and spread rapidly up the hoof wall. What may look like a small defect in the horse's hoof at the toe can eat away the internal tissue and create pockets of ongoing infection.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU OR YOUR FARRIER IGNORE OR DO NOT PICK UP ON SEEDY TOE INFECTIONS?

Your farrier or trimmer SHOULD be well versed in what it will mean for your horse if they leave Seedy Toe unchecked. They should be able to quickly identify the infection and remove as much of the invading pathogens as possible by opening up the area. This is commonly called a resection and may be a small cut out which is barely noticeable when the hoof is placed on the ground or if left unchecked it can be a huge resection which will take owner commitment to manage.

Seedy Toe left unchecked can also cause abscessing in your horse. Commonly seen as abscesses that will blow out at the Coronet band. If the infection travels straight up through the laminar towards the coronet band, eventually it will blow out in the form of an abscess which is extremely painful for the horse and not the ideal management technique.

Hoof regularly attended to for trims. Seedy Toe left unchecked which left the owner with a huge resection. (Note this is the same hoof on the same day attended to by author)

Classic seedy toe in an overgrown hoof that has not had regular attention.

A deviation in the white line at the toe is a tell tale sign that seedy toe has taken hold.

HOW TO MANAGE SEEDY TOE?

Keep your horses on schedule with your farrier and trimmer (4-6 weeks max) and ensure your farrier is keeping an eye out for any signs of the start of Seedy Toe.

If the infection takes hold and the farrier needs to open up and resect, let them. As this is an opportunistic bacteria which thrives in an anaerobic environment, it needs to be exposed and resected and a topical management plan put in place. Once the area has been opened up and the infection cleared out, it is then safe to start applying topical management products.

After resection, we recommend keeping the area as clean as possible and applying a topical wax based product which will work on the infection, keep it clear of debris and excess moisture and be easy to apply.

• Clean and pick the hooves daily.

• Remove and check any debris lodged in the white line such as small gravel or sand.

• Keep the diet low in sugars and starches with a quality mineral supplement to build healthier hooves.

• Use a hoof spray to keep the area pathogen free.

• If seedy toe takes hold, pack with a wax based product which will stay in place.

HOOF ABSCESS

WHAT IS A HOOF ABSCESS?

A tender mass filled with pus caused due to infection. The abscesses can develop in any part of the body but are especially debilitating when formed within the horses hoof.

What steps should I take to help my horse? These can be small barely noticeable events or a huge pain event to the horse such as a coronet band abscess.

3 LEGGED LAME

When a hoof abscess erupts at the CORONARY band, we all get excited now the horse is now able to stand and move more comfortably.

We've obsessed over the 3 legged horse in our pasture, called the vet the farrier and stocked up on poultice, duct tape and hoof boots.

The relief felt by owners is almost immediate too as prior to this there is not much we can do except poultice and wait it out. Your vet may prescribe some pain relief whilst the abscess is working its way out.

Whilst the problem is generally resolved, there are still implications to the hoof wall which is now going to grow down with a hole in the wall of the hoof capsule. It will take approx. 9 months for the abscess hole to be at ground level and trimmed away if it has erupted at the coronary band.

Well, there is a lack of healthy cells around the area to reproduce the hoof wall. The insult creates a pocket for bacteria to enter (manure, bacteria and fungi present in the soil, urine, dirt etc). As these bacteria collect into the abscess exit point, it gradually degrades the area = continues to weaken the hoof wall.

Abscesses are most common in the wet conditions but can happen at any time of the year. There can be many causes, however if you are keeping up with hoof hygiene and addressing both of the above conditions, the chances are reduced.

• Keep on a schedule with your hoof care professional.

• Keep up with any signs of thrush or seedy toe.

• Provide a diet low in sugars and starches supplemented with a good quality mineral mix.

• Clean hooves and attend to with a hoof spray to soak up into the cracks and crevices of the hoof which you cannot access with your hoof pick.

Hoof abscess erupted at coronet band. Most commonly caused by Seedy toe left unchecked as was the case with this horse.

In the meantime, this abscess exit point ‘the insult’ is dead tissue on the hoof wall leaving it exposed to infection. The lower it grows, the bigger and nastier it looks – quite often 2

Abscess exit points need to be maintained and kept clear from debris and further pathogens as they grow down through the hoof. As you can see from this hoof, there is sometimes a huge pocket which can cause further infections as it accumulates further debris and pathogens.

Julie Wright –Bare Equine Australia

Dip-EPT (Equine Podiotherapy)

Cert EMT (Equine Myofunctional Therapy)

Julie Wright is a qualified Hoof Care Professional and turned to hoof care for horses after working as an Equine Therapist for several years prior. Turning to ‘bending over for a living’ in 2004 after realising that there were so many horses she was working on that suffered body issues from hoof problems.

With a passion for rehabbing hooves and educating owners to train their eyes to recognise pathology before it becomes a big issue for the horse. ‘Doing crack’ is her thing.

Bare Equine Hoof Co products were released in 2020 after years of formulating and testing the products ‘in the real world’. Born from the desire to make owners' lives easier by having products that stay in place for several days.

They are proudly now Australia’s favourite Hoof Care Range and have won several awards for innovation in their space.

Bare Equine Australia is staffed by Hoof Care professionals to help advise their customers from years of experience ‘under the horse’.

Web: bareequine.com.au

THE DREADED BURNOUT –WHAT IT IS, AND HOW YOU CAN PREVENT IT

By Amanda Balcombe –Still Wellness

In 2021 I became part of the Great Resignation, after burning out in a career I had loved for over 17 years.

First came the overwhelming fatigue, insomnia, headaches, nausea and hormonal issues, then out of character behaviour, like bursting into tears during the work day and having trouble making decisions.

I started to feel negative about my work, which was so out of character for me as I really loved my job. I’m known for my positivity.

But experiencing burnout first hand showed me how damaging it can be. Stress, exhaustion, overwhelm and anxiety impact health, relationships and wellbeing.

While I was once an award-winning Financial Planner, I’ve now retrained as a Health and Mental wellness coach.

It became my mission to heal not just myself, but to use my passion for health and connection, to provide a service supporting rural business owners and professionals to find balance, prevent burnout and build sustainable wellbeing. I wanted women (and men) to be able to access a service either face-to-face or online where they could get support and take steps to improve their health and mental wellbeing.

We are in a burnout epidemic

We currently have an alarming epidemic of work-related stress and burnout in Australia. Statistics from the Wellness at Work Report 2022 demonstrated that over 50% of Australian workers are feeling burnt out.

But burnout comes at an immense cost, not just for individual sufferers at increased risk of low wellbeing and associated mental and physical illnesses, but also for businesses.

Research suggests entrepreneurs are more at risk of burnout because they tend to be extremely passionate about work and more socially isolated, have limited safety nets, and operate in high uncertainty.

Unfortunately the rise of digitalisation has also brought the need to ‘always be on’ and this 24/7 culture is blurring the boundaries between work and life. Therefore it is harder to maintain a balance between work lives and personal lives and this 24/7 accessibility is leading to burnout as we are no longer able to switch off at the end of our work day.

What is Burnout?

The World Health Organisation describes Burnout as a syndrome relating to chronic workplace stress not successfully managed. It is positioned as a workplace phenomenon and not a medical condition.

Burnout consists of 3 main components:

• Feelings of energy depletion and exhaustion.

• Negative feelings, cynicism and a desire to distance oneself from work.

• A sense of ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment.

It is a common misconception that burnout is simply working too long, or too hard. However, burnout creeps up on you, and builds gradually over a long period of time after exposure to prolonged and chronic stress.

Burnout is very real and the negative effects of burnout in business include:

• Decreased productivity

• Increased physical and mental ill health

• Increased errors and accidents in the workplace.

Causes of Burnout

Some of the factors contributing to work burnout include:

• excessive workload and working long hours

• feeling like you have little or no control over your work

• lack of social support

• a conflict of values between yourself and your work

• unrealistic or demanding job expectations.

Burnout doesn’t just happen at work

Burnout isn’t purely a work issue. Other factors like lifestyle and personality traits can also contribute to burnout, like feeling you have little balance between your work and personal life as well as not prioritising selfcare.

Recent research has also highlighted certain personality traits such as perfectionists, people pleasers and high achievers often experience high levels of stress. Based on their behaviours and personalities these people tend to be more prone to burnout.

As a coach I work with my clients to help them understand their behaviours, beliefs and patterns that at times may not be helpful. Once they have this awareness, they can make changes to support their wellbeing, rather than sabotaging it and heading down the path to burnout.

Checklist of signs and symptoms

Burnout can result in mental, physical and cognitive symptoms and if left unaddressed can make it challenging to function and thrive in daily life.

Signs and symptoms to look out for:

• exhaustion

• having a negative or critical attitude at work

• disengagement or apathy

• lack of motivation or passion in work/life

• physical symptoms – headaches, nausea, aches, digestive issues, low libido

• withdrawing from others

• cognitive issues – concentration, memory problems, brain fog, difficulty planning and/or making decisions

• anxiety and feeling overwhelmed

• depression, low mood, lowered self worth

• irritability, anger or feeling emotional

• sleep disturbance.

If burnout is not addressed, it can result in a variety of health problems and every person’s experience can vary.

When I was experiencing burnout symptoms, I started to wonder what was wrong with me as I am usually very resilient.

I kept pushing through until one morning I realised I just couldn’t do it anymore.

At that point I knew I had to prioritise my health. I resigned from my job and spent the next six months recovering and getting my health back on track.

I also understand taking six months out of the workforce is not always viable. This is why I’m so passionate about helping people recognise burnout and understand the causes. That way they can prevent it or recognise the signs of burnout early, so they can take the necessary steps to get help.

Tips to prevent burnout and build sustainable wellbeing

Based on my own experience and the research, the following actions and tools will help you build sustainable wellbeing and prevent burnout and can easily be included into your day.

PRESS PAUSE

Slowing down and pausing has never been so important especially with our 24/7 accessibility and busy lives. Pausing allows our bodies to build in much needed rest and recovery time from our stressors so we can recharge and replenish.

Two ways we can pause in our daily lives are:

• Breath is incredibly powerful as it hacks into your nervous system and transforms you into a state of calm. Try taking 10-20 slow deep belly breaths a couple of times a day, deep breathing essentially turns off the stress response.

• Mindfulness is about striving to be present and focused on the here and now. When we are fully present in the moment we get to experience more joy in our lives. A mindfulness technique is the 5 senses that can be used when you are feeling stressed or when you need to pause. Try taking in your surroundings using all 5 senses, what can you see, hear, feel, touch and taste, this helps you to get out of your head and grounds you in the present moment.

UNPLUG

Let's consider digital habits because numerous studies show consuming too much technology is contributing to burnout, increased stress, ill health and it is also impacting our relationships. Setting rules and boundaries with our technology ensures we make time to disconnect during our day. This might mean not looking at your phone for the first hour of the day and instead exercising or spending time connecting with your partner.

Choose something that makes you feel good, recharges you and sets you up for the day. Or it might look like no devices at the dinner table so you can be fully present and enjoy family time. I invite you to think about where the opportunities are in your day to unplug?

SUPPORT

The relationships we cultivate can have a profound impact on our wellbeing. Good relationships are associated with better health and mental health. Our relationships can support us through stressful and challenging times and remember one of the contributors to burnout can be a lack of support.

HEALTH, MINDSET & PHILOSOPHY

Make time to cultivate your relationships and be intentional about who you spend your time with because having close social ties is protective for our health.

LOOK AFTER YOUR ENERGY

The basic lifestyle foundations like eating healthy food, moving every day and getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night are fundamental to our wellbeing. When we are able to focus on doing the basics at least 80% of the time (we are not looking for perfection), this provides a powerful buffer against stress and burnout.

It also helps you to sustain your wellbeing throughout the year by increasing your energy levels, boosting brain function and improving mood and mental health.

SET BOUNDARIES

An inability to say NO to others can be one of the contributors to burnout and increased stress. Putting in place healthy boundaries can be uncomfortable at first, however if we don’t establish healthy boundaries with ourselves and others this will increase stress and overwhelm. Boundaries allow you to have a better balance around work, life and self which is more sustainable.

A tip to help with boundaries is to not say yes to a request straight away, give yourself space before you respond to really think about whether you have the capacity or time to do the task. Once you have evaluated where you're at, you can decide if you say yes or a polite no. Remember it is ok to prioritise your health and self-care as not only does this benefit you but it has a ripple effect on the people around you.

PRACTICE GRATITUDE

When you are feeling stressed, it is easy to focus all your attention on the negatives. Practising gratitude and focusing on the good

things in your life can give your mind a break from stress, anxiety and overwhelm and help boost your mood and shift your perspective. Essentially where you focus your attention grows, so hunt for the good in your day, focus on what went well and practice gratitude.

Start with small changes that you can start to implement into your day. This could be as simple as committing to moving every day, setting time to meet your friends on the weekend or getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night. Preventing burnout takes effort, but in the long run, your health and mental wellbeing and your business will benefit from it.

If you feel you are experiencing burnout, reach out to those closest to you for support and make sure you check in with your GP if you have any physical or mental health concerns.

Amanda Balcombe –Still Wellness

Amanda is an accredited Health and Mental Wellness coach with a special interest in burnout prevention, stress management and mental wellbeing based in Tamworth, NSW. A former award-winning Financial Adviser she experienced burnout in 2021 and it became her mission to heal not just herself but use her passion for health and connection to support other high achieving women regain their energy, confidence and enthusiasm for life.

Amanda uses the latest evidence-based lifestyle medicine, accompanied by coaching techniques to empower her clients to find balance and vitality in the midst of their fast-paced lives.

Away from work, Amanda enjoys playing tennis, daily meditation, travel and family dinners with her husband and two adult children.

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH AMANDA

Web: stillwellness.au

hello@stillwellness.au

@stillwellness_amandabalcombe

Amanda Balcombe

BE AN INFLUENTIAL CONFIDENT COMMUNICATOR IN 7 SIMPLE STEPS

By R!k Schnabel –Life Beyond Limits

Did you know that the moment a stranger sees you, they decide who you are within seven seconds? Their brain makes 11 major decisions and a multitude of computations. Are you safe? Can you be someone to trust or avoid? Do you have status or authority? Could you be a potential intimate partner? Are you competent? Will you be friend or foe? Do you come across as selling, compelling or repelling? As a confident communicator, these are things you must know or be relegated down the social order.

Your listeners’ unconscious computations decide who you are at lightning speed. Researchers from New York University Graduate School of Business found a startling fact. They discovered that we make eleven major conclusions in seven seconds.

We make 11 major decisions about a person in 7 seconds

First impressions can attract or repel. Get it wrong and you’ll soon discover the cost. You cannot stop people from making instant decisions about you. Though you can help them to see you in a favourable way. A confident communicator knows that one of the greatest influencers are our non-verbal cues. Studies have found that non-verbal cues are over four times more powerful, more influential than anything you say.

7 Keys to be an Influential Confident Communicator

1. ADJUST YOUR ATTITUDE. We seek out attitude in milliseconds. Before you go anywhere or do anything, adjust your attitude. Before you enter a meeting or do a presentation or catch up with a friend or client. Make a conscious choice about the attitude you want to completely embody. Say to yourself, ‘Right now, I’m deciding to be a problem solver.’ Then completely embody who you think a great problem solver is. We often think in archetypes and identities, so shift yours to be the best you can be and be that confident communicator.

2. SMILE. This one decision sends a cacophony of signals to whoever you approach. While it’s a no-brainer, so often we forget to do this one simple thing. A smile is an invitation that says, ‘I’m friendly, helpful and come in peace.’ Can Eye-Contact Make All The Difference?

3. MAKE EYE CONTACT. If we look into the eyes of the person we’re about to meet it sends a signal that says, ‘I’ve got nothing to hide’. Looking at someone’s eyes indicates interest and openness.

4. RAISE YOUR EYEBROWS. This is a universal sign of recognition and acknowledgement. You’ll see this as a typical behaviour among friends when they first spot each other from afar. You can do this by opening your eyes a little more than normal and you’ll create an ‘eyebrow wave.’

5. STRAIGHTEN YOUR POSTURE. Nothing says ‘confident communicator’ more than posture. It’s the non-verbal boost to trust. Lift your sternum (breastbone) a few centimetres. Not only will you look more confident, but you will also feel more confident. Standing tall, pulling your shoulders back a little and holding your head straight is key. It sends a raft of signals including confidence and competence.

6. SHAKE HANDS. Did you know that in the context of rapport, a single handshake is equal to three hours of interaction? In fact, if you don’t shake someone’s hand at the end of a meeting, they are less likely to want to work with you.

7. LEAN IN. Uniquely and powerfully, leaning forward shows that you’re engaged and interested. Most people like us to be about one to two feet away. Yet those who are more kinesthetic prefer us to be a little closer and in business, I would suggest a two-foot rule. Regardless, leaning forward shows that you’re engaged and interested.

Finally, the quality of our relationships is the difference that makes the difference. Being a confident communicator helps others to feel more comfortable in your presence, creating long lasting relationships. Ignoring these skills means you risk eliciting fear or a lack of trust in others. Worse, it can send a signal that says something’s not right here.

R!k Schnabel –Life Beyond Limits

R!k Schnabel is Australia’s #1 Brain Untrainer and teaches company executives how to be a confident communicator. He is a Master NLP and Life Coach trainer, Coach and an international, multi-best-selling author with Life Beyond Limits.

Web: lifebeyondlimits.com.au

The 11 Major Decisions Keys

Not surprisingly, 7 Seconds is all it takes to decide to buy from someone or run for the hills. Our human need for safety will have us judge at every opportunity.

Here are the 11 decisions we make in 7 seconds.

1. Education level

2. Economic level

3. Perceived credibility and believability

4. Trustworthiness

5. Level of sophistication

6. Sexual identification

7. Level of success

8. Political background

9. Religious background

10. Ethnic background

11. Social and professional desirability

THE BENEFITS OF POSITIVE COUNSELLING

Career Prospects

By Chelle Fisher

When we need some help with trauma, grief, loss of direction or help with chronic issues, counselling can be very beneficial, giving us assistance in finding ways to deal with these times. However, counselling isn't only for the rough times. It can be beneficial for many reasons and at many times in our lives.

As a self-awareness tool, it can also help us reinforce the positive aspects of life. For example:

Life Direction

We know where we want to be (or we don't) but we're not quite sure what the next step is, this is when an objective ear can help. We can get so caught up in the destination we are seeking that we get confused or lost in the journey. Counselling can assist us to find new or different directions that we may not have thought about to get us moving on that journey again.

Life conditioning and societal constraints (self-imposed or by others) can lead us to have tunnel vision when it comes to earning a living. Talking with someone who is not invested or involved in our daily lives can often give us a fresh perspective of our day to day income producing prospects. Remember those dreams you had as a child? Revisit those - maybe there is a way to earn a living from those passions you had when you were younger. It is never too late to change course or try a new pursuit.

Self Esteem or Self Image

It is so easy to get caught up in the "this is what you should look like/behave/sound/express" way of life. We are constantly bombarded with standards that are imposed by those that are trying to make us feel insecure about who we are, so they can sell us something to make us believe we will be more acceptable. But no matter how much we buy or try to make us feel more accepted and acceptable, the truth is that if we are not happy with ourselves the way we are, no manner of "things" or potions are going to make us feel better. Counselling can help you work on self-acceptance and self-love - the first steps to feeling great.

Finding Joy and Peace

Stress can have so many detrimental effects on our mind, body and soul. Learning techniques to manage and handle our stress, if we can't totally eliminate it from our lives, can help us to find more peace and joy in our day to day existence. At times, just offloading the emotional baggage you are carrying around can bring relief and a sense of lightness. It isn’t always easy to share deep feelings with those close to you, especially if they are a contributing factor, so unburdening with a counsellor can be very cathartic. There are many ways we can work together to manage and dissolve that stress from your life. Tools such as meditation, mindfulness, breath work and stretching can assist our bodies and minds to relax and release the tensions that build up.

These are just a few of the positive aspects of counselling. It's not all about the dark side of life although counselling can be extremely beneficial in those times also. It is important to reach out if you need assistance to improve your mental health and wellbeing. We all deserve to feel great and experience joy and peace in our lives.

How could you benefit from talking to someone?

Chelle Fisher

Chelle is a Life Alignment Coach, Holistic Counsellor, Reiki Master, Accredited PuP Therapist and Intuitive Guide. With over a decade of experience in the energy healing field, delving into the mind, body and soul connection, using crystals and essential oils, life alignment coaching and expressive writing, Chelle has the unique ability to see the light in others and assist them to heal past wounds and trauma, align with their untapped potential and become their best.

"As a wife, mother and now grandmother, I have walked the path of conditioning, selfdoubt and self-sabotage and understand the challenges and limitations this can manifest in your life. Through my own journey and growth, I have developed a holistically based and unique combination of healing and releasing techniques to guide you to recognise and reframe your thinking to overcome limiting behaviours and remove blockages that keep you stuck. My deepest passion is assisting all people to reconnect to their authentic power and realise their true worth and deep inner strengths, encouraging them to live a life of calm, courage, confidence, peace and joy."

LIFE ALIGNMENT COACHING

REIKI ENERGY HEALING

HOLISTIC COUNSELLING AND HEALING

Web: chellefisher.com.au

chelle@chellefisher.com.au 0408

ACCESS BARS THERAPY

PUP THERAPY (Parents under Pressure)

INTUITIVE GUIDANCE

HOW RURAL BUSINESSES CAN HONOUR INDIGENOUS LANDS

By Mark Koolmatrie –Kool Tours

Image Credits - Nicole Motteux Photography

Bringing the old world of Indigenous knowledge into the new world of land stewardship takes time. It’s not an instant fix with a one-size-fits-all formula that can be read and acted upon.

It takes action and relationship building on the part of rural businesses, and it takes a knowledge base that our people often no longer hold due to loss of language and cultural competency.

Does this, then, mean it's too hard to achieve? Not by any means.

In the recent CIWEM The Environment February 2023 edition, I spoke of the importance of going back to the basics of understanding our combined role in caring for Country or caring for the environment that we are immersed in.

I believe strongly in oneness. This is where we care for each other and the environment. Many Indigenous call it Country, or Ruwi as we Ngarrindjeri call it. To me, it all has one meaning.

One must see caring for the environment or Country as an action rather than just words. This is paramount to making and maintaining our surroundings for future generations. Country has changed since the Europeans arrived – new plants and animals, different land uses, different economies and different threats and opportunities. While some knowledge may be lost, Indigenous values in Country remain and form an important foundation for relationship-building to care for Country.

The system we speak of is that of the Ngartji. The term Ngartji describes the totems that are given to my people the Ngarrindjeri to connect our family, clans, Tribes and the world around us. Our Ngartji is a friend, our protector, and that which we must serve. This Ngarrindjeri cultural system frames the values that show our connection to Country, our identity of belonging and the responsibilities we have to each other and our Ngartji.

Ngartji refers to our individual totems, which include animals, plants, insects, fish and other marine life, mammals, and birds, as well as how our totems or Ngartjis connect to protect and serve our land, waters and cosmology –the connecting of a complete system to look after our world.

The Koolmatrie family Ngartji is the wild dog or keli and the fish called mulloway. My Mother's Ngartji was the seagull or throkeri with my dad Ramindjeri connection being the wattle tree (Wirrilda).

Not only do Ngarrindjeri have a family responsibility to honour Country, but we also have a responsibility that sits deep within what we call our Mewi or a guiding inner-self. Each person has this guiding responsibility – it is the thing that resonates deep within oneself and tells each one of us how to care for a mammal, reptile, waterway, insect, bird, plant, and the list continues until each and every species is cared for in the world. It is this ancient tradition that has allowed Ngarrindjeri to care for Country through

action over generations. A simplified way of looking at the concept of Ngartji is if we all look after and serve the needs of our Ngartji – ensuring they have fresh, clean waters, plant life and other microorganisms to survive, food and protection, and their needs for survival are met – then the whole system is taken care of and the whole environment, cosmology and other Ngartji survive and thrive.

Our rich wisdom reflects belonging and togetherness, safety and security and the nurture and nourishment of all life forms of Ngarrindjeri culture and history. Preserving this with raw authenticity and through mediums typological of such is imperative to future generations' engagement carrying this forward in practice, through deep understanding and in being.

Today this is just not an ancient Ngarrindjeri wisdom we ask rural Australia to adopt but one that everyone, regardless of life experiences, can adopt to bring our ancient old ways into a new world.

So, what can rural Australia and rural businesses do to honour Indigenous lands, and how can they use Indigenous caring for Country values to support the successful management of their business?

Firstly, I believe we must not separate Indigenous lands from what is seen as our individual environments. If oneness is to occur, we must see, yes, Indigenous people have a spiritual connection to Country, but each and every one of us has a similar connection. We all value Country in some way, and understanding all those values helps us come together to care for Country in an integrated way.

The challenges are different, and few solutions are finalised – so we can work together with shared values to jointly develop solutions for what some are now calling nature repair. Joint research, joint action, shared values, and shared successes – these are the steps along the road to reconciliation and success. This process has started already. For my part, I am working with the Yundi Nature Conservancy to restore and protect the Fleurieu Peninsula Swamp Ruwi following joint research, joint action and shared values.

By looking deep within Ngarrindjeri culture, the world can plan for a more sustainable future that allows us to care for your Ngartji and, in turn, care for everything within the system.

For further information go to our website www. kooltours.com.au and also see: Aboriginal knowledge and values of the Fleurieu swamps

Mark Koolmatrie –Kool Tours

Mark Koolmatrie is a Ngarrindjeri Elder who is the founder of Kool Tours, an authentic Indigenous experience in The Fleurieu Peninsula of South Australia.

He is a cultural educator who is passionate about caring for the environment and his desire for Oneness, a move towards acceptance of all.