Working Women Winter 11 by Women's Network Australia

Working Women Women’s Network Australia

w w w.w o m e n s n e t w o r k . co m . a u

BUSINESS n SUCCESS n LIFE WINTER 2011

Aust $8.75 inc gst Subscriptions $32 pa inc gst

TEENPRENEURS They’re doing it by themselves TAKE COVER Disaster proof your business

WAYS TO

BOOST

YOUR SOCIAL NETWORKING LINKS

Print Post Approved PP411192/00010

Top tips for creating your

MILLIONAIRE Mindset

Let it be seen that you are

GREEN

N ETWORKI NG • MARKETI NG • MON EY • PR • TRAVEL AN D MORE

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Contents Business

Success

Life

Business Strategies

Up Front

Productivity

6 Choosing an affiliate management program for your business

Profitable project management

Career Success

The art of delegating effectively

16 Blind sided - why do I miss out on promotion?

Carbon Footprint

7 Fast start businesses need to keep their eye on the game 8 Strategies to stay ahead of the competition 9

How to keep pace - 3 easy steps

The prickly pear reality check

Business Success 12 How to measure and drive business improvement 13

Control procrastination and get ahead

14 10 tips from 10 successful years in business

Communications 18

Speak up and be heard

Leading words always get results

20 10 Tips - it’s not always about what you say

Cybersavvy 22 Effective strategies for automation attract customers 24/7 23

Whether to fix or flick a useless website

Disaster proof your business

25 Networking for the Agoraphobic 26 Increase traffic to your online shop without expensive advertising

Branding 34 Your brand will always speak louder than words 35

Building equity into your brand

Developing your millionaire mindset

30 Payment problems? Learn the secrets to managing your debtors 31 Maximise your income and build wealth 32 Have a super start to the new financial year

Ageing young - mind over matter

Fitness & Lifestyle 49

5 Ways to weight loss transformation

Travel 50

Choosing a financial adviser

A little part of Rome to call your own

Networkology

Balance

38 Building your professional network from scratch

39 Go from zero to over 2,500 LinkedIn connections in 12 months

In Every Issue Simply Stated

3 In Brief 52

What We Like

56 Off the Shelf 61 Gadget Guide 68

Top tips to look glamorous everyday

Working from Home 62 Room to work

64 Is there a budding ‘Teenpreneur’ in your family?

Family friendly workplaces

Style File 58

Teenpreneurs

Classified Business Directory

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D ctory 1 Aug cation s Dire Publi , 2011 sines g u in B k 1 Aug d o e o B ifi s g s Cla , 2011 tisin 8 Aug Adver y l la g p ia 2011 Dis ater ookin 15 Jul, rial M orial B o t t r r e e v v Ad & Ad e tising Imag Adver thors u A rial & Edito

Working Women Women’s network Australia

36 Read all about it - ezine your business

w w w.w o m e n s n e t w o r k . co m . a u

Business n success n Life

Winter 2011

Public Relations

Aust $8.75 inc gst Subscriptions $32 pa inc gst

Doing your own PR

teenpreneurs They’re doing it by themselves

Sales Strategies 44

46 Office habits - put the lid back on the cookie jar

28 Are you driving with your eyes closed?

Tread a little lighter

Health & Wellness

On The Money

Marketing

Battling tall poppy syndrome

take cover Disaster proof your business

Convert leads into sales

Ways to

boost

your social netWorking links

45 6 Special ingredients for a sizzling sales letter

Print Post Approved PP411192/00010

Top tips for creating your

millionaire Mindset

Let is be seen that you are

green

n etworki ng • marketi ng • mon ey • Pr • travel an d more

Cover

Armed with her millionaire mindset and drive for life, Pam Brossman has achieved great success both personally and professionally. With a successful six figure business in internet marketing, Pam teaches small businesses how to utilise the power of video and digital marketing to build their business and bottom line. Pam credits her business success to her millionaire attitude and proves that in order to be successful in life, all you need is self belief, motivation and a drive for success. Photography courtesy of Tania Niwa - www.niwaphotography.com Winter 2011 n Working Women® 1

SimplyStated As the chill of winter arrives it’s hard to believe that we are already at the half-way mark of 2011. This time of year always proves hectic with the preparation of all the necessary paperwork and red tape requirements for the end of the financial year. The priority for most businesses is ensuring that tax invoices have been issued for work that has been completed and above all that outstanding debts have been collected. But when the dust settles it is also the perfect time to crunch the numbers to ascertain how well your business is travelling. There is no hiding from the fact that it has been a tough six months for the small business sector, so as the yearly figures tally it makes perfectly good business sense to examine what areas of your enterprise can be improved on or expanded and what aspects you need to shut down or eliminate thereby

Lynette Palmen AM Founder and Managing Director Women’s Network Australia

freeing up your time, cash flow and energy to make way for fresh and innovative ideas. When it comes to ideas, inspiration and business you can’t go past what’s on offer in every issue of Working Women. This issue is packed with business knowledge, expert tips and resources all aimed at assisting women in their pursuit of business success. Regardless of whether you’re seeking to improve your confidence in business, networking abilities or developing and enhancing your entrepreneurial skills and spirit you’ll find it all between the pages of our glossy quarterly. Enjoy the read.

In Loving Memory – Mary Bourke (nee Conachan) 1936 - 2011 We reflect in this edition on the passing of an amazing woman, WNA Member, Mary Bourke, President and Chief Angel of Brisbane based charity, Community Angels. Mary left footprints of love on the hearts of all those she encountered during her life journey. We honour and celebrate the difference that Mary made to the lives of so many disadvantaged and homeless women who faced nothing but trauma and tragedy in their lives. To these women she was an angel of hope. Mary was energetic, amazingly vibrant, enthusiastic and highly organised when it

came to the business end of being an angel on a mission. She lived life to the fullest and believed that everyone regardless of their background was entitled to a better future. When Mary left her footprints on your heart they were at stampede proportions, her kindness and generosity knew no bounds. As the driving force behind Community Angels, Mary’s inspiring and tireless efforts will never be forgotten by those who worked with, laughed with and felt her love. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mary’s family and friends in their time of grief. Mary’s legacy lives on.

Working Women m

FOUNDER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF WORKING WOMEN® Lynette Palmen AM SUB EDITORS Louise Cramp | Paige Ebersohn NATIONAL ADVERTISING MANAGER Nikita Harris 1800 052 476 or +61 (7) 3272 8222 nikita@womensnetwork.com.au PROOFREADER Wendy Smith – Jewel See Editing +61 (7) 3349 4440 wendy@jewelsee.com.au DESIGN Tricia Mahoney – Scarab Blue Design +61 (0) 419 311 862 tricia.mahoney@scarabblue.com.au SUBSCRIPTIONS WNA Head Office 1800 052 476 or +61 (7) 3272 8222 2 Working Women® n Winter 2011

PUBLISHER

Editorial submissions are accepted on the basis that the publisher may use the author’s name, comments and content for this publication and promotional purposes including electronic and print media. Authors waive all right to copyrights (if any).

Women’s Network Australia Pty Ltd ABN 66 010 793 727

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WORKING WOMEN® is published four times a year by Women’s Network Australia Pty Ltd PO Box 1723 Sunnybank Hills Q 4109 Phone 1800 052 476 or +61 (7) 3272 8222 FAX + 61 (7) 3272 8111 Web www.womensnetwork.com.au Email wna@womensnetwork.com.au Head Office

‘WORKING WOMEN’ is a registered trade mark of Women’s Network Australia Pty Ltd Editorial Editorial is most welcome if it is of a newsworthy nature and accompanied by a good quality photograph. Articles should be directed towards our readership base of business and professional women. Women’s Network Australia has editing rights on all articles submitted.

Advertorial Advertorial is accepted in all sections. A large, clear professional photograph must accompany all articles. Prices are available on application. Please call 1800 052 476. Disclaimer Materials and articles in this publication are general comment, not advice. The information is believed to be accurate and reliable but no responsibility is taken for any opinions expressed or for errors and omissions. Readers should not act on the basis of the material without taking professional advice relating to their particular circumstances. Copyright ©1993 - ©2011 Women’s Network Australia Pty Ltd All artwork created by WORKING WOMEN® is the property of Women’s Network Australia Pty Ltd and must not be duplicated in another publication or promotion without written permission as it is subject to Australian copyright law.

InBrief

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Four Australian women have made their mark in advancing gender equality by being immortalised on a stamp. Eva Cox, Elizabeth Evatt, Germaine Greer and Anne Summers will today join the exclusive ranks of great Australians to appear on a stamp. The 2011 stamps celebrated the tireless contributions these passionate women have made towards achieving women’s equality in Australia.

Working mothers afraid to take maternity leave: As many as 74 per cent of working mothers in Taiwan have never applied for maternity leave with many of them fearing that their promotions or even employment would be affected, according to a survey by a job bank. According to an IDC survey, small businesses employing between one to 19 employees are lagging behind with their use of technology. Eleven per cent of small businesses were found to be operating without a desktop PC, almost a quarter don’t use standard mobiles, 45 per cent don’t have smart phones and less than 15 per cent use tablet computers. The Federal Government’s Productivity Commission estimates that over the next couple of decades, the contribution of mature-aged women to total hours worked rise steadily, on account of women being better educated and more likely to join the workforce young. It found the contribution of women aged between 45 and 64 and their total hours worked in the economy had risen from six per cent to 15 per cent during the past three decades. Nearly every industry had more older women on staff in 2009 compared with 1979. A study by McCrindle Research found that driving manual cars is on the decline with just 40 per cent of women under 30 possessing this skill compared to 71 per cent of older women. The surveys also found that Australian men from Gen Y were more comfortable changing a nappy than changing a tyre.

Following Budget announcements, the Government’s Small Business Support Line on 1800 777 275 will continue with new funding of $7.1 million over the next four years. The support line allows small business operators, many of whom are time poor, to access expert advice quickly and easily wherever they are. Around 93 per cent of businesses utilising the service are new or have been in operation for less than ten years.

nds, y seven seco out sex ever at ab th k in dy u th Men new st cording to a much as od fo right? Not ac d an nder sleep ed men finds men po study reveal e Th x. se compared y, as they do da x 18 times a se t ou es ab k thin sex ten tim ho think of eep sl d an to women w od t fo think abou a day. Men e. or m y el at proportion

Women not only bear the babies and the brunt of juggling children and child care, they also bear a huge financial burden from raising them. New research by the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees shows the average woman is about $200,000 worse off at retirement if she opts to have a baby. Research also found that only two-thirds of retired women have superannuation and, of those that did, their median balance is just $31,000. Most women run out of super after little more than a year after finishing work. Approximately 57 per cent have nothing left after a year. Almost 50,000 Australian women have applied for the Federal Government’s fledgling paid parental leave scheme. Families Minister Jenny Macklin said 48,286 mothers had signed up for the benefit which became available on January 1. The scheme offers eligible working parents paid parental leave for up to 18 weeks at the minimum weekly wage of $570.00. Research commissioned by Telstra has found that six out of ten small businesses say they are happy for their staff to work from home if it means they can better juggle work and life. The survey of 500 small business owners found that employers were eager to use technology to maximise working opportunities for staff. Small businesses said they were embracing technology, with 75 per cent saying some staff used laptops and 55 per cent used smartphones and similar technology for work. Australia’s highest profile annual awards for women in business is now open for nominations, with entrants vying for more than $200,000 in cash and prizes. The 2011 Telstra Business Women’s Awards has three main categories: business owner, private and corporate sector and community and government. Bickering couples may beg to differ, but a study claims men waste more money on impulse buys than women. The modern male regularly shells out an average $38.00 a week on unplanned treats, compared with women’s $29.00, according to a consumer habits survey. Food, beer and DVD’s are the most common treats for males while clothes, magazines and wine top the list for women, along with books, shoes and toiletries. Men were less likely to write shopping lists, potentially adding to the risk of spontaneous buys.

A new survey sh ows 40 per cent of non-wo rking mums feel stigmatise d for staying at home and 58 pe r cent of workin g mothers feel la belled as not taking parentin g seriously. The Care for Kids an nual survey also found other m ums were their own worst enem y, with almost one-third of wo rking mothers saying they we re made to feel guilty about th eir choices from other mum s.

The Sage SME Sentiment Index Report has found that during the past 12 months, female business owners were more cautious than their male counterparts on many issues such as reducing prices for customers (22 per cent females versus 34 per cent males), taking on more debt to grow the business (13 per cent females versus 28 per cent males) and in freezing or limiting all staff pay rises (seven per cent females versus 18 per cent males). Where male business owners typically concentrated more on the challenges of revenue growth and customer acquisition, women were more keenly focused on the challenges of rising costs and recruiting employees. The Nielsen-Community Engine 2011 Social Media Business Benchmarking Study has found that nearly three-quarters of businesses have allocated ten per cent or more to their marketing budget for social media activities, with corporates having significantly more presence than SME’s. The amount of businesses dedicating ten per cent or more to marketing budgets for social media grew from 57 per cent to 72 per cent. The highest proportion of spending is going to Facebook advertising at 21 per cent, followed by social media monitoring at 16 per cent and use of a corporate blog at 15 per cent. Fewer businesses are putting money into YouTube, MySpace, Twitter and Flickr. The Federal Government will provide an additional $485,000 to support the six national Women’s Alliances in their work to advance gender equality in Australia. The Alliances will continue to actively engage with the Australian Government on policy issues as part of a better, more informed and representative dialogue between women and government.

Winter 2011 n Working Women® 3

WW upfront

Millionaire developing your

mindset

When it comes to achieving business and personal success, attitude is the number one driver. PAM BROSSMAN shares her experience and knowledge on the steps women need to take to develope their Ms Millionaire within. From a very young age, Pam Brossman knew she was destined to achieve great things. There is no doubt that family, our environment and the messages we hear during our formative years play a major role in influencing the outcomes of our success in business. Pam credits her mother for instilling her ‘millionaire attitude’ and drive for life. Pam believes that mindset plays a major role in women achieving success. Much of it comes down to having a positive attitude and a strong belief in your own abilities. Landing her first job at a local fruit store at the age of 12, Pam has come a long way. Pam’s entrepreneurial spirit was first sparked by dabbling in real estate. After purchasing her first home and later selling it for double the purchase price, she was cashed up and on her way to achieving financial success. After spending more than 20 years of her career in the communications industry, Pam decided it was time for both a work and lifestyle change. After extensive research, Pam found herself in the world of internet marketing and now heads up a successful six figure business teaching small businesses across the globe how to utilise the power of video and digital marketing to build their brand, business and bottom line. With an international online magazine and several books including The Relationship Age, Ms Millionaire and the recently released Power of 100, Pam’s millionaire attitude continues to serve her well.

How to develop your millionaire attitude What stops most people from having a millionaire attitude is usually a lack of self belief, motivation, positive environment, drive or desire. To be successful in life and business it all starts with…

4 Working Women® n Winter 2011

Mindset: Ask any successful entrepreneur

Networking: Networking with like-minded

and they will tell you that 80 per cent of their success can be attributed to their attitude and mindset. What mindset do you have for success in your business right now? What do you think you need to change in order to achieve your goals faster?

people who have the same direction as you, or who are where you want to be in the future, can teach you new things enabling you to reach your goals faster. What networking events should you be attending this month?

Intention: In order to accomplish your goals, you must first of all identify them and develop an action plan to achieve them. Creating an intention is very important to having a millionaire attitude. What are your six month and 12 month intentions?

Leverage: Being successful in anything you do is achieved so much faster when you utilise the power of leverage. Utilising the benefits of joint venture partners, affiliations or networks will always fast track your success. Who could you leverage right now to help you achieve your goals faster?

Lifestyle: The lifestyle you choose to live is a decision that can only be made by you. What lifestyle are you going to choose and what do you need to do to make it a reality in the next year?

Integrity: Integrity and values play a huge part in developing a millionaire attitude. There is no personal satisfaction that comes with success if it is not obtained through integrity. Before you set out to create your intention, make sure you have a clear set of values to ensure you stay true to who you are. What values do you have set for your business? Are your business plan, team, partners and goals aligned with those values? Opportunities: Having a millionaire attitude is about being open to opportunities that come your way. Taking a risk can sometimes leave you better off, and you’ll never know if you keep letting them pass by. What opportunities are there for you to explore right now in your business?

Action: Having a millionaire attitude means you are an action taker. You create an intention, leverage those who can help you, create a plan and then get out there and take action. What five action steps are you going to take this month to get closer to your goal? Inspiration: This sadly is where most people fall down. They have the dream, they have the knowledge and expertise, but they do not have the self belief or inspiration to get out there and go for it. Once you overcome this hurdle, the rest is just a roadmap. What can you do to overcome your fear? What action can you take to start creating your own millionaire attitude? Relationships: The world as we know it is changing. More and more people are valuing relationships when making personal decisions in their business, their life and their buying behaviour. The stronger the relationships you have the more successful you will become. What can you do to build new relationships or create stronger relationships with those you are already connected to? Education and Mentors: Education and having mentors can have a huge impact on the future growth of your business. Learning from people who are where you want to be will enable you to benefit from their knowledge and expertise. Write a list of people who you admire and investigate ways they can assist you to develop. n an Pam Brossm

Contact ia Woman Social Med Business 204 971 5 42 +61 (0) Phone an.com

lmediawom www.socia

Photography courtesy of Tania Niwa www.niwaphotography.com

In order to accomplish your goals, you must first of all identify them and develop an action plan to achieve them. Creating an intention is very important to having a millionaire attitude. Winter 2011 n Working Women速 5

WW business strategies

Choosing an Affiliate Management Program for

your business Are you on the look out for more customers? Why not consider the benefits of establishing an affiliate program for your business. We asked CHARLY LEETHAM to share her knowledge in this area to help you attract more customers and increase your sales.

An affiliate management program allows small businesses to engage with individuals to promote and sell their products and services, generally through an online sales channel. Affiliate management programs track visitors referred by affiliates and records whether a sale was made as well as the amount of commission payable. Most programs provide the ability to deliver marketing materials to affiliates, different links for different promotions, sub-affiliate referral tracking and a lot more.

Done For You Solutions These solutions are run and managed by a third party. The solution providers manage the referral software and systems, handle affiliate signups and affiliate payouts. All you need to do as a business owner is set up the links to the products and services page, provide marketing resources and marketing guidance to the affiliates.

With the right solution, a business can offer varying levels of commission for different types of affiliates and provide excellent support to their affiliates. As a result, a business owner becomes a publisher with the affiliate manager and then affiliates sign up with them to promote the products or services of the business. Sales are made through the business’s shopping cart solution and using some techie magic, the affiliate program is ‘told’ that a sale was made and via which affiliate. At the end of the reporting period, the affiliate management program will pay your affiliates their commissions. Generally, these solutions require the business to maintain a financial balance with the affiliate manager, providing a guarantee to the affiliates that they will receive their payments. A variation on this solution is ClickBank, which provides all the affiliate management functions and the payment processing as well. When a sale is made, ClickBank receives the payment. Then after a certain period of time, ClickBank will pay the affiliates and the 6 Working Women® n Winter 2011

business while retaining a percentage of the sale price as the fee for providing the service. ClickBank does not provide the ability for the business to deliver marketing materials to the affiliates, thus a separate system is required to support the affiliates.

Hosted Solutions A hosted affiliate solution is managed and maintained by a third party provider. The business will set up their own affiliate system, provide their own marketing creatives and receive payments through their own shopping cart. The difference between a hosted solution and a done for you solution is that with a hosted solution the business owner manages their own affiliates directly including the regular payment of commissions.

Self Hosted and Self Managed With a self-hosted and self-managed affiliate program, a business owner will install and

configure affiliate management software on their own web server and manage their own service. With a self hosted solution a business owner has full control over how the program operates. With the right solution, a business can offer varying levels of commission for different types of affiliates and provide excellent support to their affiliates. In summary, there is no one right answer or single system to follow. Each solution has its benefits and drawbacks which need to be considered in light of the specific business requirements. n

ham

Charly Leet

Contact Leetham Ask Charly Business 3 983 57 1 41 ) (0 1 +6 Phone ham.com

arlyleet www.askch

WW business strategies

Fast start businesses need to keep their eye on the game

Are you one of the lucky businesses that have recently experienced sudden growth without prior planning or expectation? WENDY FOGARTY provides six ways to re-gain control of your business and help make the transformation a lasting change.

Recently a business owner, who employs more than 70 staff and turns over in excess of $5 million, confessed that their growth in just three years of operation had been very much ‘on the run’. Apparently their growth was based on feeling the market, understanding their customers’ needs and delivering a service that constantly exceeded expectation. Despite having little if any prior experience in running a business, they knew and understood their customers’ needs and service expectations. There was also acknowledgement that they had made plenty of mistakes in the first three years, however they learnt quickly and used their experience to constantly improve their business. Their simple yet effective strategy resulted in rapid growth, yet due to lack of time it also left some gaps unaddressed in the framework of the business that were now causing barriers to further growth. Some of the systems and strategies they had in place now needed revising, as the business had grown and matured so they are no longer as relevant their effectiveness was in question. Unfortunately not everyone is so lucky to have such great organic success in their first three years - and all without a plan. Despite this, it can happen and it is not until you hit the ‘what next platform’ that you need to identify and address the gaps, to help your business move to the next level of growth. Once you understand where the gaps are and you can identify them, the process of assessing options and devising solutions comes into play, followed by a prioritised action plan ready for implementation. Below are six common areas to direct your focus and regain control of your business’s organic growth:

identified. Invest in technology where possible to automate services and improve productivity levels.

2. Profitability Ensure the services or goods you are selling are profitable and your business is viable. Target your prospective clients with your most profitable services and consider if all services or products you currently offer are viable for your business model.

3. Compliance Investigate all areas of compliance that your business needs to address and make it a priority focus to ensure you run a sound business that maintains its ongoing compliance obligations.

4. Planning Document your current situation. Research the market including your target market and record this information in a structured business plan that includes your future vision and strategically maps out how you are going to achieve it. Ensure you cover all key areas required to operate a successful business and achieve success.

5. People growth Include a comprehensive induction for all new employees and regularly invest in up-skilling staff so that they grow and develop with your business. Set targets within your business and performance review staff. Mentor and coach

6. Suppliers Outsource to suppliers that align with the values of your business who can deliver a reliable, consistent, cost-effective yet quality service. Getting the recruitment and retention right is also a critical success factor in business. Always employ skilled and knowledgeable staff members who have been where you want to take your business, as they will make the journey to your destination a lot easier. Focus your attention then on developing and growing them to help your business achieve success. To succeed in business you need plenty of commitment, passion and an optimistic, forward-thinking attitude. You also need to know your strengths and outsource to balance your weaknesses, or to build your knowledge and strengthen your skill set, particularly as your business grows. n

rty

Wendy Foga

ve Contact & Imperati Important Business s Solutions Busines 9 662 227 +61 (0) 40 u com.a www.i-ibs.

Phone

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1. Systems and technology Document common processes and develop systems so that services can easily be replicated and areas for improvement can be

staff where needed to ensure your business builds its capacity and achieves its goals.

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Winter 2011 n Working Women® 7

WW business strategies

Strategies to Stay

Ahead of the Competition

Competition is a natural part of being in business and you need to be diligent to maintain and grow your market share to stay ahead of the pack. SUE BROUGHTON and MELISSA SMITH share their tips on how to ‘out think’ your competition. A key strategy to staying ahead of your competition is understanding your marketplace. This includes establishing who your direct competitors are, quantifying your target market and determining your competitive advantage. Out-think your competition with these six tips:

1. Find out everything you can about your competitors Be attentive to what your competitors are doing, stay focused and be organised by setting up files on each of them. Actively look for articles in journals, newspapers, magazines and don’t overlook the information on their websites as it is usually the most current source of information. Some good resources include secret shoppers, online reviews and Google Alerts for tracking, as they help to keep you ‘in the know’.

2. Perception is everything ensure you are sending out the right business message Branding professionals are very aware of the power of suggestion and the impact of image to increase profile and market share. The public can get fickle if your promotional material is sending out the wrong message. Your target market will be almost impossible to entice back if they perceive your competitor

as the better business to deal with. Therefore to minimise this risk, leave your branding to the professionals.

3. Network - this is the key Once you have researched your competitors, make contact and connect with them to develop relationships. It is important to join networking groups as your best selling advantage is you; so let your competitors and customers know how you can help them.

4. Co-operation and collaboration If something is going to have a strong impact on your industry, reach out to your competitors so you can join forces and take the required action. Offer to co-operate and collaborate where needed as collaboration develops strength, commitment and a brainstorming of ideas that can creatively address any type of issue that arises.

5. Higher thinking and action Find out why your competitors are gaining more market share than you. Do your best to figure out why, then let your competitors help you to improve your business. Don’t use this

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8 Working Women® n Winter 2011

as an excuse to accept defeat. Understanding your competition and what they are doing for market preference, will help you improve your services and make them more attractive. Don’t simply copy others - take their best ideas, test them and build upon them.

6. Enticement, enrichment and engagement Out-thinking your competition requires outof-the-box authenticity. Break your patterns of how you approach your marketing and the services or products you have to offer. If you usually brainstorm in an office, then sit outside on the grass with your shoes off to brainstorm. Doing alternate activities like this may help you to take a look at what you are offering from different perspectives. You can’t really go wrong when you experiment - try a different approach, a different angle and see what areas you can improve on in your business now. We all have creative and innovative skills within us, we just need to utilise them to get ahead of the pack and out-think the competition. If you have to, change your thinking and approach and soon enough, you will get results. Success comes from inspirational thinking and out-of-the-box strategies. Develop sound business principles and your business will out-shine major competitors. n oughton &

ith

Melissa Sm

Sue Br ealth Contact stitute of H ustralian In A t s en es n em si ag Bu an sM and Busines 6 442 57 7 41 ) (0 1 +6 Phone au .com www.aihbm

How to Keep Pace

WW business strategies

Easy Steps

It is not uncommon to be apprehensive towards change. Sometimes it may seem that your current processes work and don’t need changing; but change can result in great development. Join SHIRALEE WILSON as she shares three tips to help you keep up with the business world’s competitive pace. The pace of change in today’s world is incredible. The impact of the internet has been huge in certain areas within both the personal and business fields. The worldwide web has completely changed the way many of us think, let alone how we do business. Accordingly, customer service is critical to a business’s success. With so many choices these days of where we spend our money and with whom we do business, the ‘experience’ is more critical than ever. Social media has made a tremendous impact on marketing and on our business connections through the building of relationships and communities. Nowadays, we are not just gathering names for our database or mailing lists.

So are you up to the challenge of change? Here are three steps to achieve continuous improvement.

Step One: Innovation

You have to innovate - it’s that simple. Brainstorming new ideas and ways of delivering better value to your customers is critical. Innovation is crucial for all areas of your business. Keeping up with the best practices will enable your business to lead the way among competitors in the market place.

Step Two: Quantification You have to measure all areas of your business to see what works and what doesn’t work. This includes active research; finding out how many leads you get, how many you convert and so forth. The idea is that whenever you

introduce an innovation you are quickly able to quantify whether it makes an improvement.

Step Three: Implementation Once proven that an innovation works, it should be implemented for use within your business. Once this has been done, your policies and procedures must be updated and your staff trained to make sure the change is incorporated resourcefully. Next, you test the change along with your quantification steps and re-innovate where necessary. n ilson

Shiralee W Contact siness Alchemy Bu ons Business ment Soluti Develop 7 951 +61 (0) 414 96 Phone com.au k. or w et n mywww.alche

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Winter 2011 n Working Women® 9

WW business strategies

Prickly Pear Reality Check The

When a technically gifted individual can’t get along with the rest of his or her team, it forces management to make some tough decisions. Should the employee be fired or retained? NAOMI MASHFORD describes the appropriate and effective way to handle this difficult situation.

This type of person is usually referred to as a ‘Prickly Pear’. He or she controls critical information which affords a knowledge power base for the individual, however poor interpersonal skills create communication blockages and relationship breakdowns which drive co-workers crazy. As a business owner, you need to make the decision of whether to invest in this person through training and coaching, or to cut your losses and start planning their exit strategy and subsequent replacement. If you opt for the take-no-action strategy, your enterprise will be damaged and affected in severe ways. Possible consequences of a take-no-action strategy: Productivity and profitability will be negatively impacted as the Prickly Pear does not and will not engage with other team members.

Communication blockages will develop, fostering negative results and causing permanent damage to team relationships. Knowledge will become a power base for your Prickly Pear. It is highly unlikely they will delegate any meaningful work as this would (in their eyes) weaken their status and position.

In an attempt to retain their knowledge and sometimes sadly to move them away from others, Prickly Pears often find themselves promoted to some type of management role. However, their stark lack of leadership qualities which are inextricably linked to their interpersonal skills will produce aggressive and defensive attitudes and behaviours towards the development of others. Be warned, you will lose good quality people when this type of roadblock becomes ‘culture’.

Team work will become stifled as your Prickly Pear expects others in the team to recognise their true brilliance and superiority. In reality, this type of behaviour is mere smoke and mirrors, in an attempt to cover up their fears that they do not measure up.

If you determine the Prickly Pear delivers unique value to your organisation, and therefore you would prefer to keep them, you must take action and develop

a deliberate strategy in order to resolve the situation. The first step is to determine whether the issues stem from a skill or behavioural platform. Is the person actually aware of their image and the impact they are having on others? Review the performance of your Prickly Pear to see their management effectiveness in terms of task, people and personal effectiveness. How often do they encourage or require their people to behave in a constructive fashion? Do they facilitate or inhibit good performance in others? Once you are able to establish the gap between the current and desired effectiveness of your Prickly Pear, you have taken the first and vital step forward in motivating their change and development. Their facilitating approach will reveal the focus they currently have (or do not have) on maximising the autonomy of their staff by removing obstacles and creating opportunities for them to experiment and improve. Their inhibiting approach will see them over-controlling their staff and their work by maintaining or (worse) creating barriers that either discourage or prevent people from taking initiative, trying new things and integrating their activities with those of other people and units. What approach can you take to resolve a ‘Prickly Pear’ issue in your team? Before you start you must have: a) a clear sense of what you will say and how you will structure the conversation; and b) a clear sense of what they might say and do in response to your probing.

Productivity and profitability will be negatively impacted as the Prickly Pear does not and will not engage with other team members. Communication blockages will develop, fostering negative results and causing permanent damage to team relationships. 10 Working Women® n Winter 2011

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Six steps to resolution: 1. Opening line. Describe the performance issue to your Prickly Pear in a clear and concise fashion. Avoid the use of judgemental language as it often serves to antagonise.

2. Obtain their response. Ask for their feedback and ensure you are 100 per cent present and interested in what they have to say.

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3. Define their response. Your ‘Prickly Pear’ will either accept ownership of the issue or (more often the case) fight and deny accountability.

4. Denial response. Typically your ‘Prickly Pear’ will display fight, flight or disregard behaviour. They may apportion blame, scream or argue; walk out or avoid the issue; or subject you to the silent treatment. Probing questions can be used as a way to break through this behaviour and encourage the individual to own their accountability.

5. Confront accountability. Ask them how accountable they are prepared to be. They will either open up so you can work with them to resolve the problem, or remain fixed in their denial. Do not allow them to derail the conversation and deflect the issues.

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rests. Is it a skill or behavioural problem? If it is a skill problem, seek their input and generate solutions to overcome the issue. For a behavioural problem, continue to work on the issue by seeking accountability. Clearly, you cannot simply tell someone to behave differently and expect they will follow. Change requires many reinforcers before the new way of doing things becomes an established habit. This is best done gradually and systematically. If you want the new and improved behaviour to continue, ensure the reinforcers you choose are recognisable to your Prickly Pear, otherwise they will quickly snap back to their former ways, once again leaving you to face the question: do we keep this difficult ‘genius’ or get rid of the problem and wear the loss? n ashford

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Winter 2011 n Working Women® 11

WW Business Success

H ow t o M e a s u r e

Drive Business Improvement

Measuring factors that are critical to the success of a business is an integral part of good management and will facilitate continuous business improvement. To help you achieve a competitive advantage, seven areas to address are listed below:

Measure and Improve Key performance indicators are a method of measuring a business to ascertain if the business is on track to meet key objectives. They indicate (I) the performance (P) in key (K) areas of the business. They provide boards, business owners or management with timely information to allow them to better understand the dynamics of the business, and to stimulate better strategy development or decision making.

What to Measure There are a plethora of activities or outcomes in business that could be measured. But it is important to ask, will the KPI allow you to continually improve the business through better strategy development or decision making. If the answer to this is no, then that activity or outcome may be nice to know, but may add little value to the board or management team.

Critical Success Factors The process of implementing KPI’s provides the opportunity to review factors critical to the success of the business. Critical success

Continuous improvement programs have been used in business for many years to assist in achieving a competitive advantage and to help create a productive and profitable organisation. WAYNE GRIFFITHS provides a breakdown of how to measure aspects of your business that are critical for its success. factors are those activities the business must consistently perform to the best of its ability. They are critical to the success of the business. They drive business success and prosperity.

Lead versus Lag Indicators Ideally the business should have a number of KPI’s that measure the drivers (activity) of business success (lead KPI’s) as well as measuring the outcomes (lag KPI’s). An example of this is as follows:

Key performance indicators are a method of measuring a business to ascertain if the business is on track to meet key objectives. They indicate (I) the performance (P) in key (K) areas of the business. Identify the lead KPI’s that will measure how well you are driving the success of each critical factor.

Identify the lag KPI’s that measure the performance outcomes of each critical success factor.

Critical success factors: n Retaining a highly skilled, motivated and energetic team.

Lead KPI: n Number of training or professional development meetings.

Number of one-on-one feedback discussions.

Lag KPI: n Staff turnover. Number of sick days.

Identifying Appropriate KPI’s This process usually requires significant thought and is made considerably easier by first identifying the critical success factors for the business. Use the following process to identify the KPI’s for your business: Identify the critical success factors for each function of the business.

Develop a bench mark for the KPI’s based on what the realistic objective for that area is. Identify how you will capture the data.

Prepare the KPI report.

Collecting the Source Data The data for the KPI’s will come from a number of sources within the business, including the profit and loss statement and balance sheet. It will be necessary to develop some simple documents and processes to record other data as the month progresses, so the KPI report can be completed ready for the board or management meeting.

The KPI Report Ideally the KPI report will allow analysis of data across a financial year. This yearly view provides visibility around trends and allows directors or management to monitor and measure continuous improvement initiatives, or identify warning signs regarding future performance. Measuring those things that are critical to the success of the business is an integral part of good management and will facilitate continuous business improvement. n s

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WW Business Success

Control Procrastination and

Get Ahead

It is no secret that people look down on procrastination and wish it wasn’t a part of their business and personal life. GLORIA HAMILTEN sheds light on how you can master the art of procrastination and finally get some serious work done.

How can procrastination actually be seen as a good thing? Controlled procrastination can be a great contributing factor to success, both in your career or business and your personal life. It all comes down to why you are procrastinating. What are you putting off and why? For the most part, the thing you are procrastinating about is the activity you absolutely must be doing. That activity is likely to produce a result that will make a positive difference in your life and your business, and you are putting it off because the process may be uncomfortable, or the result will challenge you in some way. Contrary to popular opinion, procrastination is not the result of being lazy, but being afraid. Fear has paralysed you to the point of inaction. So when you start to procrastinate, get excited - because you are about to have a breakthrough that will blast you through a self-imposed barrier. Here is what you can do to help you push through procrastination:

1. Write down the key activity that you believe you should be doing but have been putting off.

2. Next to this activity, write down why you think you are procrastinating.

3. Break this activity down into smaller tasks that may not be quite as intimidating.

4. Put a realistic timeframe next to each task - don’t make unreasonable demands on yourself or you will feel overwhelmed and this process won’t work effectively. At the same time, don’t be too lenient with yourself, if you specify deadlines too far into the future you will lose interest and this process will become ineffectual.

5. Give yourself a punishment if you do not do the tasks you have committed to. For instance, you don’t get to go out with your friends and

have fun until you have completed the task. This may seem a little harsh but unless there are consequences, you will continually let yourself off the hook. Choose a punishment that will actually feel like one to you if you don’t meet the deadline assigned. Ultimately, procrastinating is something everyone does. Sometimes, it can be telling us that we didn’t want something to begin with, or it is really something we are avoiding that will benefit us.

Contrary to popular opinion, procrastination is not the result of being lazy, but being afraid.

Ask yourself which it is, you will intuitively know, so trust your intuition and when you feel yourself spiralling, just go back to the above process and step yourself through it. Once you do this on a regular basis you will find yourself getting excited each time you put something off. n ilten

Gloria Ham

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WW business success

Ten Tips from

Successful Years in Business

Do you ever wonder what you could have achieved since starting your business, if you knew what you now know about the entrepreneurial world? After operating her own successful business for ten years, DONNA STONE shares her top ten tips that every business owner should know to hit the ground running. We all know that statistically more than 80 per cent of businesses fail to reach their ten year anniversary. Don’t let your business count towards that statistic, follow these ten tips to business success:

Document your goals and ensure you include how you plan to achieve each goal. Position your goals around your office, this reinforces their importance in your mind and will direct your efforts every day.

1. Educate Knowledge is one of the most

4. Positive influence Surround

powerful and beneficial resources you can possess. Attend informational workshops and training days, read business focused books and magazines like Working Women and utilise the endless business resources found on the internet. Don’t just limit yourself to your industry, read a range of materials on different topics.

yourself with experts and positive people. Other people’s attitudes can rub off on you; socialise with people who are successful, motivated, happy and optimistic, and you will remain the same. Know what you do well and surround yourself with people who are better in areas that are not your forte.

2. Believe Trust you can succeed and believe in yourself. You will always have negative people putting you down. Listen to their reasons, but unless it’s an industry professional advising you that the business you are considering is unsuitable, have faith in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself and your business, then yes, your likelihood of success decreases.

3. Goals Set short and long-term strategic goals and objectives for your business. What do you want to achieve in the next 90 days? What about the next five to ten years?

5. Selling Know that ‘sell’ is not a dirty word. Lose the image of the used car salesman trying to offload the lemon and you’ll discover how good you are at sales, especially if you are passionate about what you do. 6. Growth Control your growth. When businesses grow too quickly, the owner can often lose track of what’s happening, both from an operations and financial perspective, leaving them struggling in later years. Gradual growth, like gradual weight loss, is the most effective way to grow a business. Gradual growth doesn’t diminish at times of challenge such as the global financial crisis.

7. Give is gain Adopt the concept of referring business to others and you will find that they will do the same for you. This is in-tune with the saying, “What goes around, comes around.” If you rip people off or do the wrong thing by them, the benefits will be short lived and it is guaranteed that business will stop coming your way. Always do the right thing and the benefits will come your way sooner or later.

8. Be a woman Whilst many industries are still ‘a man’s world’, don’t try to be a man or play the man’s game. Being a woman has its differences and benefits, so use them. Play your game and accept who you are. Advise clients that you are not able to do evening appointments due to family commitments and people will accept that.

9. Be thankful Always be grateful for your team and staff and those who give you business. Thank your suppliers for great service. Thank your clients for paying promptly. It’s not hard to give someone a little praise, write a recommendation, send a card or write a quick email. People will start to love doing business with you. Remember how nice it is to receive a thank you or pat on the back. 10. Stop and smell the roses Too

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often we are too disciplined and driven in our businesses that we forget about ourselves. We work a 90 hour week, push ourselves to the limit and forget why we went into business. Whether you want to have financial independence or better working hours, remember this and develop the harmonious work-life balance you desire. n e

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WW career success

Blind Sided

Why do I miss out on promotion?

Do you feel as though you are constantly overlooked for promotions, high profile roles or special business opportunities and are unsure why? BLYTHE DRIUSSI-ROWE explores the unconscious behaviour women unknowingly express which often limits their career and business success. According to recent figures, women hold only eight per cent of key executive management positions within Australia and the notion of the ‘glass ceiling’ is too often cited. Yes, organisational barriers may be apparent and the issue of balancing work and family does exist for many women. However, rather than focus on the obstacles, isn’t it time for women to shift their focus to the actions within their control to truly own and drive their career success? The following career traps will shed some light as to why you may not have reached the career success you long for.

1. Failing to plan what you want from your career. You need to be strategic and intentional about your career goals and always have a plan of attack. If you do not know where you want to head in your career, you will end up somewhere undesirable.

2. Failing to understand and articulate your value proposition. Today, it is critical to become your own personal PR manager. You must consistently promote your value proposition in order to create credibility and visibility. Stop dwelling on your weaknesses and failures and start articulating your strengths and accomplishments to key people.

3. Searching for perfection. Whilst most women constantly strive to be 100 per cent perfect all the time, this often leads to failing to apply for that dream job, challenge or promotion. To truly own your career, you must give up playing it safe. Instead accept uncertainty, take risks, have the tenacity to get back up and most importantly master the art of taking action. 4. Using minimising and non-resourceful language. Women fear coming across as too domineering, tough and direct so they use

language to soften their message. Words such as ‘just’, ‘only’, ‘perhaps’, and ‘sort of’ are overused. This not only sabotages your credibility, it diminishes your value and chances of promotion. Become aware of your language and reframe immediately.

7. Keeping quiet. Women often fail to voice

5. Constantly apologising. “I’m sorry” - two

8. Never actually asking for what you want.

of the most overused words in the female vocabulary. Not only does it erode your self confidence but also the confidence others have in you. Start taking credit and acknowledge your accomplishments. Avoid using apologies to put you in a one-down position as a way of ensuring you are liked.

6. Failing to leverage your relationships. Women are great at building relationships yet poor at leveraging them. Your network is your ‘net-worth’. Think strategically about who can assist you - ask for a mentor or sponsor and let them know your value, accomplishments and career goals. You can’t do it alone!

Women are afraid of hearing the word ‘no’ and avoid feeling rejected at any cost. You must ask for what you want; ask for introductions, ask for information, ask for help, ask for the opportunity and ask for that pay rise that you know you deserve. You will never get what you don’t ask for. 16 Working Women® n Winter 2011

their opinion and thoughts in the fear of making a mistake or losing face. The paradox being - if you do not talk, no one will know you are there. Adopt the principle that there is no such thing as failure - only feedback. Women are afraid of hearing the word ‘no’ and avoid feeling rejected at any cost. You must ask for what you want; ask for introductions, ask for information, ask for help, ask for the opportunity and ask for that pay rise that you know you deserve. You will never get what you don’t ask for. Your challenge is to look in the mirror, reflect and focus on the actions you can take to step up and drive and own your career success. You may be pleasantly surprised. n ssi-Rowe

Blythe Driu

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WW career success

B at t li n g

Tall Poppy Syndrome Being business professionals, we constantly strive to do better, reach higher and achieve more success. ANNEMARIE CROSS discusses the tall poppy syndrome and what to do when things get nasty.

As you continue to grow your business and increase your credibility and reputation within your field, not only will you capture the attention of potential clients, you will also be noticed by your competitors and others in your circle.

So if someone is going out of their way to attack, cut down or criticise you, what do you do? Should you retaliate? Or do you just simply ignore them and hope they will go away? Here are three tips to consider:

Unfortunately, some of these people may not always have your best interests at heart. You may find that they try to hinder your progress through a direct attack on you personally, or they will try to drag you down with their negative comments or actions.

One of the key things to avoid is retaliation. Stooping to their level and serving them up a spoonful of their own medicine will only serve to take your attention, energy and focus away from what you should be focusing on - to continue to do the great work you are doing.

Please be aware that this is not constructive criticism in which someone is trying to offer you advice with good intentions because they want to see you grow and prosper. Rather, they are vindictive comments coming from a place of ‘do or die competitiveness’ or out of spite and envy with the sole intent to tarnish your credibility or keep you down. Yes, tall poppy syndrome is well and truly alive.

1. Don’t stoop to their level.

Action Step: Don’t get caught up in anger, frustration or retaliation; you are worth so much more. Rather, let your light shine brightly and continue to bring your message to the world so that you can carry on helping the people who you know you are meant to serve.

2. Realise it is not about you. It is important to realise that their remarks have nothing to do with you and the work you are doing, but rather everything to do with them and their inability to achieve their own successes. Action Step: Remind yourself of your mission, your purpose and the people you are here to serve. Listening to the naysayers and critics will only delay you from achieving your bigger mission. Instead, just move on.

3. Surround yourself with supportive people. Are the people you associate with constantly telling you why something can’t be done, or why your plans are impossible to achieve? Perhaps that’s true for them. Are you going to let this person’s inability to reach their goals affect your ability to reach yours? Action Step: Surround yourself with supportive people. That means people who will continue

to encourage you to be the best you can be and who will celebrate alongside you as you continue to move from success to success. While you cannot control what other people say or do, you can certainly control the way it affects you. Hold your head high and continue with the amazing work you are doing. n

ie Cross

Annemar ach Contact Business Co Branding & Business 6 1300 137 57 Phone oss.com ariecr

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Winter 2011 n Working Women® 17

WW communications

Speak up

an d be h eard

If you are in pursuit of success then utilising your voice to promote, influence or make a good impression is a given. Speaking coach, GERALDINE BARKWORTH, illustrates the value of fearless and feminine speaking habits. It is not surprising to learn that most people feel more comfortable speaking with one person opposed to addressing an audience. However, in business, there comes a time when promoting, influencing and making a good impression on a much larger scale will be required. It is at this point when people seek our assistance with developing skills that will allow them to feel as comfortable when speaking to groups as they do when indulging in one on one conversations. There are five basic public speaking habits and YES the good news is that they can be learnt. 1. Managing speaking nerves. 2. ‘Dropping the mask’ to speak from the heart. 3. Being grounded and clear about your purpose and message. 4. Connecting authentically to inspire your audience to take action. 5. Relaxing into the natural flow of impromptu and structured presentations. Remember when you first learnt to drive a car. You had to turn on the ignition, put the

car in gear, check your mirrors, indicate and move into the flow of traffic. One day, you are driving along and realise you haven’t thought about those individual steps. You did it unconsciously because it had become a confident habit. This is exactly the same when learning the five basic public speaking habits.

In the same way that with time and practice you effortlessly weave in and out of traffic, public speaking becomes an effortless weaving, melding and merging of yourself and your audience. The first level of learning is referred to as ‘conscious incompetence’. This doesn’t sound flattering but we are all in the same boat when we learn anything new. As your experience increases, you move to the level of flow becoming fully present and in the moment. This higher level of learning is called ‘unconscious competence’. This doesn’t sound too flattering either, but be assured, the flow from unconscious competence is good. In the same way that with time and practice you effortlessly weave in and out of traffic, public speaking becomes an effortless weaving, melding and merging of yourself and your audience. Once nasty self-consciousness drops away, speaking in public becomes enjoyable. Some people even get addicted to the adrenaline rush of speaking with natural ease. The joy of newfound speaking agility drives you effortlessly along a freeway, rather than kangaroo hopping in a back lane of obscurity. n Barkworth

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WW communications

Leading Words

Always Get Results Have you ever been bombarded with a string of ‘why’ questions, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and attacked? GAYE KUELSEN discusses how to create an environment where both parties can share their opinions in a non-threatening way.

The importance of effective communication for developing and maintaining strong relationships cannot be underestimated. Being a great communicator will ensure your message is clearly received without misunderstanding. This is especially important during times of conflict or when a difference of opinion arises. How often, in the heat of the moment have you fired off questions like, “Why did you do that?” “Why did you treat me that way?” or “Why do you feel like that?” Or have you been on the receiving end of these same questions? At that time, how did hearing those questions make you feel? Just consider for a moment what is happening when these types of questions are used. Firstly, when ‘why’ questions, are asked the tone of voice used comes across in an accusing and demanding manner. Secondly, the questions are usually fired off in quick succession without giving the other person any time to respond. The person on the receiving end of these questions instantly feels under attack and their natural response is to become defensive. These questions require them to justify their actions or feelings, inhibiting the opportunity for an authentic conversation.

response less effective and contribute to the escalation of conflict. How do you prevent provoking the situation and create an environment where both parties can share and express their opinions in a non-threatening way? Simply remove ‘why’ from your vocabulary. Instead, replace ‘why’ questions with ‘how’ or ‘what’ questions. Alternatively you can ask, “In what way...” So to rephrase the earlier questions, you could ask, “How does that make you feel?”, “What could have been done differently” or “In what way could you...?” When posing questions in this manner, it is perceived as a less confrontational approach. Your tone of voice is softer and invites the other person to share their feelings or actions. Don’t forget to listen and understand their response. Asking questions in a less demanding manner dampens down emotions and allows for a calm and effective discussion. Utilising this technique also lessens the chance of saying something in anger that you may later regret. n

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Winter 2011 n Working Women® 19

WW communications

10 Tips

It’s not always about what you say Communicating your message and building a brand is the key to business success. You can be the best in the business but if no one gets your message there is no reward! HELEN GOODMAN shares the top ten ways to communicate without saying a word.

Building business relationships and establishing your business in the market place can be achieved in many ways. The spoken word is only a small part of the message that potential clients receive. Studies reveal that in spoken communication only seven per cent of the message sent is received from the words, 38 per cent is from tonality and 55 per cent is physiology. Here are ten forms of communication that do not use the spoken word:

1. Have a logo and incorporate it into all your business materials. Whether it’s typographical or imagery, the more you use it the more your

audience will recognise your business.

2. Use your business card as more than just a card. Be original in design and use it as a referral card, loyalty card or to promote your business in some way.

3. Use print publications to advertise your business. Advertise in industry-specific magazines or local papers to bring your product or service to the market.

4. Develop a brochure for your business. Create relevant, interesting and creative brochures that stand out from the crowd. The use of images, humour and creative design will make your business more memorable.

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5. Incorporate direct mail into your marketing strategy. Use print materials to communicate directly with your target audience. Ensure you use creative imagery and memorable design as this is imperative in order to catch your target market’s attention and interest.

Use print publications to advertise your business. Advertise in industry-specific magazines or local papers to bring your product or service to the market. 6. Brand your transport. Wrap your car or trade vehicles in your logo and marketing messages by having stickers or magnets specially made for your vehicles. This will enhance the awareness of your business among the general public.

7. Develop a corporate look that represents you. Have your employees wear a uniform that defines your business. It should display your business logo and stick with your branding colour palette.

8. Utilise online social media. Learn the art of succinct and direct communication through online messaging systems.

9. Build a website. A website will allow you to sell and market to your consumers 24/7. Keep your website design in line with your corporate identity and have your online presence working effectively for you by managing your search engine optimisation.

10. List your business for free on all the online directories relevant to your business and location. The more exposure your business receives, the better your hit rate will be. n dman

Helen Goo

For a Free report on “7 Steps to a Sensational Year” Click on http://7steps.viprespond.com/freereport 20 Working Women® n Winter 2011

Contact Design PG Graphic Business 7996 97 32 ) (7 1 +6 u Phone sign.com.a

phicde

www.pggra

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WW Cybersavvy

Effective Strategies for Automation

Attract Customers

24/7

Establishin g marketing strategies that effectively attract customers all day every day is not as difficult as you may first think. There are however, a number of myths about automated marketing that need to be dispelled. Some of these include:

Hiring a salesperson who will work wonders for your business.

Building a website that people will automatically flock to.

Sending a sales letter for a massive response rate.

Believe it or not, your website is absolutely your most dedicated employee. It works all hours of the day and potentially brings in your best customers. RYAN GRAY deciphers effective strategies for mastering the world of automated marketing.

Habitually assuming your work will bring in tonnes of referrals.

Although these are good strategies when used with other marketing methods, there really is no silver bullet. The best way to achieve marketing automation is to get someone else to do it - or parts of it at least. If you don’t want to, or aren’t in a position to do so, online marketing is the next most cost effective and accessible medium with minimal input from you. It is highly recommended that you invest money for the set up of your website and then spend smaller amounts on occasional maintenance. Your website is worth the money spent on it as it supports offline marketing and will act as your own permanent salesperson. When your business card falls out of your potential customer’s wallet or they unfold your flier from their pocket at nine o’clock at night and it has your website listed, you have created an opportunity. If your website is professional, engaging and allows them to contact you easily, you have just attracted a new client, after hours with no additional work. Traditionally, the best customers you will gain are the ones who actively search for your specific product or service and do so through your website. Attracting traffic to your website involves a variety of elements

does this sound like you? • You want to get from A – Z but it doesn’t seem to happen? • Every time you start, up pops a distraction? • You’ve achieved some life & business success but you want to take it to the next level? Strategic coaching helps you work out a plan to move forward, eliminates blockages & translates into business & life implementation.

22 Working Women® n Winter 2011

To determine if we can produce your desired outcomes, The firsT session is free! Julie Spain Mindset Expert 0430 186 415 www.sigmamindset.com

including search engine optimisation, link building and article marketing - make sure your copywriter uses good keyword density, social media setup, video marketing and more. You can even pay search engines like Google and Yahoo to send you traffic. The use of email is yet another effective strategy for automating your marketing. All you need is a variety of articles sent at particular times based on your customer’s buying cycle. For example, information sent weekly, fortnightly or monthly for a period of three, six or 12 months, set up in an autoresponder. Although you pay for good email marketing systems, there are many free services that you can start with. Statistics show that 62 per cent of Australians trust advice contained within emails signed up for when deciding what to buy. This is beaten only by personal recommendations, editorial and consumer opinions posted online. Fifty per cent of Australians said they are more likely to buy products from companies who send them emails, whether their purchases are online or at a place of business. Get people to your website and get them signing up for your important information. Once you have established a good marketing system, it will require maintenance. There isn’t such a thing as a completely automated marketing system because of the changing business environment we operate in - but you can get close. You can obtain assistance for larger activities such as a professional company writing your content, and sometimes a marketing activity may only need a review every three to six months. Start with what you enjoy or get a professional to do it. n

Ryan Gray

Contact udios Argonyx St Business 2 29 6 1300 79 Phone

yx.com www.argon

WW Cybersavvy

Whether to Fix or Flick

a useless website Websites are becoming the first point of contact for many potential customers. SUE COOPER discusses the importance of ensuring your website is practical, appealing and accessible to your target market.

Have you spent a fortune on having the prettiest website in town, only to discover the only people to land on it are you and your employees? At this point do you: a) Put out a hit on your website designer? b) Hurl your laptop through the nearest window? c) Find out why your business doesn’t appear in search results? The ideal answer is C - find out why search engines do not deem your site worthy of coming up tops in user searches.

2. Relevance - Are you an accountant who sponsors a rugby team? Do you have lots of regular content about your rugby sponsorship, but update your business content irregularly? If this is the case, when the search engines are trawling, they will see accounting content and volumes of current rugby content which has nothing to do the site’s purpose. This will appear as irrelevant information to users and search engines, and will rank poorly when someone searches for an accountant.

3. Keyword Stuffing - This refers to writing content for search engines and not for your users. When writing content for your website, be sure to include keywords that you think your visitors are going to search for.

You are now entering the world of search engine optimisation (SEO), where the keywords that visitors search for, related to Essentially, the main effort you can make to your website, determine how highly you will your6548 website for search F: engine visibility E: thinkpink@uchealth.com.au P: 07fix3232 07 3232 6227 rank in a search. is to have quality, regularly updated and relevant content useful to your visitors and If you are not found easily in searches related thus attractive to search engines. It is always to your business, here are a few quick fixes worthwhile to have an SEO expert review your you can apply yourself. site even just once; they will correct any vital mistakes in the original site design. n 1. Recentness - Does your site have a

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line which reads ‘last updated 13 April 2008’ providing a freeIfcommunity service for women, men and their or something similar? you do, this is support one e Cooper diagnosis reason search engines will avoid you. Your site Sucancer families affected by a breast or gynaecological Contact Academy arch Engine Se is reviewed as often as search engines think s Busines 70 1300 838 0 they will see new content. If you are creating com.au Phone neacademy. gi n he rc ea new content on a weekly basis, your site will www.s eventually be checked out weekly, meaning the new content will be indexed quickly by the search engines for users to find it. ate don , to k Pink n o i t rma d Thin ct: n info nk For o atte conta 48 kpi or t Events 32 65 u/thin .au 2 a m. om 73 P: 0 lth.co alth.c ea uche h c w.u pink@ ww W: : think E

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Do you want to invest in property but think you can’t afford it? According to research, less than 45% of women won’t have enough money to retire on and on average we live 10 years longer than males! Yet, at the same time, there is more information available on ‘how to’ invest in property for retirement than ever before. So then… why isn’t everyone investing? Well for most women it’s either being time poor, unsure, or ill informed. Did you know your investment property could be bought by utilising the equity in your own home with no cash outlay? That’s where I can help. My mission is to help you purchase the right investment property. Want the answers to ‘how’, ‘what’ and ‘where’, including paying off your own home quicker while gaining an investment property and saving on your tax? My years of experience in real estate have taught me all the pros and cons. I will work with you and provide information on all aspects of property investment so that you make informed decisions. If you’re unsure where to start with property investment, then I encourage you to download my complimentary “Top tips for successful investing” report, where you will gain valuable information on how to succeed in property.

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The Kim Walters Choices Program is a free community service providing information & support for women, men and their families affected by breast or gynaecological cancers.

Contact Desley Arnold on 0416 084 529 or 07 3870 4002 desley@aquaticproperty.com.au

aquaticproperty.com.au Winter 2011 n Working Women® 23

WW Cybersavvy

Disaster Proof

Your Business

No one expects a disaster to affect them, but they can and they do. Being unprepared and ill-equipped can result in the demise of your business. LYNDA GAIAO shares her experience on how you can ensure the safety of your business through disaster preparation. Disaster recovery is one of those topics that people put off and leave at the bottom of their to do pile. Then, when a disaster strikes many businesses are so brutally hit that they are unable to pick up the pieces and recover. Your business data and IT network are essential parts of day-to-day operations within your business. Ensuring these elements are protected will mean your business can be up and running within hours or days after a natural disaster.

Key elements to consider: 1. Do you have a fully documented disaster recovery plan that all of your staff are aware of?

2. Do you have a backup of all your company data - electronic and paper based?

3. Is your backup stored in a distant

geographical location more than 1,000 km from your business and home location?

4. Have you tested and performed a full restoration from your backup in the last three months?

5. Where and how will you and your staff access your electronic company data and business communications if your office equipment is destroyed?

In being prepared you can: Store your data off site and in a separate geographical location.

Build online servers and computers that can be accessed through a web browser.

Disaster recovery doesn’t need to be as painful or costly an exercise as most people perceive it to be. Many people who have prepared for disasters have been pleasantly surprised at their flexibility, scalability and reliability.

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1800 052 476 +61 (7) 3272 8222

24 Working Women® n Winter 2011

Another benefit of preparation is how manageable the costs are, and often they have also been able to see cost savings compared to their previous operating environments. Having the right disaster recovery plan in place can mean the difference between your business failing or continuing to operate. Ensure you engage the services of an IT expert who is able to assist you not only with your disaster recovery planning, but also with the successful execution and delivery of it. Make sure you are protecting your business and livelihood from a disaster. n ao

Lynda Gai Contact y Ltd Cloud VBS Pt Business 8444 18 55 ) (7 1 +6 Phone .au bs.com

www.cloudv

WW Cybersavvy

Networking for the Agoraphobic

Starting a business with no contacts, no website and no money is a real challenge that many entrepreneurs have faced. SALLY BARRETT explains how you can make an income by harnessing the freedom of online social networking. When starting a business, it is almost always necessary to take risks. The key to success in any business is networking, but not all of us have a guaranteed income, transportation or the confidence to really make the most of face-to-face networking groups. That is where social media can come in handy. The first step is to construct your website, whether you use a blog-style format like Wordpress, or a basic site through Weebly, you are then free to tackle the world of online social networking. Forget your preconceived notions of online social media and join Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Once you have created your business accounts, you are ready to network. On Twitter you can begin by following likeminded people, re-tweeting their opinions and links, as well as adding a few businessrelated pearls of wisdom of your own. Other businesses will begin to follow you in no time.

Everyone is online now; the internet is the first place people look for a service, a product or an event. Although slower at attracting ‘friends’ than Twitter, Facebook allows you to show off much more information, such as testimonials and examples of your work. Create your business page through your existing Facebook account, and start posting updates. With your already

existing friend list as a base, you can start spreading the word. LinkedIn allows you to brag about your experience, qualifications and past projects. Gaining recommendations from previous colleagues, in return for your recommendation, can go miles towards promoting your business as reliable, efficient and trustworthy. You can also join industry-specific groups to link up with more potential clients and contacts. The next step in engaging in social networking strategies is to keep Googling. You can find ‘service websites’ to connect with fellow businesses and with people looking for a particular business service. Some of these sites are industry specific, but few of them are country specific. This is important to note if you’re running an online business - people overseas need your services and products just as much as Australians do. Freelancing websites and registers are also full of people hiring from overseas and offering services globally. Within the space of a week you can set up profiles for your business, and with a little bit of maintenance, you can start to watch the clients roll in. Everyone is online now; the internet is the first place people look for a service, a product or an event. By not representing yourself online, you may as well stay cooped up in your house, disconnect the phone and wait for a miracle to happen. For your brand to be truly seen online, and to see your profit go up, you need to

network. Twitter and Facebook are now solely used as platforms to launch businesses and to make money. And if this all sounds a little too ‘Gen Y’, fear not - there are hundreds of service providers out there who will help you to get started; just Google it. n

ett

Sally Barr d Contact t: Editing an Sally Barret Business e g Servic Writin 149 412 +61 (0) 478 Phone et n t. et rr www.sallyba

Self-Managed Tracking Solutions that can tell “your” business which advertising campaigns made your phone ring - and which didn’t. Nascomms® simple online management system can track the source of every phone call generated by every ad, leaflet, website, email or any other medium. This offers you the opportunities to accurately report back to your management, as well as optimising your marketing spend, by concentrating on the identified marketing channels that work best for your business.

• Track call results generated from any advertising medium

• Record sales calls

• Includes comprehensive management reporting • Plus much more, from only $2 per day with NO change to your existing phone system.

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Toll Free 1300 842 955

Email: sales@nascomms.com Website: www.nascomms.com Winter 2011 n Working Women® 25

WW Cybersavvy

Increase Traffic to your online shop without expensive advertising

Ads are a great tool used for generating traffic but when your budget is slim, what else can you do? MICHAEL PHIPPS explains how increasing traffic to your website will improve your chances of making a sale. Maintaining a top position in search engine results is important, however scoring the top position for popular keywords is difficult to achieve and uphold when competition is strong. But consider this: more traffic, leads and sales come from the bottom 80 per cent of your keywords than the top 20 per cent. While the bottom 80 per cent of your keywords may only attract a few visits each month, collectively they can out-perform the top 20 per cent of your keywords - the highly competitive keywords for which everyone wants to be number one. The bottom 80 per cent is often referred to as ‘the long tail’, an expression coined by Chris Anderson of Wired Magazine to explain how Amazon.com makes most of its revenue from the huge number of specialised titles, not the blockbuster, high-selling books we see in bookshops.

How to improve the chances of your products being indexed: 1. Every product page’s content must be unique, and this means meta data too. Ensure your title, meta keywords and meta descriptions are unique for every page.

2. Avoid duplicate content. If you get your product description by copying it from your supplier’s website, or a similar product on your own website, it reduces the chance of the product being indexed. When duplicate content is found, search engines will favour the page that existed first - and that isn’t always yours.

3. Give each product a self describing URL. The following URL ‘recipe’ works quite well; http://[websitename]/[category]/[name-ofproduct]. For example: http://example.com/ widgets/blue-spring-widget.

4. Ensure that two different URL’s do not display the same page. If example.com/ product.php?id=1234 shows the same page as example.com/widgets/blue-spring-widget, this could be considered a duplicate by search engines, reducing your chance of the product being indexed.

5. Submit a sitemap.xml file to Google, Yahoo, and Bing. These three search engines represent over 90 per cent of search traffic. By ensuring each product in your store is unique and informative, you improve the chances of it being indexed. The more products you get indexed, the greater the likelihood you will be found, thus generating more traffic to your website. n Having a page indexed by a search engine means it has a chance of being displayed in search results. Indexed pages are then ranked to decide the order in which they will appear in search results.

The way to apply ‘the long tail’ strategy to your store is to generalise and consider your top 20 per cent of keywords as your product categories and the bottom 80 per cent of keywords as your product names. You need to focus on getting every one of your product pages indexed by search engines.

ipps

Michael Ph Contact Tarotopia Business 4 1300 714 82 Phone .au opia.com www.tarot

26 Working Women® n Winter 2011

WW on the money

Are you driving with your

eyes closed? Being able to read, interpret and construct realistic action plans through your financial statements is a very important skill. RHONDALYNN KOROLAK discovers how you can drive your business to a new level of success.

When was the last time you got into your car and drove from A to B with your eyes closed? Chances are, unless you have completely lost your mind, the answer is never! You would never dream of putting your life or the safety of your family at risk by relying on blind faith, would you? Your life depends upon your ability to see and interpret what the gauges on your dashboard are telling you. Similarly, if you are in business and you cannot read and understand your financial statements, you are putting the financial health of your business and the financial security of your family at risk every single day. It is as though you are driving your business

Have you ever looked at your financials and wondered what they meant? Are you embarrassed to admit that you simply file your statements away each month because you can’t read them? Do you waste money and time chasing new leads and sales instead of fixing what is wrong and making it more profitable?

completely blind and just hoping you will be profitable at the end of the year. Isn’t this the definition of insanity? Your financials are to your business what the dashboard is to your automobile. Financial statements tell you exactly where you business is at and can help you to predict where it is likely to be in the future. You probably did not realise how much these numbers, the speed, direction and fuel capacity of your business can tell you. They can tell you why you are suddenly struggling to pay the bills, why your business is not performing as well as you thought it should be and why you will have to forego your salary again because there is not enough cash. Have you ever looked at your financials and wondered what they meant? Are you embarrassed to admit that you simply file your statements away each month because you can’t read them? Do you waste money and time chasing new leads and sales instead of fixing what is wrong and making it more profitable? Let me share with you a case study about a business owner named Brian. He had an established coaching business in a great

location where many new competitors were opening up and threatening to steal market share. For these reasons and more, Brian was keen to sell. One day, a woman walked in and said, “I think you have a great business here and I want to purchase it.” She had recently received a large redundancy package and had completed her advanced training as a coach. After careful consideration and some research in the local area she determined that Brian’s business was perfect for her new start. Because she was cashed up, she was able to make him a generous opening offer of $1.2 million. But unfortunately, the deal fell through. Now, I know what you are thinking, $1.2 million sounds like a pretty good offer and Brian should have taken the deal and run. And you are right, it was a pretty fair offer in the circumstances but the deal still fell through. When she asked to see the financial statements of the company, Brian happily turned the balance sheet and profit and loss statements over to her. She took the financial statements and let him know that she would get back to him in about a week, after she had reviewed and analysed the numbers. Brian never heard from her again.

Join the nation’s premier networking group for women Be inspired and create opportunities! Make the choice today and change the way you do business - tap into cutting edge online networking opportunities and surround yourself with inspirational business women who can become your mentors, referral advocates and friends.

It’s all about success by association. Join Women’s Network Australia @ www.womensnetwork.com.au

1800 052 476 +61 (7) 3272 8222 28 Working Women® n Winter 2011

e Rated thess n i #1 bus rk n e t wo b y ove r n o 4.5 mi l lin e m o w

WW on the money

While it is perfectly normal to rely on someone else to prepare your financial statements, you are responsible for the financial health of your business. This means you owe it to yourself to learn how to unlock the insights and take action that will produce your desired results. If Brian had been able to read and understand his own financial statements, he would have known exactly why she did not get back to him. Despite the fact his business was profitable on paper; he failed to understand that the statements clearly showed his business did not have positive cash flow or strong financial indicators. If only he could have read and understood the numbers before she approached him with a generous offer, he could have easily fixed the problems and prepared for a lucrative sale. Thankfully, this story has a happy ending. Brian got some help and learnt how to read his financial statements. Therefore, he identified where the pain was in his business and this allowed him to focus his time and money on the areas of most importance to the health of his business. Ultimately, he was able to turn it around and sell it for a handsome profit in

less than ten months. By knowing where to direct his energy, he was able to ask better questions, make better decisions, step up as a leader and start achieving the results he deserved. Now, you may be asking yourself how does this apply to you and your business? First, if you have been avoiding your numbers, what you have done up until now means nothing compared to what you are going to do about it right now. Today is the best time to stop, decide and take action to get the help you need to understand and apply the insights on the dashboard of your business - your financials. While it is perfectly normal to rely on someone else to prepare your financial statements, you are responsible for the financial health of your business. This means you owe it to yourself to learn how to unlock the insights and take

action that will produce your desired results. How much more confident and relaxed would you be if you were running a successful and thriving business? What if you could double your bottom line by simply working smarter not harder? No matter where you are at right now in your business, by taking time to learn how to read and interpret your financials, you will gain some powerful insights and strategies to grow any business in any economy and you will learn exactly how to whip your business into shape and start taking home more cash in your back pocket today! n nn Korolak

Rhondaly ed Contact ng Unlimit Imagineeri Business 4 1300 892 98 ited.com Phone lim ineeringun

www.imag

Wealth Creation, Preservation and Protection Seminar

Patricia Doyle from RBS Morgans cordially invites Women’s Network readers to a one hour seminar. The seminar will discuss tips and strategies to help grow your investment portfolio, whilst also ensuring you and your family are adequately protected. • Investments • Superannuation • Life Insurance Date: Venue: Time: Cost: RSVP:

Thursday, 28th July 2011 Level 29, Riverside Centre 123 Eagle Street, Brisbane 5.45pm $25 per person (light refreshments will be included) Monday 25th July, 2011 on 07 3334 4966 or patricia.doyle@rbsmorgans.com

RBS Morgans Limited A.B.N. 49 010 669 726 AFSL 235410 AParticipant of ASX Group. A Principal Member of the Financial Planning Association

Winter 2011 n Working Women® 29

WW on the money

Payment problems?

Learn the secrets to managing your debtors

Can you recognise the warning signs that indicate a customer may have cash-flow problems? GERALDINE BROWNSON shares her expert advice on minimising the risk when offering trade credit to your customers. There are several warning signs that should alert you to customers who may have serious cash-flow problems and prompt you to manage such debtors very carefully.

1. Broken Promises These are usually a sure sign of cash-flow problems. The first time may be due to forgetfulness or urgent priorities taking precedence, but be wary of excuses. When late payers make promises to pay over the phone take detailed notes so you can recall when you had the conversation, the date they committed to pay and how much to expect. An email to your customer confirming the promise shows you have notes to refer to and are taking the promise seriously.

2. Difficulty Contacting a Debtor Be warned if your late payer is not answering the phone, not returning your calls, is always in a meeting or always out of the office according to the gatekeeper.

3. Bounced Cheques If it was a timing problem and your customer assures you that cash flow is not an issue, ask for immediate payment by direct deposit with the receipt faxed or emailed once the transaction has been successfully completed. If it is a cashflow problem work out a payment plan that is workable and make sure you have your debtor’s agreement in writing.

Is pain making you look and feel old? Do you feel past your use-by date? Ask your physiotherapist or health professional to apply QMagnets to joints that are feeling old and tired.

Make the Choice to Live a Pain Free Lifestyle “With Qmagnets I no longer live with constant back pain.” Lynette Palmen AM, Women’s Network Australia

4. Vague Responses If your customer is not prepared to or cannot give you a commitment to pay by a specific date you should be concerned. A timely credit report will reveal any significant payment issues such as court judgments and give you a better idea of what you are up against. 5. Last Minute Issues Be wary of late payers who suddenly bring up problems with your work when it is time to pay. A genuine dispute or misunderstanding needs to be quickly resolved so you can get paid, but it may be an excuse to delay payment or not pay at all. If the issue is complicated ask for details in writing by a specific date so you can respond to any allegations and seek legal advice if necessary. To avoid such problems in the future, use a sign off form when a job has been completed so you have confirmation in writing that your customer is happy with the quality of your work.

If it was a timing problem and your customer assures you that cash flow is not an issue, ask for immediate payment by direct deposit with the receipt faxed or emailed once the transaction has been successfully completed. 6. Purchasing or Payment Pattern Has Changed Keep track of your customers’ orders and ask questions if you notice a sudden increase or decrease in purchases. If a good payer suddenly stops paying on time, find out why. There may be a valid reason, so have a chat with your customer and do a quick credit check to see what their trade payment history looks like. n

Brownson

1800 762 463

1800 qmagnets

www.Qmagnets.com

Dianne Hermans | Physiotherapist | dianne@qmagnets.com 30 Working Women® n Winter 2011

Geraldine Contact ard Pty Ltd Ledger Gu Business 7232 60 32 ) +61 (7 Phone .au guard.com

www.ledger

WW on the money

Maximise Your Income and

Build Wealth Income, expenses, taxes and profits all need to be understood when attempting to maximise your income. DESLEY ARNOLD touches on the basis of building wealth and gives professional tips on how to maximise your money.

It is a well known fact that tax is payable on the income you earn. The more you earn, the larger the percentage in tax you have to pay. So in effect, it penalises you for earning more. This is not an ideal way to build wealth! If you cannot change the taxation system, then you need to use the taxation system to your advantage. In other words, work smarter not harder. Generally, you can claim expenses incurred in earning an income. We know that the more you earn, the higher percentage of tax you pay, but you can use this percentage to your advantage. The way to do this is to have a legitimate income-producing, tax-deductible investment running at a loss so you can claim that loss against your taxable income. This is called ‘negative gearing’. What is negative gearing and how can I use it to make my wages go further? A property is negatively geared when the cost of owning it - interest on the loan, bank charges, maintenance, repairs and capital depreciation - exceeds the income it produces. Putting it simply, your investment must make a loss, before you can claim a tax benefit. This

short fall, or loss as the tax department calls it, could be as little as seven dollars per day depending on your individual tax bracket. The reason it is so low is that unlike your own owner-occupied mortgage, your investment property mortgage is subsidised by the rental income and tax savings with the balance paid by you. Also, by investing in new properties, further costs are claimable in depreciation. How can I minimise my monthly or weekly payments? Investors who gear their property to gain maximum income tax benefits and who are subject to normal withholding tax from their weekly pay can attract substantial tax savings and refunds. A refund for a single property can be as much as $13,000 per year, but that means you have to pay for the difference as you earn it. Without an Income Weekly Tax Variation (IWTV) in place, these funds are held by the ATO until the annual tax return is lodged. Having a lump sum at year end is nice, but it can put pressure on an investor’s weekly cash flow. By lodging an IWTV, investors can have the ATO vary the amount of PAYG tax withheld from their weekly pay. This results in more take home pay - which effectively increases

your net wage, releasing funds towards the cost of the investment like loan repayments and rates. That is what makes negative gearing so attractive and popular - the tax break derived from negative gearing gives you extra cash flow. That reduces the net cost of a negatively-geared investment and the amount you have to put in each week towards the mortgage. n Important: The topics discussed above are of a general nature, and you need to consult with an income tax professional to see if this applies to you and is the right strategy for you.

old

Desley Arn

Consultan Contact atic Property qu A s es n Busi 084 529 +61 (0) 416 Phone om.au icproperty.c

www.aquat

Winter 2011 n Working Women® 31

WW on the money

Have a Super Start to the

New Financial Year

Knowing how you can benefit from salary sacrificing into your superannuation is not always made clear, however once understood, this can add tens of thousands of dollars to your retirement. OLIVIA MARAGNA provides an example and in-depth information on how to make the most of your income.

Imagine you were starting your career all over again. You have your whole working life in front of you. With your current knowledge, how would you set up your financial affairs? The superannuation system is by far the most attractive tax structure for long-term wealth creation. When you are building up your superannuation, you can ‘salary sacrifice’ and pay no more than 15 per cent tax on your income. The earnings on your growing super are taxed at not more than 15 per cent rather than up to 46.5 per cent and capital gains are taxed at 10 per cent rather than up to 23.25 per cent. Let’s imagine you decide to invest $10,000 a year for the next ten years into your superannuation. The table shows the comparison between salary sacrificing into super and investing it personally at different tax rates. If you are on the top tax rate, you will have 44 per cent more saved after ten years. And

Tax rate Invested after tax Pre-tax earnings

Once you retire after age 60 you can draw on your super either as a pension or by taking lump sums and it will be tax-free. If you leave it to accumulate, the fund will pay tax as described above. If you convert your super to a pension, all income and capital gains are taxfree. You have the freedom of how you manage your retirement savings.

Can it really be this good? There will be times when superannuation may not be the best solution. For instance, the time frame of having your money locked away until retirement may seem too long. Some people are concerned about changes to the superannuation rules but often the changes can be for the better. The superannuation rules now limit how much can be contributed tax-effectively to super but the limits are still generous.

Super

Personal

15%

31.50%

41.50%

46.50%

$8,500

$6,850

$5,850

$5,350

5.48%

4.68%

4.28%

$116,336

$88,114

$72,491

$65,073

Does your e-newsletter raise the profile of your business? Does it grow your business? V Message - a powerful e-newsletter tool that lets your business: run surveys and track RSVPs send e-newsletters and e-alerts build and maintain lists automate subscribe/unsubscribe requests measure success through detailed reporting 32 Working Women® n Winter 2011

After-tax (personal) contributions: n

imited to $150,000 (indexed) per person L per year (with some concessions).

Pre-tax (employer) contributions: n

6.80%

Earnings after tax Wealth after 10 years

Once you retire after age 60 you can draw on your super either as a pension or by taking lump sums and it will be tax-free.

it gets better over time. After 20 years you would have 52 per cent more. There will be no limits on how much you can have in superannuation and no penalty tax rates.

imited for all people to $25,000 per year L (indexed) from 1 July 2009. ransitional limit of $50,000 per year for T people over age 50. The transitional cap will expire on 30 June 2012; however there are current discussions in Government to continue the transitional limit.

Over the long term, these rules may actually make super simpler, but in the meantime, it is a good idea to get assistance from a good financial planner in stepping through the current maze of rules. A super start to the new financial year may make thousands of difference to your retirement. n agna

Olivia Mar Contact Financial Aspire Retire Business Services 2 1300 667 70 Phone u .a m co e. ir eret www.aspir

emarketing experts www.vieve.com.au info@vieve.com.au 07 3398 3173

WW on the money

Choosing a Financial

Adviser Most of us are really good at our jobs, but are not experts regarding financial planning for our future. JENNY MOSS discusses how to find a good financial advisor who can help make the difference between you living a pleasantly comfortable or a penny pinching and lean retirement.

To begin, it is important to establish when you need a financial adviser. A financial advisor should be sought out as soon as you have a super fund because you need to understand your fund and how it works to assist you to make the best choices. Once you have determined you need financial advice, start asking questions in order to find the right financial advisor for you and your circumstances. When searching for a financial adviser, a good place to start is to ask a friend or colleague to recommend someone who they have previously consulted and inquire about their services. For example, ask if they will give general advice on how to save even if you have no money to invest yet. In this case you may expect to pay a fee to an adviser offering this type of service. For more information, request a Financial Services Guide from a potential financial adviser. By law, financial advisers are required to supply a copy of this document, which should tell you about all charges and about the qualifications and relationships of the planner. Many accountants have a panel of financial planners that they recommend. But it may be preferable to have your accountant and financial planner separated so that the advice they give is not connected with the profit model of a combined business.

Income Protection

Wealth Creation

Understand that if the planner is working in a bank then they will mostly recommend what the bank offers by way of investment products. Always ask if you can have a plan that is based on an investment strategy not just a product recommendation. Check with the Financial Planning Association to see if the prospective planner is a member and if they have a disputes resolutions scheme. Ask how they are paid; by fees, commissions or both and how those fees are calculated, whether by the time spent or the amount of money you have invested with them. One is not necessarily better than the other but you should know how their fee system works before making any commitment. Note that fees can be tax deductible, but commissions are not. You can also check on the Australian Securities Investment Commission website to see if they are registered and what the scope of their licence is for the types of investments they can advise on.

world is not that complicated that things cannot be communicated in everyday English. If they talk about investing in something ‘special’ to save tax or investing overseas, get a second opinion. Do likewise if they recommend borrowing to invest. Often these schemes are very high risk and sound wonderful but can cost you thousands of dollars in losses. If you do not understand anything, ask until you receive an explanation you understand. Make sure you really do understand; do not just accept that you cannot ‘get it’. If you are not happy or comfortable with what is recommended to you then it is probably not for you. n

Make sure when you meet an adviser that they make sense to you. They should speak in ordinary everyday language, the financial

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Jenny Mos Contact cial Services Moss Finan Business 7771 78 95 ) +61 (3 Phone .au www.mossfi

nancial.com

Self-Managed Super Funds

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10 Top Tips

Email us today for our that de-mystify how to build your wealth e: enquire@professionalchoice.com.au Sue Gibbs, BA Comm; Dip FA

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Specialising in an Holistic Approach to Building Wealth & Wealth Protection for individuals & small businesses Winter 2011 n Working Women® 33

WW branding

speak

Your Brand will always

louder than words

The time to elevate and advance your business branding is now. LIANE BARKER offers a quick self evaluation of your current business image so you can discover how to attract and capture new customers. All business owners and entrepreneurs need to regularly re-evaluate their branding and positioning in the market place. Does your current brand truly reflect the essence of your business? Does it accurately represent the services and products you offer? Here are some key questions to help you assess the current branding status of your business in the market place. First Impressions - What do your potential clients notice when they first observe your business image and promotional literature? Does your branding affirm professionalism in your field, showing you are trustworthy, reliable and ready to offer the right solution to their needs? Or does it project a lack of confidence; confusing the viewer with vague references to what you can offer them? Step back from your entrepreneurial position and look at the big picture. If you still feel biased, ask others, everyone has a different opinion and can add perspective. Design - Do your designs introduce your business in a representative way? When handing out your business card, it is essential to notify the receiver of exactly what you do and what services you can offer them. Does your promotional material reveal the personality behind the business? If so, this

can connect your potential clients to you on a personal level making them feel comfortable in contacting you. Colours - Are the colours used in your brand sending the right psychological messages to your target market? Colour has a huge impact on our emotional wellbeing and response to a situation, place or product. Red and black can often portray authority and power, whereas softer colour combinations often represent nurturing, comfort and support. Be vigilant and research the psychology of colours and communicate the essence of your business that you wish to portray. Text Styles - Do the fonts used in your design capture the concept of your business? The font you choose has a direct impact on how your target audience receives your marketing messages. Does your current font accurately represent your business and the products or services you offer? Ensure you don’t utilise too many fonts in your design as this can be distracting and off-putting. Once perfected, your message should be easily read from a distance, have a distinctive style and should help clarify what your business offers - don’t let your text tumble into a blur on the side of a bus, vehicle or poster. Prominence - Does your brand stand out from your competitors? When searching through

INSURANCE

a business directory, does your business logo command instant attention? It is crucial that you develop an eye-catching design that represents your business and conveys what your business has to offer. Develop an expert status; this will reinforce the positioning of your business above competitors within the market place. Uniformity - Is your branding consistent? Consistency in your branding should allow for easy transfers between various applications and advertising mediums without losing the credibility of your message. Consistent and versatile imagery can save you both money and time, helping to avoid branding changes and additional graphic design charges. Re-evaluating your business brand frequently is critical for the success of your business. The environment your business is operating within is constantly evolving and as such, your business must evolve with it. Remember, you are your business, so create a brand for your business that you are proud of. n

er Liane Bark

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WW branding

Building

equity

into Your Brand Join JANE TOOHEY and discover how to find, nurture and turn your clientele into a healthy base of brand champions. A brand is positioned at the core of your business and as such, should represent the products and services your business offers. Customers are in control of what marketing communication channels your business utilises as they decide how they want to be communicated with. With this in mind, take a 360 degree view of your brand and consistently focus on being present in all mediums, across all channels, as every potential customer has their own preference as to how they like to receive the information you are delivering. Comply with your customers preferences and your business brand will prosper. To generate strong brand equity, which primarily is known as the value placed on the brand and your business, we must engage customers in a total brand experience. The emotional reaction the brand generates in the customer is ultimately what creates brand equity and loyalty amongst your clientele. It is imperative to be attentive to the fact that brand awareness is very different to brand loyalty. With brand awareness, we can build relationships quickly through a tagline such as an engaging advertisement, publicity and other similar promotional avenues. Loyalty on the other hand takes time; hence a customer’s experience must be continually managed. Always endeavour to generate and nurture brand champions amongst your customer base as you can rely on them to communicate their positive brand experience with others, thus building brand loyalty. However, employees are your core brand champions and are one of the most vital groups in generating brand loyalty. Internal branding is the key, as when time is taken to communicate the brand throughout the company, it is ensured that everyone is ‘singing the same tune’.

Do you or any of your managers have great technical skills, but find ‘managing’ the people part difficult? • Do you have ‘non-team’ players in your organisation? • Do you have ‘problem’ people? • Would you like to change the culture of your organization but not sure how to go about it? • Are you seeking to move up the corporate ladder but don’t know how to get noticed?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the above, TIP THE SCALES IN YOUR FAVOUR and call: Naomi Mashford – 0407 806 448 naomi@corporateboost.com.au

www.corporateboost.com

From an external perspective, the key brand differentiator when delivering on brand equity is customer service. Be careful to never over promise and then under deliver. Always exceed customers’ expectations and keep promises. That way, you are bound to become a trusted brand. The most important brand values in generating equity are honesty, trust, consistency and to some extent, familiarity. How do you convey these valued feelings to a consumer in order to get them to seek you out, especially in our twenty-first century society where we are all constantly looking for the latest and greatest business trends and being encouraged to try new things? The only way to fight this is to constantly deliver on your brand promises. This takes time, excellent customer service and a commitment to internal branding. Unfortunately, there is no quick way to building equity in your brand but the good news is, it is a very realistic and achievable objective. n

Jane Toohey

n Contact and & Desig Lumino Br Business Agency 2022 +61 (7) 3899 o.com.au www.lumin

Phone

EXPERIENCED • ENTHUSIASTIC • ENERGETIC Winter 2011 n Working Women® 35

WW marketing

Read All About It

Ezine Your Business How do you keep in regular contact with your potential and existing customers? INGRID CLIFF discusses how to determine if your business would benefit from the implementation of an ezine.

To put it simply, an ezine is an electronic newsletter. Ezines are commonly used by many professional businesses as a fast and effective tool for maintaining communication with existing and potential customers. The versatility and benefit of an ezine is unsurpassable as they can be short or long, contain video, audio or just text and images. To establish whether your business would benefit from an ezine, here are a few questions to consider first.

Who is your target audience? Will your ezine be distributed to employees, clients, potential clients, colleagues or a

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Contact HR On Call if you have a specific issue, project or if you need ongoing support. Ask about our HR On Call Health Check©. Melissa Behrend 0400 565 360 melissa@hroncall.com.au

combination of them all? Ensure you only include information that would be of interest to your readers.

Why do you want to talk to them? This is not a trick question - if you just want to push marketing messages to them, think again. To be effective, an ezine should contain high value and useful content to spark interest in your readers.

What will you talk about? Exceptional ezines have predictable content that readers come to expect. For example, include a lead article, some tips, a book, business or product recommendations and suggestions for further reading.

When will your ezine come out? Are you aiming for a daily, weekly, fortnightly, monthly or quarterly ezine? Whatever your planned schedule might be, stick to it like glue.

Who will be responsible for the ezine? Like any other duty, you need to assign a person to be responsible for either writing or compiling the ezine. A word to the wise here this is not the job to give to your office admin or receptionist. Communication is one of the most important management strategies and needs to be given the respect it deserves.

How will you issue the ezine? Is your ezine going to be hard copy or electronic? Once your circulation list exceeds 50 people, you need to invest in quality technology to manage the subscriptions, track open rates and so forth.

Communication is one of the most important management strategies and needs to be given the respect it deserves. Do you have existing communication strategies that are more effective? For some businesses, social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter or blogs may make more sense than a regular ezine. Work out what strategies you already have in place and make sure you are using them to their maximum before tackling something new. It is not imperative for all businesses to implement an ezine into their communication strategy. Consider the above questions to determine its appropriateness for your business. n

Ingrid Cliff

Contact mony Heart Har Business 8844 51 33 ) (7 1 +6 Phone m.au

ony.co

harm www.heart

36 Working Women® n Winter 2011

When facing a cancer diagnosis...you need to feel empowered! In 2003, Carolyn Gross a health and wellness expert, was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. The way her US Medical Doctors approached her with their cancer treatment protocols was slightly threatening. The encouraging words given were, “She should have been on the surgeons table two years earlier. She had no choice but a complete mastectomy with full courses of chemo and radiation and there were absolutely no guarantees!” This approach of threat and fear made her determined to claim her power and use her wellness roots to save her breast. Her desire was: Find a non surgical approach, be cancer free and have a vibrant quality of life. She discovered another solution than what was originally offered, but had to go outside the United States. What she found completely changed her life! She used Immunotherapy as her primary front line of attack against the cancer and had customised medicine made from her own blood, to educate the immune system the invader was on board. It took nearly a year, (natural healing does take longer) but it was the launch of a new beginning.

Would you believe your body has the power to heal cancer? Carolyn dedicates a majority of her life working as a patient advocate, speaking at health events and writing books. Her success with healing advanced stage breast cancer without any surgery is detailed in her book: TREATABLE AND BEATABLE: Healing Cancer without Surgery

Doctors from Sydney CALL HER Recently Doctors from Sydney have been calling her office to inquire about this method, as books are purchased along with requests for patient consultations. As a highly sought after motivational speaker in the United States today, she uses her talents to let people know more about the Immune System and how the power of the mind is critical for a patient’s success. These philosophies are part of her first book: STAYING CALM IN THE MIDST OF CHAOS: How to Keep Positive in an Unsettled World

Carolyn details how Immunotherapy works in her books and health events….and YES she is coming to Sydney in 2012 to do a health event! If you want to inquire about having her present at one of your meetings please email us soon. We are putting together her event schedule in both Sydney & Melbourne. Life is meant to be enjoyed but it’s hard to enjoy if you’re feeling stressed from the cancer experience. Her mission is to offer hope to those in need, because hope and healing go together.

www.carolyngross.com

Visit www.treatableandbeatable.com today to watch her powerful message on Lifetime TV or purchase a book. If you are a caregiver or stressed mum and want some tips on managing stress visit www.creativelifesolutions.com and sign up for her bridge to wellness Ezine. This will detail all her appearances in Australia in 2012 or email us to know more info@treatableandbeatable.com Carolyn has a special gift for the Women’s Network members interested in this information. She is offering a free downloadable booklet on Reversing Breast Cancer with Immunotherapy once you sign up for Ezine, make this request or email info@treatableandbeatable. This booklet will document the healing work she is doing as a Patient Advocate with one of the top experts in Immunotherapy treatment today.

Women are the health-keepers of the Nation

www.treatableandbeatable.com

Please help spread the word to anyone facing a health crisis who needs to feel empowered. By attending this special event you will get current, incredible answers to building your health. YOUR HEALTH IS YOUR WEALTH is an upcoming event scheduled for Sydney October 2012. Contact Judy or Bao at Carolyn’s US office 011 (760) 741-2762 or 011 (760) 532-2762 or email cgrossCLS@aol.com…here is a lady that dedicates her life to help others! Remember…cancer is treatable and beatable…give this information to those in need. Managing Chaos and Cancer With Confidence

WW networkology

Building your professional

n e tw o r k f r o m sc r atc h

Starting out in business can be one of the most trying times anyone can experience. BEN ANGEL gives strategies on how to build a professional network from the word go; even if you lack a supportive network of business owners to help you reach your business goals. So what are you meant to do if your little black book has one phone number in it and it happens to be your mum’s? Take heed, there are several clear cut strategies you can implement to build your business network from scratch and ensure it serves you well into the future.

Get out from behind your desk Scroll the internet and look for as many networking groups and events as you can possibly find. Then go about setting yourself a target of attending a minimum of one per week for at least three months to build up a base set of contacts. You are not looking to sell to these contacts, even though it will naturally happen. You are looking to find individuals who will be able to refer you clients and answer your business questions when you need it the most.

Know what you do Well, of course! This one surprises people every single time. When you go to a networking event, there will always be a business owner who tries to impress you by initiating long, convoluted sentences that simply confuse and stun other business owners into thinking they must be important. But the reality is that most people think, “What a load of hog wash.” Keep it simple and clear. After all, if others can’t understand what you do, how on earth are they going to be able to refer you clients? Have your 30 second elevator pitch down to a fine art. You can pull one together in a

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matter of minutes by concisely answering the following questions in order. 1. What do you do? 2. Who benefits? 3. How do they benefit?

Get over your fear Networking events can feel like you are back in school, not knowing anyone and being afraid of what they may think. It can be said that everyone in business has had this feeling at some stage in their professional career, even if they don’t care to admit it. So what do you do if the thought of walking into a room full of strangers has given you sweaty palms? Simple! Pretend that everyone in the room is a long-lost friend - one that you would actually like to see again. You will discover that your shoulders relax automatically, you become more confident and you greet them with a large smile and open persona. This simple technique makes the world of difference in bringing about your real personality and confidence in what may otherwise be an awkward social moment.

Meet, greet and meet again It takes time to build up a little black book of business contacts that will open up new opportunities, but persistence is the key. Take the time out to meet individually with each of your new contacts to find out more about what they do and how you can assist one another in growing your businesses. Remain in their thoughts by dropping them an email from time to time to see how they are doing. By remaining consistent, you will gradually build up a loyal network of business owners that you can rely on for anything, just as they will rely on you. n

Ben Ange ker Contact ist and Spea Author, Styl Business 14 45 41 +61 (3) 96 Phone .au gel.com

www.benan

Become a VIP advertiser Book four display advertisements with us and you’ll receive 10% discount off all four advertisements artwork for your display advertisement designed FREE of charge* n Pay as you go with easy quarterly payments prior to each edition* n A complimentary listing in our Classified Business Directory n A FREE link to your site from www.womensnetwork.com.au n FREE copies of WORKING WOMEN ® for your marketing purposes. n

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WW networkology

Go From Zero to over 2,500

LinkedIn Connections

in 12 Months

Do you wish you were more actively involved on the LinkedIn network but don’t know where to start? ROBYN HENDERSON discusses how to make the most of your LinkedIn account and explains why networking doesn’t have to take place face-to-face. I hate to admit it, but at the start of 2010 I avoided social media and specifically, LinkedIn as I did not fully understand how it worked. Then I saw the light. I am very proud to say that 12 months down the track, I have a blog and more than 2,500 LinkedIn connections - and this number is growing. When I tell people I have over 2,500 connections and have built those in the last 12 months, the question often asked is, “How did you do that?” Here are 13 things you can do to boost your LinkedIn network:

1. Upgrade to the premium account. This provides a larger number of benefits and features.

2. Spend at least 30 minutes per day on LinkedIn. One of the great things about LinkedIn is that it is a 24/7 facility; so if you find yourself swamped with work, find time later in the evening.

3. Visibility is key with LinkedIn. The more active you become, the more you get out of it. 4. Connect with the Q&A links. It is usually found that the people whose questions you answer go on to strike up communication with you, and often invite you to connect with them and vice versa.

5. Polls are another great LinkedIn tool. Depending on what question you want to ask

and how relevant it is to the general public, you will find most people make contact with you after providing a response. This is the perfect opportunity to expand your network.

6. Active participation in groups. Become an active member within groups by keeping track of the current conversations and discussions or by starting up a discussion yourself.

7. Spend time on your profile page. Remember the old saying, “The more you tell the more you sell?” LinkedIn has a great system where it shows you how much of the profile you have completed - aim for 100 per cent. 8. Regularly give recommendations. Aim to give at least one referral per week to someone in your network. LinkedIn has a great tool where you can give a recommendation to someone you know. 9. Utilise the events feature. Not only do you get to see what events are happening in your area, you can also promote your own events to your entire network.

Regularly give recommendations. Aim to give at least one referral per week to someone in your network. LinkedIn has a great tool where you can give a recommendation to someone you know. 12. Search engine optimisation. If you Google your name, often your LinkedIn details are the first listings to come up. It then makes sense that the more connections you have the more visible your profile is. 13. Build your tribe. Some say to go for quality and not quantity, however the more you expand your connections, the closer you bring the world to your doorstep. All the best with building your LinkedIn connections and if you are not a part of my network, please send me an invitation. Remember the old six degrees of separation idea, well these days, everyone is just one click away from someone you know, how exciting is that! n

10. Send invitations. When sending invitations to connect don’t stick to the same boring message, make them personal. 11. Respond to invitations. Send a message to the person who has invited you to connect. Usually something along the lines of, “Thanks for inviting me to connect.”

ders Robyn Hen

Contact g To Win Networkin Business 906 501 7 +61 (0) 40 Phone .com.au

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orkin www.netw

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WW productivity

Profitable

Project Management

In business, many tasks compete for your time and attention. MARIANNA CHEKLIN provides information on the top three things business owners can learn from project management. In projects - like businesses - there are a large number of tasks competing for attention. If a project manager makes poor choices about how time and resources are invested, the entire project may fail. It is the same with business. Project management is all about achieving business goals under time pressure. The ultimate aim is to achieve a quality result under budget and on time, while keeping the customer happy.

1. Have a business case to prioritise important tasks and drive decisions. The key to time management is to know which tasks are important to your business and which are not. Are all the tasks you are doing leading to profitability? If not, what is the gain to your business in doing them? That is the purpose of a business case. Projects start with a business case to justify the investment in time and resources. In a business case you justify any spend, including spending your time, by the benefit it brings. A benefit can either be tangible or intangible. Some business cases are based purely on the return on investment or net present value, but other justifications can be just as valid. For instance, you may need to do something because it will promote your reputation, though the return may not be quantifiable. A business case, even if written informally, forces you to clearly articulate what it is you are trying to achieve and ensures you are doing it for the right reasons. With the business case written, you can assess whether your investment is justified. When there are a number of tasks, if each of them has a business case, it is possible to weigh one business case against another to see which time commitment is the most worthwhile, and then prioritise the time investments according to their respective benefit.

2. Increase efficiency through how you spend your time. Use scheduling tools. If you have a business case, it means you are spending your time in a profitable way. The business case is just the starting thought. The next thing is to ensure that your time investment is spent efficiently. Do you know all the sub-tasks required to complete a larger target task? Do you know when each can start? Do you know if your task depends on another task finishing? Do you know when you will complete your task? Knowing the answers to the above questions will help you realistically and efficiently plan your time and allow you to have the facts to make decisions in the future once things change, and inevitably some things do. You can only plan ahead if you estimate ahead. If you want to start a new task in the future, you want to know when your time will be freed up from the current task. Project managers use project scheduling tools such as Gantt charts to track each of their tasks. A scheduling tool is more than a calendar because the tasks need to span days, need to be able to contain sub-tasks and need to show your dependencies on other tasks for completion. Using a Gantt chart allows for easier decision making about time investment because you can clearly see what your time commitment is at any point. A Gantt chart allows a quick, high level visual of your tasks and dependencies. Scheduling software tracks the start time and end time of each task. It also tracks what other tasks it is dependent on. This is a great way to visualise your investment and ensure that as things change, you get a clear and updated perspective on where you are. A Gantt chart can be created using a spreadsheet, but scheduling software can be

Scheduling software tracks the start time and end time of each task. It also tracks what other tasks it is dependent on. This is a great way to visualise your investment and ensure that as things change, you get a clear and updated perspective on where you are. 40 Working Women® n Winter 2011

used to achieve a result more quickly. One such popular scheduling tool is Microsoft Project - but there are also free tools available. Google ‘project scheduling tools’ to get an idea of what is out there to assist you.

3. Plan ahead for potential risks. Once you have chosen the important tasks through a business plan and detailed a plan to move yourself forward, you need to plan what happens when you are thrown a curveball. Do you know of anything now that might negatively impact your plans? What can you plan ahead to do about it? Things change – it is inevitable. So in business, as in project management, you need to manage risk. Project managers use risk registers to manage their risk. A risk register is where you list the risks associated with a task and most importantly, how you can plan ahead if disaster strikes. A project manager’s risk register is detailed. It contains the risk description, the risk ranking and even a calculation of estimated monetary loss if the risk eventuates. The most important thing is the mitigation strategy. If completing a regular risk register update is overkill for you, there is still great benefit in taking time out to analyse what major challenges could impact your business, and put in place a plan to overcome those challenges, or at least reduce their impact. Project management is similar to running a business as the concerns are shared. The lessons learned from project management could assist business owners in managing their time without compromising other components that make the business successful. The main thing to remember is to plan ahead and use fact-based decision making to succeed. n

Marianna

Cheklin

Contact lutions Scopetec So Business 050 410 0 +61 (0) 40 Phone

tec.net

www.scope

WW productivity

The Art of

Delegating

Do you find yourself so busy that you feel like you never achieve anything? LIZ PARKER explores the benefits of delegating tasks and gives tips on how to detach yourself from ‘your’ jobs in an effort to delegate successfully. Mastering the art of delegation delivers real benefits to you both personally and professionally. Successful delegation not only saves you time; it also develops your employees’ skills and increases their motivation. Many of us suffer the effects of poor delegation, leaving us struggling to successfully complete the tasks of multiple people. The keys to being a good delegator include: Allocating the task or project to the appropriate team or individual, remembering to negotiate deadlines.

Clearly and concisely communicating what is required and expected.

Effectively

the timeframe. This will ensure they will make every course of action to meet the initial deadline because you have been generous in extending the task’s timeframe. Delegation is a long term strategy that will help you better organise your time and simultaneously develop your team to empower them to operate effectively, whether you are present or not. n

Liz Parker

Contact ents VA Placem Business 5656 97 32 ) (7 1 +6 Phone ts.com

cemen www.vapla

Providing a level of supervision and support that fits into the level of delegation being bestowed.

Reflection once the task has been completed, providing feedback for continual improvement.

The person or team to whom you are delegating needs to know what level of authority and responsibility you are delegating to them to inspire them to get good results. To delegate successfully, you need to define the task and make it clear that the level of authority and responsibility you are delegating is high. Try the following step-by-step framework: Define the task.

Select the right individual or team.

Assess ability and training needs.

Explain the reasons.

State the required results.

Consider resources required.

Agree on specific deadlines.

Support and communicate.

Provide feedback on results.

The key to delegating efficiently is to request a deadline from the person or team you delegate to, and then increase it - if possible, double

Winter 2011 n Working Women® 41

WW carbon footprint

Tread

a Little Lighter

Looking after our Earth has been the focus of many campaigns recently and has become, to some degree, embedded in our actions. COLLEEN FILIPPA sheds light on the Earth’s situation and how we can lessen our negative impact on the environment.

Many of us are now switched into green habits. We turn off appliances at the wall, we aim to catch public transport more often and we take our own bags to the supermarket. We are aware of the ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ campaign. We don’t litter, we quietly re-gift and many of us have downsized to smaller cars. However, when we look around at our beautiful Earth, we can see it needs our help. We all put much effort into looking after our home environment and the Earth is simply an extension of our home. Environmentalist

David Suzuki agrees, ‘The one thing I feel is very hopeful is the overwhelming participation of women in the movement for change’. Here are some tips to help you to tread a little lighter on the Earth. Educate yourself on where things come from. Buy locally and support your district growers. Check out the online animated story which tells us about who is really paying for the cheap ‘stuff’ that loads up our supermarkets and cheap discount shops. This stuff is engineered to be disposable,

over packaged and in many cases assembled by exploited workers; mostly women and children in developing countries. Apply yourself to buying less but buying quality. Buy beautiful natural fabrics, wellfitted clothes, hand-made wooden toys, appliances that you may have to lay-by because of the cost. In most cases, you will be able to pass on the clothes, toys and appliances to your family and friends.

Repair rather than replace. This can be a painful task at first as you have to find a repairer. However, things can be fixed and sometimes it is just a minor repair and you get change from $20.00.

Try going vegetarian. This is particularly tough if your home is overrun by carnivores. So, as a starting point, try being vegetarian when you go out. Eating meat takes up a lot of resources, which includes high use of land, energy and water. Going vegetarian is one of the most effective actions you can take to ease the strain on our Earth.

Help to promote businesses with strong green policies. If they don’t have one, don’t use their services but tell them why! As consumers we can have a huge impact on encouraging businesses to ‘go green’ and imagine if companies put the environment on their agendas along with their profit and loss statements.

When it comes to the environment, we need to become aware we are living way beyond our resources. We are currently using the equivalent of 1.4 planets according to the Global Footprint Network. This is just not sustainable, let’s look after our Earth by living and buying at a conscious level. n

Colleen Filip

Contact s Fifteen Tree 9 Business ) 400 040 65 (0 1 +6 Phone

es.com.au

www.15tre

42 Working Women® n Winter 2011

WW public relations

Doing your own

Gaining publicity and media interest for your business and is an art. At a basic level, the first thing you must understand is how product PR differs to services PR. JULIE MORGAN explains why service providers must know the three Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of PR. Product PR is all about getting into gift guides, new product spreads, participating in competitions and giveaways and occasionally providing expert commentary on a particular product segment. When it comes to services, history shows that it is all about the three Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s; credibility, content and case studies.

1. Credibility: having a good spokesperson. When it comes to building your reputation as a reliable source among the media, it all comes down to being available when the media request a comment. It is crucial you present yourself as a credible source; being opinionated and well spoken on the information you share. A good spokesperson will respond to journalists on the same day and ideally, within a few hours. The owner or director of the business is well placed to provide comment as they know their business and the media love hearing information straight from the top. Ensure your biography is visible on your website as in story pitches it appears alongside media releases. List your qualifications, experience and any media appearances. If you have been on television or radio, media are more likely to contact you for comment. Even if you have the gift of the gab, consider doing some media training if you plan on being the front person for your PR campaign. It will improve your confidence and performance.

2. Content: being knowledgeable with a fresh angle on a topic. This means knowing your stuff. It means having statistics, numbers, survey results and facts at your fingertips. Journalists like talking to people who have their finger on the pulse in their industry and know the latest trends and issues in a particular sector. So make an effort

to read the news daily, stay connected with peers and attend industry events. In the decade of social media, it also helps to have your own blog to help promote yourself as a thought leader. Be generous with the content you produce - perhaps you could contribute articles to existing media sites or blogs too? The more your name appears in the media, the more likely you are to get asked for comment in the future. Remember, if you have news to share, make sure it is on Facebook and Twitter.

Ensure your biography is visible on your website as in story pitches it appears alongside media releases. List your qualifications, experience and any media appearances. If you have been on television or radio, media are more likely to contact you for comment. 3. Case studies: having your customers tell their story. When you have a service to promote, having strong customer case studies is a key part of generating good news stories. So, make an effort to build relationships with your customers and ask them if they would be willing to talk about their experiences with your business. You can offer to write these up for them and have them on file, if and when a media opportunity arises. Remember to capture the problem, the solution and the results. These can also be used as testimonials and add credibility to your website. n

gan

Julie Mor Contact PR Guru Business 96 5060 +61 (3) 96 Phone .com.au

www.prguru

Winter 2011 n Working WomenÂŽ 43

WW sales strategies

Convert Leads Into Sales

You have been marketing and networking like crazy and the leads are rolling in... But what now? Are you struggling to convert leads into customers? MICHELLE O’KEEFFE highlights the skills you need to get each sale across the line.

Gone are the good old days where you can simply call on a prospect, list your product’s features and expect to take an order. Why would someone buy from you at a premium sales price when there are several competitors who sell the same exact product or service for less? The answer lies in adding value in the eyes of the customer. Your products might be identical to a competitor but if you can offer additional support and training to ease any concerns that the buyer might have, you are more likely to have captured the buyer. To do this, you need to start asking the right questions so you can discover what their concerns are. Once you have listened to the needs of each customer, you have an opportunity to solve their problems and create value through the sales process. To be successful, you need to understand the customer decision process and be able to ask the right questions. Because of this, it is

known that paying careful attention to how you interpret and respond to your customers is so important in the sales process. When converting leads into sales be sure to: Assess your sales team. Next time you receive a sales call, listen to what the trained salesperson says. If they are not asking very many questions and are doing the bulk of the talking you may have a real problem as this is not always the best way to invite a sale.

Research your potential clients before initial contact as this is essential. Don’t waste time by asking questions you could have easily found out before hand.

Ask for an advance. An advance is a commitment from the prospect, something that they actually have to do that will progress the sale. An example would be that they bring along their senior manager to the next meeting who would have the final say in the matter. How many times have you heard

“That sounds great, I’ll have a think about it and call you next week.” Although this sounds promising, in reality it’s often a polite way of revealing the dreaded ‘not interested’. Sales questions produce answers that help you to understand needs, and help the customer come to conclusions about their own business issues. Telling a customer what they need and how you as a seller can help meet those needs is likely to fail in today’s selling environment. Thus, be sure to ask sales questions that are helpful and insightful from the customer’s perspective. You want your questions to lead them down a path of self-discovery, guided by your own expertise which almost always results in a perfectly led and captured sale. n ’Keeffe

Michelle O

Contact Huthwaite Business 37 7624 +61 (2) 84 Phone om.au

aite.c www.huthw

Your Golden Opportunity Need an excuse to catch up with friends, network with your clients or simply have a fun and hassle-free get together? Try a fun new way to raise money for your charity of choice! Do good with gold by taking part in The Golden Cause national charity drive. Whether it is a single gold earring you have lost the other half of, a broken gold necklace or simply gold you will never wear again, we all have unwanted gold sitting idle in our jewellery boxes. The Golden Cause provides an opportunity to host fun and easy events with your friends and clients to turn this outdated or broken gold jewellery into valuable fundraising dollars for charity.

• Your guests are paid excellent market rate prices on the spot for their unwanted gold jewellery • An additional 10% on top of these great prices is donated to your charity • We organise the party for you and provide a professional gold assessor • We give you $70 towards champagne and nibbles • $50 from each party booked at your event also goes to charity

How do The Golden Cause events work? Invite around 10 friends or clients and ask them to bring all their unwanted gold and platinum … broken necklaces, single earrings, old cuff-links, etc.

Community Angels Inc.

www.communityangels.org.au

A professional gold assessor will value each guests’ gold and present a cheque on the spot for anything they wish to trade.

Your charity of choice will then be paid an additional 10% of the total pay out from your event. Our gold assessor manages all financial transactions, including the charity donation and will ensure you can track your fundraising progress online at www.thegoldencause.org

To book your party for The Golden Cause today, text PARTY to 0423 858 093 or visit www.thegoldencause.org 44 Working Women® n Winter 2011

WW sales strategies

Special Ingredients for a Sizzling Sales Letter

Management Training for Business

Sales letters are extremely effective when distributing a call to action amongst your business database. DAWN RUSSELL presents six key ingredients to making a sizzling sales letter that is sure to get a positive response.

They say a good sales letter can bring in literally millions of dollars because they are inexpensive to produce, easy to duplicate and highly versatile in their ability to showcase different products and services. Most importantly, a sizzling sales letter is a must when being a part of your marketing funnel.

4. Shout “Look at me!”

But more often than not, just putting a product under a customer’s nose will not induce them to buy - we need to make them want it, and that’s where a sales letter comes in.

5. Make an offer and make it often.

When writing your sizzling sales letter, consider these six key ingredients:

1. Make it personal. A sales letter has to sound as though it is from you personally and to the particular customer to whom the letter is addressed. No one wants to be lumped with the herd and while we know that the letter has been sent to a large number of clients, we want the recipient to have no idea that they are just one of a large pool.

2. Give it a catchy headline. The headline must be eye catching. You only have a few seconds to grab the reader’s attention. Most people will only give your letter a cursory glance, so your headline has to stand out from the crowd.

3. Hook them with the opening paragraph. The opening paragraph of your letter has to hook them; you have to give readers a compelling reason to keep reading. Experts in writing sales copy nearly always start with a problem that is aimed at connecting with the reader. Questions like, “Do you suffer from unsightly cellulite?” Immediately, this will resonate with a high proportion of women, leading them to read the next sentence in the hope that the answer to cellulite lies within.

Use boxes, borders, colour and different fonts to draw the reader’s attention to the key points and keep their interest. Big chunks of copy are unappealing, and look like hard work before the reader has even started. You want to present your information in a way that shouts, “Look at me!”

Make your offer and repeat it frequently throughout the sales letter. Remember, a sales letter is just that; it’s designed to make a sale, not just provide information, so you need to include a call to action. And because people skim read, you need to insert your call to action in multiple locations. Chances are they may miss your call to action if you only state it once.

6. Introduce scarcity and urgency. Making your offer appear limited and scarce increases desirability and the sense of a need to act fast. If your customer thinks there are only a finite number of opportunities to take up your offer, they feel compelled to buy now, because they don’t want to miss out, particularly if the offer is good. Using words like, “Sale must finish at 5 pm Saturday”, or “Only for the first 7 people to buy,” increases the sense of scarcity and will cause customers to take action faster. You have got nothing to lose by writing a sales letter, because chances are if you cannot persuade the recipient to take action as a result of your letter, they were unlikely to respond in the first place - just give it a try. n ell

Dawn Russ

Contact ne Training, Carcasson lting Business g n & Consu

Coachi 1300 717 557 e n Pho .au ssonne.com ca www.car

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PARTNERING WITH BUSINESS AND THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1987 Winter 2011 n Working Women® 45

WW Health & Wellness

Office Habits

Put the Lid Back on the Cookie Jar

Has the office cookie jar got your finger prints all over it? Does the three o’clock slump have you sneaking off to the office vending machine? WENDY VISONTAY helps us put the lid back on the cookie jar and explains how office habits aren’t all healthy habits.

In the past, Australian workplaces have literally been starved of healthy snack options. In fact, a mere 11.6 per cent of Aussies deem their workplace ‘healthy’ with one in two finding it difficult to practice healthy eating in the office. The sad truth is that the modern Australian workplace is rarely conducive to a healthy body and because of this the importance of nutrition in the workplace cannot be underestimated. More than 70 per cent of Aussie workers say that stress causes their healthy eating habits to lapse and let’s face it, the modern workplace is a pretty stressful place. With most of us glued to our computer all day with barely a second to leave the office, it is no wonder that it seems like an easier option to grab a soft drink or calorie-laden snack from the office vending machine than to seek out a healthier alternative. The poor health of Aussie workers is costing businesses an estimated $7 billion per year. But thanks to an increase in awareness, employers can now invest in simple and cost-effective solutions by providing regular deliveries of farm-fresh fruit to boost the health of their employees - and their bottom line. Putting fruit, a healthy snack full of

antioxidants, fibre, vitamins and more, within the reach of Aussie workers has had a direct impact on their business’s bottom line. This is because healthy eating habits reduce stress and allow an increase in worker concentration. While as an employer, you cannot control the diet of your employees outside of the office, you can make it easier to support them and encourage healthy eating during the many hours they are at work. Listed below are ten tips to ensure you are offering your workers the best snacks. Top ten tips for better eating in the workplace:

1. Homemade food trumps store-bought food. A homemade lunch is always preferable since you will know exactly what you are putting into your meal. If your mornings are usually rushed, put five or six salad items in a bag to take to work then be sure to add some protein in the form of a small can of tuna, a boiled egg or some leftover meat from last night’s dinner. Then, all you have to do is take five minutes to chop up and make a healthy, high protein salad once in the office.

2. Protein is your friend. Avoid too much starch at lunchtime - yes that means pasta, rice, thick bread and noodles. As

much as we love them, these foods can elevate your blood sugar in the middle of the day causing the mid-afternoon slump later on that sends you straight to the biscuit jar. Instead, choose high protein foods as the slow release of sugar results in fewer food cravings – you will be less tempted to choose a sugar snack.

3. Skip breakfast at your peril. If you skip breakfast, you are more likely to choose an unhealthy snack later on in the day and usually overeat. If you are in a rush, blend some protein powder with a banana and some skim milk and drink it on the bus.

4. Get a good night’s sleep. Do not underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep. If you are skimping on sleep and feeling tired at work, you will keep reaching for food as a source of energy even though you may not actually be hungry - keep the lid shut on that cookie jar.

5. Be prepared. If you know you are likely to be staying back at work, don’t wait until seven o’clock when you are starving to think about dinner. Once hunger strikes, you are far more likely to grab the nearest high-fat delivery menu or order a pizza for convenience. Plan for a long day at work by ducking out in the afternoon to buy your dinner. Pop it in the fridge and you will be ready once your body is hankering for the evening meal.

6. Don’t be lead into temptation. If you are easily tempted by junk food – do not buy it! Sure we can convince ourselves that the packet of lollies or block of chocolate we are buying will only be for emergencies. But realistically - will it even last the day? Grab a piece of fruit or keep some raw nuts at your desk to nibble on in between meals.

7. Drinks count. If you are thirsty, drink water. It is calorie free and does not cost you a cent from the 46 Working Women® n Winter 2011

Are you a women

With Assets?!

Binding financial agreements, why you need one Financial Agreements were introduced into the Australian Family Law System in 2002 and now have applicability across all relationship breakdowns in Australia. A Financial Agreement is an agreement between two parties to a relationship (either marital or defacto in nature) which can be made at three distinct stages of the relationship, before a relationship commences (a pre-nuptial type agreement), during a relationship or after a relationship has come to an end. A Financial Agreement allows parties to a relationship to decide how

8. How skinny is your latte?

9. Meeting meltdown. If you are going into a meeting where you know unhealthy snacks will be on the table, BYO snacks! Grab an apple or a box of nuts so you can join in the snacking without being tempted.

Are you stressed? Looking for Balance? Feel there is not enough time?

10. An oldie but a goodie. We all know that we are supposed to eat slowly and consciously. But how many of us slam down our lunch while staring at a screen, paying absolutely no attention to what we are eating? Try to take ten minutes, to concentrate on nothing but what you are eating. When we rush our food, the receptors that register when we are full cannot get the message to the brain fast enough. By the time the message gets through - oops, you have overeaten and feel bloated and uncomfortable. n isontay

Wendy V Contact k Pty Ltd ruit at Wor F Business 6 77 7 85 1300 Phone .au work.com

www.fruitat

The steps involved include requiring the parties to obtain independent legal advice as to the advantages and disadvantages of entering into the agreement. The Financial Agreement has since 2002 become an essential part of Family Law estate planning – it has particular relevance for those persons seeking to quarantine assets that they are introducing into a new relationship to ensure that children of a previous relationship will continue to benefit.

For more information on Financial Agreements please contact Jeremy Culshaw, the Legal Practice Director at Shann Family Lawyers, an Accredited Family Law Specialist with 27 years experience in the practice of Family Law – jeremy@shannlaw.com.au + 61 (8) 9388 7444

tap. Make no mistake about it - drinks count towards your daily caloric intake. Sugary soft drinks are an obvious ‘no no’ and even fruit juice can be misleading, providing you all the calories from fruit without any of the fibre that will keep you fuller for longer. Speaking of drinks, how many coffees do you have a day? The average full cream Latte, Cappuccino and Flat White contains approximately 224 calories – not including the sugar you may be adding! Try to limit your coffees to no more than one a day and always go for the skim option, which has 75 per cent less calories than its full cream counterpart.

their assets will be split upon a relationship breakdown, which has the obvious effect of ousting the jurisdiction of the Family Court, avoiding the inherent legal cost and uncertainty that comes with any Family Court litigation.

• Is your body keeping up with the demands of everyday life?

• Do you want to increase your level of vitality? • Are some of your relationships presenting you with challenges?

• Do you focus on areas aligned to your passions? • Do you want something in your life to change? If you answer “yes” to any of the above you need to call Deborah today on 0457 826 648 or visit our website www.reawaken.com.au to receive your holistic, personalised program.

Help is on it’s way.... Are you struggling with some areas of your business? Have you thought about getting some help? AIHBM have professional and experienced consultants who specialises in: • HR and Organisational Design and Development • Change Management • Strategic and Business Planning • Process Design and Improvement • Facilitation • Team Building • Training and Assessment • Learning and Development Process and Implementation AIHBM is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) – NTIS No 32314 specialising in Complementary Health and Business Management through training, assessment, consultancy and customising solutions for your business. ContaCt: Sue Broughton on 0417 576 442 or Melissa Smith on 0412 187 036 Email: sue@AIHBM.com.au

or melissa@AIHBM.com.au1

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To receive your pamper gift of MOR products valued at $49.90 be one of the first 10 to book. Winter 2011 n Working Women® 47

WW Health & Wellness

Ageing young M i n d ov e r m at t e r Would you like to look and feel younger than your actual age? VICKY SPENCER uncovers the impact our mind plays on our ageing process.

The choices you make regarding the food you eat, fluids you drink, how often you exercise and your thoughts and opinions on age, all heavily influence your ageing process.

can hold memories beyond this lifetime; your body can reflect three generations back. This leads to an understanding of why you have your unique body shape, health issues and behaviours that ‘seem’ out of your control.

It has been scientifically proven that there is a strong connection between your thoughts, emotions and body. The physical body is an accumulation of all your environmental influences, giving you the physical manifestation of your body. Remember, your thoughts are not just in your head; your thoughts are your body.

Many believe that once you have your genes, your destiny is set in stone and nothing can be changed, but this is not necessarily true. Your physical body is your manifestation, the genetic coding or your DNA is only the template. It is entirely up to you how you interpret this coding through your own individual cellular wisdom. This means taking total responsibility for being the creator of your physical body.

When you add in genetics as your blueprint, it allows an understanding of how the body

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48 Working Women® n Winter 2011

notice, giving it a stronger chance to solidify into your physical body. A flexible body has a youthful attitude and mind, allowing the flow of life to be one of ease. Movement is an opportunity to feel how you are relating to your mental, spiritual and physical environment. Unfortunately, many view the body as something to be endured and exercise is what you do when you are trying to lose weight, or the freaky people who do not have a life. Another view could be that movement is an opportunity to check in on the body, leading to less obstruction of energy flow, allowing the natural process of renewal rather than deterioration as you age.

The physical body is an accumulation of all your environmental influences, giving you the physical manifestation of your body. Remember, your thoughts are not just in your head; your thoughts are your body. If you can see your body as a means of communication from your soul, it gives a totally different perspective, allowing a freedom in which you can live through, rather than being a victim. When you notice stiffness, pain or restriction of movement it is a time to ask, “What might I be holding on to?” You may become aware of an incident, emotion or thought that has got ‘caught’ in your thinking process, leading to reduction of flow of your life. If you are not in the process of practising movement, especially different forms of movement, this restriction may take longer to

It is vital that an understanding is reached. If there is poor muscle tone on the outside, the inside will be the same; affecting your weight, ability to absorb nutrients, flow of energy, repair and ultimately the premature loss of youthfulness - which has nothing to do with your chronological age. n cer

Vicky Spen Contact ality Ageless Vit Business 952 944 2 42 ) +61 (0 Phone m.au ssvitality.co

www.agele

WW fitness & Lifestyle

Five Ways to

Weight Loss Transformation Weight loss is a challenge many people face. SALLY SYMONDS offers five ways to help you transform the way you approach weight loss to ensure your efforts are a lasting success. If you have tried to lose weight countless times and failed; or experienced shortterm success only to have it followed in the long term by even more weight gain, then you need to transform the way you approach your healthy life efforts.

1. Ignore the hype We are often led to believe that weight loss is difficult and above all, impossible. Having this negative mind set has a direct impact on your weight loss approach. If you are told something often enough, you will soon start to believe it is true.

4. Discover how to be selfmotivated

The latest psychological research shows that the real key to long lasting motivation comes from self-empowerment. Weight loss plans usually have the opposite effect - they are disempowering.

Neuroscientists are now discovering just how damaging these negative messages really are. Anyone who has lost weight and kept it off will tell you that it is not impossible to do; so develop a positive approach.

2. Use planning, not plans

5. Think about it

3. Develop exercise engagement Exercise is one of the leading predictors of long-term weight management. It lets you change the shape of your body in a way that diet alone can’t. Regular exercise is by far the best weight loss method, and changing the way you approach exercise is a key factor in weight loss success. A squat might be great for your hamstrings, but if you find it mind-numbingly boring, then the negative effect it has on your brain will soon negate any positive effect it has on your body.

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Reward and punishment is a simplistic approach that works well for simple tasks and simple minds. Weight loss is more complex than that, and most business women are much more intelligent.

Exercise is one of the leading predictors of long-term weight management. It lets you change the shape of your body in a way that diet alone can’t.

The more diet and exercise plans we have, the larger we become. Any half-decent diet and exercise plan will work if you can maintain it, but most people can’t because their plans are too rigid to accommodate individual preferences, moods and situations. In the long term, plans don’t work but planning does. Moreover, planning negates side effects of strict plans such as weight loss guilt and the yo-yo effect. More wellness coaches are moving towards the planning model so embrace the innovation!

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In theory, not thinking about it sounds great when you are considering a weight loss approach. However, if you do not have to think about it when you are on the plan, you do not learn how to think about it when you are off the plan. Moreover, not thinking about how to transform your weight means you are actually abdicating your sense of personal responsibility for your weight loss. Few truly worthwhile achievements come without thought, so think about it! Today we are surrounded by an ‘all or nothing’ approach to weight loss that most often leaves you with nothing - or less than nothing, as each failed attempt results in even more weight gain once you have stopped trying that particular method. Escape the insanity. Open your mind to new ways of approaching weight loss and your body will follow. n ds

Sally Symon

Contact ds Sally Symon Business Life Mentor

Healthy 7 625 +61 (0) 417 72 e n Pho .au om .c monds www.sallysy

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www.originhr.com.au Winter 2011 n Working Women® 49

WW Travel

A little part of Rome to Call Your Own

Home to over 2.7 million residents, Rome is Italy’s capital and largest city. With over two and a half thousand years of history, it is no wonder Rome receives over four million tourists every year. Discover and explore Rome like a local with PENNY KING’s travel tips.

With so much to see and do whilst in Rome, it is not surprising that many visitors leave with a sense of not having experienced Rome to its full potential. The key to overcoming this is to find a part of Rome to call your own. The secret is to focus on a particular region or neighbourhood and make it your local. Explore the local shops and attractions and get to know the locals and you will discover where to buy the best coffee or find the top restaurants to give you the ultimate Italian dining experience. On your next visit to Rome make an effort to visit the Piazza Farnese. Often walked through

by tourists on their way to the Campo dei Fiori next door, this wide piazza is a ‘nontouristy’ neighbourhood in Rome. Splurge on fine dining at Ristorante Camponeschi or enjoy a coffee at the corner café. There is a small church, St Brigida of Sweden, with an oriel window, an apartment building with an internal spiral staircase and several hidden shops. On opposing sides stand two magnificent fountains taken from the Baths of Caraculla by the Farnese family when they were decorating the square. Best of all, is the Palazzo Farnese. This wonderful palace, with designs by Michelangelo, takes up one whole side of the square. It was built by the Farnese family

and then improved when one of them became Pope. Today it is the French Embassy and its posse of carabinieri around the entrance makes it a safe place to visit. Locals ebb and flow, walking their dogs, collecting the daily papers, stopping to chat and grab a coffee. If this doesn’t sound like ‘your type of place’, why not try the smaller Piazza di Pietra. Home to one whole remaining wall of a Hadrian temple, this is another place where tourists rarely stop. The long thin piazza is used as a quick walkway between the Fontana di Trevi and the Pantheon. Remarkably, the ruins have been incorporated into the Stock Exchange and also the Chamber of Commerce. The discerning traveller can sit and enjoy a

Tours for Independent-thinking Women

Experience unique holidays with us – we are there when the tour buses leave! Our groups stay in one place for a while – no rushed visits or early starts! Time to get to know some of the best places in your own way.

Stay in chateaux, villas and boutique hotels – always with your own double room. Learn to order in French, eat and cook in Italian! We have a picnic in a train, opera in a palace, make our own perfume, taste wine and truffles, wander beautiful gardens and museums, dine away from tourists - and we shop too… Our visits are guided by local women and… we never queue!

Our experience counts.

If you like to do your own thing, but not travel alone, then our small group tours are for you! Currently we are taking registrations of interest for our Italy tour. Call or email Jenni at Perchalla & Turner Travel Associates on 1800 136 037 or jenni_triffitt@travel-associates.com.au for a no obligation CD and itinerary. www.toursforwomen.com.au

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WW Travel

When in Rome 1. Hotel: Marcella Royal - it has a roof-top garden and great service. 2. Fine dining: Camponeschi - located in the Piazza Farnese.

Explore the local shops and attractions and get to know the locals and you will discover where to buy the best coffee or find the top restaurants to give you the ultimate Italian dining experience.

3. Lunch: Hostaria Costanza - built into an ancient stadium wall.

meal in the piazza at Osteria dell’Ingengo or a coffee and more at Gran Caffetteria. Both have outside seating offering up-close views of the temple. Politicians and business people frequent this area; often there are chauffeurdriven cars waiting to whisk them away from lunch meetings in the piazza. You however, have all day to soak in the atmosphere!

5. Ruins: San Clemente - located near the Collosseum.

Tiny boutiques can be found in and around the square. When you tire from shopping, you can relax and partake in people watching from the seats at the front of the temple. On one side of the piazza is the burnt umber building of the Collegio di Bergamaschi. This college, built in 1729 by a group of men from Bergamo near Milan, was designed to

house Bergamo residents studying in Rome. It still provides accommodation today. Take the time to watch the umber colours change from yellow to orange and bronze as the light moves around the square. There really is no better way to get to know Rome. It is impossible to experience absolutely everything Rome has on offer, but you can certainly make one small chosen part your very own. n Penny King

Contact dependent Tours for In Business W ng omen

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4. Dish: Crunchy fried Roman artichokes from Hostaria Costanza.

6. Concert: Arias at St Paul’s Within the Walls. 7. S treet: Via Margutta - offering the best galleries, antiques and coffee. 8. P urchase: Gloves from Sermonetta located in the Piazza di Spagna. 9. Free and Fabulous: Santa Maria degli Angeli - designed by Michelangelo at the Piazza della Repubblica. 10. Final night ‘to do’: take a cab at night and drive by the Piazza del Popolo, the Collosseum, St Peters and other famous landmarks. Tailor your route to suit and of course, get out and take pictures.

Winter 2011 n Working Women® 51

WW products

WhatWeLike

Showcasing the products WNA Members take to the domestic and international markets - these products are as diverse as the businesses and careers of the dynamic women behind them. t S h o e Sto pp e r s

Welcoming uniquely designed stiletto wine stoppers, we are bringing a girl’s two favourite things together - shoes and wine! Each hand painted shoe sits on top of a stainless steel stopper with hot pink rubber. Beautifully gift boxed, shoe stoppers make for a perfect and unique gift. RRP: $29.95. For wholesale enquiries or to buy direct please visit www.winestoppersaustralia.com

Bling Your Office q

Look fashionable and classy in the office and never lose your USB flash drive again. Featuring a variety of bling styled USB’s including the silver heart, Hello Kitty, hot pink handbag, black rose plus many other designs. Madam Charli bling USB flash drive key chains and necklaces are considered a computer peripheral so they can be claimed as a business expense and tax deduction. RRP: from $25.00 - visit www.madamcharli.com.au

p Bag Yourself a Better Environment

Trolley Buddy is a totally new eco-friendly and reusable shopping bag that clips onto supermarket shopping trolleys. Made from 100 per cent recycled polyester, Trolley Buddy bags are strong, durable and versatile. Ideal for use as a shopping bag, beach bag, sporting bag, picnic bag, camping bag or carry bag. Contribute to the reduction of plastic bag consumption. RRP: from $19.95 visit www.trolleybuddy.com

K e e p Wa r m Th i s W i n te r u

Update your winter wardrobe with Asure Design - a stunning new fashion collection now available from Treasured Interiors. Fall in love with our gorgeous 100 per cent silk kaftans from Karakim, available in many vibrant colours. The beautiful range includes everything from dresses to separates, for a fashionable winter look, team with your favourite jeans and boots. RRP: from $119.00 - visit www.treasuredinteriors.com.au

t All Good Things Come in Threes

The ingenious Trio Touch DAB+ Micro System is named after its ability to be transformed into three different stereo combinations - a one piece, two piece or a three piece system. This innovative new design gives users the opportunity to create their own audio entertainment experience. The beautifully designed range will bring a style and sophistication to the everyday home or office entertainment system. RRP: $599.00 Available for purchase from Harvey Norman retail stores or at www.grundig.net.au

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Light to maximum coverage can be achieved with Adorn’s Porefect and Protect Loose Mineral Foundation. This foundation feels as though you are not wearing any makeup at all whilst still giving flawless coverage and providing anti-ageing protection due to its high SPF 20+ rating. No longer will you feel guilty after falling asleep with your foundation on. RRP: $59.00 - visit www.adornmineralcosmetics.com.au

I Love Laundry introduces the Meliconi Stendimeglio clothes airer from Italy. Innovative in design and with a unique drip tray, the Stendi comes in two sizes. Made from rust proof aluminium and resin, it is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. RRP: from $145.00 - visit www.ilovelaundry.com.au

t Dealing with Master Manipulators

Dr Mary Casey’s informative DVD and workbook helps identify manipulators at home and in the workplace while presenting strategies to deal with them effectively. Includes various scenarios, role plays and case studies along with methods to use to ensure you are never a target. RRP: $49.95 visit www.dealwithmanipulators.com

t S oak It Up

The Hei Cube absorbs moisture, electromagnetic waves and odours. This product is ideal for use near computers, printers, next to microwaves and high odour or moist environments. For centuries bamboo has been treasured for its healing powers, beauty and adaptability. When put through a special heating process, bamboo charcoal becomes a valuable by-product of natural bamboo. Environmentally friendly and biodegradable, the Hei Cube lasts 12 months. RRP: $16.95 - visit www.purebamboo.com.au

qGet Your Handbag Organised

The Smartbag handbag insert is designed to hold all your essentials in place - yes, all those little things that you go fumbling for at the bottom of your bag. If you own more than one handbag, which most women do, all your handbag goodies can be transferred quickly from bag to bag with ease. RRP: $25.00. To order, phone Linda +61 (0) 409 098 129

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Franc Serum boosts cell renewal and accelerates skin repair making it a rich cocktail of active essential oils to increase collagen production, encourage the regeneration and repair of scarred, wrinkled skin tissue and nourish mature, inflamed or irritated skin. It’s a premium, rejuvenating formula of emollients, antioxidants and beta-carotene to revitalise and bring new life to dry, tired and dehydrated skin. RRP: $72.00 - visit www.franc.com.au

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WW balance

Family Friendly

Workplaces

Balancing both work and family demands is never an easy job. KIRSTY O’CALLAGHAN investigates the impact workplace culture has on the business environment. She explores the traditional way in which women sacrifice their career opportunities whilst men have had to sacrifice their relationships and bonds with their children and family.

Recent government initiatives such as the ‘Fresh Ideas for Work and Family Program’ have helped some businesses and organisations work towards managing these difficulties, however challenges are still being faced by many business owners and employees. More than ever, Australians are experiencing difficulty in managing both work and family life. Recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures illustrate that in the three years prior to November 2009, the number of workers who negotiated an agreement for flexible hours with employers, either formally or informally, fell from 40 per cent to approximately 30 per cent. It is also being found that a family-friendly workplace culture must include the experiences and attitudes of men. As long as family responsibilities are assumed as the main concern of women only, men will continue to be seen as the secondary parent and women will continue to face bias in the workplace on the basis of their sex and stereotypical family responsibilities. Encouraging men to be involved in sharing care rights from the beginning of a child’s life is an important part of supporting shared care and moving towards equality. Women are often faced with having to prioritise paid work and parenting, leaving little time for other areas important to them and thus affecting

their health and wellbeing. Women are willing to avoid poor outcomes for their children, family and employers at a personal cost, this is certainly not the work-life balance we are striving to achieve. Having family-friendly work practices means having to deal with current workplace attitudes about men and women’s roles. These attitudes have been held by executives or key stakeholders for many years, embedding them into their businesses or organisations. This can create many hurdles to implementing change, but although men may feel that using family-friendly policies will damage their career prospects, women will feel the most pressure to use these policies and sacrifice their personal and career aspirations. Family-friendly workplaces make good business sense because they help to: Attract and retain employees

Reduce sick leave and absenteeism

Increase staff morale, commitment and productivity

Promote a positive public image.

Experts indicate there are several distinctive qualities evident in a business that foster a healthy work-life balance. These include: Active role models of policies and practises at all levels

Excellent communication methods

Enjoyable work environments

Performance assessed on work contribution

Recognition of the employee as a ‘whole person’ with their roles outside the workplace valued and respected

Creativity, innovation and informed risk are encouraged, supported and rewarded

High levels of trust between managers and employees

Upward and downward communication and feedback.

Traditionally speaking for women, when entering the workplace there is a cost to their career opportunities and for men, there is a cost to their relationships and bonds with their children and their family. But now, more than ever we have the opportunity to make changes that alleviate the stresses associated with being a working parent. n allaghan

Kirsty O’C Contact nity-Qld U Business 2 889 648 +61 (0) 40 Phone .a m u qld.co

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54 Working Women® n Winter 2011

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Origin HR delivers nationally recognised qualifications in Administration online to support staff. The cost to the employer is ‘NOTHING’. Contact Joanne Brooks at Origin HR - ‘Leading staff performance’ Phone: Mobile: Email: Website:

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MOVE YOUR BUSINESS FORWARD WITH BUSINESS LINKS AUSTRALIA Winter 2011 n Working Women® 55

WW between the pages

Top Shelf

OfftheShelf

Books, they hold the answers to the great questions in life! Basically they offer the same words just in a different order, but they have been inspiring, educating and bringing tears to eyes for years. Here are our top choices. Treatable and Beatable Author: Carolyn Gross Price: $19.95

Cancer can be a new beginning; it does not have to be a nightmare or death sentence. Treatable and Beatable encourages cancer patients to claim their power and explore their options the moment they are diagnosed. Carolyn details the journey on how her own body destroyed her cancer using immunotherapy and the cancer vaccine. She kept her breast and was spared many of the physical trials traditional patients endure. Within a year, Carolyn’s cancer was gone. To purchase a copy visit www.treatableandbeatable.com

Marketing in Ten Easy Steps

Author: Helen Kaye Price: $19.95

Marketing in Ten Easy Steps is a workbook designed to help small business owners and operators prepare a marketing plan on a limited budget for any product or service. The workbook covers branding, target markets, writing press releases and photo media alerts, publicity tools, sponsorship partnerships and a breakdown of the four P’s - product, price, placement and promotion. Including marketing ideas and examples, this workbook is a simple and easy to follow guide. Available for purchase at all good book stores and online at www.atlasproductions.com.au

Wake Up and Live: 5 Steps to Revolutionise Your Life and Powerfully Live Your Purpose Author: Gloria Hamilten Price: $30.00

This book is a no holds barred all-encompassing practical guide to helping men and women get out of the frustration treadmill of not knowing what their life purpose is. If you get up day after day and wonder if this is all there is, then this book will help alleviate the feelings that come with not living your purpose. This book is designed for highly-motivated women and men who want a direct approach that works. It has been heralded as a ‘seminar in a book’. Available for purchase online at www.lifemappingmastery.com/page/wake-up-and-live-book

Melbourne’s Bars and Pubs 2011 - A Guide to The Best Bars and Pubs in Inner-city Melbourne Price: $24.95

As the name suggests, Melbourne’s Bars and Pubs is a guide to the best watering holes in Melbourne. This book is descriptive, has beautiful colour photography throughout and is small enough to fit in your handbag. A wide variety of establishments are featured ranging from wine and cocktail bars, history-filled old pubs, jazz venues, quirky laneway hideouts and everything in-between. Get out there and discover Melbourne - the world’s best ‘chooseyour-own-adventure’ city. Available from all good bookshops and at www.melbournesbarsandpubs.com.au

56 Working Women® n Winter 2011

Pink Shoe Power: What your time management style means for your success in business and life

Authors: Valerie McDougall & Jayne Jennings Price: $29.95

Don’t have enough time each day to achieve your dreams and stay stressfree? Maybe you’ve tried strategies to help you organise your time but they’ve failed? If this sounds like you, you need to understand your Pink Shoe Power time style, because one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to time management. When you know your time style, you will have absolute clarity about your strengths, what sabotages your time and the right strategies for you. This breakthrough approach to time management has just been launched. To purchase your copy visit www.PinkShoePower.com

“The Pink Shoe Power time management eBook and system is a great idea. To associate time management with the type of shoe you wear is brilliant and something every woman can understand and identify with.”

Finding Wellness

Top reads

Author: Hayley Wallace N.D Price: $25.00 Do you know which foods to eat when you are ill? How much sunlight is good for you and what happens to your cells when you stand barefoot on the earth? Have you ever wondered how electromagnetic fields can affect diabetes or multiple sclerosis? The answer to these questions and more can be found in Finding Wellness. Good health is our birthright and you can have it forever if you learn how to hold on to it. To order visit www.successandhealth.com.au

Little Wins for Working Women

Author: Jen Dalitz Price: $19.95

Ever felt like you’re juggling so many things you can’t possibly be doing a good job of any of them? It’s an everyday experience for working women who trade off their most precious commodity - time - between friendships and family, healthy lifestyle and fulfilment of a rewarding career. Little Wins for Working Women is a treasure chest of advice, insights and practical strategies to ensure every day of your life is filled with success. It’s an ideal companion for any woman to pick up on those days when things don’t quite go to plan. To order visit www.womensnetwork.com.au

The Business of Being an Athlete Author: Kerri Pottharst Price: $34.95

Whether you’re just starting out or you have already won accolades and want to take it to the next level, Gold Medal Olympian Kerri Pottharst shows you can achieve greatness both on and off the field. In The Business of Being an Athlete, Kerri draws from more than 25 years of experience and reveals how the right attitude, the right tools and the right approach took her from being a part-time athlete to becoming a multi-award winning champion, a hot property for sponsorship and a successful entrepreneur. To order visit www.kerripottharst.com

Brand Yourself

Author: Rachel Quilty Price: $29.95 Brand Yourself highlights the foundational blocks to building your personal brand and positioning yourself as an authority figure in your industry. This instructional manual will help consultants, executives, business owners, speakers and authors stand out from the crowd by developing and designing a signature personal brand. Learn how to build a persuasive personal brand, create a brand that attracts clients and develop a personal branding action plan. To order visit www.brandyourselfbook.com

Shattering the Cancer Myth - A Positive Guide to Beating Cancer Author: Katrina Ellis Price: $41.95

Shattering the Cancer Myth is an inspiring real life story of courage, hope and survival, which doubles as an essential guide for any person who has been diagnosed with or touched by cancer in some way. A holistic approach to healing may be the helping hand you have been searching for on your journey back to radiant health. Available at all good bookstores, health food stores or online at www.zeuspublications.com

Hot Tips for Career Chicks Author: Karen Adamedes Price: $32.95

With unique insights into the subtleties and nuances of a male-dominated workplace culture, Hot Tips for Career Chicks provides women with the key to unlocking the code to career success. With a focus on communication, operating styles, career development and how to prioritise everything else, Hot Tips for Career Chicks provides over 200 practical and easy to implement tips and answers to accelerate career success. To order visit www.womensnetwork.com.au

Your Inner Knowing; Unlocking the Secrets to Creative Success Author: Neroli Makim Price: $25.00

When it comes to surviving and thriving in our rapidly changing business environment, creativity ranks higher than management discipline, integrity or even vision. This book explains the simple, yet powerful process in all types of creativity and focuses on the most common creativity blocks and how to overcome them. Learn Your Inner Knowing and discover the key ingredients to unlocking your unique form of creative genius. Available for purchase online at www.yourcreativesuccess.com Winter 2011 n Working Women® 57

WW Style File

To p t i ps to lo o k

glamorous everyday Do you want to look glamorous everyday when you head off to work? SARAH DOWER discusses how important it is to look beyond your outfit, and on to your skin care regime.

Whilst many articles have been written about the role of your business suit or other office attire, the face is often neglected. It is often assumed that women have an innate sense of how to do their makeup in a suitable fashion. Here are a few tips to help us make the most of our corporate, professional look.

1. The obvious place to start for amazing corporate and professional makeup is with great skin. Use a range of products that have been professionally recommended for your skin type. If you don’t have time to spend with a beauty therapist to obtain professional skin advice, why not consider some of the increasing numbers of mobile therapists who can come to you? Some businesses will also offer phone or Skype consultations as well, and will send out sample packs for you.

who are time poor, it would be recommended to use a day cream with SPF, a night cream and an eye cream.

3. Whilst most women will cleanse, tone, moisturise and perhaps use an eye cream, have you ever considered doing a mini facial at home once or twice a week? This will keep your skin in top condition and will involve an exfoliant and a masque. There are even some products out there which provide the benefits of a full salon facial exfoliant and masque in as little as seven minutes.

4. Good skin comes naturally when using natural products, as you won’t suffer from clogged pores or a dull complexion minimising the amount of makeup needed during the day, making it easier to get that glowing, glamorous look.

As a bare minimum, to ensure your skin and your makeup looks amazing, it would be recommended to cleanse, tone and moisturise every day. For the busy professional women who are time poor, it would be recommended to use a day cream with SPF, a night cream and an eye cream. 2. When you have your professional recommendation and know what products suit your skin, consider using a suite of products from the same range as this will get you the best results with the products complementing each other. As a bare minimum, to ensure your skin and your makeup looks amazing, it would be recommended to cleanse, tone and moisturise every day. For the busy professional women

Do you want to discover the enjoyment and magic of parenting again?

Given that the skin is one of our largest organs and is used to excrete waste materials through sweat, it is not surprising that we absorb some of these chemicals through our skin. In fact, breast biopsies today are finding increased amounts of hydrocarbons, which is obviously not good when it comes to breast cancer rates. Many people put up to 500 chemicals on their faces before they even leave the house, so we need to be really careful what is in skin care, hair care, and makeup products.

Kirsty O’Callaghan is a National Parenting Expert who is motivating and inspiring thousands of Australians through easy-to-implement strategies that are simple, effective and practical. All services are relevant to the real world and the unique challenging professional and personal times you and I face today.

With each booking you receive a free copy of Kirsty’s book ‘PARENTING – A Guide For The Ride’ 58 Working Women® n Winter 2011

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5. Finally, consider some professional makeup lessons to allow you to flaunt your assets to their full potential. Sadly, all too often women cobble together our looks from short five second makeup lessons we receive at cosmetic counters when buying a new product, or put things together in the same way their mothers did when they first taught them how to apply mascara when they were young. With improving product technology, you need to know what you are dealing with, as application can differ. A professional makeup lesson does not mean you will end up with a half hour makeup routine to do every morning. It may even allow you to cut down on the number of products you use, allowing you to speed up your application of your products of choice. As you can see, a little bit of advice goes a long way, and it does not have to take hours every morning to make yourself look glamorous and professional. Take the time to look after yourself, and spend some time with a qualified beauty therapist or makeup artist and ask them for some advice. Most beauty professionals will actually be flattered that you want to learn and value their skills, and will be only too happy to provide you with some advice. n er

Sarah Dow Contact Beauty SGD Body & Business 313 453 7 40 ) (0 1 +6 Phone om auty.c

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WW style file

Expert TIPs – Cellulite Prevention and treatment Discover how to minimise those unsightly lumps and bumps that are cellulite. ANGIE SMITH provides prevention and treatment tips on this particularly frustrating problem. Trapped within the skin’s connective tissue, cellulite is not like regular fat. It does not always respond to exercise or dieting and many women who are doing the right things to stay slender can still have cellulite. Studies show that as many as 70 per cent of women over the age of 30 will develop some form of cellulite. With several factors impacting on a woman’s likelihood of having cellulite, here are five tips to reduce your chances:

1. Use daily body tightening and firming creams. The latest buzz ingredient is caffeine which assists in the breakdown of these fatty cells and smooths the skin.

2. Replace processed foods with whole

grains and fresh fruit; this will reduce and prevent the formation of cellulite.

3. Drink plenty of water. Water helps to flush out the toxins from our bodies faster. Try adding some lemon to your water as this further aids the flushing process.

4. Indulge in regular massages. Intense massage can help break up the fat cells stored under your skin, increase blood flow and effectively get rid of cellulite whilst smoothing skin tone.

5. Leave it to the professionals. One of the newest and most effective treatments is ultrasonic cavitation. Unlike the well known

Custom Team Gear Makes For A Great Ride! PROUDLY wearing your own team gear is not only great for team morale and fun, it also tells the world how much you love cycling, says Body Torque’s Felicity Dales. Body Torque specialise in custom team gear for your club, corporate group or social riding bunch. And best of all, you can create as little as five of each style. “As well as custom full colour short- sleeve and long-sleeve jerseys, you can also create custom team gear for vests, skin suits, knicks, bib and braces, arm and leg warmers and accessories. Body Torque also creates custom triathlon and netball team gear,” said Felicity. And customers love the result. According to customer Beaufort Galland, “I have sponsored a cycling event and needed custom jerseys. I have used other suppliers and have not been satisfied, so it was time to try someone else. I contacted Body Torque and was very happy with the results. The clothing was exactly what I required and was delivered ahead of the deadline. It was a very simple process and I will be returning to Body Torque next year.” Right now, you can SAVE 50% on your design and setup for custom team orders: see the Body Torque ad on this page for details.

procedure called liposuction and invasive surgery, ultrasonic cavitation is a nonsurgical procedure for cellulite. Although cellulite is a pressing beauty problem for many, if not most women, there are a number of precautions you can take in preventing and treating cellulite. n h

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WW life support

you

The only hurdle To change is After years of trying to lose weight, through many diets and exercise regimes, finally at the age of 45 when working long hours and travelling extensively in the Corporate Arena, I managed to find the way to lose weight and keep it off – permanently! What I have learnt, it is not about “losing weight”, but “losing body fat”, which means the scales are not the measure of success. As a direct result of my choices, I am also physically stronger which has overcome many physical issues such as back and knee pain. At one stage I could not walk up and down stairs without “hanging” onto the rails, now I can run up and down the stairs! At an age when I am “theoretically” supposed to be getting slower and putting on weight (nearly 50), I am stronger and smaller than I have ever been in my adult life! It is a LifeStyle Choice, and I stopped making excuses around “time” as to why I couldn’t achieve my desired results. With a background and tertiary qualifications in IT, I understand if we need a software program to do something different we need to “make a change” to achieve a new and desired result.

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What I have done “Commitment leads to Action, is taken my Action brings your dream Closer” experience and understanding from the IT industry and “rewritten” my software program. As even services include: though the “hardware” may be dated (my body), n life style Coaching (Nlp Accredited) it doesn’t mean my software can’t be rewritten n Nutrition Coaching (with the focus to upgrade the hardware! around fat loss, not Weight loss) n Nutritional evaluation (includes how to Over the past 4 years I have learnt how to eat shop in a supermarket and reading and exercise correctly without compromising food labels) my lifestyle of eating out (which of course n General fitness review and assistance includes the glass of wine!), to maintenance my (Creation or modification of exercise new dress size! programs) LifeStyle Coaching was developed for people who want to learn how to make the right choices D i D yo u k n ow ? n 70% of our energy is expended when we for a happier and healthier you. are at rest. The Services are an education process over a 4 n More muscle mass, faster metabolism, to 6 week period, designed to equip you to make which means faster body fat loss the right choices for you and your LifeStyle. n fat loss = exercise + right food. As choices are not just about doing the right exercise, it is about doing the right exercise for you, when to exercise, when to rest and eating Jenni Dean the right food. ContaCt aches Lifestyle Co Business 040 369 0 40 If you are ready to move forward for a more +61 (0) .au Phone optusnet.com “energetic you”, then maybe you are ready for jennidean@ l m ai co em eve. lieveyouachi LifeStyle Coaching. n www.yoube

GadgetGuide

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Check out the latest and greatest gadgets presented by Claire Moffat. GE’s New Waterproof Mini Camcorder Makes a Splash u

Making a summertime splash, GE’s latest sharpshooter is a waterproof and shockproof mini camcorder. The tough GE DV1 can be plunged to depths of five metres and withstand bumps from 1.5 metres. No larger than a mobile phone, it is perfectly suited to action-packed lifestyles. The GE DV1 mini camcorder soaks up its surroundings; shooting videos in full 1080p HD and capturing five megapixel still shots. RRP: $199.00 Contact: www.gecameras.com.au t Samsung

Series 9 Notebook

The Samsung Notebook Series 9 is equipped with a 16 million colour reproduction and is encased in the most advanced duralumin metal alloy. Weighing only 1.31 kg and measuring only 16.3 mm in thickness, the Samsung Notebook Series 9 is the thinnest and lightest 13 inch second generation Intel Core i5TM notebook in the market - perfect for those busy women on the move. RRP: $2,499.00 Contact: www.samsung.com.au

Jaycar’s In-Car MP3 Player u

Jaycar’s MP3 player plugs directly into the socket of a car’s cigarette lighter. The unit has function ability to transmit audio playback from an SD card, USB flash disk or any external audio source via the auxiliary input to any frequency in the FM band of the car stereo. Controls are performed through the front panel with the IR remote mounted on the steering wheel. RRP: $34.95 Contact: www.jaycar.com.au t Sony’s

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that will make you the queen of the booming tech marketplace. Our FREE weekly e-newsletter is your personal technology tutor, arming you with the knowledge to fully utilise gadgets designed to make your life easier. Subscribe now at

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New Cyber-shot Camera - TX10

Sony’s new Cyber-shot T series proves that toughness and style can go hand-in-hand. Showing that being tough doesn’t mean being big and bulky, the hero model of the new Cyber-shot T series TX10, is as rugged as it is stylish. Tougher than its slim design would suggest, the TX9 offers waterproof functionality of up to five metres, is drop proof from heights of 1.5 metres, dust proof and even freeze proof to minus ten degrees Celsius. RRP: $499.00 Contact: www.sony.com.au

Worlds Lightest 12.1 Inch Convertible Tabletq

The business rugged Toughbook CF-C1 withstands pressure of up to 100kg/f. Damage to the hard disk from external shocks and vibrations is prevented with four shock-absorbing pads. Drink spillages cannot damage the Toughbook as it is equipped with a special drainage system protecting the keyboard. A full 170ml glass spilt over the keyboard and touchpad simply flows out through the drainage channels, leaving all electronics in the notebook dry and intact. RRP: $3,199.00 Contact: www.panasonic.com.au

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Winter 2011 n Working Women® 61

WW working from home

Room to work

An increasing number of people are opting to work from the more productive environment of their own home. BELINDA PARKER explains that in order to do this your surroundings will need to be functional as well as comfortable. Whether your home workspace is large or small, discover the importance of organising it efficiently.

You want the design of your home office to be comfortable and a flexible working environment. Select components like area rugs and wall units that define space, but ensure they don’t give a closed in feel. Be sure to utilise soothing colours and stay away from powerful colours that tend to distract and tire working eyes. Be selective with your accessories as it is important not to create clutter in your workspace. Create adequate storage with shelving to accommodate books, files and other office equipment. Plan your storage and make sure you allow for future business growth. Whatever décor you choose, be certain to use the right lighting - track lighting and table fixtures are great for both work and ambience.

62 Working Women® n Winter 2011

These days, you can even flick your wrist over a sensor to illuminate your L.E.D. integrated desk lighting. When you work from home, it is nice to know that you can do so practically, professionally and of course, in an organised manner. Tips to streamline your home office: Ensure you use pull-out trays to hide equipment like printers. This will create a clutter free office.

Vertical sliding doors will create hidden storage systems without compromising your space.

Lateral filing drawers should be considered for effective use of space and cost efficiency.

Use splashbacks that are designed for pinning notes, they won’t leave any permanent marks. Always think of the resale value of your home.

Finally, it is important to manage your office and constantly ensure you keep your workspace organised. Make your office a place in which you want to spend time. n

Cable management should be integrated into your desktop to keep cords safely and tidily tucked away.

rker

Belinda Pa

Contact Design Creative by Business 5255 9 0 +61 (2) 98 Phone .com.au

ivebydesign www.creat

Hello from Someday Isle. Wish you were here ...

Precious memories

Honour your loved ones in the way they would like to be remembered. White Lady Funerals can tailor services to meet a range of individual requests. Organising a funeral can be a daunting task, especially when you’re grieving the loss of a loved one. There are so many basic elements to consider before even taking into consideration any special requests the deceased may have had. To make this difficult time less stressful on you, White Lady Funerals

offer a range of tailored services for men, women and children. They are Australia’s premier team of all-female funeral directors and “cater for a family’s culture and traditions, and any special requests to make the service truly personalised,” says White Lady regional manager, Christine Thompson.

For more information, visit whiteladyfunerals.com.au or call 1300 656 550

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inspiring change...

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Dear Self, Is this your Someday Isle? You know the place you imagine when you say ‘Someday I’ll ...’ Well, this is your future self telling you that unless you give yourself a good shake and do some serious planning, someday will never come. Because I know you’re busy I’ve made a list – all you have to do is tick it off. LIST FOR GETTING TO SOMEDAY ISLE

1. A business succession plan so we can retire in style. 2. The security of life insurance to protect all that we have worked for. 3. A robust and healthy super fund to spend as we wish. 4. Contingency funding (for leave, pay outs, bonuses) to reward our staff for helping us. 5. Shares and investments that are structured to give us strong returns. 6. Advice today from someone who, like us, shares our dreams. So get going, make financial security your gift to me. See you someday.

Love, Self PS: TIP - Start with number 6. Jenny is expecting your call because if you listened to me you already made it ...

Jenny Moss - AR No: 235806 (AFSL No: 245569 Moss Financial are an authorised representative of Meritum Financial Group.)

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www.mossfinancial.com.au Winter 2011 n Working Women® 63

WW teenpreneurs

Is there a budding

‘teenpreneur’ in your family? In today’s society, young people are being faced with a world of unlimited opportunity. Fourteen-year-old Teenpreneur, RHIANNON LEETHAM discusses what Teenpreneurs are, how you can support them and where they can access resources to help them develop their skills. Teenpreneuers are teens, or ‘tweens’, who use their skills and interests to earn an income by creating their own business. They are the new breed of business owners and are developing businesses in their own style and on their own terms. Many of their businesses are online where they are selling products and ebooks, creating MySpace and Facebook pages or setting up offline businesses by working lemonade stands, busking, selling artworks etc. or creating their own saleable product. Teenpreneurs have one thing in common, they are not afraid to try out new things and they have the knack of seeing opportunities where others don’t. Their business typically relates to something they enjoy doing. And thanks to the advancement of online technology and their ability to harness online resources, aspiring tweens have the opportunity to cultivate their entrepreneurship from a very young age.

How do you recognise if your child is a budding ‘Teenpreneur’? Teenpreneurs are ‘why’ type people. They ask questions, see things differently and believe there is always more to discover in life. They don’t always present as academic achievers, but show motivation, are curious and display interest in what is going on around them. They do not accept things cannot be done and they are continually seeking out and pursuing new ideas and areas of interest. They are often seen as dream chasers and have diverse interests, however when examined carefully for what attracts them to an area of interest a common thread can be identified. In other cases, your tween may be incredibly academically inclined, however they have a dream that falls outside the traditional educational streams and they seek to chase it relentlessly.

64 Working Women® n Winter 2011

How can you help to develop your budding ‘Teenpreneur’? You may consider that your teen has their ‘head in the clouds’ or are aiming at ‘pie in the sky’ and your first inclination may be to tell them to apply themselves to their school work and start dreaming after their education is completed. The best thing any parent can do for their teenpreneur is to encourage their seemingly ‘far-fetched’ dreaming, and help them find ways they can make their dreams come true. This is often a challenge for parents, as poor Mum and Dad are struggling to recognise their own dreams - let alone help their teen in doing this. Not to mention the school fees they are funding along the way.

Where do you get more help? Local small business councils, small business associations and organisations like Women’s Network Australia are great places to connect with people to help your Teenpreneur. I joined WNA and now my article is being read by over 20,000 women. Where else could a Teenpreneur be given that honour and opportunity? Encourage your teen to find online forums where other teens are interacting and read sites like Flying Solo for inspiration and more connections. If possible, encourage your Teen to read the Robert Kiyosaki Rich Dad/Poor Dad books, particularly Rich Dad, Poor Dad for Teens. If your teen doesn’t like reading, there are audios that can be loaded on their iPod! Oh, and Mum and Dad can read Rich Dad’s: Rich Kid, Smart Kid.

Final Advice Remember that this is supposed to be fun and your Teenpreneur may need reminding of this. Secondly, sometimes not succeeding is part of the journey. Robert Kiyosaki, the author of Rich Dad/Poor Dad had to live in a car because he was so broke. Bill Gates failed engineering, whilst his best friend passed. His best friend now works for him at Microsoft. Sometimes our journeys take us on different paths.

Last Word: Just ‘be there’ for your tween and let them make their mistakes. Help them to learn and you will be amazed at what you can learn from them, it is all part of our journey. n

Leetham

Rhiannon Contact cipes hiannon’s Re R Business 983 3 57 1 41 ) (0 +61 Phone ipes.com nonsrec

www.rhian

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Managing OHS Risk E x per t T I P S Effortlessly

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Protect your business, people and profits with online software designed specifically for Industry needs. From the 1 January 2012, all businesses will be required to enact the model Work Health and Safety Act. In response to such changes, Safety for Life has been developing a software solution to support organisations of all size. SHERM software is a Safety Health Environment Risk Management software program which is provided as a Software as a Service (SaaS) better known as Cloud Computing. Therefore, providing a cost effective solution for small, medium and large size organisations.

Knowing from experience, the major challenges that business face is time and resource demand that safety management can have, from documentation to reporting, monitoring and the training required to meet prescribed obligations. SHERM is our practical solution for your business. SHERM official launch is at The Safety Show, 21-23 June at the Brisbane Convention Centre.

Safety for Life’s Vision is “to provide practical solutions for challenging work environments”.

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Styles - Learn to understand your shape and what styles enhance your look to bring out your best qualities. Brands - Consider which brands offer

you timeless styles that you can wear again and again.

Colours - Wear colours that enhance your hair, skin tone and eye colouring and avoid those that make you look tired and dull. If a shop is full of cool colours and you look great in warm colours, you need to shop in another store. Signature Style - Learn to decipher the current style themes for the season and only select those that reflect your image. Key Trends:

• Nude: If your look is classic and feminine you will love this look. • Riviera: For elegant chic check out the riviera look in navy and white. • Utility: For a relaxed and natural look, the new utility style will suit you. Enjoy your new look!

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Calendar2011 Put your foot in the door at WNA – dynamic networking events, connections and educational speakers. JULY WED 6 July

MELBOURNE

Business Luncheon

CQ Functions Centre, 113 Queen Street, Melbourne. VIC

THU 7 July

SYDNEY

Business Luncheon

The Vibe Hotel, 111 Goulburn Street, Sydney. NSW

THU 14 July

BRISBANE

Business Luncheon

The Pavilion Centre, 1 Bogan Street, Albion. QLD

THU 21 July

PERTH

Business Luncheon

Blue Water Grill, 56 Duncraig Road, Applecross. WA

WED 27 July

SUNSHINE COAST

Business Luncheon

Rydges Oasis Resort, Landsborough Parade, Caloundra. QLD

THURS 28 July

GOLD COAST

Business Luncheon

Radisson Resort, Palm Meadows Drive, Carrara. QLD

WED 3 August

BRISBANE

Speed Networking

Colmslie Conference Centre, Wynnum Road, Morningside. QLD

THU 4 August

HOBART

Business Luncheon

The Salamanca Inn, 10 Gladstone Street, Hobart. TAS

WED 10 August

SYDNEY

Business Luncheon

The Vibe Hotel, 111 Goulburn Street, Sydney. NSW

THURS 11 August

MELBOURNE

Business Luncheon

CQ Functions Centre, 113 Queen Street, Melbourne. VIC

THU 18 August

ADELAIDE

Business Luncheon

Rendezvous Allegra Hotel, 55 Waymouth Street, Adelaide. SA

THU 18 August

ALBURY

Power Tea

Rydges Albury, 648 Dean Street, Albury. NSW

THU 25 August

SPRINGFIELD

Business Luncheon

Spring Lake Hotel, 1 Springfield Lakes Blvd, Springfield Lakes. QLD

THU 8 September

BRISBANE

Business Luncheon

The Pavilion Centre, 1 Bogan Street, Albion. QLD

WED 14 September

MELBOURNE

Speed Networking

CQ Functions Centre, 113 Queen Street, Melbourne. VIC

THU 15 September

SYDNEY

Business Luncheon

The Vibe Hotel, 111 Goulburn Street, Sydney. NSW

THU 15 September

SUNSHINE COAST

Business Luncheon

Rydges Oasis Resort, Landsborough Parade, Caloundra. QLD

WED 21 September

PERTH

Business Luncheon

Blue Water Grill, 56 Duncraig Road, Applecross. WA

THU 22 September

GOLD COAST

Business Luncheon

Radisson Resort, Palm Meadows Drive, Carrara. QLD

WED 28 September

HOBART

Business Luncheon

The Salamanca Inn, 10 Gladstone Street, Hobart. TAS

WED 28 September

ADELAIDE

Business Luncheon

Rendezvous Allegra Hotel, 55 Waymouth Street, Adelaide. SA

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

all our w ie v o t r it To book o events vis g in k r 2011 netwo rk.com.au o w t e n s n e www.wom

BUILD YOUR PROFILE – PROMOTE AND ADVERTISE AT OUR BUSINESS NETWORKING EVENTS. Want your promotional material inserted into event delegate satchels? It’s easy for financial members; donate a door prize when attending our events and you’ll be entitled to place your promotional leaflet onto all guests’ chairs. To find out more details T: 1800 052 476 or +61 7 3272 8222.

PLEASE NOTE: All dates are subject to change. Bookings are required to be made by RSVP dates. Tickets are not held without payment. No money is accepted at the door. REFUNDS: For a full refund, notification is required 3 working days prior to event. After this time no refunds are given. Enquiries call us on T: 1800 052 476 or +61 7 3272 8222. Winter 2011 n Working Women® 67

Classified Business Directory Accountants Business Links Australia

Accounting and tax planning services for small to medium sized businesses, investors and self managed superannuation funds. Located Southside Brisbane. +61 (7) 3341 1007 www.blinks.com.au

Zimsen Partners Accountants (Melbourne)

Australian company based in Keysborough, Melbourne; We specialise in accounting, taxation, superannuation, domestic and international business planning and business advice. +61 (3) 9798 6622 www.zimsenpartners.com

Advertising Services Nascomms Marketing Results Tracking

Definitive tracking of sales calls generated by all forms of advertising online or offline. Measure marketing results in real time. Reports prove results achieved for your clients. 1300 832 209 www.nascomms.com

Beauty Services Laser Tattoo Removal with Peace of Mind

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Business opportunities (cont) Earn - Live - Grow

Searching for a unique home based business opportunity. No parties, no cold calling, no product to stock. Personal development and success education. Work with complete flexibility. +61 (0) 438 630 145 www.earn-live-grow.com

Entrepreneurs - The Future is Now

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Gold Parties Australia

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Civil Celebrants Australian Celebrants & Celebrations Network

National directory of celebrants & suppliers. Plan ‘this is your life’ style ceremonies for birthdays, wedding anniversaries, Mothers Day, 18th and 21st’s. Gift vouchers now available! www.accn-celebrants.com.au

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Call now if your answer is YES

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Your catalyst for change. Cre8tive Catalyst mentor and leadership coach for the corporate sector. Providing you with tools and techniques from the stage to the boardroom. +61 (0) 412 674 535 www.cre8tivecatalyst.com.au

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Business Services Arinya for all your Administration needs

Business opportunities Become an Anti-aging Wellness Coach

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Business/Life Coaching Reach Beyond Potential

Live your healthy rich life and help others to do the same. The anti-ageing wellness industry is making money because our ageing population is a niche market that needs your help. +61 (0) 410 612 231 www.academyoflifestyleexcellence.com

With our help, guidance and support you will be able to reach beyond your potential and improve all aspects of your business and life. +61 (8) 9309 6780 www.reachbeyondpotential.com.au

Considering Change Become a Life Coach

Childcare & Nanny Services Charlton Brown

Are you interested in personal development? Do you like people and want to make a difference? If you’ve been considering a career change then call The Coaching Institute TODAY. 1800 094 927 www.thecoachinginstitute.com.au

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Simone de Haas CHANGE CATALYST

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Coaching & Development (CONT) Just Coaching - Inspiring Change

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Cooking & Meal Planning Because You’re More Than A Cook

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Computer & Technology Acclique

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Accounting Software for Home-based Business Simplify your AccountS! • BAS and Financials – Click! Done. • Personal Customer Support • Freedom to Build your Business

Event Management Breeze Events

Financial Services (CONT) Make Your Dreams Reality

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Winter 2011 n Working Women® 71

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Working Women

Working Women Women’s network Australia

w w w.w o m e n s n e t w o r k . co m . a u

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303 x 216

271 x 190

297 x 210

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271 x 92

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133 x 190

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64 x 190

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