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News, opinions and advice on managing business systems and people.

Saddle up for networking success with the Magnificent 7

OK, all you sales staffers, it's nitty-gritty time. I'm about to give you the Magnificent 7 of Networking -- seven interconnected fundamentals that will allow you to build effective and profitable relationships for your business.

Risk is for wimps: Planning for the inevitable

If your banker refused to consider risk when considering investments and only sought out those that sounded romantic (like almost every entrepreneur), would you partner with her? Of course not, yet entrepreneurs ask venture capitalists to consider them as superior investment candidates with no comprehension of the risk they represent to investors.

Is Botox ruining the way we communicate?

Somewhere along the line it has become unappealing to let others see our emotions. More and more we rely on highly impersonal means – text messaging, social media and emails – to keep in touch but also to convey confidential information, conduct negotiations and build relationships. More and more we are talking at everyone but not really connecting with anyone.

How to prevent social media from devouring your day

If you have reached the stage where social media eats up far too much of your day, it’s time you took a step up to look at the bigger picture. Here are a few tips to help you get back on track.

When was the last time an Australian leader spoke to you like this?

Among the belly-flopping corgis, astonishing Indian Pole Gymnastics and Justin Bieber clips that rise to the top of YouTube's most watched clips on any given day, it's rare to find something of substance. That's why it's forever reassuring to witness the rise of an opinion that is not built on a sound-bite or caters to the common view.

Downloading illegally? Hey, join the crowd.

In a recent poll by product-comparison website Compare Broadband, 37% Of 313 random participants admitted to having downloaded content illegally. In addition, 29% said they regularly download illegal content over the Internet. "Regularly" was defined in the poll as having downloaded more than 10 pirated files.

Should employers dictate how much time we spend on social media at work?

123educateme has found that if an employee spends more than an hour a workday on non-work tasks, it could cost their employer more than $6,200 a year. If that figure is expanded to account for the population of Australia, the amount of lost productivity could amount to a staggering $5 billion.

Hey, sweet video! Now, will you hire me? Five of the best (and worst)...

Innovative businesses know they need to use innovative means to attract innovative talent. Prompted by Twitter's recent foray into viral video recruitment, we decided to assemble five of our favourite recruitment videos from the not too distant past (including those that are so bad, they're kind of good).

Great golfers don’t mow the fairways (How to stop wasting your time)

From a small business perspective, ‘not enough time’ is a dysfunctional belief that creates stress and frustration. You cannot create more time, but you can cut down on activity. The actions that got you to where you are today will not get you to the next level.

Australian sales professionals are optimistic about the economy, according to a recent survey.

As a barometer for the overall economy, Australian sales professionals are optimistic they will meet or exceed their quarterly targets, according to a recent survey. Of 493 employees interviewed by Huthwaite Asia Pacific for its quarterly sales survey, 73% said their goals for the June quarter were well within reach -- or would be surpassed. When the same question was posed for the year's first quarter, 62% answered positively.

Inflation under control, mixed sales figures, and all the business news that matters

In this week’s podcast, Leon and Garry talk about the latest inflation figures coming in lower than expected and suggesting there will be no pre-election rate rise. Similarly, the cost of materials to business has grown at a modest pace, less than economists expected so inflation seems to be under control for now.

The internet a "fourth" utility, says Telstra’s consumer business director, Rebekah O’Flaherty

This week’s interview is with Telstra’s executive director of consumer business, Rebekah O’Flaherty. She says the internet has now become a fourth utility in Australia with some people prepared to go without food and drink to preserve their connection.

The internet a “fourth” utility, says Telstra’s consumer business director, Rebekah O’Flaherty

This week’s interview is with Telstra’s executive director of consumer business, Rebekah O’Flaherty. She says the internet has now become a fourth utility in Australia with some people prepared to go without food and drink to preserve their connection.

Can you buy insurance for your ideas?

A company will generally not think twice about protecting its physical and tangible assets through insurance premiums. For example, premiums may be...

Should Fairfax give away 100,000 iPads and axe their print editions? [ANALYST RECOMMENDATION]

According to an article in The Australian: Fairfax Media should axe its Melbourne and Sydney daily print editions and focus on e-readers and online to boost earnings. Macquarie analyst Alex Pollak suggests Fairfax could get the ball rolling by spending about $50m to give away 100,000 e-readers to seed the migration of readers away from print.

Do Annual Performance Reviews do more harm than good?

For thousands of corporations and businesses across Australia, it’s that time of year again. Managers are gearing up for a task which often provokes feelings of dread. Employees are preparing themselves for something frequently described as “loathsome”.

The government as hedge fund: breaking down the Treasury’s rosy surplus prediction

RMIT University economist Sinclair Davidson questions Treasurer Wayne Swan’s claims that Australia is headed for a bigger than expected surplus. He says the government is betting on an increase in commodity prices, much like a hedge fund.

The government as hedge fund: breaking down the Treasury's rosy surplus prediction

RMIT University economist Sinclair Davidson questions Treasurer Wayne Swan’s claims that Australia is headed for a bigger than expected surplus. He says the government is betting on an increase in commodity prices, much like a hedge fund.

How to broadcast your ignorance, then get ripped off

Do you ever feel like online marketing options were deliberately designed to confuse? In this post, we reveal some of the strategies that media organisations don’t want you to know - the tactics they use to inflate their figures (yes, it’s real and happens every day).

Grin and win: Friendly service is small business’ secret weapon against big competitors

Friendly service is the secret weapon for local businesses looking to attract customers away from large retailers and firms, according to a new survey by American Express.
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FREE BUSINESS TOOLS

Learn how to devise winning business ideas in four steps with...

It’s often said that everyone will have at least one big business idea in his or her lifetime. But how do you know if your next big idea is genuinely great or a genuine waste of time? This cheat sheet will help you formulate ideas, identify opportunities, evaluate their strengths and take your first big step forward. Learn how to get focus and clarity. Plus, score a bonus tip that will help you more than you might think!

FREE BUSINESS TOOL

How to zig when everyone else is zagging, with Julio De...

Why is it that some business owners appear impervious to business obstacles and upsets? In some cases, it seems that it’s the obstacles that drive certain personality types to success. In this CHEAT SHEET, we share five ways of thinking to respond to INDUSTRY, ECONOMIC, BRAND, SOCIETAL and PERSONAL shifts.

INFOGRAPHICS

New Zealand’s Xero eyes US IPO, further disruption as subscribers increase...

Xero recently held its annual meeting in Wellington, during which the company revealed some interesting details about its future. As has been widely suspected, the...

OPINIONS & ADVICE