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

Unclaimed Nigerian oil money is a safer investment

The next time you get a proposal from a sales rep that quotes your spend as an “investment”, kick ’em in the butt and throw them out of your office. If they can’t pay you the courtesy of telling you the truth by calling it a “spend” or an “expense” or something that smells a lot less like bullshit, then you don’t want to do business with them.

Things looking up for Australian businesses

Australian businesses are cautiously optimistic that overall business conditions will improve through the rest of 2009 according to the latest D&B National Business Expectations Survey released today.

Small Business Support Line workers trained by beyondblue?

Today, the Australian Federal Minister for Small Business, Dr Craig Emerson, officially launched a free phone service that will provide advice and support for people running and working in small businesses.

Sammartino's Creative Espresso – Ways to change your life

We've held on to this latest manic instalment of Steve Sammartino's Creative Espresso series since he submitted it for inclusion in the July print edition, which didn't eventuate. Here it is, in all its super-charged, creative glory.

Sammartino’s Creative Espresso – Ways to change your life

We've held on to this latest manic instalment of Steve Sammartino's Creative Espresso series since he submitted it for inclusion in the July print edition, which didn't eventuate. Here it is, in all its super-charged, creative glory.

How much does it really cost to protect your intellectual property rights?

Most people have a vague understanding of the various types of intellectual property rights, but few know exactly which rights relate to them and even fewer know how much this will cost. This new series takes readers through the ins and outs of intellectual property rights protection specifically for knowledge-economy businesses.

Clive Peeters’ $20m internal fraud – are you vulnerable too?

The Australian business community is still reeling from the news that a Clive Peeters employee managed to embezzle $20m before anyone noticed. The obvious question arises: is anyone safe from this kind of fraud?

CSIRO-developed hybrid battery secures US$32.5M, but who profits?

So while this $US32.5 million US Government funding for UltraBattery is certainly a tremendous validation for the technology and the CSIRO researchers who developed it, the international licensing option pursued means that Australia will, in all likelihood, only receive couch change from what stands to be an extremely lucrative venture for the foreign companies (Furukawa Battery Company and East Penn) that are actually doing the commercialisation.

‘Throwing the book’ at the legal profession (Part 1)

Why is it that some of our society’s brightest minds have no idea how to translate their “no holds barred” skills from the court room to the public domain of marketing communication in a battle to win more clients? Maybe they just don’t need the extra business, maybe they don’t know how, or maybe the truth is a combination of arrogance and ignorance steeped in tradition.

Cool Company Awards, 2009 – Nominations Open!

It's on again. Over coming weeks, we'll be scouring the nation for Australia's coolest companies. It's the first stage in Australia's most innovative business awards program - The Nomination Phase.

When business is booming, but the cupboard is bare

An over-efficient accounts payable person can be the worst enemy of cashflow in a business, writes Sue Hirst.

Stay Interviews vs Exit Interviews

Exist interviews can rapidly devolve into something similar to a post-breakup inquisition. The disillusioned employee provides an autopsy of their disillusionment before a chastened ex-manager. Why not conduct ‘stay interviews’ to gauge and, if necessary, mend the attitudes of still-engaged employees?

Twitter is suing me!

Under this intensified pressure, is Twitter - the poster child of everyone's-invited, it's-fun-to-share, revenue-will-come-later, progressive web culture - becoming tetchy and litigious?

How to sell your business – Invest to Exit (ebook)

This eBook by celebrated Australian entrepreneur and lecturer Dr Tom McKaskill features strategies for profitable exits by angel and VC investors.

Need a finance template for a bank loan?

Are you seeking a template that is purposely designed to accompany a business bank loan? BusinessPlans.com.au has prepared hundreds of business plans for bank loans...

Australian book publishing under attack?

"I want to make sure readers in Australia can buy online at the same price as readers anywhere in the world," said the Booktopia.com.au CEO, Tony Nash.

Looking for Legal Services?

Just describe what you need, receive tailored proposals from interested legal services, and contact the best. It's easy, free and there's no searching.

How to work with a $0 marketing budget

You know your idea is a winner and it won’t take much effort to get it off the ground, but you're not in a position to throw money at it at the moment. What are you going to do with a zero dollar marketing budget? Use your brain and get creative.

IP Australia issues security warning – Trademarks Scam

The national IP registrar recently received "numerous calls from trade mark owners who have received an invoice from a company known as TMP, Trademark Publisher".

Beware of geeks bearing gifts

Everyone knows the story of the Greeks infiltrating the enemy Trojan compound by hiding inside a giant horse. But not many people know that something similar is going on right now inside the commercialisation of public research in Australia.
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Ever considered crowdfunding? [FREE REPORT]

Liz Wald is Vice President of International for Indiegogo.com. She has been terrifically successful raising funds through the crowd model.  One of her successes...

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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...

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