Anthill Magazine

As a new generation of Gordon Gekko's fry under the blowtorch of angry shareholders and world leaders brace themselves for the bill from mass bailouts, it's easy to answer the question, "What is the future of finance?" by simply asking another: "Is there a future for finance?"

How would your business cope with a 20-30 percent drop in turnover? How do business owners deal with the wave of economic uncertainty that's reported on every day in the news, and decide what actions to take to survive and guide their business through (what we all hope will be) the inevitable upturn?

The current market downturn has created uncertainty for many workers. However, while many remain concerned about job security, and others have lost it entirely, there is also a proportion of the workforce that look at the current market and remain calm and focused on securing that next great job opportunity.

The American writer Dorye Roettger observed in 1932 (a tough time for optimists), "There are no problems - only opportunities." This spirit animates the many brilliant, committed people who haven't let doom and gloom stop them from innovating. The TED conference is where the best and brightest share the fruits of their dreams and labours.

The Chinese word for "crisis" is often erroneously thought to be composed of two characters: one representing danger and the other representing opportunity. Etymological nuance aside, how you see the 'glass' will ultimately determine how you perform through a crisis. The Chinese are very good at planning for such an event. After all, it's all in Sun Tzu's 'Art of War'.

So you have distributed your media release, it's attracted some interest from journalists and now a couple of them have called you for an...

The great Michael Lewis is probably the best and most readable chronicler of the current financial crisis. In this fascinating piece, he investigates the collapse of Iceland, and finds that mass delusion and lack of dissenting voices, products of Iceland's provincial and isolated culture, were keys to this "perfect bubble" and ensuing disaster.

The great Michael Lewis is probably the best and most readable chronicler of the current financial crisis. In this fascinating piece, he investigates the collapse of Iceland, and finds that mass delusion and lack of dissenting voices, products of Iceland's provincial and isolated culture, were keys to this "perfect bubble" and ensuing disaster.

Late last year, destra founder Domenic Carosa launched the Future Capital Development Fund Limited (FCDFL), a new investment fund focused on internet ventures. Here, Carosa chats with Anthill publisher James Tuckerman about the process of starting a new investment fund in Australia.

Los Angeles-based designer Jonathan Jarvis has created a wonderful animated video explaining the complex origins of the current credit crisis.

Listening to everyone bang on about cost-cutting, home foreclosures and delayed retirements must be mighty wearying for the über rich. Fortunately, those who have more money than they know what to do with can leave the bear-with-a-toothache investment market alone for a while and indulge in several innovative new spending options.

Some unusual signs have begun appearing taped to lampposts and other streetside objects in Melbourne's trendy St Kilda/Chapel Street areas. The efforts of a deranged man named Craig in search of meaning in a troubled world? Unlikely. But this is what we should expect when people with liberal arts degrees have too much time on their hands.

For these businesses (and their owners) to survive this rapidly changing economic environment intact, they just can't continue to do everything by themselves. To be successful, they need to have an experienced team around them to provide the information, experience and support to meet these growing challenges. This team needs to be able to provide the experienced advice that is needed. They need to know how to handle a difficult economic environment. They need to be flexible. And they need to be affordable for the business.

The Global Financial Crisis (a gift from our good friends, CEOs in the USA) is bringing many of us a lot of pain and there is plenty more to come. However, it also brings us a rare opportunity for change. Let's use this time of pain to make painful changes so that when we hit the upswing, we have a better system.

It might seem logical to discount during an economic downturn. You need to boost sales and attract new customers. And customers are tightening their belts and shopping around for the best price. But is discounting the best option over the long-term?

Eco-conscious footwear company, Above+Below London, is now selling shoes made from material that once adorned seats on London's transport system. The shoes' leather upper parts are made from discarded wallets and the soles from used car tyres. They are assembled in Portugal in non-sweaty shop conditions.

Then check out seekingmedia.com.au. Getting media coverage is the Holy Grail of marketing, but are you in good PR shape? Go to our Seven Step PR Workout to see how media fit you really are. With a bit of preparation, it won't take long to begin your media run.

Twelve-year-old Max Wallack recently won Grand Prize at the recent Design Squad 'Trash or Treasure' competition for his "Home Dome" design - make-shift shelter for the homeless made out of trash.

Twelve-year-old Max Wallack recently won Grand Prize at the recent Design Squad 'Trash or Treasure' competition for his "Home Dome" design - make-shift shelter for the homeless made out of trash.

Here are the top 10 tips to get Out-of-Home Digital (OOHD) media working for your business.