Anthill Magazine

Take every chance to hear from your customers. Don't waste a single one. If they bother to hit reply and type something out, you should read it. If you're product or service doesn't have the margin to allow for listening to your customers when they want to talk to you, then you're in trouble.

Take every chance to hear from your customers. Don't waste a single one. If they bother to hit reply and type something out, you should read it. If you're product or service doesn't have the margin to allow for listening to your customers when they want to talk to you, then you're in trouble.

We're all for applying creativity with a dash of the absurd as a way to stand out from the crowd. And what better way to leave a lasting first impression on potential business contacts than handing them a business card that will makes them chuckle, gasp or drool with envy?

It seems like everyone is scrambling to find ways to cut costs these days. Projects are being put on hold, redundancies are piling up, travel scaled back, etc. And when it comes to technology costs, no organisation is safe. But how do you ensure IT does its part to reduce costs while ensuring you don't compromise security or competitive advantage? There are a number of maturing technologies that are peaking at just the right time to deliver in the downturn.

At a time of global economic uncertainty, the issue of trade and employment is becoming the focus of public debate - particularly with news of large scale redundancies in the media. If this trend continues, there is the risk of increased calls for protectionism here in Australia (as has already occurred in the USA). This is a concern because we all know what has happened in the past when the world has returned to protectionism - mass unemployment, inequality and conflict extending well beyond the trade sphere.

Across the board, strong businesses are those that are well run and designed to withstand outside influences, or have factored in potential risks and have a plan to manage the situation.

That's why we launched the 30under30 Awards in late 2007. And that's why we invite you to nominate yourself or a worthy young entrepreneur. The top 30 will be profiled in the Jul/Aug/Sep edition of Anthill Magazine. To nominate, click here.

Global research group TNS has released research indicating that 44 percent of Baby Boomers plan to postpone their retirement in light of the global economic crisis.

Grow Me The Money is a 12 month online program designed to help small to medium sized businesses become more sustainable and save money....

Without knowing it, we're constantly hindering ourselves from thinking productively and solving problems. The good news is, this is easy to remedy. Here are five things we do that hinder productive thought and five things we can do to think better.

Without knowing it, we're constantly hindering ourselves from thinking productively and solving problems. The good news is, this is easy to remedy. Here are five things we do that hinder productive thought and five things we can do to think better.

Your mission should you choose to accept it... Entrepreneur Bootcamp offers 3-days of accelerated entrepreneur training where you'll discover the ‘behind-the-scenes’ business and internet success...

We decided to ask you, our very innovative readers, to tell us how you have tweaked your own business models to build new revenue streams and make money in this destructively distracting economic climate (rather than 'save' it). And, of course, we'll publish the most interesting, innovative, inspiring and instructional in our Apr/May/Jun print edition.

We decided to ask you, our very innovative readers, to tell us how you have tweaked your own business models to build new revenue streams and make money in this destructively distracting economic climate (rather than 'save' it). And, of course, we'll publish the most interesting, innovative, inspiring and instructional in our Apr/May/Jun print edition.

American and European banking executives have been on the receiving end of far greater public criticism than here in Australia. And for the most part, it has been well-earned. Tapping into this anger, online games site addictinggames.com has used the recently passed US stimulus package as the premise for a new flash game entitled Trillion Dollar Bailout.

So, you have a very clever idea for a new product or service! But to move forward with its development you need to have...

Changes in the business and technical landscapes are forcing companies to change the way their people work to deliver innovation (always faster-better-cheaper) and with less people involved. This drive means that companies need to find better ways for their people to collaborate.

While Rentoid contains the everyday items you'd expect to see listed (chainsaws, ladders, laptop computers, air conditioners, etc.) there are also some deliciously oddball items. You can rent an island, sports cars, private jets, a unicycle, a driveway, a full-size wrestling ring, an R2D2 projector, even a wife (listed in the "antique" category).

While Rentoid contains the everyday items you'd expect to see listed (chainsaws, ladders, laptop computers, air conditioners, etc.) there are also some deliciously oddball items. You can rent an island, sports cars, private jets, a unicycle, a driveway, a full-size wrestling ring, an R2D2 projector, even a wife (listed in the "antique" category).

No matter the markets, or investor appetite, there is a never-ending capital demand for new or expanding companies. And make no mistake – there is money available – it has just become much harder to find.