Feeling stuck in the daily grind of leak fixes and electrical faults without seeing your business grow? It’s a common trap for tradies, but here’s the hard truth: running a successful business is more than just being a wizard with tools, writes former plumber Dan Pollard, founder of job management software startup Fergus. It’s about stepping up, taking charge, and connecting with your customers in a way that makes you the only call they’ll ever consider making. Your business is a direct reflection of your effort and attitude – if you’re not all in with your business, don’t expect anyone ..read more

When was the last time you took time out? Tom Valcanis shares why sometimes we all need to stop the clock – even soloists… In one of my favourite boyhood adventure graphic novels, The Adventures of Tintin, the bumbling pair of detectives Thomson and Thompson are driving in circles around a fictional African desert. At one point, a faster car zooms past and Thomson steps out of the vehicle. Bewildered, Thompson backs up their rickety jeep and asks, “I say, why would you step out while we were moving?” “Moving?” he says, bewildered, “that car went so fast I thought we were standing still!” Talk ..read more

  Bold is the new black, according to small business expert and strategist Katrina McCarter, who shares why every business owner needs to be bold in 2024. When I was 12, I was so tall that I had specialist hospital appointments because they thought I was going to be a giant. I towered over other kids like Lurch on The Addams Family. So when my mum chose a maroon pantsuit with a pink and white bowtie for my first communion, you might say I stood out in the sea of white princess dresses. At the time, I wished I looked like all the other girls, but now I know it’s the very first time I ..read more

Warren Buffet famously said, “If you can’t control your emotions, you can’t control your money”. There’s a lot of truth in those words, especially as our emotions can drive productivity, performance, and profits, explains mind-body peak performance expert Vesna Hrsto. It’s hard to imagine someone who’s constantly on edge, or in a bad mood, being the rockstar leader a team needs, especially with all the curveballs thrown our way lately. I’ve watched leaders whose own anxiety turned them into demanding bosses. It trickles down making the whole team feel like they’re walking on eggshell ..read more

Starting a small business is a journey in itself, but at some stage you may find yourself considering whether to grow and begin the next chapter, writes Angus Sedgwick, CEO of OptiPay. So what do you do next? For many small business owners the thought of scaling up is too daunting. A recent report by Industry Innovation and Science Australia (IISA) found Australia has a scale-up problem, not a start-up problem, with small business predominantly focusing on small domestic markets due to low levels of free cash flow and limited human capital. Scaling a small business requires careful p ..read more

Maximising your profits should be among your chief goals as a solo entrepreneur. A healthy profit margin can help you grow and increase your options during expansion, writes Indiana Lee. However, as your business grows, your profit margin may shrink. This is due to the fact that your costs naturally increase as you invest more into activities that drive growth (like opening a new store or hiring more staff). A shrinking profit margin may be a real concern if your product is affected by Australia’s recent above-average inflation rate.  Fortunately, protecting your margins and boosting your ..read more

Growing your personal brand on Instagram and TikTok can be a great way to gain visibility, build your online presence, and connect with your target audience. Social media expert Amani Youssef shares her top five tips. Building a strong personal brand on Instagram and TikTok has several benefits, including increased visibility, credibility, trust, and more professional opportunities. People on social media engage so much more with a person than with a product or service, so as soon as you get yourself in front of the camera or tell your story, you will notice a difference in engagemen ..read more

Businesses are constantly seeking innovative ways to enhance customer engagement, streamline processes, and remain competitive. Using a customised AI chatbot is one of the best tools for achieving these goals, offering an intelligent, responsive interface that can significantly improve the user experience, writes Adam Stewart founder of Digital Bond Media. Tailored to your specific business needs, whether for customer service, lead generation or as a personalised assistant, AI chatbots can provide a range of assistance. This introduction of AI technology not only improves operational efficienc ..read more

Are you one of the many entrepreneurs lying awake at night, plagued by the myriad concerns of running a business? You’re not alone, writes small business legal expert, Shalini Nandan-Singh. In the dead of night, when the world is quiet, your mind can become a breeding ground for stress and anxiety over your business’s future. However, you can do something to reduce your nocturnal turmoil: implement the power of effective contracts, transparent policies, and straightforward communication with your clients. Let’s delve into why these elements are crucial for your peace of mind and the succe ..read more

Whether you’re a startup, small business or a large corporation, there are nine essential rules of engagement you must understand when working with the Australian media and securing coverage for your business, writes Kathryn Goater and Anthony Caruana, Co-CEO and Co-Founders of Media-Wize. If you’re not willing to accept all of these, then PR and earned media is not for you. It is best to stick with advertising, sponsored content and marketing.   1. Everything is on the record  The golden rule is if you don’t want it to appear in print, then don’t say it. PRs and compa ..read more