Ytrep Opps – 2011

Hey superstars

We thought we’d give you some awesome opportunities that you can take advantage going into 2011

Great Shared Office Space

Check out www.co-loco.com and www.vibewire.org – shared office space with like minded peeps.connection. entrepreneurship community.

Crowd funding for entrepreneurs

We needed something like this! Entrepreneurs can get the funding they need to start or grow your own businesses. It is esp good if your start up needs $20,000 or less to launch. Its free to post – http://peerbackers.com

Fact: The Entrepreneurial Journey can get lonely.

Well – if you are one of those entrepreneurs working through Chrissy by yourself; and think you may need some human contact – click here for a whole heap of entrepreneurship meetups all over Sydney. Pick the one that you like and go Network it! The FRANK Team is gonna be at the Entrep meeting held @ Vibewire on Jan 17th 2011.

Young Entrepreneur Mentoring Program

If you have an idea for a start-up or own a biz, or just want to kick up the growth and expand like wildfire – check out our Young Entrep workshops kicking off in March.

Merry Xmas folks – and see you in the New Year!

How To Be A Wealthy Property Investor Before Your 30th Birthday

30 is is the new old. If you havn’t reached 30 you might think it’s ancient, but really it’s not. At thirty you will still have plenty of energy and youth to enjoy the fruits of any successful investments that you make which is why building wealth before you hit thirty is an excellent goal.

If you can manage to build some wealth by the time you turn thirty you will be able to enjoy life more and work a little bit less. While your contemporaries are braving the rat race in hopes of enjoying their wealth in twenty years you can enjoy it now while you are still young enough to make the most of it. Property investment is one way to put yourself on that road to success before you get to the ripe old age of thirty.

The successful property investor has some basic personality traits that help her or him get ahead of the financial game. They need to be tough decision makers who are not afraid to commit to those choices. They also need to be smart enough to know when to stand their ground and when to bend so that they can adjust to the inevitable changes that will come their way. They also must be creative enough to see potential where other people might not and wise enough to make the difficult choices to make that potential a reality. If you think that you want to dip your toes into the poop of property investment you should see how your personality measures up to that of other successful investors.

Personality Traits Of A Successful Property Investor

Decision Oriented – Most property investors know that the buck stops with them. When they come to a decision they stick with it because they know, they do not just think, that their decision is the right one. Whether this decision is a product of loads of research or just instinct does not matter, what is key is making the choice and acting on it. This does not mean that the choices are always perfect or even successful, everyone fails sometimes. But even then, you must be able to accept the failure and keep moving.

Optimistic – If you were to look at a portfolio of a successful property investor you might be shocked at some of the risks they took. From buying properties that seem uninhabitable to betting on neighborhood improvements that are years out, most property investors are willing to gamble because they are certain that they are on the right side of the bet. While you have to be smart in your optimism the ability to look past the problems and see potential is an incredibly valuable skill. This does not mean pasting a fake smile on in the face of all adversity. What it does mean is being able to see the diamond in the rough or to take little failures in stride without giving up.

Flexibility – The thing with dealing in investment properties is that it is a constantly changing business. Markets, interest rates, and attitudes constantly change. Again, the successful property investor has to be able to not only roll with these changes but find the opportunities that are hidden within them. Attitude in life is just about everything, and investment properties are no different. You will not have the time or the luxury of dwelling on the negative impact of changes, you just have to find a way to move forward.

Patience – Property investment is not going to bring you fat returns overnight. In most cases it takes years to see a return or a profit on your investment. This type of wealth building is not for those people who simply want to make a quick dollar. Instead you need to have the patience to choose the right property and the experience to look for trends in the market that are predictable, even when those trends take years to cycle.

Leadership – As a property investor you have to know that you are the final decision maker. While it is important to surround yourself with smart people that you trust to help make decisions you also have to know that ultimately you have the final say. By realizing that you are the leader you take full responsibility for the success but also for the failures of your team. It can be a difficult road to travel, since we all want to blame someone else for our failures, but in the end you will know that you did what you knew was right, regardless of the outcome.

Financially Savvy – Being able to manage your finances is likely one of the most important traits you will need to master as an investor. You will incur large amounts of debt as you buy new houses and then pay for any construction or repair that needs to be done on them. The smart investor is not using their own money, but rather the money of others to help grow their business. In the beginning you will have to get a home loan from the bank to finance your investments, but over time you should be able to borrow against your property portfolio. That means managing your debt wisely and avoiding the urge to spend frivolously.

Self Evaluative – Just as you have to be strong and smart enough to be the leader of your team you also have to be smart enough to know your weaknesses. You might be great at choosing properties and understanding the market climate but completely incapable of doing payroll. You might not have the patience or the time to do your own taxes. Knowing that there are lots of things that you do not know or that you do not have time to do is a great asset. Once you figure those things out find people whom you trust and give them control over those issues. It can be hard to let go of control but you will be better for it in the long run.

Trustworthiness – Anyone who runs a business will tell you that being trustworthy is imperative. This is not a personality trait that can be learned, it is all about knowing what is right and wrong and trying to always do the right thing. Too often investors are seen as untrustworthy because the have a bad reputation for not holding up their end of a deal or using unsavory business practices. Those are the people that wind up failing because eventually no one wants to work with them. You can be better by simply being honest with yourself, your employees, clients, and anyone else that works for or with you. Being nice does pay off in the end.

If you are thinking of investing in properties then you are on the right track to wealth. As long as you have the right personality traits and the willingness to work hard you will find the success you are looking for regardless of your age. Starting young only means that you will also be able to enjoy the fruit of your labor earlier. Perhaps even at the ripe old age of thirty.

Writing & Executing a Successful To-Do List

Remember how we were told years ago that all the modern technology that was being developed was going to hep us get things done quicker, and would give us tons more free time in our day?

Well, I don’t know about you, but even with the invention of high speed Internet, email on the move, Tweeting, iPads, and all the other gadgets that are meant to make life easier, I actually started to feel like I have even less time than I did before.

Most people agree that it often feels like there is not enough hours in the day to get things done. It is becoming more important than ever to properly prepare for, and plan your day in advance.

Although the concept of a “to do” list is not revolutionary to say the least, very few people know how to draw one up efficiently, and then actually go through the process of completing it. We have come up with a guide for writing a “to-do” list that not only helps you organize you time better, but also allows you to get more of what needs doing done!

Write It Down!

There are some people who try and keep a mental “to do” list. This is most of the time a highly ineffective way of doing things. Generally in the hustle and bustle of daily living, tasks will get forgotten and subsequently will be not completed.

You are far more likely to remember things that are written down. If possible, rather than writing tasks down on little scraps of paper you are better using an actual book or journal. These are much more solid, and you are much less likely to lose it.

Bits of note paper are going to be misplaced.

When Should You Draw Up Your List

A question often asked is when is the best time to write your “to do “ list. Some people prefer doing it first thing in the morning, whilst others find it better writing it in the evening.

From my experience the most effective time to create your list in the evening. Take 10-15 to analyse your day. Think about what you have done and achieved, and then start to formulate ideas about what needs doing the next day.

By doing your “to do” list at the end of the day you have a clearer picture of where you are, and a better idea of what tasks must be completed by the next day. The danger with doing your list in the morning is that first of all you may forget to mark things down that are actually fairly important, and you will also be in more of a rush which means you may not be thinking clearly. Clarity of mind is important if your list is going to be effective for you.

Be Wise- Prioritize!

Merely writing a list in the order it comes to you is a recipe for disaster. As you go through your day it will become obvious that you will not always be able to tick off every task on your list. This means some things will be left out, and without prioritizing tasks that could mean that potentially very important things get missed.

Once you have written down all the things that need doing your next move is to get them into an order. The most important tasks being at the top of the list and the least important at the bottom of the list. Another way people like to physically prioritize things on paper is by color coding them. For example, tasks highlighted in red being the most vital, and those in green being the less important.

Having some sort of order to your “to do” list ensures that as a minimum you get the most important tasks completed.

Don’t Overload Your List

Being faced with a 4 page “to do” list for the next day is going to do nothing except overwhelm you. In fact often some people actually do not even get started on a list that is too long, as they begin with the attitude that they have no chance of getting anywhere near complete!

What you should do is list only the most important tasks for the next day, and then put some of the less important things on your list for a day or two ahead. This tactic also helps you actually get ahead of things, as well as not putting you into information and task overload!

Digitize!

As we have a range of technology at our fingertips we may as well take advantage of it. Some digital devices are actually very useful for creating fluid and effective “to do” lists. A laptop computer will allow you to keep your list handy at all times. You could create a spread sheet with all your tasks on that you can tick off as you get things done. You can also add to it when extra tasks crop up during your day.

If you do not routinely carry a laptop around with you then no problem. There are portable devices designed as digital journals to help you plan and carry out chores during the day. In fact, modern mobile phones are also very effective for creating “to do” lists, and will even allow you to set audio alarms to remind you when something needs doing. You should never miss an appointment again!

OK so now we have our list. How are we going to ensure that we follow through and actually get things done. Here are our best tips to make sure you get as much done as you can without driving yourself into the ground.

Chunking

This really is one of the most useful tips I ever received and will help you in every area of your life that involves you completing tasks.

The art of chunking is looking for items on your “to do” list that can be done together. In other words look for tasks that involve you being in a particular place and group them together. This will stop you having to go backwards and forward to places unnecessarily.

Another good way of chunking is to look for tasks that are fairly similar, and again group them together. For example if you need to post some important letters, and you need to purchase some new stationery then going to a post office may allow you to get both things done at once.

Do Not Rush

As tempting as it is to just go as quickly as possible through your list so you finish as early as possible, it is also the best way to make mistakes and forget things. Take your time, and make sure things are properly completed before you move on.

Also make sure you mark things off as you go. This will make sure you don’t make the error of doing the same task twice, but it will also go a long way to motivate you to keep going. Once you see that you are making steady progress you will gain momentum, and give yourself the impetus to keep things moving.

Stay Positive

Sometimes things do not go as smoothly as you would like, and you progress may be hampered with delays. The most important thing in this situation is to stay in control and don’t panic.

If you have prioritized properly then you should be able to get the most important things done earlier, and in the worst case scenario you can always bump the less important tasks that you don’t have time for to the next days list.

Take Action

Even the most organized and best put together “to do” list will do you no good at all if you do not take action on it. Once you have created your list, the only way you are going to be able to check tasks off is by actually completing them.

The best way I have found of getting myself motivated enough to take action is to take 15 minutes at the beginning of the day to mentally prepare myself. Take a look through your list, and imagine how you will feel when everything on it is complete.

Imagine how much better you will feel.  Focus on what you will have achieved, and how much easier the next day will be for you now everything is done. Normally this is enough to get me started, however there is no greater motivator than actually seeing your “to do” list shrinking as you achieve each task.

The key to getting things done is to stay focused, be organized, and do not allow yourself to get swamped. You would be amazed at the positive impact a properly executed “to do” list can have on both your working and personal life.

Many people however shy away from them because they are not sure of how to draw one up successfully, or are afraid one will overwhelm them. Hopefully after reading this guide you will soon be “getting things done” much quicker, easier and more effectively than ever before.

This article was written by Michael Restuccia a personal finance writer for the website Best Credit Cards. He also writes about saving money with the best balance transfer credit cards in Australia.

FRANK Team Young Entrepreneurship Hotspot | Nov 2010

We started with introductions – what does everybody do etc etc and quickly found ourselves canvassing our businesses, ideas and problems
TAKEAWAYS….
+ effective outsourcing + how imp it is to get the BRIEF right….from the start. If you wanna check out the template for an effective brief – buzz me; Natasha@frankteam.com.au (and I’ll get it to you)
+ Everybody is NOT my customer. Business Focus is Key.
+ There may be a gap in the market, but is there a market in the gap?
+ If you are starting out – just make $1 profit (first)….
+ Only when someone buys, do you know that they are your customers and clients
+ If you are unique and have a niche, you have a better chance @ success
+ Don’t create demand, fulfil it!
+ You are NOT your customer.
Biggest Problems….
+ FEAR
+ Being really successful?
+ Ideas being stolen and lost
+ No cash
+ Things happening so slowwwwly
+ Motivating employees and teams
The Reality
+ Being known = profitability
+ Back-end sales – what is this? And why is it key?
+ Easier to sell to an existing customer…..
+ Business is all consuming = reality #1
+ Being busy = is not nec. making profit = reality #2
+ Work week = 7 days = reality #3
+ You spend X, You get 10X – find out what X is for you!

Young Entrepreneurs Business Mentoring Program

This is It – your opportunity to take your business to HUGE Levels in 2011!

If you live in the Illawarra area and you own your own biz or start up – you got to JUMP into the 2011 Young Entrepreneurs Business Mentoring Program (YEBMP). It is a MASSIVELY DISCOUNTED program – value $5000 NOW ONLY $550!

This is what you get:
+ business growth plan
+ finance systems – cashflow forecasting, budgeting, pricing and heaps more….
+ marketing systems to get the $$ you need to establish and grow
+ sales and promotion tips that you can apply straightaway
+ creating simple but critical systems to get your biz working without you!
+ mentoring ops
+heaps of networking

Register by emailing info@frankteam.com.au or calling 9518 6244

You meet fellow entrepreneurial legends and create an awesome community & network! 2011 – is waiting for your business to explode; so get all the business, finance, marketing and operations skills you need to take your business to HUGE heights!

During one of The FRANK Team’s recent Sydney Young Entrepreneurship meet-ups, outsourcing came up as a particular challenge for entrepreneurs – whether it is simple admin or bookkeeping servces, website design or more complex project management outsourcing – So we thought we’d help you out; Click here for your FREE Outsourcing Brief.

It’s stuff like this that we get done in our workshops – practical tools. No fluff. No hype. When you succeed, we succeed. Simple.

If you already like what you hear – contact Natasha@frankteam.com.au, or give us a buzz on +61 9518 6244.

YEBMP is a program for young entrepreneurs who want applicable and real tools to –
+ reduce the stress of running your own biz (and the loneliness!)
+ increase the profitability of your businesses by a lot!

You bring your laptop to the sessions and you implement and put all the theory into PRACTICE. And best of all you get heaps of mentoring and networking ops to support you along the way!

How Much Does YEBMP Cost?
YEBMP will cost you ONLY $550 ( incl GST). But it’s valued at over $5000. Wow!!!!! Thanks Dept of Industry and Investment!!

When & Where Is It Happening?
Workshops will take place on the following dates –
- 28th Feb 2011 (6 – 9pm)
- 9th Mar 2011 (6-9pm)
-19th Mar 2011 (9 – 6pm)
+ networking ops and mentor meet-ups

Venue
All workshops will be held in Wollongong.

Oh! we forgot to mention that we only have 20 spots left – and booking in fast!

What’s been said?? "Not only did I learn practical, realistic methods to improve my marketing systems, I had ample opportunity to apply these methods during the actual workshops. It’s all very well learning systems and strategies, but if you don’t have the time to implement them into your business nothing actually changes!”  – Amanda Gonzalez, www.untangletheweb.com.au (2009 Participant).

How do you Apply?
Contact me at natasha@frankteam.com.au

Or give me a buzz on +61 9518 6244

There are only a handful of places left so be sure to grab this brilliant opportunity with thanks to the NSW Department of Industry & Investment!  

Ytrep Opps – April

Hey Team!

Another freshly-baked batch of young entrepreneur opportunities below.  Mmmm…. Enjoy!

9th Annual Australian Innovation Festival (26 April – 31 May)

The 2010 Australian Innovation Festival kicks off at the end of this month bringing a host of events and opportunities for entrepreneurs across the country.  Check out www.ausinnovation.org for locations & registration details and see below for Festival Launch dates in your capital city:
National / Sydney: 10:30am-12:30pm, Thursday 22 April
Brisbane: 6:00pm-8:00pm, Thursday 22 April
Canberra: 6:00pm-8:00pm, Tuesday 27th April
Melbourne: 10:00am-12:00pm, Wednesday 28th April
Adelaide: 8:30am-2:30pm, Thursday 29th April
Perth: 6:00pm-8”00pm, Thursday 29th April
Darwin: 1:00pm, Thursday 29th April
Hobart: 7:00am-8:45am, Tuesday 18th May

North Coast Innovation Festival (26 April – 31 May)

To coincide with the Australian Innovation Festival, 2010 North Coast Innovation Festival will kick off a program designed to showcase the intellectual capital, innovation and creativity on the NSW North Coast.   Festival events will include seminars, workshops, exhibitions, tours and webinars from 26 April to 31 May 2010 in various locations from Tweed Heads to Foster-Tuncurry.  Grab more details at www.ncinnovationfestival.com.au

Creative3 – Creativity x Investment x Enterprise (Today – 16 April)

Brissy will host the international Creative3 Forum from 14 – 16 April, bringing together the brightest talent and industry practitioners from across the creative fields, as well as creative enterprise leaders to share their ideas and offerings, form partnerships, network, and do business. The 3-day program will feature keynote presentations, business development workshops and networking opportunities + the flagship Investment Marketplace.  7 aspiring creative entrepreneurs will pitch their business ideas to a dragon’s den of industry leaders and business experts for their chance to win a $100,000 business package. Register now and join in the action – www.creative3.com.au

Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) Young Social Pioneers Program 2010

Are you a young social change-maker? Have you been actively working on an idea or project for 6months? 14 social pioneers will gain a place on YSP 2010, a unique year-long program providing skills development, mentoring, intensive group and individual training and access to an international network of social innovators. Areas of work can include education, environment, health and wellbeing, human rights, media and technology, performing and visual arts, politics and science.  Applicants must be between 18 and 29 years of age, applications close Friday 11th June. For more information and to apply, visit: www.youngsocialpioneers.org.au.

fastBREAK Innovation Series – Friday April 30, Topic: Are you Alone?

Vibewire present the 2010 fastBREAK innovation series to showcase fresh perspectives and provocative ideas from some of Sydney’s brightest young thought leaders. Each event features 5 young industry leaders from various sectors to tackle big questions with five-minute responses around themes of creativity, commercialisation, collaboration, connections and conversation. Listen in then join the speakers for breakfast.  Takes place on the last Friday of the month (next event 30 April), 7:45am-9am @ the Boiler Room Mezzanine, Powerhouse Museum, cost just $8. More info at: http://vibewire.org/2010/04/fastbreak-are-you-alone/.  

Will you be one of the hot 30 under 30?

Smart Company is again looking for Australia’s hottest young entrepreneurs for their annual hot 30 under 30 list.  Think you’ve got what it takes?  Complete a 10min questionnaire about you and your biz to find out!  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=T78b14EKfqie9GIOdm1XViuOf5kMp2kdApomsoR32PU=& Know a rising young star and want to nominate them?  Email the editor, James Thomson at jthomson@smartcompany.com.au with details.  Good luck!

Share the love – buttons for your website, blog posts and articles

Want to help your clients/customers/readers to share your online gems with their friends and contacts? www.addthis.com automatically generates a html tag for a nifty little Twitter/Facebook/MySpace /Google sharing button.  Simply paste the code on your website or at the end of your post and voila! instant sharing.  

The Hive Melbourne Meets Steve Sammartino of Rentoid - Tuesday 20th April

After working in consumer goods marketing for 15 years Steve Sammartino created rentoid.com in 2007 – A peer-to-peer rental website where people can rent items to and from each other.  Steve is the anti-geek and he says most of his on line success has resulted from what he does off line, busting the myth that we need to be stroking at a keyboard 24 hours a day.  And, with Rentoid now boasting more than $50 million worth of items for rent, he migtht be onto something! Catch up with Steve and The Hive team at The Order of Melbourne, 401 Swanston Street Melborune.  Registration is free (we love that!) so jump online at www.thehive.org.au.

Join the conversation – simpler business reporting

Want to help put an end to complicated paperwork?  The government, through the Standard Business Reporting initiative is proposing to simplify reporting requirements for all businesses.  They’ve put together a business reporting blog and invite business owners, reporting professionals, software developers and members of the public to discuss the SBR online. To participate, go to: http://blog.sbr.gov.au/.  For the full down-low on SBR, check-out:  www.sbr.gov.au.

Last Chance! Applications for 2010 Victoria Fellowships close this afternoon!

Applications close today for the 2010 Victoria Fellowships – up to 6 fellowships for emerging leaders in engineering, science or technology.  Each Fellow will receive a travel grant of up to $18,000 for short-term overseas study to develop a commercial idea, undertake specialist training or career development.  Nominations also open for the Victoria Prize -$50,000 for a scientific discovery or technological innovation. Go to http://www.business.vic.gov.au/BUSVIC/STANDARD/PC_60157.html

Cool online resource for managing event regos – FREE

It can be such a challenge coordinating networking, launch or product/service events if you have to manage RSVPS and admin nightmares through Outlook…. we know!  Eventbrite.com is an online event management and ticketing service which makes it easy regardless of your event type and size.  Eventbrite is 100% free if your event is free.  If you sell tickets for your event, then EventBrite charges 2.5% of the ticket price + 99c per ticket sold (max fee $9.95).  So, if you’re hosting an event, check-out www.eventbrite.com.

Ytrep Opps – March

Hey legends!

Check out our latest opps for young entrepreneurs below…

Promote your Biz with Kochie and Mel on Sunrise!

The Sunrise Family Small Business Register is all about supporting biz owners who are working hard just to make ends meet – let alone pay for advertising on national TV! Get your chance to spruik your biz to thousands of viewers on Sunrise, by uploading your 30-second pitch to the Sunrise YouTube page! Head to the website to list your biz on the Small Business Register and grab all the details for the YouTube Pitch Promotion! Go to: http://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/factsheets/article/-/article/6802910/sunrise-family-small-business-register/

Calling Brissy Brains! IdeaParty Tuesday April 13th @ Visible Ink Valley

Got a big idea but don’t know where to start? Have a project but need a little help? Bring your wishes and plans to the IdeaParty – and get some fun and useful ideas from new friends and peers. It’s informal and casual – but potentially powerful! Any ideas and backgrounds welcome – you may just be the ideal person for someone else’s Big Dream! Learn how IdeaParties work here: http://www.shersuccessteams.com/iparties.htm and contact Tiara Shafiq to RSVP by Friday 9th April (for catering purposes) at: me@themerchgirl.net

Business awards – ready to start your winning streak?

Ready to take your biz to the next level and achieve award-winning status? There are loads of business awards and programs around, so get these bad boys on your radar and begin your 2010 awards application schedule: http://www.snobs.com.au/2010/02/20/business-awards-competitions/

Thinking of breaking into the UK market?

Access Wales is offering business owners the opportunity to test the Wales, UK market with 12 months FREE office space and professional consultancy support! The program is available to innovative, high-growth potential SMEs, currently located anywhere outside of Wales (yep – Aussie Entrepreneurs!) . You’ll get free desk space for 12months, full coordination of your travel, general and specialist business support through the Welsh Assembly Government and Access Wales’ professional consultancy partners and access to a dedicated point of contact throughout! For more details and to apply, go to: http://www.ibwales.com/business-support/access-wales/

Media Opportunity – Gen Ys affected by GFC

One Green Bean are looking for 18-24 year old Gen Y guys and girls who are interested in speaking to their metro newspaper about the negative impact the GFC had on them and their careers/businesses. You will need to talk about the impact on your employment/biz, personal finances and savings, and be willing to be photographed in the next two weeks. Please send an outline of your current employment status and one or two sentences about how the GFC affected you in a negative way, and what city you live in, to michelle@onegreenbean.com.au

Building your biz on social media, emerging technology or new enterprise?

Get into the ConnectNow conference 7-9th April 2010 and do away with old and ineffective advertising and marketing strategies that were too expensive anyway! Get the tools and strategies you need to help drive business growth in today’s market. International specialists from all over the world are converging on the University of Sydney campus for three days of presentations, keynotes and workshops. You can register for one day, two days or all three – prices start from $400 (25% of profits go to local Sydney charities). Go to: www.connectnow.net.au

Want to monatise your website, blog, magazine, e-newsletter or online network?

MediaScope is a new directory dedicated to connecting advertising buyers and advertising sellers…. essentially, a website designed to help you get the $$$! If you have a great advertising opportunity but have found the thought of seeking advertisers just too overwhelming, why not upload a listing and get advertising buyers coming to you?? What’s even better – it is FREE! If you are a media buyer or a small business owner Looking for an edge when promoting your business, you can subscribe to receive Ad updates with all of the latest last minute or first-to-market advertising offers. Check out: www.mediascope.com.au

Get Winning Biz Listings… FREE!!

Got your biz listed on True Local and Hot Frog and thing this is enough? My Business Help offers 20 top FREE business directories where you should be listing your biz TODAY. Haven’t listed on a business directory yet? You’ll definitely want to click here…
http://www.mybusinesshelp.com.au/10-free-australian-directories-to-list-your-business/
http://www.mybusinesshelp.com.au/another-10-free-australian-directories-to-list-your-business/

Avoid Business Brain Drain – have fun and stay sharp!

Running around the (home/garage) office, managing mountains of admin and dealing with cash flows stress can take its toll on our bodies… and our brains. Keep yours as sharp as a tac by building your left (logical, analytical) and right (creative, intuitive) brain with these fun, free tools. Stop working IN your business by getting your brain focussed ON your business… plus, have something on hand to distract you while on hold with your telephone/insurance/internet/supplies/courier/banking provider. Go to: www.lumosity.com

Get free business guides for your Smart Company

Smart Company has a range of free business guides to help you build your biz. Get 101 Tips for Your Business in 2010, 25 Tips for Real Entrepreneurs and more! Start with http://www.smartcompany.com.au/101-tips-for-your-business-in-2010 and go from there!

Sort your space – new ideas for your home office and professional profile

Spending 8, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20hrs on your biz is all that much easier in a great space! Check out these great products to keep your great ideas top-of-mind:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=41787742\
http://www.myaquanotes.com/
Wanna look the biz and go Green? Haul is a great Australian business designing “rubbish” products from A4 satchels to MacBook sleeves from recycled billboard advertisements, licence plates and other trashy bits! Get some derelict style a la Zoolander @ www.haul.com.au

Ytrep Opps – February

Hey there! 

We took some time off to recharge, and now we’re back – excited to be joining you for another year of entrepreneurial ideas, opportunities, and action!!!  Grab some Friday Fun below and have a great weekend!

Entrepreneurs Can Change the World

We know it, so check it out at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6MhAwQ64c0&feature=player_embedded

Use your skills to Make a World of Difference

The Vodafone Foundation – Australia is giving 5 Aussies the incredible opportunity to work for the charity of their choice for one year… they’ll pay your annual salary (up to $50,000) and expenses (up to $25,000)!  Jump online and complete the application form to let the Foundation know how you will make a world of difference for your chosen charity.  Entries close Wednesday 17 February (err… so be quick!).  Go to: www.vodafone.com.au/worldofdifference.

Be your own Media Monitor with Google Alerts

Want to know where your business is being seen and discussed online? Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results from web and news, based on your choice of query or topic!  Set alerts on your business name, your products and services, your competitors, your industry or key events and other relevant info.  They’re easy to set up and Alerts come straight your inbox!  Go to: www.google.com/alerts.

Understand complicated techno stuff – and use it in your biz!

If you’re like me and you are Gen Y in the “birth-year” sense but not in the “innate-understanding-of-all-things-technological” sense then Common Craft videos will be your saviour!  Famous for their super simple Youtube videos on everything from the web, blogs, social media and social networking to zombies, electing a US President and borrowing money!  Let Lee & Sachi LeFever (and faithful dog Amos!) explain the complicated world of Web 2.0 technology (and other complicated stuff) to you today:  www.commoncraft.com.       

Let TED Inspire You

We’ve said it before, get your fill of inspiration as well as heaps of free professional development from the world’s leading experts in everything from marketing and advertising to consumer behavior, creative thinking and social media.  TED = Technology, Entertainment & Deisgn and these days, it is OH so much more!  Set up a TED Talks feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/tedtalks_video (we promise there will be something there for you and your biz!).

Saucy PR and Other Promo Opportunities

Get connected with journos and others looking for your insight and expertise at the SourceBottle – a free subscription service for anyone looking to connect with opportunities to raise their profile!  SourceBottle also allows event coordinators to send out product requests for gift bags, conferences and events so you can get product samples and service offers in front of your target audience!  Jump on and Drink Up at www.sourcebottle.com.au 

Are you a Young Woman in Manufacturing?

The Department of Industry & Investment NSW has recently assisted the formation of a ‘Women in Manufacturing’ business cluster, designed to connect women manufacturers with like-minded professionals and opportunities for professional development.  If this is you, get more info and check out all of the NSW DII programs designed to support women in business at:  www.smallbiz.nsw.gov.au.

Financing Your Start Up With A Credit Card

One of he most popular ways to fund a start up company is with the help of credit cards. A credit card gives the entrepreneur easy and fast access to much needed funds while he or she is in the process of building a company. Many of million dollars companies have been started with a simple credit card.

Personal loans from family members and friends are also highly favoured as finance for start up companies.

Cisco Systems, a successful company was founded by Sandy Lerner and Len Bosack and if wasn’t for their personal credit cards they might have never seen the levels of success they found thanks to their fluid funding tool.

Other business success stories are also based on credit card funding such as the story of Google and how Sergey Brin and Larry Page pulled their cards to fund much needed office equipment and computers to get rolling.

Movie lovers also know too well of the any famous directors who had to resort to the practice of funding their celluloid success with the help of a credit card to get off the starting blocks.
Start up funding exposed:

While a personal credit card can be and is a great tool to fund a start up venture it can be a bit of a grey zone because of the legalities involved. These days many banks offer you a business line of credit to fund a business. However, what many entrepreneurs fail to understand is that even these loans will be your personal responsibility in the event of a repayment default.

Unless your business is registered as an incorporated entity you will be made legally responsible for all debts accrued whether you apply for a business line of credit or a business credit card.

The problem for most start ups is that unless they have a guarantor with enough financial clout behind them they won’t be able to incorporate their company in the first place.
Check for exclusions:

One of the first things you should do when looking into start up funding is to see whether some of your personal assets can be excluded from your personal guarantee. Another option is to see whether the loan guaranteed percentage will decline as the business matures.

Never sign credit card contract unless you understand the legal implications of it.

Despite the possible financial implications sometimes entrepreneurs have no other option than to fund their business with a personal credit card. The same applies to personal loans from friends and family. Check what is expected of you and be sure you have a backup plan for the worst case scenario.

Business start ups mustn’t be a financial nightmare before they even take off. With a bit of financial diligence and planning you should be able to make the most of your options.

Ytrep Opps – November 09

With only a few weeks left till Christmas, Santa and his Elve’s are busy getting all these opportunities out to you!

Get into these opportunities quick!

Twitter for Entrepreneurs

We’ve all seen the Twitter model applied to organizational employees via Yammer, which encourages co-workers to share and collaborate by frequently answering (in 140 characters or less) the question, “What are you working on?”

Now Canadian startup Sprouter invites entrepreneurs to do the same thing as an opening for discussion, support and collaboration.

Sprouter is an online community that allows small business owners and entrepreneurs to share links, ask questions and share expertise with their peers. Whereas most social networks focus on connecting users with people they already know, the premise behind Sprouter is that it’s often the people one hasn’t yet connected with—but who share common goals and interests—that can be the most valuable resources. Accordingly, the site’s search function can help members find not just entrepreneurs in their area or industry, but also those who are discussing a topic of common interest—funding, for example. Members of the site can create profiles and start real-time discussions around any concept, company, association or event.

Sarah Prevette, Sprouter’s founder and CEO, explains: “The power of social networking by individuals has been made more than evident, and Sprouter is striving to create that same sense of community and sharing for entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs face struggles on a daily basis—from how to get funding to the best business tools to use. Sprouter can provide the forum for real-time networking and collaboration so everyone can benefit from mistakes and successes.” Sprouter is free for users, and hopes to generate income through partnerships with venture funding agencies and small business associations.

Launched to the public just this week, Sprouter also hosts monthly events to bring local entrepreneurs together for in-person networking. The site’s community currently includes members from all over the world, including India, Australia, Europe and North America. One to try out for your own entrepreneurial edification…?

Website: www.sprouter.com
Contact: info@sprouter.com

2009 Online Diva’s Awards

Online Diva’s are a networking group that brings business women together who share a common vision; Running an Online Business and working in the Online World.

They are celebrating their 1 yr anniversary along with the 2009 Online Diva Awards!

All the juicy details:

Where: Hugo’s Lounge, 33 Bayswater Road Kings Cross

When: Thursday 19th November 2009, 8pm – 10pm

Packed with lots of FREE goodies such as:

• FREE entry
• FREE  cocktail on arrival
• FREE gourmet pizza

This is a FREE event with limited spaces available, RSVP to hollie@onlinedivas.com.au . Be sure to vote for your favourite ONLINE DIVA for 2009 at – www.onlinedivas.blogspot.com

Calling Youth Candidates for Parliament 2010

The YMCA has started the ball rolling in South Australia and is calling all candidates to express their interests from people aged 16 – 25 who are interested in running for the office for youth 2010.

If you know anyone or would like information sent to you please contact Sophie Rose on (08) 82002513 or via email sophie.rose@ymca.org.au.

Small Business Benchmarks

This is a great resource that helps with your financial projections when starting up. These Benchmarks provide a snapshot of how businesses in an industry are performing, on average, by providing a measure of various business costs in relation to turnover.

http://ato.gov.au/businesses/pathway.asp?pc=001/003/102&mfp=001/003&mnu=48610

« Previous Page — Next Page »