change

Where do you get inspiration from?

Over the course of running my Grateful in April campaign, I’ve been inspired (and humbled) daily by the thoughts, expressions and honesty of the people taking part.

People are unbelievably grateful for everyday things that most of us take for granted.

How often are you thankful for the legs and feet that carry you around? For being able to access clean drinking water and fresh food? Being able to operate your business in a country that enforces transparency? For your own health and wellbeing – and that of your family and friends? Read more

I was recently at a family BBQ enjoying a beer and a sausage in bread when I was asked the following: ‘Hey mate, you work in computers(sic), what’s all this Cloud computing stuff about?’

Now, being the families resident ‘computer nerd’, I’m often asked computer related questions (either that or cartoon related questions). Usually the questions are along the lines of ‘should I buy a Mac’ or ‘why isn’t my email working’. Most can be fairly easily answered with a paint-by-numbers answer, but this one required a bit more effort. Effort that by the end of the conversation – which only ended because if we didn’t stop talking, all of my auntie’s awesome trifle would’ve been eaten without me getting any – still could’ve been delved into a lot more.

This ‘Cloud computing stuff’ question became a 45-minute discussion about a bunch of seemingly unlinked topics – business, computers, iPhones and iPads, MYOB, the Patriot Act, Russians; the list went on and on. Read more

Disclaimer: this post actually isn’t for you. This article is for that one person (or multiple people) you come across online that doesn’t seem to have a filter for what information should or shouldn’t be shared to the public. I urge you to share this with them. It’s for their own good!

A few months ago a friend of mine was having a lot of trouble getting a job. She’d been to university and achieved all the qualifications required to land a great job. She’s very personable and pretty, and can do the job as good as anyone who works in the industry. But application after application she was bombing out for some reason. It was getting her down almost as much as it was baffling her as to why.

So we decided to do a Google search on her name to see what came up. First result – Facebook profile.  Read more

The LiveAccounts websites found at liveaccounts.myob.com.au and liveaccounts.myob.co.nz are being retired, with all the content moving into the main myob.com.au and myob.co.nz websites. We’re doing this to consolidate all the information about our products and services into one location, making it easier to find.

To assist in this transition, we’ll be redirecting key locations on the old websites. That means if you try to visit liveaccounts.myob.com.au, you’ll automatically be taken to its new home, myob.com.au/liveaccounts. As a bit of housekeeping if you have bookmarked any of these old locations, you might like to update them with the new location. Read more

As readers are aware, the ongoing review by the government in the provision of financial services continues.

One of the issues is the removal of exemption that permits accountants to discuss issues relating to pros and cons and the establishment of self managed superannuation funds. It appears that the only way a practitioner could have the holistic discussion is to ensure that they will be licensed by either establishing their own licence or operating as an authorised representative of a dealer.

However, it is not as simple as that. A financial services licence requires a different process to be adopted. We think this will create a confusing situation for both accountants and clients. Read more

Politics is a funny game.  I’m not involved with any political party but as a part of my job I interact with politicians.  At times it seems like a secret society that interacts with and relies on the private sector for its existence, but exists with a degree of separation and autonomy from the rest of us.

As such I find politics very difficult to read.  Ideas gain momentum and can be all the rage; and then – sometimes sadly, sometimes gladly – many of them fall by the wayside.  So it’s with a sense of cautious excitement that I say WOW – who would have thought one month ago that so much focus from the Federal Government would be placed on SMEs and such credible ideas would be put forward? Read more

Turns out spreading yourself too thin can actually cause you to become, well, the opposite of thin…

I recently discovered a horrifying side effect of being extremely busy. Like many business owners, I was spending long days in front of the computer, lots of time on the phone and many hours frantically driving from meeting to meeting. The result? While I got a lot done, my waistline suffered the side effects!

It’s easy to see how – too much time sitting, grabbing unhealthy snacks on the run because I was too busy to plan to feed myself properly and not enough exercise all contributed to stacking on some unwanted kilos. Read more

Is your business being stalked?

They say imitation is the sincerest flattery form.

Yet its effect on the source (you) can range from mildly inspiring to downright maddening.

Let’s table some shades, to colour this copycat world.

Copy cat

I once had a client at the bleeding edge of their field.

They were so ahead of their time, almost everything they did was a first. Read more

Into the jaws of Death. Into the mouth of Hell.

So there she was, my new dentist.

She had a kind, wise face that spoke experience.

I offered my hand with relief. ‘Hi, Sue!’

She shook her head. ‘No; I’m Kath. Sue will be with us shortly. We’re in Surgery 2.’

Shock & awe

The word ‘surgery’ rattled in my head as I entered and scanned the room.

Each wall boasted signed paintings of decisive military engagements. Perhaps Sue was my kind of woman …

When she arrived, it was a shock. Read more

How should we transfer a client?

You know how twitchy I am about grocers.

Imagine how I felt having to change dentist!

This field report has lessons on how to transfer (or receive) a client, patient or customer.

Goodbye Mr Chips

I treasured my old dentist, as evidenced here and here.

When he retired for good, I was bereft. Read more