ABN invited to consult on new Work and Family program
October 31, 2008
As part of its $12 million commitment, the competitive grants program will provide between $5,000 and $15,000 to small businesses to help meet the set-up costs of family friendly working arrangements. The grants will support a range of initiatives, including:
* establishing rosters based on school terms and alternative core hours, for example, 10am to 3pm;
* developing workplace policies on unpaid leave for carers and workers who have children with disability or other special needs;
* providing facilities for employees with young children such as family rooms; and
* setting up workplace mentoring.
With up to $15,000 to allocate per small business, the Government is seeking innovative proposals that suit the individual needs of the business to promote a diverse range of family friendly initiatives.
Australian Businesswomen’s Network Board member Susan McGrath and Chairperson Suzi Dafnis will represent the ABN at the forum and we are interested to obtain input from members before 30 November. Please contact policy@abn.org.au, or call Susan direct on 0439 908 108 if you would like to discuss. Alternatively you can comment on this post.
Are you netweaving?
October 31, 2008
We know what networking is, but what is netweaving? This ‘newish’ term coined out of, where else, the US, tells us that netweaving allows you to “tap into the power of win-win networking and build your business by helping your prospects and clients.” Bob Little, a consultant who focuses on strategic marketing, coined the term.
We’ll explore this more at the Australian Businesswomen’s Network. In the meantime this article explains the concept further.
You could buy this house for $50
October 31, 2008
When this Annapolis couple couldn’t sell their house due to the economic downturn, they had a lateral thought. Raffle off their house. Tickets – just $50. See how they went.
You’ve got four minutes to save your business.
October 31, 2008
Justin Timberlake and Madonna took on the question of whether they could save the world in four minutes. Could you save your business in four minutes? Could you imagine doing anything at all that is productive, in four minutes?
For the last month my gym has had a few of us taking part in a 30-day ‘Tabatafest’ – a challenge to do an intense exercise for at least four minutes day at full exertion. e.g. pushups, situps, squats etc, within a particular round-system. I took it on as a challenge and what I found was that four minutes a day made a big difference. The number of repetitions I could do at day 30 was a whole lot more than what I could do on Day 1. I felt stronger and healthier.
So, the challenge got me thinking. What business muscle could I strengthen if I gave it just 4 minutes a day?
Inspiration in the loo?
October 31, 2008
During a recent trip to the US, I saw this poster in the women’s bathroom at a Starbucks. Sometimes inspiration comes from the strangest places.
“The Deeper the Roots, The Higher the Reach”.
What have you done today to deepen the roots, to ground further, my business strategy?
How productive were you last week?
October 31, 2008
Did you happen to procrastinate at all in the last week? I saw this great clip and could totally relate. The clip is called Procrastination. I usually procrastinate on silly things – and that is a habit of mine that I don’t always understand. I can even procrastinate on getting starting on projects I’m really excited about…
Enjoy. What do you procrastinate about?
How To Get More Done — Free Tool!
October 31, 2008
I’m a sucker for finding how to get more done. I know many women in business juggle LOTS and so here’s a tool that was recommended to me that I want to share with you.
This online work journal is said to help you focus on what’s important and to optimise your working day. It even claims that you’ll notice the benefits straight away. Let me know if you try it out and it works.
I just need to get organised enough to get to the point on my list of todos where I can look at it 
Join the Groundswell
October 31, 2008
A month ago a friend, Anne Bartlett-Bragg, who’s a wiz in the area of social networks recommended this book to me.
I’ve read it, listed to the audio book, and am totally in love with the concepts that the writers/researchers open up. Great examples of how companies are taking advantage of the growing groundswell of social technologies.
Government targets small business with new support package
October 28, 2008
The federal government says the tax office will work with small business to minimise the impact of the global economic crisis, by introducing measures including individual tax management plans, $4 million for advisory centres and guarantees of on-time payments for businesses that deal with government departments. The on-time payment guarantee will apply to contracts with the government up to $1 million – the federal government currently has more than 65,000 contracts under $1 million and spends about $30 billion on goods and services.
From December 1 payments will be made to businesses within 30 days otherwise the companies will have the right to charge penalty interest.
Mr Rudd said the tax office’s assistance would be based on individual circumstances.
He said the government also welcomed assurances by banks about the availability of finance to small business and claimed that small business would also benefit from the extra cash given to consumers and training places announced under the $10.4 billion economic security strategy, as well as the first home owner grant boost.
Maximise your mentoring experience
October 28, 2008
A message from one of our ‘serial’ mentors, Dennis Roberts:
If you’ve invested in a mentoring program how can you ensure you get the biggest bang for your buck? Some twenty years ago the concept of Adult Learning emerged and has grown in popularity ever since. It holds significance for the mentoring experience. Simply put, adult learning acknowledges that the student comes equipped with knowledge, skills and experience. The whole educational experience relies on the student to set the learning agenda.
It is therefore incumbent on the mentor to use this learning as a resource.
The mentoring engagement brings live-in-the field challenges and opportunities. There is a learning loop that oscillates between Do-Learn and Learn-Do. The well orchestrated dance is from insight to action and vice versa. There is always movement. Change is constant.
You will make mistakes. That much is certain. But as the saying goes, ‘It’s not the cards that life deals you that matters. It’s how you play them.’ I wholeheartedly encourage my mentorees to identify how intuition presents itself in their lives. When it does, and it does often, there is only one path and that is to honour your intuition. It’s not about being right or wrong. It’s about honouring yourself or not. If you are to make a mistake – make your own mistakes not someone else’s.
Dennis Roberts
