Done! It’s time to get things finished and ‘shipped’.
February 28, 2011
By Cat Matson, Alito
Seth Godin calls it ‘shipping‘, Alycia Edgar wrote recently about ‘Just Do‘ and Nike says ‘Just Do It’.
I’m tempted to take it a step further and call it ‘done’ vs ‘doing’… but that confuses my mind a bit 
I am a big ‘do-er’. I’m always ‘doing’ things. And tweaking them. And fine-tuning them. And waiting for the next update, and perfecting the delivery method, and designing the right ‘model’….
You see, I’m a big ‘do-er’… but not a big ‘done-er’ (no, that word is not going to do!). What I mean is, I have umpteen projects, ideas, files and plans that are all fantastic, awesome and have huge potential… but they rarely actually see the light of day because I keep them ‘with me’, instead of releasing them to the world.
Last night I completed an eBook, a collection of articles all about Strategy I have written over the years. I have put it together as a way to build my prospect list and capitalise on the various speaking engagements I have over the next few weeks. It is something I have wanted to do for years. Really. And last night I could finally say it was DONE!
Could it be better? Probably? Is it THE most effective way to capture leads from those audiences? I don’t know. Is it ‘something’? Yes. And will it add value to my marketing process? Absolutely!
So… why such a self-disclosing post? Because I know I’m not the only one. On a daily basis I see incredibly smart, intelligent, articulate, passionate, enthusiastic businesswomen with incredible ideas… ‘sit’ on those ideas… just waiting. Waiting for what? Waiting for the right time, the right window, the right platform, the right design, the right people… the right ‘whatever’.
So my question for YOU today…
What can you move to DONE … instead of doing?
MORE GREAT POSTS BY CAT MATSON
- Strategy. What is it? Really.
- Why Are You Doing This?
- Party Themes – Simple Questions to Set the Scene
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Cat Matson - AlitoCat Matson ignites the performance of small business owners, their teams and ultimately their businesses through a range of robust mentoring, coaching and education programs. She is a strong advocate for practical, pithy and ‘real’ business advice and loathes the ‘one-size-fits-all’, ‘you-too-can-be-widely-successful-if-you-just-follow-OUR-system’ approach taken by many ’so-called’ business experts. Cat runs Alito with her husband Keith who provides synergistic and smart accounting expertise to their clients who enjoy having streamlined business advice across all key areas. When not working, Cat enjoys spending time with her two young boys and reading interesting business books and biographies.
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“Tell us a little about yourself” — How to Answer Tough Interview Questions
February 25, 2011
By Susan Wareham McGrath, McGrath Migration Lawyers
Answering interview questions effectively is a crucial part of the jobsearch process.
With a little advance preparation and practice, you can address the most difficult questions professionally and give yourself a strong advantage over applicants who walk into an interview unprepared.
Remember – if you’ve been invited to an interview, your résumé and covering letter have already done the hard work for you! Here are some common interview questions asked in Australia, along with suggested answers to present you in the best possible light to your interviewer or interview panel.
Tell us a little about yourself
This question can be easily responded to if you plan ahead. Budget to spend a maximum of 3-4 minutes talking about your career history, your skills, qualifications and any achievements that are relevant to the job, or present you in a positive light. In Australia, you are not expected to discuss your personal life at a job interview – it’s best to steer away from responses that include detailed information about your partner/spouse, your children and your religious and political preferences. It’s perfectly acceptable to mention hobbies, sporting interests and community work that you do, but make sure that you don’t give your personal life so much emphasis that it sounds as though you are more interested in outside activities than you are in the job.
So, why are you planning to leave your current job/employer?
The interviewer is testing two things with this question – what drives you to move on in your career, and your loyalty to your employer. Unless there is an obvious reason for moving on, such as the closure of the company, or your job being made redundant, respond in general terms. Speak well of your employer and then add a reason for leaving that reflects your skills and experience; for example, “I enjoy working for XYZ Company, but am now seeking a more senior role, which XYZ is not able to provide”.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
When you prepare for this question, look carefully at the job description, then make a list of strengths you can bring to the job that match the profile of the ideal applicant. For example, if you are applying for a job as a nurse, there’s no point focusing on your mathematical ability, but you can certainly highlight your punctuality, professional expertise, integrity, patient care focus and attention to detail. When discussing your weaknesses, choose a relatively innocuous trait that has little to do with the job you are being interviewed for, and end on a positive note by talking about the strategies you use to overcome it. For example, you could mention your tendency to be a little disorganised when working on several different tasks at once, following up with an explanation about how you overcome this by making up to do lists which help you prioritise your tasks, tracking your workflow, keeping your diary up to date so you never miss an appointment or meeting and returning phone calls/responding to emails as soon as they’re received.
What do you dislike about your current role?
This is one of the most difficult interview questions to answer, because you don’t know enough about the new role to ensure you don’t mention one of its elements in your answer. Because of that, try to keep your response very general, for example you could mention your current employer’s location, organisational structure etc., after making sure they are different to those of the interviewing company.
Don’t respond by saying you like everything about your current role – that response will work against you, because your interviewer will recognise that if that were so, you would not be seeking another job. Also, do not under any circumstances speak badly of your present employer – an interviewer will see that as an indication of the way you might speak of the interviewing company in the future.
Why are you the best person for this role?
This is a great question – it gives you the opportunity to highlight all the skills, experience and qualifications you can bring to the job! Prepare for it beforehand, comparing your background with the job description and also be ready to discuss relevant achievements from your previous positions, to demonstrate that you will be able to high the ground running in the new role.
MORE GREAT POSTS BY SUSAN MCGRATH:
- Six Characteristics of Success-oriented Small Business Owners
- Why the Do Not Call Register Could Strangle Small Business
- Quotas for Women on Boards
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Susan Wareham McGrath, Susan Wareham Immigration ServicesSusan Wareham McGrath is a skilled and experienced Australian visa and immigration consultant; jobsearch strategist and career management consultant; professional writer, blogger and social commentator. She holds a degree in psychology, an advanced diploma in human resource management, a post graduate qualification in public policy development, a national training accreditation and registration as an Australian migration agent with the Migration Agents Registration Authority. Susan is a strong advocate for the personal and professional advancement of women, and after serving as an Advisory Board Member of the Australian Businesswomen’s Network since 2007 is now the ABN’s National Special Projects Manager.
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Mentornet Mentoring Program
February 25, 2011
If you’re ready to grow your business, improve your business skills, increase your confidence, expanded your networks, overcome business obstacles… all with the help of a mentor…
… then take a look at the 2011 MentorNet Mentoring Program.
MentorNet is the only national, award-winning program (MentorNet won best mentoring/coaching program 2010) for women business owners that is delivered using technology that allows you to participate without leaving your desk.
Get ready to set out on a six-month journey to:
- discover new ways to market products and services
- solidify your vision, mission and goals
- develop a business plan, operations plan and financial plan
- establish a budget for profitability
- define a growth plan for the next 12 months
- determine your ideal customer and how to cater to them
- explore how to manage virtual staff and employees and leadership
You’ll study best practise in marketing, business planning, finances, human resources, technology and business development (learning from expert presenters) in a collaborative program designed specifically for women business owners.
The 2011 MentorNet program starts on 17 May. Applications are now being accepted.
Download a brochure here or read on.
Learn more and get your application in early to save.
Super Early Bird and Early Bird savings combined with member savings mean that you can participate at affordable prices
Learn more about MentorNet:
- About the MentorNet Program
- Frequently Asked Questions
- 2011 Dates, Prices and Details
- Free MentorNet Consultation
- How to Apply to be a Mentor or Mentoree
- What others say about MentorNet
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Plus: This brochure outlines the outcomes from each of the training modules and explains how the mentoring works
Begin it Now – a Entrepreneur’s Quick Guide to Procrastination
February 24, 2011
By Yvette Vignando, www.happychild.com.au
Somewhere long ago I heard the saying “Don’t Put Off to Tomorrow What You Can Do Today”. The very successful Nike slogan “Just Do It” which really has little to do with sports gear, also comes to mind when I think about procrastination. Procrastination, the art of putting things off – it can be a big hurdle to overcome when you are running your own business. We put things off because they’ll take too long to complete, they’re too boring, we can’t face them, everything else seems more important or we simply don’t have time. Eventually the “things I put off” mountain becomes so physically or emotionally huge that it seems insurmountable.
Each of us has a list of typical things we’d rather put off for another time – for me, it includes the BAS statement and bookkeeping, filing, deleting emails, cleaning and clearing office clutter and composing follow up emails. On the other hand I am always happy to, for example, write an article, make a phone call, do some research, attend an event, read or creatively plan. And working for myself on a limited budget means I don’t have the luxury of delegating all the ‘things I put off’.
So, this month I am tackling that mountain with a series of simple steps designed to conquer my fear of procrastination heights.
Join me if you like.
- Set aside 20 minutes per day for a task I’m not interested in doing, and just do it
- Choose five of those ‘just do it’ tasks for each of the five working days
- Write the ‘just do it’ tasks down in my diary for the satisfaction of crossing them off
- Use a timer to make sure I use all of those 20 minutes to start scaling the mountain
- Create a system for tackling the ‘just do it’ tasks so that one day when I can delegate them, someone else will just do it.
Sounds simple enough, so I’m beginning it now.
MORE GREAT BLOG POSTS BY YVETTE VIGNANDO
- 5 Things I Did Not Know About Being an Entrepreneur
- Find a Mentor, Grow Your Business
- The Profit Principle: A New Book and a Great Resource
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Yvette Vignando - www.happychild.com.auYvette is pursuing her passion – to take action that helps children develop great social and emotional skills as a foundation for a happy and successful life. Formerly a lawyer and then successful executive coach specialising in Emotional Intelligence, Yvette was encouraged by her experience of MentorNet to launch her business – a website for parents that publishes practical and engaging information about raising children with emotional intelligence. Yvette looks forward to sharing the challenges and successes of her experience as she navigates her way through the adventures of launching a website, and tackles online sales and marketing, an evolving business plan, and the growing universe of social media. Yvette hopes that by following her personal and professional development as an entrepreneur you will also be inspired to follow your passions.
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Negotiate Your Way To Success
February 24, 2011
Negotiate Your Way To Success
How women can convince, collaborate and create more effectively.
Women still earn only 80 cents for every dollar a man earns. On average, women pay more $500-$1000 more than men when buying cars – and they pay 46% more for goods and services than men. A US study of the job negotiations of graduating university students found that male students were eight times more likely to negotiate starting salaries and pay than female students.
It doesn’t have to be that way. Women who successfully master the art of negotiations are more successful in business and in their personally lives. In fact for some women who have learned to negotiate effectively these statistics have been completely reversed.
Join us on 30 March for Negotiate Your Way To Success a new webinar with the authors of A Woman’s Guide to Successful Negotiating. This webinar is sponsored by Optus Business.
We’ll look at:
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Guest Speakers
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Lee E. MillerLee E. Miller, a graduate of Harvard Law School, is the Managing Director of NegotiationPlus.com and an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University and Seton Hall University Business School, where he teaches influencing and negotiating. He is also the Career Columnist for the NJ Star Ledger, the largest newspaper in New Jersey. |
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Jessica MillerJessica Miller joined Cushman & Wakefield, Inc. as a Director in 2008 after eight years as a Commercial Real Estate Advisor with Grubb & Ellis Company, where she was the youngest Vice President in the Washington, DC region. Jessica has a Masters of Science in Real Estate from Johns Hopkins University and is a graduate of Virginia Tech’s Honors Program with a Bachelors of Science degree in Finance. |
Event Details:
Negotiate Your Way To Success – National Webinar
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Times: Price: |
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
10.15am for 10.30am – 11.30am AEDT Webinar – Your home or office. StartUp Members – $39 Growth Members – $0 Community and Non-Members – $59 Note: You will need internet access to participate in this GoToWebinar. Call costs may apply if you do not use VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). |
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About the Book
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What is a webinar?
A webinar is a web-based seminar. To participate you will need high-speed internet and a USB headset (with microphone). Instructions will be sent to you on receipt of your registration.
Not a member?
Join today and you save hundreds of dollars each year on workshops designed to help you be more successful as a businesswoman. Membership is less than $1 a day! Learn More about Membership Now
Is this event right for you?
This event is suitable for women who are managing a business and those who are in the Growth stages of business.
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The Business Growth Webinar SeriesThis event is part of the Business Growth series of webinars which are free to those with Growth Member membership to the Australian Businesswomen’s Network. For details on the benefits of Growth Membership take a look at our Membership Comparison Chart. For details on other webinars – see the Events section on our website. |
What’s Next?
Register below through our secure online shopping system. Upon registration you’ll receive confirmation of your attendance. If you have any questions you can send us an email or, call 1300 720 120. If you are a member, remember to login to get free entry.
Speed Thinking – How to thrive in a time-poor world
February 24, 2011
Speed Thinking
How to thrive in a time-poor world
Every day, business owners, managers and leaders are expected to deliver more and more with less and less. They have fewer people, smaller budgets and, crucially, less time. Lack of time to make decisions has become the most stressful part of life for many business people.
In a time-poor, fast-moving world, we need a new approach.
Join us on 29 March when Ken Hudson, author of Speed Thinking: Thriving in a Time-Poor World is our guest at this new webinar, sponsored by Optus Business.
We’ll look at how to:
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Guest Speaker – Ken Hudson
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Ken Hudson is author of The Idea Generator (2007) and The Idea Accelerator (2008). He has his own company through which he presents seminars and workshops on speed thinking. |
Event Details:
Speed Thinking – How to thrive in a time-poor world – National Webinar
| Date:
Times: Price: |
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
10.15am for 10.30am -11.30am AEDT Webinar – Your home or office. ABN Members: FREE Non-Members: $39 Not a member? Join today and save over $390 in webinars each year! Note: You will need internet access to participate in this GoToWebinar. Call costs may apply if you do not use VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). |
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About the Book
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What is a webinar?
A webinar is a web-based seminar. To participate you will need high-speed internet and a USB headset (with microphone). Instructions will be sent to you on receipt of your registration.
Not a member?
Join today and you save hundreds of dollars each year on workshops designed to help you be more successful as a businesswoman. Membership is less than $1 a day! Learn More about Membership Now.
Is this event right for you?
This event is suitable for women in all stages of business.
What’s Next?
Register below through our secure online shopping system. Upon registration you’ll receive confirmation of your attendance. If you have any questions you can send us an email or, call 1300 720 120. If you are a member, remember to login to get free entry.
Survey Reveals Diversity Within the ABN Community
February 23, 2011
In December 2010, the Australian Businesswomen’s Network conducted its Community Survey. Here is the first snapshot of the results from the over 500 people who participated.
The survey included StartUp and Growth members, members of the ABN Community and people connected to the ABN through social media.
Community older than previously
The participants this time were older than in the 2007 survey, with the proportion of participants less than 45 decreasing from 62% to 54%.
30% were born overseas
These 30% were born in 35 different countries and now part of the ABN Community. The main countries were United Kingdom, New Zealand and United States.
43% live in a major city in New South Wales
While the services of the ABN are largely online and Member roundtables are in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, almost half of the participants (47%) live in New South Wales.
39% don’t have children
While 39% of the participants don’t have children, the Australian Census 2006 reports that 25% of 25-54 year olds don’t have children. Are we too busy working in (or on) our business to have a family of our own or will the 2011 Census show an increase in the proportion without children? The ABN plans to do more research in this area.
Of those with school aged children or younger, more than half do not have access to registered or authorised child care and more than a tenth employ a nanny.
57% are fully employed by their own business
The proportion fully employed by their own business has remained the same since 2007. However, the proportion employed by someone else and do not intend to start their own business has increased slightly, and the proportion who have an idea for a business but haven’t started it yet have decreased slightly.
Broad range of business experience
While almost half (48%) of business owners have been in business for less than 4 years, 23% have been in business for more than 10 years, showing the broad range of experience that the community can connect across.
62% use social networks for business
Twitter, Facebook and/or LinkedIn are being used by almost two thirds of the ABN Community to connect their business with others. This is interesting in comparison to Smart Company report of an Optus survey in The 10 next social media trends (October 2010) that only 28% of small businesses used social media to promote their business while 56% had no near-term plans to start. While the comScore State of the Internet in Australia report recently released says that 82% of Australians 15 years or older visit social networking sites (although it doesn’t separate personal and business use).
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Kate Tribe - Tribe ResearchKate Tribe is the founder and Managing Director of Tribe Research. Kate has developed Tribe Research into an innovative and creative company focusing on accessible ways for business, non-profit and government sectors to grow from a better understanding of their tribe. Tribe Research aims for customers to explore their tribes of clients, customers, suppliers and staff, to uncover their views, and drive change in each clients business. Kate understands that as leaders of an organisation you need to be clear-headed about your marketing and business planning priorities and has made this a primary focus of Tribe Research’s solution. Kate believes that getting to know your tribe should be an enjoyable journey of discovery that gives you a clear head and direction to move forward, to drive change in the right direction.
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To Achieve or Not to Achieve?
February 21, 2011
By Lisa Murray, Revive Business Coaching
What does achievement mean to you? Yesterday, I had the stunning and quite shocking realization that the only time I recognize my achievements is when I totally wrap up a project and feel that ‘oh so satisfying’ sense of completion!
This insight came to me when I looked back on the day and thought out loud ‘didn’t get far today.’ Fortunately my beautiful wise mother overheard me and asked me to reconsider. This is what I found…
In the course of the day I had:
- recorded and edited a podcast I’d been putting off for months
- unraveled the mystery of how to connect my podcast channel with my website and iTunes
- found the perfect lawyer for a matter that needs attention
- reinvented and expanded the business model for BlissTribe
- came up with at least three new bliss mentoring tools
- refreshed the BlissTribe branding on the website and Facebook page
- created a nuts and bolts launch plan for BlissEssence
- connected with a number of business mentoring clients and rearranged next week’s schedule
- had a mini-meltdown over a personal issue and came through potently choosing to create massive change
- helped my mother with some techie stuff and did a few home happiness tasks
- gifted a friend some healing
- gave a few peeps on Facebook a bit of a laughter love-up
- connected some people who need to collaborate
- and most thrilling of all… amongst all of this chaos, the name for my book landed clearly in my awareness…
So it wasn’t much of a day really. Do you think I ‘should’ try to do better today? Sometimes I really wonder about how insane us over-achievers are!! Does this all sound a little too familiar? Here’s what you need to understand:
None of these things were on a ‘to-do’ list. The reason so much was created so easily was that I was in that divine space of creative flow. All I did was ask ‘What’s next?’ and give my full and present attention to the next thing that popped out at me.
It is really healthy to recognize and appreciate all of our daily contributions, not just the ones that are finished. When we recognize only what is complete, there is no energy being created to generate powerful new possibilities! Throughout the day I kept asking: ‘And what else is possible here?’ which kept the creative energy flows running hot!
We are trained to value completion above everything, but what if the true joy is in the journey? What if achieving business bliss is found in being and doing that which gives us the greatest ease and the greatest pleasure?
MORE GREAT BLOG POSTS BY LISA MURRAY
- The Risks of Starting a Second Business
- How to Start and Grow Multiple Businesses
- Stuck? Take the Path of Least Resistance!
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Lisa Murray - Revive Business Coaching/Bliss TribeLisa Murray is an experienced business mentor who brings bliss back into your business. Her holistic, unconventional and creative strategies help small business owners design authentic, ease-filled and profitable businesses. Through her BlissTribe community, Lisa is a catalyst for business owners to choose a phenomenal, rich and joyful life without compromise! The sky is not the limit… there are no limits… unless you choose them! Lisa connects the dots for you… she is an idea generator, a sounding board, a skilled facilitator, a strategist, a problem solver and a contribution to the authenticity and potency of you creating the business you truly desire and deserve. What else is possible? Ask and you will receive!!
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How “Better than expected” could be your new normal
February 18, 2011
By Vivienne Kane, Minuteman Press Prahran
Setting the customer experience bar just a little bit higher
Our local nursery is a multiple award winner – and not just because they have a wide selection of plants that are healthy and beautifully presented. What sets them apart is their easily identifiable staff who are all trained to help (and unfailingly friendly), displays throughout with garden advice and ideas (which are up to the minute according to the season), and a simple but terrific café overlooking the whole inspirational display, which replicates the same friendly attention to detail. What’s not to like?
But have they done anything that you couldn’t do?
Inspire with good ideas. Don’t just take an order or transact a sale – find out a bit more about your customers, and look for opportunities to make suggestions or start a train of thought. In other words, have something to offer that’s more than what they asked for. It’s probably safe to assume you know more about your product or service than they do, so why not share that knowledge?- Respond to enquiries straight away – even if it’s just to ask more information about what they require, or get the right person to help them. A quick response could make you stand out from the crowd. This holds true particularly with electronic communication – a rapid personal response to an email or website enquiry will often win instant brownie points.
- If you can’t solve their problem or supply what they need, refer them to an appropriate alternative supplier if you know of one. People will come back if they believe you’re a worthwhile source of information, even if they don’t buy from you right there and then.
- Offer options, even if they haven’t been requested. This is where your expertise comes in – if you think product B will do the job better, even if the customer has asked for product A, give them the details of both – and of course explain the pros and cons of the choice. They may still stick with their original plan, but they’ll appreciate you caring enough to canvas alternatives.
- Of course, make sure this is second nature to all staff who deal with customers. This is about setting a culture of going the extra mile, and arming them with the right information to make it happen. And it doesn’t just apply to sales staff – anyone who speaks or interacts with your customers needs to be on board. The person stacking the shelves can impress with their helpfulness just as effectively as anyone else if they’re armed with the right tools.
Nelson Boswell summed it up this way:
Here is a simple but powerful rule – always give people more than what they expect to get.
How does the experience you give your customers set you apart from the competition?
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Vivienne Kane - Minuteman Press PrahranAs the owner and operations manager of Minuteman Press Prahran, a franchise print supplier, Vivienne works with small business customers every day. She runs the business, and their online specialty division CalendarPrint, with her husband Nicholas and their talented staff. With a customer base which often has little experience in buying print, Minuteman Prahran’s point of difference is making the process as painless as possible. Vivienne is a strong advocate of clear and reliable communication as a key tool in winning and keeping customers. She started her professional life as a Speech Pathologist, and enjoyed a variety of roles in administration and community groups before establishing Minuteman Press in 2000. She has three Gen-Y adult children, is an almost an empty nester, loves travel and is a member of two book clubs.
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The Paid Parental Leave (PPL) Scheme — Now that we’ve got it (yay!), who should administer it?
February 16, 2011
By Amy Lyden
The government’s introduction of Australia’s first ever Paid Parental Leave scheme was a fantastic win for women and families generally. With the scheme now underway (1st January 2011), the latest argument is who should administer it. The Coalition wants Centrelink to do this.
At the time of this writing, the Lower House was about to vote on a bill introduced by opposition small business spokesman Bruce Billson. The proposed bill would have the new Paid Parental Leave scheme (PPL) administered totally by Centrelink, not employers.
The PPL scheme came into effect on 1st January 2011. The current claiming process:
- Employee contacts the Family Assistance Office (FAO) / Centrelink to apply.
- FAO determines if employee eligible. If yes, it contacts the employer, who then provides the FAO with their ABN, business name, bank account details, employee’s pay cycle and contact details.
- FAO sends payments to the employer just before the PPL is due to commence. The employer in not required to pay PPL to the employee until the funds have been received, so no cashflow issue for the employer.
- The employer pays the PPL as per the usual pay cycle, e.g. fortnightly or monthly. The employer must notify the employee of any payment made within 24 hours.
- The employer should deduct tax from PPL payments. However, other entitlements like superannuation are not applicable and also any PPL amounts should not be included in the calculation of workers compensation premiums and payroll tax.
The potential sticking points on the above process for small business:
- Double handing – the FMO pays the employer, and the employer pays the employee. It seems more logical for the FMO to pay the employee directly. The employee will no doubt have many more transactions with the FMO in the future if they are accessing the Child Care Benefit or Rebate, so why not keep this the same?
- Burden on the employer – small businesses particularly are under-resourced. Small business owners need to be focusing their time on growing their business, therefore employing more people and contributing to economic development. This process adds another layer of compliance and “to-do”s in the long list of tasks for small business owners.
- Because there is no superannuation paid on the PPL and payments for PPL are not included when calculating workers’ compensation premiums and payroll tax, this further complicates the reconciliation process. Again adding to time involved in managing the PPL payments.
Supporters of the existing process argue that by having employers administer the PPL payments the employee will be more “connected” to the workforce and the relationship will stay intact. I would argue that there are other more effective ways to keep a relationship alive between a business and an employee that is on parental leave. Depositing money into one’s account doesn’t constitute a relationship. Perhaps the real issue is ensuring a connection between the employee and the workforce and that is a topic for another post.
All being said, we should not lose sight that the introduction of a PPL scheme is a wonderful start. And like any new scheme, the processes will need to be tested and reviewed. I invite you to let me know what your experience is with it. Too much time involved? Happy to do it? What do you think?
MORE GREAT BLOG POSTS BY AMY LYDEN
- Focus on the Common Threads That Bind Us – International Women’s Day – 100 years
- Alarming Statistics About Australia and Gender Equality
- Women in Leadership – We’ve NOT come a long way, baby
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Amy Lyden - Advocacy Advisor – Australian Businesswomen’s NetworkAn entrepreneur and specialist in ecommerce and online strategy, Amy has had over 13 years of practical experience in these areas. Launching her first website in 1998 Amy was at the forefront of an online revolution without even realizing it. Within a year this site became and remains today a #1 ranking site and global community of pet lovers that attracts over 4 million visitors a year. This Australia-based business, Bow Wow Meow, now sells product online to over 100 countries worldwide. Amy sold this business in 2007 and turned her energy to the nonprofit sector. Amy is currently the CEO of Australian Scholarships Foundation, an organisation that facilitates scholarships for education and training for people who work in the nonprofit sector. Amy is the recipient of numerous business awards including the 2006 NSW Telstra Business Women’s Awards for Innovation, the 2002 National Telstra Business Award and the Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World Grant. Amy is an Ambassador and former Chairperson for the Australian Businesswomen’s Network, an organisation that supports female entrepreneurs. Amy was also invited to serve on the Commonwealth Small Business Council, an initiative by the Federal minister for Small Business. Amy has been profiled in the following books: “Women’s Business, Women’s Wealth” by Amanda Ellis, “Female Entrepreneurs”, by Leiza Clark and “Secrets of Female Entrepreneurs Exposed!”, by Dale Beaumont. Amy is passionate about using technology to connect people globally for positive change.
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