Pre-Election Results Reveal the Issues Women Want Government to Act on
August 2, 2010
By Amy Lyden
Thank you to those who participated in the Australian Businesswomen’s Network pre-election poll.
We have analysed the results and written to all major political parties so that we can hear how they respond to issues that are important to YOU.
Below is a list of the top issues you identified, as well as a link to a copy of the letter we have sent to the major parties.
You will see the top issues are:
• Government support for small business including training,
• reducing red tape and compliance issues,
• gender imbalance on boards and
• cost and flexibility of childcare.
There were also two running themes in the open ended questions you answered:
1. Reduction of tax for small business – income and payroll, and
2. Climate change – incentives offered for small business and concerns over reducing our carbon footprint.
Many of you commented that many of these issues that are important to you haven’t been addressed by any of the parties or their policies aren’t clear.
We will notify you as soon as we have heard back from the parties so that you can make a better informed choice at the polls on the 21st of August.
Link to letter sent to Political Parties
Will keep you posted…
Amy Lyden
Advocacy Ambassador
P.S. Many of you took time to provide additional comments and reasons. Thank you for your passion. We will post some of these additional thoughts in the coming days.
MORE GREAT BLOG POSTS BY AMY LYDEN
- Paid Parental Leave – Article: Maybe Baby: Juggling Home, Work and Family Life.
- Tony Abbott vs Craig Emerson – Live from COSBOA’s National Small Business Summit, 8 July
- Paid Parental Leave Scheme Gets the Go-Ahead
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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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Get Positive: 5 Ways to Spring Clean Your Thinking
July 26, 2010
By Nerida Gill, Admin Bandit
It’s a new financial year. The first buds of spring are with us, so I’m ready to wake from winter’s coma and leap into the warm, new season. And what better way to start than to re-evaluate my thinking, to sweep away the cobwebs of old habits and embrace a more positive outlook.
Not that I want to see the world through unrealistic rose-coloured glasses, it’s just that I know positive people are healthier, more confident, live longer and get more done.
So here’s my five-step plan to boost the ole’ attitude….
"I Want Love" by Pakorn Rattanasuteeranon
Say “No” to Bad News
I feel duped. Somewhere along the line, someone decided knowing about all the crime, death and disaster in the world makes us “well-informed”. Well, I’ve got news for you — the media feeds us gruesome stories because they sell. That’s right, news is a business. Gore is strangely tantalising, and the more we tune in, the more money the media can charge advertisers. So tune out; say “no” to bad news and fill your mind with uplifting stuff instead.
Get It In Perspective
It’s easy to dwell on worries and mistakes, so much so that we blow them out of proportion. Get things in perspective by asking yourself a series of questions:
- Will it matter next week?
- Will it matter next year?
- Will it matter in 20 years?
- Will it matter at the end of my life?
Your answers will help you see the problem as it really is and deal with it effectively.
Superwoman is a Fictional Character
She’s has 2.1 children, yet, looks hot in a bikini. Her career has shattered the glass ceiling, and the house is spotless. She can wear white (even when the kids are teething) and she’s eating spaghetti.
Meet superwoman. Don’t you want to be like her? Don’t you secretly hate her?
Thank goodness she only exists in comics strips, movies and advertisements. That’s right, she’s a fictional character!
So stop putting pressure on yourself, and tell that critical inner voice to shut-up. Remember that you have value … simply because you exist. And nothing you can do or say can change the truth that you are special.
Yes, people are imperfect and make mistakes. But it’s through these things that we grow and experience fully what it means to be human.
Perk Yourself Up
Is life getting you down? Here are a few practical ideas to cheer you up:
- Write a list of everything you love, from the way the dog waggles its tail when you walk through the door to how beach sands feels under your feet.
- Hang out with positive people — it’s contagious.
- Question your thinking. What are the alternatives to the way you’re seeing or responding to an issue?
- Smile at or compliment people as much as possible today. The joy of giving will surprise you.
- Talk to a counsellor if past experiences are troubling you. Sometimes, the act of telling your life story out loud is enough for healing.
Down is Not a Dirty Word
Finally, it’s okay to feel down sometimes. As King Solomon said (and The Byrds paraphrased), “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven”. The fact is that you simply would not be a flesh-and-blood person if you didn’t experience the full gamut of human emotions.
The point is not what you feel, but how you deal with it. Remember that you have a choice. If the so-called “negative” emotions are lingering far too long, develop a plan, talk to someone you trust or see a doctor.
MORE GREAT BLOG POSTS BY NERIDA GILL
- Feed Your Business: 4 Delicious Lessons from Tuscan Food
- Work Smarter, Not Harder: How to Achieve Balance
- 4 Tips for Better Email
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Nerida Gill - Admin BanditNerida Gill is the creator of Admin Bandit, a web-based accounting package designed specifically to make keeping the books easy for volunteer treasurers in community groups. After winning numerous business awards, Admin Bandit is in a growth phase after recently attracting external investment.
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Businesswomen’s Debate – Do Nice Girls Finish Second?
June 30, 2010
by Suzi Dafnis
For the last 12 years, the Australian Institute of Management’s Women in Management Debate has been a great way to network with and learn from sharp business minds.
The 2010 Women in Management Great Debate, titled NICE GIRLS FINISH SECOND, is a light-hearted and irreverent clash of the minds over fine wine and great food with some of Australia’s leading businesswomen (and a couple of men).
The Australian Businesswomen’s Network is proud to be a partner and to offer ABN clients a discount to attend.
The annual sell-out event, in it’s 12th successful year in the ACT, will also be held in Sydney in August.
• Canberra – Friday 2 July
• Sydney – Friday 27 August
More information can be found on our website.
Call AIM NSW on 1300 551 776 to register, and quote coupon code AIMABN to receive your special price.
The speakers will cut straight to the chase on some of the biggest issues facing women in management.
We invite you to attend.
Sincerely,
Suzi Dafnis
Community Director
How relevant is Email? An interview with Justin Premick – Director of Education Marketing – AWeber
May 4, 2010
AWeber is an email marketing software provider out of the United States.
We started to use aWeber at the Australian Businesswomen’s Network in mid-2009 and it’s become a key tool through which we manage our lead generation campaigns and email communications with clients and prospects.
Justin Premick is the Director of Education Marketing at AWeber and Suzi Dafnis caught up with Justin recently at the South by South West conference in Austin, Texas.
In this interview Justin tells us:
- How relevant is email today? (especially in light of the fact that we can connect with clients using social media and social networks)
- Why does he believe that social media will not replace email and
- The three things we need to do with our email lists to be more effective
Enjoy this interview with Justin Premick and learn more about how AWeber can help your business.
For more information:
Website: www.aweber.com
Blog: www.aweber.com/blog
Twitter: www.twitter.com/aweber
Digital Marketer Aliza Sherman Talks Tech Tips
April 28, 2010
The Wall Street Journal said:
“It’s a man’s world out there in cyberspace – but not if Aliza Sherman has anything to say about it. Her mission: empower women and girls through technology.”
Fifteen years ago, and amazed with what the internet could do, then secretary Aliza Sherman took on board the possibilities that the internet provided, used her computer skills and started to empower others through the use of technology.
In this video interview with ‘the original Cybergrrl’ we look at:
- Why (15 years since the Wall Street quote) there is still a huge need for supporting women to use technology
- Podcasts – are they the right tool for your business?
- Who are blogs and podcasts most suited to?
- Why today’s tools allow us to be on our soapbox in new ways
- The tools Aliza uses to create her podcasts
- The question to ask yourself BEFORE you choose what publishing tool you’ll use
Resources mentioned in this interview:
About Aliza Sherman
Aliza Sherman is the Original Cybergrrl – an Internet thought leader, highly sought-after online marketing expert and passionate evangelist for the Internet, particularly as a valuable and useful tool for our personal and professional lives. She is a motivational and inspirational speaker who has spoken around the world about the Internet, social media, virtual worlds entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment.
Named by Newsweek as one of the “Top 50 People Who Matter Most on the Internet,” Aliza Sherman is a Web pioneer, online marketing expert, published author, international speaker and regular contributor to national magazines and web sites.
Learn more about Aliza Sherman here:
Tune in to The Digital Marketer weekly podcasts
Featured Podcast: Music Industry’s PR Maven, Ariel Hyatt
April 27, 2010
After being fired Ariel decided she’d take her future into her own hands and started her business 15 years ago.
Her digital pr firm, Cyber PR, is based in New York. Cyber PR helps musicians and authors get the word out about their work as well as educating them about how to use social media to promote themselves.
In this interview Ariel explains:
- How has social media has changed the face of publicity
- Why the power of pr is now with the individual
- How to get PR even if you only have a small social network and
- Why a good idea works regardless of market conditions
Enjoy this interview with Ariel Hyatt.
About Ariel Hyatt
Ariel Hyatt is the founder of Ariel Publicity, a New York based digital PR firm who’s Cyber PR Campaigns place musicians and authors on blogs, podcasts, and Internet radio stations and helps facilitate authentic relationships with key Social Media makers and fans. Over the past 15 years Ariel Publicity has represented over 1,500 musicians of all genres.
Helping creative minds navigate the confusing world of Social Media and Online Marketing is her passion and several times a year, she leads sold-out online and in-person workshops for musicians and music industry professionals and her book: Music Success in Nine Weeks has helped hundreds of musicians do just that.
Her bi-weekly newsletter and weekly YouTube TV series ‘Sound Advice" has over 15,000 subscribers and she is regular blogger at MusicThinkTank.com
Ariel has been a guest speaker at SXSW, CMJ, The Future of Music, The ECMAs, NARAS, The BMI Music Panel Series, and The Taxi Road Rally, and dozens more.
She proudly serves on the boards of Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, SoundCtrl, and she is on the advisory board for the New Music Seminar.
Sweet Relief is a non-profit that provides financial assistance to career musicians who are struggling to make ends meet while facing illness or disability.
SoundCtrl is a music and technology event platform for the convergence of music and digital media that hosts educational events and panels for music industry professionals.
The New Music Seminar is the conference to attend if you are a musician or an industry professional interested in participating in the cutting, bleeding edge of thought leadership for the current music industry.
Website: arielpublicity.com
Blog: arielpublicity.com/category/blog
Follow Ariel on Twitter: @CyberPR
Fan Ariel Publicity on Facebook
Meet Marketing’s No-Bull Maven
March 16, 2010
Hello and welcome to the herBusiness program where we interview inspiring businesswomen and entrepreneurs.
Today’s guest is Sharon Williams, CEO of Taurus Marketing.
Sharon Williams is a pioneer in the Australian agency industry and proof a small business can influence and service the big end of town. Taurus started out of Sharon’s living room in August 1995, just two weeks after the birth of her first daughter. She is celebrating her 15th year of business.
Sharon appears on Kochie’s Business Builders as Channel 7’s marketing and PR expert and is a regular media spokesperson on broadcast media such as SBS and ABC News.
Last year Sharon also became Ninemsn’s leading SME blogger with her weekly blog ‘The Bullseye’.
In this interview we discuss:
- The role of social media in your marketing mix
- Why personal branding is more important today than it has ever been
- We also look at the trends we’re seeing in marketing and some tips and
- Give you some strategies to kickstart your marketing
Enjoy this interview with business woman, Sharon Williams.
More About Sharon Williams
Sharon Williams – CEO and Founder, Taurus Marketing
Sharon Williams is a pioneer in the Australian agency industry and proof a small business can influence and service the big end of town. As the founder and CEO of Taurus Marketing, this year Taurus is celebrating their 15th year of business. This alone stands as a substantial accomplishment within the marketing and PR industry which was hit hard by the recession last year. Taurus has grown to service industry leaders from ASX listed QBE’s global CEO Frank O’Halloran to make-up King Napoleon Perdis.
Starting out of Sharon’s living room in August 1995, just two weeks after the birth of her first daughter, Taurus has expanded consistently year-on-year since inception, and is now one of Australia’s highest profile, privately owned integrated marketing, creative, and public relations agencies.
Sharon was instrumental in helping the KAZ Group go from media obscurity in 1995 to one of Australia’s highest profile and largest information communications technology companies. Last year, Sharon’s vision and expertise saw Taurus launch its new trademarked personal branding service TaurusProfile™ a product that builds the personal profile of CEO’s, business leaders, politicians and celebrities in order to serve business growth.
In 2009, Taurus was engaged to manage the PR and assist the social media strategies for the Bible Society’s Jesus.All about Life campaign. For the first time in the history of the Christian Church in Australia, the campaign utilized modern and traditional media through online, print, outdoor, radio, press and TV advertising to take its message to the community. The Taurus team were delighted to take this ground breaking campaign on board and the results suggested this with over 500 pieces of media coverage gained attracting over $2million worth of media exposure.
Sharon is a highly experienced and entertaining public speaker and trainer on marketing, PR, social media and business issues. Frequently speaking overseas and in Australia her presentations have won praise at conferences, expos and in-house workshops. Sharon has also been the resident marketing expert on Channel 7’s Kochie’s Business Builders, is a regular media spokesperson on broadcast media such as SBS and ABC News. Last year Sharon also became Ninemsn’s leading SME blogger with her weekly blog ‘The Bullseye’.
More recently, Sharon was invited to join both the NSW Council for the Australian British Chamber of Commerce and is also on the American Chamber of Commerce Women in Management committee.
A true testament to Sharon’s belief in a healthy work life balance Sharon is a devoted mother who lives in Sydney with her family and three children. Her love of the beach and swimming gained her an Australian Surf Life Saving Association bronze medallion and on Sunday’s you might catch her patrolling one of Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
Website: www.taurusmarketing.com.au
Phone: 02 9415 4528
Blog: The Taurus Marketing Blog
Twitter: www.twitter.com/TaurusMarketing
Member Directory Profile: See Sharon Williams’ profile
A Fashion Designer’s Planned Success – Interview with Leona Edmiston, Australia’s Frock Queen
February 9, 2010
One of the things I enjoy most about my role at the Australian Businesswomen’s Network is that I get to interview inspiring businesswomen and entrepreneurs.
This month I interviewed Leona Edmiston, who is best known as Australia’s Leading Frock Queen.
Leona Edmiston began her career in the 1980s with her first fashion label, Morrissey Edmiston shared with former business partner Peter Morrissey.
In 2001 Leona launched her solo label with business partner Jeremy Ducker and they formed the present company. The label, entitled ‘Leona Edmiston’ is a tribute to the dress in all its incarnations.
A Leona Edmiston Frock is elegant, versatile and ageless. [I know I've owned a few over the years.]
The Leona Edmiston brand is sold in 18 signature boutiques, concession stores in Myer department stores.
Due to great success of her beautiful frocks Leona Edmiston’s label extended into a range of dresses for the little ladies ‘Little Leona’, sleepwear, accessories, her PINS hosiery, a Signature Fragrance and Candle.
In this interview we discuss:
- Why she established her fashion in a niche and has stuck to that niche
- How she keeps in touch with her customers needs and wants
- The importance of planning and working to deadlines
She also shares her three top strategies for success.
Enjoy this interview with Leona Edmiston.
More About Leona Edmiston
Leona Edmiston began her career in the 1980’s with her first fashion label, Morrissey Edmiston shared with former business partner Peter Morrissey. The Morrissey Edmiston label received significant local and international recognition and dressed a string of celebrity clients.
Leona launched her solo label with business partner Jeremy Ducker in 2001 and they formed the present company of Ducker Edmiston Pty Ltd. The label, entitled ‘Leona Edmiston’ is a tribute to the dress in all its incarnations. A Leona Edmiston Frock is elegant, versatile and ageless. The label celebrates the confident, urban woman. It exudes classic femininity, effortless style and chic, sexy sophistication.
Leona uses a variety of fabrics from her signature sleek jersey to soft luxurious silks and crisp cottons. Prints and colour blocks are a favourite. The fabrics compliment the style and flattering cuts of the Frocks, they allow for confidence during the day and sheer elegance during the evening, taking you from the ‘office to opera’ with ease.
The Leona Edmiston brand is sold in 18 signature boutiques, Westfield White city is the most recent Leona Edmiston boutique to open, and all boutiques interiors are a reflection of Leona’s personal style.
The White City boutique has a simple colour palette of satin slipper paint used with bronze mirror paneling and chinoiserie wallpaper. Frocks are positioned delicately around the store and accessories are displayed within internal wall panels. The changing room area is concealed behind a bronze mirror wall allowing customers full privacy. Red silk curtains are pulled back with vintage French tassels and a marble fire-place is positioned towards the back of the store with bronze framed paintings.
Due to great success of her beautiful frocks Leona Edmiston’s label extended into a range of dresses for the little ladies ‘Little Leona’, ‘Nighties’ a sleepwear collection, a diffusion line named ‘Leona,’ and has fuelled accessories collections including Eyewear, Heels, Purses, Leona Edmiston PINS, a Signature Fragrance and Candle.
With the addition of the London Boutique, Leona Edmiston has acquired many more devoted Leona Edmiston fans which include UK celebrities such as Jasmine Guinness, Olivia Inge, Daisy De Villeneuve, Brenda Blethyn and Kathy Lette to add to the list of previous fans such as Elle MacPherson, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton, Britney Spears and Kristin Davis.
Shop online at the Leona Edmiston store.
How MentorNet helped retailer Sarah Ladyman overcome business challenges
February 2, 2010
Sarah Ladyman knew that her corporate job just wasn’t right for her. She had dreamed of running her own business ever since reading The E-Myth Revisited shortly after high school. She was unhappy in the corporate world, and she knew that she wanted to work with her true passion, food.
“In the kitchen, I found a real love for food and a new appetite to please others through their stomachs!” says Sarah. “After sharing a few batches of home-made relish (made from a tweaked family recipe from New Zealand), I found that other people had an appetite for tasty, fresh, natural food, too.”
Sarah wanted to devote her time and energy to her passion. She knew that other people enjoyed her relish, but she lacked the business contacts and confidence necessary to build on her new business. Then she discovered MentorNet, a mentor program for businesswomen which gave her the information, contacts, and impetus she needed to develop a successful business from her own kitchen.
“Initially, my confidence in my product and my abilities was a huge challenge,” Sarah remembers. “Why would someone really want, let alone pay for, a little product I make in my own kitchen? Being from New Zealand, I also found that I really lacked business support and contacts here in Australia, so starting a business outside of my home country and away from my family’s contacts was difficult. I also struggled with the financial forecasting, budgeting, and planning requirements for a start-up.”
“It’s like having a personal trainer for your business.”
Now Sarah’s company relish this delivers healthy, tasty, saucy preserve products to addicted customers across Australia and New Zealand as well as the U.S. and U.K. Sarah’s passion for healthy food has developed into a thriving company with a registered brand and trademark, an ecommerce site, and a devoted following. Using local, fresh Australian products, Sarah makes natural, gluten-free, home-made quality relishes with innovative flavors such as “Beetroot Apple n Orange” and “Balsamic Red Onion ‘n’ Lime.”
“The MentorNet program, my mentor, and my pod members all helped me overcome my initial challenges,” says Sarah. “I found the interactive environment to be open and nurturing, which grew my business confidence as well as my business network. The business planning and financial chapters within the course covered the main areas with which I struggled by giving real examples of cash flow forecasting, templates, and business case studies.”
“To have a mentor to hold you accountable for tasks you’ve promised to complete is highly motivational,” Sarah continues. “Especially for particular tasks you keep putting off. You can’t put off your mentor! It’s like having a personal trainer for your business.”
“Peers in your pod group also help motivate you. Like you, they are trying to learn as much as possible and improve their business. The more we put into it, the more each of us got out of it. Overall, the program provides a motivating platform for anyone in business as it promotes success, builds knowledge, and nurtures networking.”
MentorNet provided Sarah with the tools she needed to set realistic goals and the newfound confidence she needed to actually achieve those goals. The program transformed Sarah’s start-up idea into a profitable business. Sarah says that the perspective provided by MentorNet “made my goals bigger, more aggressive, and in line with my business plan.”
“I’m a bit of a control freak,” laughs Sarah. “So it’s no surprise that I enjoy making the decisions and being the boss of my business! I like the accountability and freedom I get from managing my own creation and ultimately the flexibility to basically do what I want. It’s very empowering,”
Sarah also enjoys empowering other businesswomen. “I enjoy telling my story to others to hopefully give them the inspiration to do something for themselves too. Relish this. Relish me!”
If you’re ready to get out of the rat race if you’re ready to relish yourself and your freedom register for MentorNet now.
Unhappy in the corporate world Sarah Ladyman left her IT/Marketing job to take some time out to trial an ‘allaboutme.com’ approach. She fell into the kitchen and found a real love for food and an appetite to please others through their stomachs. After sharing a few batches of home-made relish with friends and family, she began looking at the possibility of taking relish to market…literally. So combining her passions to empower (and feed) others with fresh, tasty, saucy stuff, she created relish this.
Recently relish this. has grown from a ‘foodie experimenting in a kitchen’ to saucy relish products delivered and devoured across Australia and NZ (some jars even hiding in luggage and sneaking into the US and UK!).
Website: www.relishthis.com.au
Blog: www.relishthis.com.au/blog
Not sure if you’re MentorReady? Apply for a free 30-minute business consultation (normally $95).
Use coupon code: CONSULT to get this valuable session for free.
Let your passion drive your actions this year
January 4, 2010
How do you bring your passion to work, and keep it there? We spend a lot of time in our businesses. For many it’s our primary focus. But what do you do when the passion leaves? How do you bring your passion to your work and keep it there? Janet Bray Attwood, author of The New York Times bestseller – the Passion Test shares strategies in this interview.
I read Janet’s book – The Passion Test - two years ago and the ‘test’ is a way to keep me on track with keeping passion in my business and my life. It’s a simple but powerful process that you can use to ensure that your actions are driven by your passion and that you make each day alive with what you love.
Janet Attwood | The Passion Test
In this interview we discuss:
- Why clarity about your passion helps you create exactly what you want
- The role of passion in team engagement
- Why connection to your passion is an important ingredient to business and personal success
