Some days, we’re just not feeling it. It may be lack of sleep, a pizza hangover or just a no-good-reason-classic-brain-fog ‘meh’ head. At times though, there are bigger issues weighing upon us, like concerns about children, a painful divorce or navigating illness close to home. In such seasons, confidence and self-belief can wane. Our usually […]
When Confidence Wanes Read More »
It a common question in the business world- just what is the difference between branding and marketing? Both are important, but they have quite different purposes. Branding is communicating a promise to your potential customers, whereas marketing is how you reach them. Think of it like this, a brand is showing who your business is,
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Picture this: you’re a small business owner in your community, trying to make a name for yourself in a world dominated by big corporations. It can be tough to get noticed, let alone compete; but your local town already offers some very effective help. Joining a local chamber of commerce means all kinds of networking
Your Local Chamber of Commerce Read More »
Our CEO @iain massey (aka The Board Bloke®) spent a pleasant and fruitful day at the annual WA Forum of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). Here’s his report: First, if you are wondering how this might be relevant to your SME or non-profit, let’s be clear. The governance, strategy and risk challenges for
WA Forum of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). Read More »
Why are we in business? It’s not the easy road, but hey, it’s worth it. I’ve run my own businesses for most of this century, and I’ve made most of the available mistakes. But I wouldn’t work any other way. Again, why? We get to determine our own path, and craft something that’s truly our
What It Means to Be in Business For Yourself Read More »
The biggest ball-and-chain we see on businesses is not talent, guts, determination or the state of the economy. It’s strategy (and lack of). Strategy is not just for the big companies. We’ve seen far too many business owners struggle because they lacked a clear strategy. A strategy is not a plan (it gives rise to
Unchain Your Business Read More »
People do business with people they know, like and trust – the world over. The more technology we use, the more we treasure our human connectedness. If you want new customers for your business, you must offer people a journey from stranger to knowing, liking and trusting you. Growing and nurturing your network is the
Networking for Business Success Read More »
Being in business is a journey. We grow, we stumble, we learn. If we are lucky, every day brings a chance to develop skills and attitudes, strategies and tactics. At Upland, we distinguish four stages along the journey where change is greatest, and so, of course, are the risks: startup, growth, exit and succession.
Four Stages of the Business Journey Read More »
Grant Thornton Australia just released their 2023 family business survey, called Future-Proofing Your Family Business. It’s a very relevant title, because so many of the benefits of the family business model depend on longevity – the ability to take a “patient capital” view of business investments; the ability to create a legacy for future generations;
Grant Thornton Business Survey – Rehabilitating the Third Generation Read More »
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I was handed a shit sandwich. It was a software project for a government department, central to their mission, and it was months late, over budget, and not yet doing anything useful. The list of problems was getting longer, not shorter, as the team trudged
