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What say you?
Do you take on friends/family as customers?
14% - Sure! The more the merrier.
57% - Sometimes, but tread with caution
28% - No, best to avoid wherever possible
Live smart | Business values
In a world where making a profit often rules above all else, it is important for solo business owners to spend
time defining their business values and business ethics. These values can then shape the way your business operates.
This section includes articles on business integrity, the
idealism trap and
business goodwill.
We also explore whether money equals happiness. Money is the prevailing way to keep score in business, but is it
really the best measure of success?
How to be believable
26 Apr 12Lynda BayadaBelievability is an important attribute in selling yourself and your product, but it doesn’t always come naturally. Read more
Comments: 1What would you tell yourself a decade from now?
20 Mar 12Peter CrockerIn our survey, we ask the question “What career/business advice would you give your 15-year old self?” and we had some awesome responses. Read more
Comments: 11Is giving away free advice a thankless task?
14 Mar 12Megan HillsKevin, a fellow soloist, has been experiencing a strange trend over recent months. He’s avoiding helping people. Helping people by giving away free advice, that is. Read more
Comments: 8Uncovering your business values
14 Sep 11Deborah KeepDo you ever find yourself doing something despite the fact you don’t really want to? Or putting something off that you know should be a priority? Here we help you uncover your business values. Read more
Comments: 3Three rules of life
05 Jul 11Peter CrockerYou may not take him for a great philosopher or self-help guru, but I found the rules of life Jerry Seinfeld shared on Denton’s Enough Rope a few years back very inspiring for business and life. Read more
Comments: 25Does your business have a soul?
31 May 11Jayne TancredI’ve always felt that our businesses have souls and, to a degree, a life nad business journey of their own. Does this sound extreme or do you agree? Read more
Comments: 16When sweetness is a weakness
17 May 11Sam LeaderAs a soloist, it’s not enough to be good at what you do, you also have to be a competent business person. But what if you have acres of talent but few business smarts? Read more
Comments: 47Nurturing your most important business relationship
13 Apr 11Zoe RouthYour business relationship, like any other relationship, needs your trust, commitment, an ocean of love and your willingness to grow and adapt. Are you giving your business the love it needs? Read more
Comments: 6The benefits of being copied
09 Nov 10Robert GerrishIf you’re onto something good, it’s likely that sooner or later someone will give it a go, too. Surprisingly, being copied can be good for business. Here’s why. Read more
Comments: 23Honesty in business: Let me be frank
28 Sep 10Peter CrockerBetween political correctness and sucking up, butt-covering, politeness and advertising spin, the big and small business world is awash with meaningless conversations and wasted activity. Does honesty in business exist anymore? Read more
Comments: 28Money and happiness: Are you earning too much money?
03 Aug 10Peter CrockerWhat is the relationship between money and happiness? I recall research from a few years ago that found that at all income levels, people say they would be satisfied if they could get 20% more. Read more
Comments: 9How’s your business karma?
24 Jul 10Gina LofaroIf your networking philosophy is based on give-and-take, here’s a business karma tip that will either be an epiphany for you or have you clicking the heck out of here: give-and-give. Read more
Comments: 11The truth and nothing but
05 May 10Zoe RouthI love reading blogs where folks bare all and speak the deep truth about who they are, and what they really think. Even if it upsets a few people. Read more
Comments: 7Is honesty the best policy?
04 May 10Sam LeaderRecently, I lost a bet and as a result had to be absolutely honest with everyone for a week. It’s been a no bull, no lies and, arguably, no tact time. So how did I go? Is honesty the best policy? Read more
Comments: 26Business transparency: All puff, no substance
02 Nov 09Robert GerrishPreviously I wrote a piece on common mistakes with online business websites and took a swipe at ugly sites designed purely to hook people in. I copped some flack and was accused by some of being precious and superficial. Read more
Comments: 23Work integrity: The soloist’s dilemma
22 Oct 09Amanda GonzalezI’m in business for many reasons. One is to make myself happy, and another is to make others delighted. But what if, to make others happy, I have to compromise my work integrity? Read more
Comments: 14Increasing self awareness by sharing faults
28 Sep 09Sam LeaderIncreasing self awareness is one of my key themes and this week I explore it further by asking you to share the dark side of your personality. Read more
Comments: 5325 lies told by freelancers and clients
12 May 09Noel RangerLiars are everywhere, but they’re hard to spot, even if their pants are on fire. Never fear, I’ve researched the top 25 business lies told by freelancers and clients. Actually, there are only 14, but 25 will attract more RSS and Twitter readers. Read more
Comments: 28Eight common business assumptions
23 Apr 09Zern LiewOver the years, I have heard many interesting beliefs that business people hold about themselves and their business. Here are the most common business assumptions I encounter. Read more
Comments: 10Taxi driver wisdom
23 Feb 09Robert GerrishRecently, I was invited to present at a breakfast meeting. In fact, five of us stood up and spoke, but it’s the taxi driver wisdom I got from my cabbie that morning that’s stuck with me. Read more
Comments: 25How your work impacts your self-worth
11 Nov 08Zern LiewFor those of us who love what we do, our sense of self-worth and work can become intimately intertwined. Read more
Comments: 8Words of wisdom: The things people say
22 Sep 08Robert GerrishSimple, memorable words of wisdom can come from anywhere. Here are some personal favourites. Read more
Comments: 30The naked truth about your business standards
10 Jul 08Karen MorathBy virtue of flying solo I get to hide at home in unthinkable clothes and undone hair and sitting in a mess of an office. Have I let my business standards drop so far that I should fear getting my corporate kit off? Read more
Comments: 6Do you run a socially responsible business?
13 May 08Zern LiewRunning a socially responsible business means consciously managing the social impact of your business - how it relates to you, your clients and your community. Read more
Comments: 8Business reputation: Is yours beautiful?
13 Apr 08Peter MorganSoloists rarely have cause to consider the aesthetics of their business reputation. Business is often regarded as a purely practical and functional activity. So where does the concept of beauty fit and is it possible to create a beautiful business? Read more
Comments: 5Why business integrity is so important
16 Mar 08Peter MorganWhether it’s a massive Enron-type scandal or the unreliable tradesman who doesn’t call back, everyone seems to have an opinion on what integrity is and many examples of what it isn’t. So what is business integrity and why is it so important? Read more
Comments: 5Success in business: Values and fulfilment
10 Feb 08Peter MorganAlthough easily overlooked, we ignore values at our peril as they hold the key to a soloist’s ultimate success in business: personal fulfilment. Read more
Comments: 4Business commitments: Is your word your bond?
19 Nov 07Peter Crocker‘Gumps’, the oldest member of my family, is a 91 year old country stockman. Back in the day, he did big deals on nothing more than a handshake. But it seems business commitments and promises are getting increasingly casual. Is your word your bond? Read more
Comments: 28Finding out what makes your business unique
09 Jul 07Kate JamesI believe when you are willing to put aside your concerns about what other people think and trust your intuition, something magical happens. From there, you can unearth what makes your business unique. Read more
Comments: 5Can your business handle the truth?
28 Jun 07Robert GerrishToo often in business we fail to speak the truth. Instead we say what we think people want to hear and act as we're told to act. What would be the impact on your business if your customer’s knew what you really thought? Read more
Comments: 10New business projects: Do you need to believe?
25 Jun 07Peter CrockerAs soloists, we tend to have a fair bit of influence over what new business projects we take on, and what jobs we let through to the keeper. This is one of soloism's great attractions. Read more
Comments: 5Contentment: Being content with less
18 Jun 07Sam LeaderWhat are your views on contentment? Is it ok to aspire for me or should you be content with less? Read more
Comments: 23Get Real: Listening skills and being yourself
12 Apr 07Zern LiewSome soloists like to adopt different identities at work and at home. But if you avoid being yourself or leave a big part of yourself out of our work, you fail to be authentic. Read more
Comments: 16Do you own a moral business?
11 Feb 07Zern LiewThe phrase 'it's just business' is often used to justify morally questionable behaviour. The immense power business wields over the well-being of this planet makes the issue of morality in business more important than ever. Read more
Comments: 8Are you grateful for what you have?
12 Dec 06Grant HymanIn a world where the boundaries between need and want are blurred, it can be hard to stay grateful for what you have. Recently the importance of being thankful struck home in a major way. Read more
Comments: 13Business principles: The idealism trap
22 Oct 06Paul J. MorrisIt is easy for soloists, particularly new ones, to be aggressively attached to their beliefs and business principles. But what if those beliefs are too limiting? Read more
Comments: 8Business ethics: Do you pass the authenticity test?
21 Feb 06Paul J. MorrisIn these days of people disconnecting from traditional advertising, it's more important than ever to excite your clients with genuine enthusiasm for your product. When it comes to business ethics and authenticity, how does your solo business shape up? Read more
Comments: 6Business goodwill: 12 goodwill questions
13 Dec 05Paul J. MorrisIt's time to review the goodwill performance of your solo business. How will your business measure up? Read more
Comments: 5Money and happiness: Are you a bottom-line slave?
06 Oct 05Paul J. MorrisWhen it comes to “success”, overt wealth is sadly the prevailing measure. The money-is-God dogma prevails: Financial decisions drive government and business actions. Does money equal happiness? Read more
Comments: 5Business values: Rehumanising business
17 Jul 05Paul J. MorrisConventional business may have dominated in the past, but today, soloists must redefine business values. Read on to find out more about rehumanising business. Read more
Comments: 4
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Small Business is Australia's fastest growing sector – this business community site was created for those running a small business of one to five people. Here the solo and micro business owner will find small business forums, a small business directory, free resources, help, tips and advice on: starting a small business; working smarter when working from home; effective small business marketing; small business networking; the solo psyche; staying balanced as a small business owner; small business technology advice and small business finance tips.
