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Marketing must have a clear target in sight

CRN From the Coal Face

Machine gun campaigns too pricey for SMBs. From a marketing perspective, one of the most important components is to understand the demographics of your clients. You can’t be all things to all people so don’t try to be. I often see busines…

2012

Weekender Column 17

Helicopter View

After a short hiatus due to the Council elections it is good to be writing the ‘Helicopter View’ again. After poring over results from across the state, I found some interesting comparisons that demonstrate just how different Local Govern…

2012

Newsletter 14: 25092012

TechGenix Newsletters

Lead Article (Self-help topic – SHOW US YOUR TIPS) I am on a family holiday at the moment in the land of Stars and Stripes and one of my ‘Dad behaviours’ is to ask the kids to look for signs, shops and behaviours that are different …

2012

Doctors must heed vITal signs

CRN From the Coal Face

Resisting change will encourage a wave of DIY quackery. I went to my doctor recently and it struck me for the umpteenth time that the profession hasn’t embraced technology. Doctors are typically intelligent people. To study medicine at universi…

2012

Newsletter 13: 28082012

TechGenix Newsletters

Lead Article (Self-help topic – KNOW YOUR BUSINESS) I did some work for a company recently that had a range of different facets to the company. As I spent time understanding their business and the different business units they owned, there was …

2012

Weekender Column 16

Helicopter View

I sat down for a coffee with an acquaintance recently. Inevitably, the conversation came around to my role as Mayor and an offhand comment was made. “It is a pity you aren’t a property developer because being the Mayor you could make some…

2012

Raise your prices to stay ahead

CRN From the Coal Face

Never mind that the economy is feeling rather flat. If you don’t raise your prices you’re dudding yourself. Well the carbon tax is here and Australia, as we know it, still seems to exist. The feedback I have received from businesses aroun…

2012

Daily Liberal Mayoral Column 47: 31 July 2012

Mayoral Column

On 18 August 2005, Linton Besser wrote a story for the Daily Liberal explaining that I was committed to pushing Council to use hybrid vehicles. The hybrid concept was very new at the time (I had purchased one the previous year for my business), the e…

2012

Newsletter 12: 23072012

TechGenix Newsletters

Lead Article (Self-help topic – REGULATIONS ARE GOOD) I recently noticed the Latin that ran across the bottom of the Coat of Arms for the City of Dublin. The city calls this their motto. It is “Obedientia Civium Urbis Felicitas” whi…

2012

Weekender Column 15

Helicopter View

At dinner last night I was speaking with my eight-year-old daughter who gave me a brilliant idea. I will create a new city – pack up my family, find some uninhabited land, and start my city there. The rules will be simple – there will be …

2012

Weekender Column 14

Helicopter View

NIMBY. It is alive and well across the State and possibly one of the reasons that the Minister for Planning, Brad Hazzard, is considering changing the rules when it comes to final approvals for Development Applications (DAs). The Minister would like …

2012

Article 35

MSP Answers

Price to the market I went to my local butcher last week to buy two of his famous ‘family pies’. These are just like a good old-fashioned Aussie meat pie – but big enough to feed a small family. We have a medium-sized family so I ne…

2012

Article 34

MSP Answers

Learning from Masterchef I was a little desperate for entertainment tonight. I wouldn’t normally admit it but it is all for a good cause. I watched MasterChef with the family. Normally reality shows are about as enjoyable as fingernails on a ch…

2012

Newsletter 11: 26062012

TechGenix Newsletters

Lead Article (Self-help topic – PUT YOUR PRICES UP) The beginning of a new financial year brings with it a range of emotions. There can be satisfaction of a successful previous twelve months – or disappointment that targets were missed. I…

2012

Weekender Column 13

Helicopter View

Balance. In all sorts of realms, finding balance is a difficult thing. Balance in work and play. Balance in how you treat different employees and different children. Balance in the amount of sport on TV you watch compared to the amount of reality sho…

2012

Article 33

MSP Answers

Go the extra step – use their name In my last article I wrote about an example of terrible customer service. I hate to focus too much on the negative so I want to give you an example of exemplary customer service. I was in China recently and I …

2012

Weekender Column 12

Helicopter View

The concept of planning and budgeting is a concept that creates one of two extreme reactions. Some people start frothing at the mouth with the excitement of opening up their multi-sheet spreadsheet featuring pivot-tables Bill Gates wouldn’t und…

2012

Newsletter 10: 22052012

TechGenix Newsletters

Lead Article (Self-help topic – DIFFERENT METHODS FOR DIFFERENT MARKETS) One of the most common mistakes I witness when a business expands is assuming that what works in one market will work in other markets. It might seem relatively easy to wo…

2012

Weekender Column 11

Helicopter View

One aspect of local government that I have always admired is that I feel it is the purest form of democracy. Allowing for a few technical qualifications (Australian citizenship and not currently in prison being two), any adult can stand for election …

2012