Member Spotlight
We are a small online retailer that sells gorgeous babies and children’s bed linen and homewares to Australian mums. Read more
| Marketplace |
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What say you?
Do you take on friends/family as customers?
16% - Sure! The more the merrier.
50% - Sometimes, but tread with caution
33% - No, best to avoid wherever possible
Live smart | Work styles
One of the joys of running your own business is the fact that you
can develop your own work styles without having to compromise them to toe the corporate line. You have the option to
mix solo business with
employment, set your own working
hours and make your own rules.
In this section fellow soloists share what work styles have and haven’t worked for them. If you fancy a laugh,
check out Noel Ranger’s article testing
the theory of whether or not you can run a business from the
beach.
Risky business
17 Jan 12Jayne TancredWhile I’m starting the New Year with excited optimism, a friend facing redundancy is wondering how he’ll support his children. Read more
Comments: 28How soloists can make the best music
10 Jan 12Robert GerrishA couple of months ago I witnessed an incredible performance of a group of musicians performing songs I thought I knew. We can do the same with our work. Read more
Comments: 5Dream or details: where’s your focus?
13 Jul 11Deborah KeepAre you a big picture thinking person or a details person? Your ability to switch between these extremes impacts your productivity and results. How do you create a healthy balance? Read more
Comments: 1Hot-desking for soloists
23 May 11Alicia VaughnAre you one of those soloists who is most efficient and effective when you sit quietly in your home office and get things done? Or do you prefer hot-desking? Read more
Comments: 17Do working holidays work?
10 May 11Peter CrockerI’ve previously written about a copywriter who’d take extended working holidays where he’d write each day from 5am to 12pm before joining his family for lunch and sightseeing. But can it really be done? Read more
Comments: 34Creating a business you love
02 May 11Kate JamesWhenever I’ve engaged a business coach, we’ve spent most of our time working towards taking my business to the next level. But one thing has always been missing. Read more
Comments: 17False economy: Splurge or skimp?
05 Apr 11Jayne TancredIt’s natural for soloists to watch the pennies, but I’ve been wondering: are there times when skimping is a false economy? Read more
Comments: 27“It’s absolutely the pits!” Michael Gerber’s take on soloism.
01 Mar 11Robert GerrishI was stoked to get the man behind the E-Myth into the video studio recently, but in this second interview Michael Gerber shows he’s not one of us. Poor guy. Read more
Comments: 47Why leaving your desk is good
13 Oct 10Robert GerrishIn this video, Robert Gerrish talks about finding the right head space to create ideas. Read more
Comments: 7Anatomy of Australia’s micro business owner
22 Jun 10Peter CrockerThanks to your generous participation, we recently published the results of Australia’s largest micro business survey Understanding Micro Business, 2010-2011. So what does it reveal about us micro business owners? Read more
Comments: 4Humour at work: Are you having a laugh?
28 Mar 10Peter CrockerIf you take your business seriously, then it may be time to lighten up. Adding a dash of humour at work can be a seriously powerful and often underestimated tool. Read more
Comments: 23Three types of holiday: Which are you?
03 Aug 09Peter CrockerFor small business owners, holidays can be hard work. Do these scenarios sound familiar? Read more
Comments: 14How will a sea change affect your business?
08 Feb 09Trish WestonThe decision to make a tree or sea change is relatively easy. But have you thought through how your solo business might be affected by such a move? Read more
Comments: 12Interview with Don Angel, World Wide Business Group
06 Nov 08Sam LeaderThe ABC has been following small businessman Don Angel's exploits via the hit TV show Very Small Business. We sat down with Don to gather his unique insights on running a small business. Read more
Comments: 8Organic business: Why I’ve gone organic
18 Sep 08Trish WestonAs a soloist, I’ve struggled to find the right amount of structure to keep my business fresh, enjoyable and with a healthy cash flow. I have discovered over time that the organic business approach works best for me. Read more
Comments: 19From part-time to full-time soloist
09 Sep 08Megan HillsWhen Karen Morath wrote about what it’s like going from full-time soloist to part-time employed a swarm of soloists sent their condolences. I’ve recently had the inverse experience, giving up my part-time job to become a full-time soloist. Read more
Comments: 5Working styles: Profile of a soloist
02 Sep 08Zern LiewMy working style is to pretty much work from anywhere: at home, in cafés, client premises, on planes, trains and in busy food halls. As my work encompasses many of my interests, I let it blend into my life more so than would be comfortable for many. Read more
Comments: 12Flexible working arrangements
28 Jul 08Sam LeaderOne of the things I love about being a soloist is the flexibility. I’m not alone in this, obviously, but I was reminded recently about how important flexible working arrangements are to me. Read more
Comments: 23Flexible working hours: The end of weekends?
16 Jun 08Sam LeaderIn a slew of Friday emails to our lovely contributors, I signed off with ‘Have a great weekend.’ I have since realised it’s a bit of a silly thing to say to a soloist with our flexible working hours. Read more
Comments: 31Work styles: From solo to employed
03 Apr 08Karen MorathI have sold out! For the first time in fifteen years, I have changed work styles and have a proper job. It’s part time, but it means I am no longer just flying solo. Read more
Comments: 16Can you run a business from the beach?
27 Feb 08Noel RangerInspired by those cheesy images of freelancers working blissfully from the beach, I took a towel, sunnies, big straw hat and my trusty laptop down to the beach to write my Flying Solo article in the sun. Here’s the unedited result. Read more
Comments: 20How to make the most of August: The importance of gratitude
31 Jul 07Karen MorathWhen the Dalai Lama visited Australia, he delivered a strong message about the importance of gratitude. This really got me thinking about the way I live my life. I’m a soloist. Why? Read more
Comments: 13Mixing solo business with employment
29 Jul 07Trish WestonMost of us reckon our solo business ought to provide all our work, career and financial needs. But rather than going it alone all the time, maybe there are benefits to mixing your business with part time employment. Read more
Comments: 14Solo business brand positioning - it's "I" not "we"
31 Jul 06Yaro StarakSolo business owners have an opportunity to build real relationships with customers. This gives us a genuine competitive advantage. So it's time to say goodbye to the idea of projecting the brand positioning and attitude of a big business. Read more
Comments: 15
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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.
