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Making excuses
My daughter is 11 and it seems she is always complaining or making excuses about why she didn’t do something perfectly. I think she is a perfectionist and the complaining acts as a relief valve for her emotions. I want the best for her, and tend to “coach” when I should just listen and be…
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Finance for SME’s
Many people complain that banks don’t support Small and Medium Sized Enterprises. However don’t expect politicians, economists and bankers to come up with the solution to problems besetting SME finance. Residential mortgages are cheap because the risks are relatively easily defined and standardised. Except when they were securitised into some bastard demonic child and sold…
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Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR)
I want a Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR). That’s an electronic record of my current and historic health status, under my control and private to me and the health carer’s I select. Think of it as all your health records in one place in case you ever need it. It turns out my family…
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Trademark, Copyright and Intellectual Property
People get confused between copyright and trademarks. The area of law is called Intellectual Property (IP). Copyright protects the expression of an idea. This includes spoken, written and audio-visual expressions. Hence books, movies, documentaries, photos, recordings, paintings, articles, drawings, poems, songs and music are all covered by copyright (subject to the creators jurisdiction). Trademarks (and…
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Serving on Community Service Boards
Many business people give back by serving on community service boards. This is a great way for worthy organizations to gain from your enthusiasm, skills and talent. It also helps grow your network of advice and support people. Board members of community service organizations have legal responsibilities just like for-profit corporate boards. If you want…
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Five Key Reasons Why Newspapers Are Failing
Bill Wyman wrote a wordy, erudite and brilliant two-piece article at splicetoday.com entitled Five Key Reasons Why Newspapers Are Failing (and part 2). While I haven’t blamed editors and journalists in my post Business Model for News, I do agree with Bill’s assessment of their culpability. Bill’s piece has received some play and is well…
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Business Model for News
Rupert Murdoch has created a stir with his intent to charge for content. Dave Earley wrote a great piece at Earley Edition explaining how it won’t save news media’s business model. What is the core business of news media? They are not in the business of “reporting the news”. News media’s business is to aggregate…
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Strategic Mergers and Acquisitions for Fast Growth Firms
I’m working on a “How To” series on Strategic Mergers and Acquisitions for Fast Growth Firms. It covers the tools, skills and processes needed by firms pursuing acquisitions as a tempting path to growth. This is an audio presentation accompanied by detailed notes, checklists and templates. Strategic Mergers and Acquisitions for Fast Growth Firms, Series…
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Sydney Roller Derby League
One of the world’s fastest-growing sports is making a comeback in the university gyms and school halls of inner-city Sydney. All-girl, flat-track roller derby revival is a punk, post-feminist, grrl power, contact sport with an emphasis on skill and safety. The competitors names reflect their on-track personalities like Miss Biff, Trippy Longstockings, Aprilla the Hun,…
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Telstra and the National Broadband Network
IF you believe mainstream media, Sol Trujillo is the most unpopular man in Australia and Telstra is the most unpopular company [full disclosure: I am the beneficiary of a Telstra shareholding]. I don’t think I’ve ever forgiven Telstra for its monopolistic behaviour back when it was Telecom and I didn’t have a choice of carriers.…