Time to write a new chapter on selling
In Pulp Fiction, gangster Marcellus Wallace is preparing Bruce Willis’s character Butch to throw his fight. “Pride only hurts, it never helps,” says Wallace to Butch. As it transpires, Butch doesn’t throw the fight, he wins. Seems pride (and cunning) wins after all....
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Making the most of social media competitions
This is a guest post by Suki Harrison, a marketer who specialises in competitions and giveaways. (See end of article for more on Suki.) I know what you’re thinking, ‘ugh, I hate those stupid tag and share and like and win competitions…’ and you’re right, they’re...
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Addicted to doing
Self-employment is a welcome refuge for people addicted to doing. When you work for yourself doing what you love, work becomes a Catch 22. It’s really easy to work through evenings, weekends, and holidays when you tell yourself that you enjoy work, there’s little...
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Making joy a KPI
Although business has changed dramatically in the last 10 years, some antiquated ideas persist. Like the dichotomy between generosity, service, authenticity and integrity somehow being at odds with earning money in business. Or how work is not meant to be enjoyable or...
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Secrets to winning awesome testimonials (that work!)
Some seven or so years ago, I’d just run my first proper full-day course. A few weeks after the course, I was at a conference and sat down next to a woman who’d attended. “How did you find my course?” I asked brightly. She looked momentarily uncomfortable then said...
read moreCase study: 18 years in business and Blooming!
Fiona Donohue-Bales did one-to-one business coaching with me some four years ago, and participated in our last intake of the Hustle & Heart program, in September 2017. Here’s her story. I began my business around 18 years ago in the year 2000, when my kids were still...
read moreCase study: Executive coaching and workplace wellness
Sharyn Coughlan is an executive coach and workplace wellness consultant, specialising in the not-for-profit sector, who participated in the September 2017 intake of the Hustle & Heart program. This is her story. I decided to do the Hustle & Heart program because I...
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10 lessons over 10 years of self-employment
In February 2008, I found myself gainfully unemployed. I had a vague hope of being self-employed "one day”. But at the ripe age of 28, I thought I’d need more years experience before I could contemplate making this a reality. I’d had a long and extended quarter life...
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Case study: From side gig to full-time new business owner
Nicky Angelone is a yoga and meditation teacher and wellness coach who participated in the September 2017 intake of the Hustle & Heart program. Here’s her story, in her words. At the beginning of 2016, I started teaching yoga classes in my local bayside neighbourhood...
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Demystifying money
When I was a kid, the Dollarmites came to school. You grew up in the 80s in Australia if a Dollarmite bank account was your first foray into the adult world of money. An initiative from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, it was, for many kids, their introduction to...
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Forget charging what you’re worth
“Charge what you’re worth!” seems to be the catch-cry of business coaches the world over. But if you’re keen to earn more this year than what you earned last year, then stop thinking about this phrase. Stop using it, stop believing it. Your self-worth has nothing to...
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New Years goals that make you happy, not Nigel no friends
1. There is no specific income amount that spells success, so stop worrying about it. 2. Your business profit isn’t a signal of your worthiness as a human being, nor your ability to get the dance floor started (which is a most worthwhile skill). 3. However, business...
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