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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?


Sending the elevator back down

08 Jan 13 | Sam Leader

I love the saying “first world problems”. I use it to describe my supposed woes, which currently include dodgy internet, overwhelm from busy-ness and running out of PG Tips tea. Read more

Comments: 19

How to be believable

26 Apr 12 | Lynda Bayada

Believability is an important attribute in selling yourself and your product, but it doesn’t always come naturally. Here are some tips on how to be believable. Read more

Comments: 1

What would you tell yourself a decade from now?

20 Mar 12 | Peter Crocker

In 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: 11

Is giving away free advice a thankless task?

14 Mar 12 | Megan Hills

Kevin, 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: 12

Uncovering your business values

14 Sep 11 | Deborah Keep

Do 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: 3

Three rules of life

05 Jul 11 | Peter Crocker

You 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: 25

Does your business have a soul?

31 May 11 | Jayne Tancred

I’ve always felt that our businesses have souls and, to a degree, a life and business journey of their own. Does this sound extreme or do you agree? Read more

Comments: 16

When sweetness is a weakness

17 May 11 | Sam Leader

As 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: 47

Nurturing your most important business relationship

13 Apr 11 | Zoe Routh

Your 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: 6

The benefits of being copied

09 Nov 10 | Robert Gerrish

If 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: 23

Honesty in business: Let me be frank

28 Sep 10 | Peter Crocker

Between 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: 28

Money and happiness: Are you earning too much money?

03 Aug 10 | Peter Crocker

What 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: 9

How’s your business karma?

24 Jul 10 | Gina Lofaro

If 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: 11

The truth and nothing but

05 May 10 | Zoe Routh

I 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: 7

Is honesty the best policy?

04 May 10 | Sam Leader

Recently, 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: 27

Business transparency: All puff, no substance

02 Nov 09 | Robert Gerrish

Previously 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: 23

Work integrity: The soloist’s dilemma

22 Oct 09 | Amanda Gonzalez

I’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: 14

Increasing self awareness by sharing faults

28 Sep 09 | Sam Leader

Increasing 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: 53

25 lies told by freelancers and clients

12 May 09 | Noel Ranger

Liars 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: 28

Eight common business assumptions

23 Apr 09 | Zern Liew

Over 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: 10

Taxi driver wisdom

23 Feb 09 | Robert Gerrish

Recently, 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: 25

How your work impacts your self-worth

11 Nov 08 | Zern Liew

For those of us who love what we do, our sense of self-worth and work can become intimately intertwined. Read more

Comments: 8

Words of wisdom: The things people say

22 Sep 08 | Robert Gerrish

Simple, memorable words of wisdom can come from anywhere. Here are some personal favourites. Read more

Comments: 30

The naked truth about your business standards

10 Jul 08 | Karen Morath

By 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: 6

Do you run a socially responsible business?

13 May 08 | Zern Liew

Running 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: 8

Business reputation: Is yours beautiful?

13 Apr 08 | Peter Morgan

Soloists 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: 5

Why business integrity is so important

16 Mar 08 | Peter Morgan

Whether 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: 5

Success in business: Values and fulfilment

10 Feb 08 | Peter Morgan

Although 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: 4

Business commitments: Is your word your bond?

19 Nov 07 | Peter 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: 28

Finding out what makes your business unique

09 Jul 07 | Kate James

I 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: 5

Can your business handle the truth?

28 Jun 07 | Robert Gerrish

Too 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: 10

New business projects: Do you need to believe?

25 Jun 07 | Peter Crocker

As 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: 5

Contentment: Being content with less

18 Jun 07 | Sam Leader

What are your views on contentment? Is it ok to aspire for me or should you be content with less? Read more

Comments: 23

Get Real: Listening skills and being yourself

12 Apr 07 | Zern Liew

Some 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: 16

Do you own a moral business?

11 Feb 07 | Zern Liew

The 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: 8

Are you grateful for what you have?

12 Dec 06 | Grant Hyman

In 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: 13

Business principles: The idealism trap

22 Oct 06 | Paul J. Morris

It 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: 8

Business ethics: Do you pass the authenticity test?

21 Feb 06 | Paul J. Morris

In 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: 6

Business goodwill: 12 goodwill questions

13 Dec 05 | Paul J. Morris

It's time to review the goodwill performance of your solo business. How will your business measure up? Read more

Comments: 5

Money and happiness: Are you a bottom-line slave?

06 Oct 05 | Paul J. Morris

When 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: 5

Business values: Rehumanising business

17 Jul 05 | Paul J. Morris

Conventional 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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