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Unclaimed money
There's a frightening amount of money unclaimed and awaiting collection, about $458 million at last count. Are you one of the 500,000 Australians who’s owed something? Find out here. 
How to write a mission statement
This video by Dan Heath over at Fast Company shows you exactly how the mission statement of a small business goes from tasty to terrible in one brainstorming session.
Just how much are meetings costing you?
This basic, but very effective tool easily gives you the answer. Simply tell it how many people are in attendance, their daily rate and the clock starts ticking. Very, very scary! 
Any procrastinating writers here?
Thought so. This little site is a corker. Select how many words you're trying to write, your deadline and punishment mode and you'll get some pretty sharp reminders if you start to slack off. 
Need a financial health check?
Superannuation advice, budget planners and tips for saving are all on offer at the Understanding Money website. This Government operated site provides real back to basics information on how to, err, understand money. 
Font of all knowledge
Not sure what your default font should be? This site is sure to help. Simply paste in some text, choose from hundreds of different fonts and take your pick! 
Feeling demotivated?
The motivation industry has had its day in the sun. How's this for a contradictory view? Despair.com's demotivators claim to 'increase success by lowering expectations.'
Office pod
We want one. Well half a dozen, actually. These office pods have got to be the coolest little workspaces we’ve seen. They look so yummy in the garden.
18 smokin' hot business cards
If you’re just starting up or looking to redesign your business cards, here is a wealth of inspiration from our friends at Freelance Switch.
Wordle on the street
This cool free tool at www.Wordle.net generates funky looking word clouds based on your website or selected text. You can even try different colour schemes and layouts.
Hot or cold?
Stay up to date with the climate debate on this site. Great for those pro action and sceptics, it lists calls to action and dissenting voices from around the world.
Are you free?
If you struggle getting small groups of people together for a meeting, this little gizmo may help. It certainly saves on the email tennis.
Get help from the crowd
The Flying Solo forums are where you can talk and network freely. If you're looking for help, seeking a referral, or just itching to share some news or knowledge, there's a mob of supporters here.
Someone trying to empty your pockets?
SCAMwatch will help you recognise, report and protect yourself from scams that target you or your small business.
Want to get your articles out there?
ArticlePR features a free list of article submission sites or article banks, to which you can submit your articles in order for them to be distributed far and wide.
Keep it simple, silly
More often than not, a soloist’s life is about multi tasking and coping with complexity. If this sounds like you, our friends at Freelance Switch have some worthwhile tips: 10 Ways to Simplify Your Freelance Life.
Calling all Flying Solo fans!
If you're an active networker or involved in any small business groups, we'd love you to get involved in our snappy little promotional program. Find out more. 
Who's following you?
Twitter fans may like Twittersheep, which tells you which kinds of folk are following you. Give it a go! 
When it all gets too much
When it all gets too much. A big thanks to web developer, Simon for this little gem. Apparently it’s where he heads when clients drive him nuts.
Save (on) your energy
Make It Cheaper provides a free service that helps you ditch and switch energy providers. There’s a handy blog with money saving tips, too.
Have you read our manifesto?
If you've yet to read Flying Solo the book, have a read of the Soloist's Manifesto to get a feel for what it's about. Alternatively, browse some reader reviews.
Anatomy of Australia’s micro business owner
Flying Solo’s Understanding Micro Business, 2010-2011 – Australia’s largest micro business survey takes the pulse of this critical business sector. Download the results now.
Get projects over the line
If you admire 'The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People' (and who wouldn't?) and recognise you need some assistance to get over the finish line, this online goal tracker may well appeal.
Text for dummies
Ever wondered where to find that dummy text used by designers? The answer is here. Given it's a practice that's been around since the 1500s, this may not be the original source!
Impress your TED friends
There's no doubt that TED is a wonderful resource and we love it, but FORA is pretty awesome too. Enjoy a short movie with your morning tea.
Please help us spread the word!
If you enjoy your time on Flying Solo, you may like to tell others. Here are a number of ways you can do just that. The larger we get, the greater the combined wisdom. Thanks!
What say you?
Become a member
Join Flying Solo and start promoting your business in our member directory; post comments on articles and dive into the lively forum discussions. It's quick, free and easy. Join the community now!
Profile | Megan Tough
Megan Tough
In business it's not just what you do, it's how you do it that makes the difference. At Complete Potential we help people focus on both.
Complete Potential is a Sydney based consultancy that helps organisations develop their business and their people. Our areas of expertise include business strategy and growth, leadership skills, developing teams, personal style and skills, performance management, business planning and communication.
We design, develop and deliver tailored programs and workshops for business and corporate clients - and we have a lot of fun doing it! Our mission is simple: to help people perform to their best, and to enjoy themselves while they are doing it.
As long as you can laugh at yourself you will never cease to be amused - Unknown
Articles by Megan
Seven steps to improve productivity
17 Nov 09Megan ToughDo you have too much to do and never enough time to do it? This could be a problem of your own making. Try these seven steps to improve productivity. Read more
Comments: 9Tips to create standard business procedures
06 Oct 09Megan ToughThe more soloists can create standard business procedures for what they do, the more efficient, productive and consistent they will be. Activities that can be proceduralised are often low cost and result in big payoffs. Read more
Comments: 10Embracing change in your solo business
02 Jun 09Megan ToughWhether it's a simple process amendment or a total rethink of strategy, change is inevitable in our business. However, handling change can be a real challenge. Here are some tips to make it easier. Read more
Comments: 8Choosing a PC when there is too much choice
24 Mar 09Megan ToughIn the coming months, we will be upgrading our home computer. Sounds simple, until I asked my partner what functionality he wanted in the new upgrade. Decision making can be difficult when there is too much choice! Read more
Comments: 23The Slow Movement: Simplify your life
13 Jan 09Megan ToughWhy do so many of us work too hard, live too fast and feel as though there are never enough hours in the day? Making a change to a slower, quieter, less busy life is a choice, but one which is within reach of all of us. Read more
Comments: 5Why I don't send Christmas cards to clients
07 Dec 08Megan ToughI spent two years religiously sending Christmas cards to my clients and contacts. But in 2006 I just stopped. Let me explain why. Read more
Comments: 13Tips for managing invoices
03 Jul 08Megan ToughOver the years I’ve trialled different ways of managing the paper flow in my own office. I’ve found managing invoices to be something that needs extra care. Read more
Comments: 3Success at speed networking
25 May 08Megan ToughIf you haven’t been to a speed networking event, I urge you to give one a go. You get to formally meet and follow up with 20 to 30 people and have fun at the same time. Here’s how speed networking works. Read more
Comments: 25Getting a motivation hit
20 Apr 08Megan ToughSoloists love the freedom and control working alone gives us. However, recently I was reminded of how much I missed spending a day 'at work' with other human beings, and how working with others is a great way to get a motivation hit. Read more
Comments: 10Mobile phone etiquette
28 Mar 08Megan ToughIt’s my observation that shortly after the mobile phone was introduced to society, we rewrote the book on manners. Here are seven things about mobile phones and their usage that really set me off: Read more
Comments: 0Career decisions: The perfect job fantasy
29 Jan 08Megan ToughWho says there’s one perfect job or one ideal client out there for you? In reality, there are many great roles out there for everyone. In this article I explain why it is important to have a realistic approach when making career decisions. Read more
Comments: 6Ten tasks for the festive season
20 Dec 07Megan ToughIf you're expecting some downtime over the holidays and you are, like most soloists, not great at switching off, check out these ideas for making the most of your spare time. Read more
Comments: 5Taking control of your all-in-one device
29 Nov 07Megan ToughAll-in-one phone, email and internet devices have a bad reputation for taking over your life. But they can be used to your advantage, if you are willing to set the right boundaries. Here are the ways I get the most out of my gadget. Read more
Comments: 7When reading is bad for you
25 Oct 07Megan ToughIt is assumed that there are many benefits of reading, but are there some instances when reading can be a waste of time? Is reading a double-edged sword? What do you think? Read more
Comments: 11Viral marketing campaigns: How do they work?
23 Sep 07Megan ToughYou’ve probably heard of viral marketing, but what actually is it and how do viral marketing campaigns work? Read on to find out how to apply the principles to your business. Read more
Comments: 3Making the right career choice
20 Aug 07Megan ToughMaking the right career choice can be a difficult process. By focusing first on what we value in life rather than on job specifications, our career choice will become much clearer. Read more
Comments: 8Innovation tools: How to think innovatively
22 Jul 07Megan ToughMost of us are used to thinking in logical and rational ways - in fact our business demands it! So how do we go about thinking innovatively? Here are some simple innovation tools to bring new ideas into your business. Read more
Comments: 4Promotional giveaways: How to create a Value Add product
24 Jun 07Megan ToughWhy take your depth of knowledge for granted, when you can turn that information into promotional giveaways that add value to your clients? Here's how to create what can become a powerful marketing tool for your business. Read more
Comments: 1Seven steps to overcoming procrastination
27 May 07Megan ToughProcrastination isn’t a long term strategy, but sometimes us soloists treat it as though it is! If you're constantly putting things off that need to be done, then read on for ways to overcome procrastination and get you off the avoidance treadmill. Read more
Comments: 8Generating new business: Lessons learned from a slow period
23 Apr 07Megan ToughI know the occasional slow period is a normal part of life as a soloist, but when one hit recently, I was unprepared for the anguish I'd feel when not generating new business! Fortunately I now know a short amount of down time is not a disaster. Read more
Comments: 17Business networking groups: Have you reviewed your networking schedule?
25 Mar 07Megan ToughNetworking can be a significant investment of money and time, so it makes sense to analyse whether you should continue to belong to your various business networking groups. This doesn’t take long – you just need to answer a few simple questions. Read more
Comments: 5Why informal communication styles work
25 Feb 07Megan ToughFor years, experts have been telling us it is essential to adopt a formal, professional communication style. But I believe it is way more powerful to drop the formality and add some humanity back into communication. Read more
Comments: 7Get out of your comfort zone!
21 Jan 07Megan ToughComfort zones are insidious. They keep us doing the same old things, the way we’ve always done them. After all, when was the last time you thought about taking your business to new and heady heights, but didn’t actually get any further? Read more
Comments: 9Online backup solutions for your business
10 Dec 06Megan ToughOnline backup solutions are a good option for those looking to protect their business' critical information. Here's an overview of how they work. Read more
Comments: 15The art of getting a business referral
17 Oct 06Megan ToughEvery business needs a few influential people willing to speak glowingly about what you do and regularly send a business referral or two your way. Here’s how to cultivate these gems so both parties get great value from the relationship. Read more
Comments: 3Is it time to organise your office and desk?
24 Sep 06Megan ToughIs your office or desk packed with excess clutter? Do things need to be consolidated or trimmed down? If so, it's time to organise your office and desk to gain some power back. Read more
Comments: 3Tips to get your marketing plan moving
03 Aug 06Megan ToughWouldn’t it be great if your overall marketing plan was streamlined and got the results you wanted? To get to this point requires effort and sometimes, we just can't motivate ourselves to move forward. Read more
Comments: 4Marketing advice: what not to do
02 Jul 06Megan ToughNone of us want to struggle with marketing, and yet it continues to create problems for many solo professionals. Here's seven pieces of solo and small business marketing advice that reveal common marketing mistakes. Read more
Comments: 4Setting big hairy long and short term business goals
18 May 06Megan ToughIn the heady arena of business strategy, consultants find wonderful acronyms for the work they do. Let me introduce one to you. It’s the BHAG – the Big Hairy Audacious Goal! Read on to find out more about setting long and short term business goals. Read more
Comments: 8Ways of dealing with stress at work
03 Apr 06Megan ToughDealing with stress at work can be a good thing up to a point, as the extra energy can increase our performance. But what can you do when it becomes too much and performance starts to drop off? Read more
Comments: 0How one business process improvement saves me hours
14 Feb 06Megan ToughWe all have at least one business process that is consistently inconsistent. It’s the one where you just change this bit for one client, this bit for another. If you've ever over-customised, it could be time to systemise your processes. Read more
Comments: 5Seven tips on how to write marketing articles
04 Jan 06Megan ToughIn a previous article, Promoting your business using article marketing we looked at the benefits of writing marketing articles to generate new business. Which is all well and good as long as you have something to write about – right? Read more
Comments: 7Business communication: less is more
20 Nov 05Megan ToughIt may seem counter intuitive, but tearing yourself away from business communication tools like internet and email can actually make you more productive. Read more
Comments: 9Ten tips on how to start your own business
26 Oct 05Megan ToughIf you want your new solo business to flourish, it makes good sense to review these tips on how to start your own business. Read more
Comments: 12How to deal with project scope creep
11 Oct 05Megan ToughThose of us trying to move away from charging an hourly rate can suffer when clients expect more than initially agreed. So how can you avoid project scope creep? Read more
Comments: 10A brand new approach to writing a business plan
22 Sep 05Megan ToughA business plan is an essential documents that we are all meant to have, right? So why do so many solo professionals not have one? Here's a new approach to writing a business plan. Read more
Comments: 0Promoting your business using article marketing
04 Sep 05Megan ToughIf you run and promote your own business, you have expertise in at least one area and other people may just want to read about it. Promoting your business using articles (like this one) is a cost effective way of building profile and credibility. Read more
Comments: 4Setting boundaries to reduce stress
07 Aug 05Megan ToughPutting your foot down remains a challenge for lots of soloists, but setting boundaries is a great way to reduce stress and limit how often we overwork. Read more
Comments: 5Ten strategies for dealing with anxiety in business
24 Jul 05Megan ToughIf you think there aren't enough hours in the day and need a hand dealing with anxiety in business, these tried and tested tips will help you work smarter and manage time more effectively. Read more
Comments: 2Pricing strategies: Hourly rates? No thanks!
07 Jul 05Megan ToughMost independent professionals use hourly rates as a pricing strategy. Yet charging for your services this way can lead to mediocre business success. Read more
Comments: 21Join the community! It’s free.
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