Leader
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!
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 | Stacey Barr
Stacey Barr
Stacey Barr shows business owners how to move their business performance from where it is, to where they want it to be, using powerful, transformational measures.
Measurement is not sexy. But that doesn't make it any less effective: if you want to change the performance of your business, measuring will make it happen faster and easier. That's what Stacey is passionate about - making it fun, easy and faster for people to measure what matters in their business, and take control of its destiny.
Having been a soloist since 1999 - and of course closely measuring the performance of her own business - she truly understands how measuring can leverage your efforts to: find more clients; firmly focus on priorities; get more value for your time, and unlock your business potential.
People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, make them - George Bern
Articles by Stacey
Your business dashboard checklist
14 Feb 10Stacey BarrIf you're serious about taking your business destiny into your own hands, then you've got to measure what matters. And you can start with just one measure. Read more
Comments: 11The one-page strategic plan
10 Jan 10Stacey BarrDoes your strategic plan sit on a shelf gathering dust? If it’s full of abstract goals, vague strategies and useless key performance indicators (KPIs), then I bet it does! Here's how you can create a one page strategic plan. Read more
Comments: 11How a customer engagement survey boosts profits
13 Dec 09Stacey BarrWhy waste time surveying your customers about how satisfied they are with your products and services, when research shows that customer engagement is a far more powerful profit driver than satisfaction? Read more
Comments: 5Business performance measurement
01 Nov 09Stacey BarrMost solo entrepreneurs are "bright idea" junkies who see business performance measurement as tedious and non urgent. Yet wasted time, money and effort can be avoided by learning which bright ideas work and which don't. Read more
Comments: 4The benefits of split testing
20 Sep 09Stacey BarrMeasuring is about knowing how things really are, instead of guessing. But it's also, possibly even more beneficially, about finding out what really works, instead of guessing. Read on to find out more about the benefits of split testing. Read more
Comments: 2Five business processes that drive success
26 Jul 09Stacey BarrBusiness processes are the flows of activities that get things done in your business. Once processes are identified and measured, you can automate, streamline and even redesign them in the best possible ways for your business. Read more
Comments: 12Better sales conversion through measuring
02 May 09Stacey BarrFor better sales conversion, you must eliminate waste. It’s easy to waste too much time and money trying to convert customers and waste revenue from failing to convert customers. To speed up the process, you must measure your Sales Conversion Rate. Read more
Comments: 6Finding time to measure your business results
01 Mar 09Stacey Barr"I know it’s important, but I’m too busy to measure my business results." Sound familiar? Then it’s time to change! Read more
Comments: 7Five measures for micro business success
17 Jan 09Stacey BarrIf you could only measure five results in your micro business, to really ramp up its success, what do you think those five measures would be? Read more
Comments: 7Measuring performance: Are you just guessing?
13 Nov 08Stacey BarrMaybe you’re familiar with the clichés that you get what you measure; you can't manage what you can't measure and what gets measured gets done. Read more
Comments: 6Join the community! It’s free.
Flying Solo is Australia’s micro business community, where thousands of business owners connect, support and network. Become a member today and join in the fun!
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Join us today for a Free Membership or find out more about Profile Membership.