Zern Liew

Sydney, New South Wales
www.eicolab.com.au

I help my clients build beautiful businesses by practically innovating across their Branding, Communications, Processes and Systems.

I bring a unique combination of design thinking, empathy, systems thinking and logical thinking to all my projects. Over more than a decade of work, I have delivered a range of outcomes such as ideas, business process improvements, mentoring, brand development, communications strategies, cross-disciplinary design and web applications to a diverse clientele.

I distil clarity from complexity, and help my clients find authentic solutions to their business challenges. I take a long-term, big-picture, and ethical approach to my work.

I am passionate about bringing humanity and authenticity to the practice of business. My work aims to build a better world through the transformation of business practice as we know it, one business at a time.

Read my blog: www.eicolab.com.au/blog

Zern's memorable quote
"You create your own universe as you go along" Winston Churchill

Articles by Zern

• Reduce stress: Get out of the emergency zone

  Does your business seem to run from one emergency to another? Here’s how to reduce stress, get out of the emergency zone and get your business running smoothly.

  • 03 July 09
  • Zern Liew
  • 2 Comments

• Beyond Selling Information

  The Information Age has turned the intangibles of Data, Information, Knowledge and Ideas into very real careers and livelihoods for many of us. But perhaps it’s time to look beyond selling information.

  • 29 May 09
  • Zern Liew
  • 8 Comments

• Eight common business assumptions

  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.

  • 24 April 09
  • Zern Liew
  • 10 Comments

• What is attraction marketing?

  Conventional marketing has been primarily about one-way push promotion. Attraction marketing offers a more authentic alternative. After decades of sanitised hot air, the opportunity to listen to authentic people is a breeze of fresh air.

  • 13 March 09
  • Zern Liew
  • 10 Comments

• Designing written communication

  When working on a piece of written communication it is easy to focus on the words and overlook the design of the message. Here’s how to craft your message perfectly.

  • 30 January 09
  • Zern Liew
  • 5 Comments

• Eight no-nos of web design

  We all appreciate how a website’s design can help or hinder its effectiveness. Is your site guilty of one or more of these common web design no-nos?

  • 05 January 09
  • Zern Liew
  • 32 Comments

• How your work impacts your self-worth

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

  • 12 November 08
  • Zern Liew
  • 8 Comments

• Problem solving: brainstorming on your own

  In response to an earlier article on problem solving, Heather Smith asked me how I brainstorm on my own. So here’s an overview of the brainstorming process and techniques I use.

  • 08 October 08
  • Zern Liew
  • 7 Comments

• Working styles: Profile of a soloist

  My working style is to pretty much work from anywhere: at home, in cafés, client premises, on planes, trains and in busy food halls. As my work encompasses many of my interests, I let it blend into my life more so than would be comfortable for many.

  • 03 September 08
  • Zern Liew
  • 11 Comments

• Seven layout mistakes to avoid

  Over the years, I have noticed common layout mistakes in documents, web pages and PowerPoint slides. Avoid these mistakes and you'll produce more professional documents.

  • 23 July 08
  • Zern Liew
  • 19 Comments

• Do you run a socially responsible business?

  Running a socially responsible business means consciously managing the social impact of your business - how it relates to you, your clients and your community.

  • 14 May 08
  • Zern Liew
  • 8 Comments

• Problem solving model: Four phases

  Here is an overview of the problem solving model I have used successfully over the years. There are four key phases, each requiring a different set of skills.

  • 09 April 08
  • Zern Liew
  • 6 Comments

• Six useful and inexpensive computer upgrades

  It’s easy to let years go by without reviewing your computer system, even though it provides critical support to your business. As your computer is probably the most indispensable part of your business, it is important to consider computer upgrades.

  • 22 February 08
  • Zern Liew
  • 15 Comments

• Project management: Why projects fail

  As soloists, our work is often project-based. Have you ever wondered why some projects go smoothly and others seem plagued with problems? Here are five reasons why projects can fail and how with good project management these problems can be avoided.

  • 07 January 08
  • Zern Liew
  • 11 Comments

• Communication skills and techniques: Showing empathy

  As part of our lives as solopreneurs, we come across many different people who hold many different view points. To deal effectively with those who have a different opinion to our own, empathy is an important communication technique to develop.

  • 07 December 07
  • Zern Liew
  • 5 Comments

• Creating a professional development plan

  Most large companies provide training and career development support, but as a soloist this is often neglected. Here we look at advantages of both formal and self-directed learning and show you how to create your own professional development plan.

  • 07 November 07
  • Zern Liew
  • 4 Comments

• Do you have a green business?

  The idea of having a green business is very topical at the moment and every change we make to the way we consume resources and reduce waste helps. Here are the green things I do as part of my business practice. What can you do in your business?

  • 21 September 07
  • Zern Liew
  • 13 Comments

• How social capital is good for business

  When social capital, or generosity, is a foundation of your business strategy, it provides huge benefits. It helps build strong relationships with your community and customers, plus when it comes to PR, it beats expensive advertising.

  • 17 August 07
  • Zern Liew
  • 4 Comments

• The basics of logo design

  Your logo is the primary part of your brand identity, so it’s important to make sure it communicates the right message. Here are four key things to bear in mind when looking at logo design.

  • 18 July 07
  • Zern Liew
  • 27 Comments

• Business Branding: The ABC of branding

  ABC, which stands for Actions, Beliefs and Clothing are the basic building blocks of business branding. You have an authentic and strong brand when these three aspects work together harmoniously.

  • 08 June 07
  • Zern Liew
  • 8 Comments

• Get Real: Listening skills and being yourself

  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.

  • 13 April 07
  • Zern Liew
  • 16 Comments

• Do you own a moral business?

  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.

  • 12 February 07
  • Zern Liew
  • 7 Comments

• Managing customer relationships

  To succeed in business today, you need to develop a real relationship with your customers. An authentic approach to managing customer relationships can help you shine through and win out over your competition.

  • 15 December 06
  • Zern Liew
  • 5 Comments

• Exceptional customer service: Having the right attitude

  Every business should care about providing exceptional customer service. But what does that “service” really mean?

  • 10 November 06
  • Zern Liew
  • 4 Comments