Greymouse Education

The John Heine Entrepreneurial Challenge - Your Invited

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 03:20:02 +0000

Start: 12/10/2008 - 00:00

End: 12/10/2008 - 23:59

Timezone: Australia/Brisbane

The John Heine Entrepreneurial Challenge is Australia’s premier new venture competition for tertiary students and you’re invited!

Listen to students from universities around Australia pitch their new ventures to win $10,000 and the right to represent Australia at Global Moot Corp® in Texas, USA

Competition Finals

Free Admission upon pre-registration, register online at www.johnheinechallenge.org
Friday 12 December 2008
10.00am – 2.00pm
Gardens Theatre, QUT Gardens Point Campus

Awards Dinner

How To Grow Your Business Immediately

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 23:27:37 +0000

Case study Authored and Supplied by Sam Brown, owner of the Pet Resort. (Sept 2008)

This Case Study is featured in Business Acumen September 2008 Edition.
Click here to download a copy of the article; Page 1 and Page 2

Building a small business can be challenging and stressful.

When Sam Brown of the Pet Resort began to investigate ways to grow her business on a tight budget, never in a million years did she think that a Call Centre could fit her business model.

After several years of being challenged by the service levels provided by her Pet Resort (particularly having customers not being able to ‘get through’), Sam took a leap of faith that freed her from the ‘day to day’ challenge of managing the phones to being in a place where valuable resources were re-directed to pet-care activities and being in the enviable position where she saved over 40% per year in customer service costs. So what were her challenges?

Google’s business strategy (create free products to sell other products?)

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:27:24 +0000

Google chrome is a new browser released by google.

Their browser is a huge leap forwards for web browsers, speeding up to 400% faster and hardware usage has decreased and security has increased and useability has been increased.

The browser can be downloaded from the internet and is quite small, link here.

What’s amazing about this release is that google has released their browser FREE (OpenSource)
They are showing their source code to anyone who wants to look under the hood.

Lianne, Lady on the Move

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:43:16 +0000

Each year Australian Institute of Management looks at business managers and leaders, identifying and recognising the best in each region & category.

News Flash... OH&S Relief for Interstate Offices

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:08:10 +0000

Welcome news for employers, consistent Occupational Health and Safety regulations across the state boundaries.

Businesses who operate across states will welcome the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) signing an inter-governmental agreement that aims to end inconsistent OHS laws by no later than December 2011.

Get the Facts - Sponsored Migration Event

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:22:00 +0000

F'ree migration seminars for both business and the public

Due to business and public demand, these events are run to unravel the facts from the hype. Listen and learn the rules from experts at this event. No Borders is sponsoring a series of Migration Events that unravel the complexities faced by everyday people.

First event

What: FREE Business Recruitment Seminars

LOOKOUT, LOOKOUT Recession’s About

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 01:55:29 +0000

Just check the news indicators, and decide for yourself.

Retail sales down in Australia, Europe and USA
Interest rates are highest in over a decade.
Share market falling, NAB, ANZ, Suncorp
Property values continuing to fall.

Capital Region Business Expo Presentation - Business Shifts

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:28:16 +0000

Capital Region Business Expo

On Tuesday the 29th of July I will be speaking at the National Convention Centre, Canberra
(event location) as part of the expo organized by
Capital Region Business Expo

You are invited to enjoy my presentation and share the journey into the strategic online busines world.
Visit and click to register to attend my presentation.

How understanding your business rules can improve your profitablity

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:02:49 +0000

What is a BRE?

The Business Rules Engine (BRE) is a software system that executes one or more business rules in a runtime production environment. A BRE can be used in Business Process Automation to significantly streamline the operational efficiency in a business.

A modern BRE is best thought of a rule management system. The rules of a business can change as the business grows or evolves. Certain rules may be applicable within a certain timeframe for example and therefore Business rules need to be updated and managed with the changing needs of the business.

Dismissal due to blood pressure is unlawful

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:18:15 +0000

Dismissal due to blood pressure is unlawful

Employers should always carefully vet any proposal to dismiss an employee because of an impairment. The Federal Court has found an employer unlawfully discriminated when it dismissed an employee with high blood pressure.

Tests of the new employee revealed blood pressure of around 200/110.

The employer claimed it was an inherent requirement of the role that the employee be able to drive a car extensively and enabling the employee to do this would impose unjustifiable hardship on it.

Proposed Changes to the 457 Australian Visa

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:41:49 +0000

Proposed Changes to the 457 Australian Visa

The Rudd Government has just put forward a proposal to soon empower special investigators to enter and search workplaces to ensure employers are not exploiting foreign workers. These changes would create similar powers for investigators to that of the authority that inspectors under the Workplace Relations Act currently have.

Immigration Minister Chris Evans on Monday released a discussion paper seeking stakeholder feedback on proposed reforms to the 457 temporary skilled migrant visa scheme.

Increase Your Income Without Working Harder

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:49:37 +0000

Business Owners - Increase Your Time & Income.

We attended a presentation this week, and again the issue was raised with small business owners wanting a life balance and greater income from their business. During the presentation we shared a successful example of a business owner “recapturing her time”. First we explained how you calculate the value of your personal time.

Your Targeted Income

Would you like to earn $150,000 or $200,000 as an employee or owner of your business?
What is stopping you achieving your personal and business goals?
What do you need to do today?

Temporary Business (Long Stay) - Standard Business Sponsorship (Subclass 457)

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:17:13 +0000

This is the most commonly used program for employers to sponsor overseas workers to work in Australia on a temporary basis. Employers can be either Australian businesses or overseas businesses.

This visa is for employers who would like to employ overseas workers to fill nominated skilled positions in Australia. With this visa a person can employ overseas workers for a period of between three (3) months and four (4) years. The employees are allowed to work in Australia (period between 3 months and 4 years), they may bring an eligible applicant with them and after entering Australia may travel in and out of the country as much as they like.

How To Increase Your Profits - Checklist

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 03:01:32 +0000

Increasing profits can be achieved with little effort. Sound too good to be true...

Often we are asked why our clients suddenly increase profits, and then gaining a higher market value for their business with people knocking at their door. Often they sell the business within 12 months.

So what is the secret?

Here is a checklist that will help you ensure maximum value for your business. It is easy to use this as a working checklist, ensuring you action each section of your business.

Tick off the items as you implement or verify completed.

IT Service Value: When IT doesn't "get it" neither does your business.

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:33:01 +0000

I have several very good friends stateside whom, I would say, hold the stereo typical viewpoint of what IT is and what it does for the business. In my past life, I worked in the IT sector as a software educator in what I called "The Second Silicone Valley" of Orange County California. (Or, "The O.C." to those that have cable television). My wife and I both lived through the dot com bubble days and experienced the opulence of the era by way of a holiday party thrown by the IT company my wife worked for.

In Vegas.

At the Bellagio Hotel! (That's the one with the dancing fountains)

AT NO COST TO US!

The organization in question flew their employees AND spouses to Vegas, put them up in the Bellagio hotel and had a raging (not to mention expensive) year end shindig.

Ahh….the good old days. But, I digress.

Quick Brief on the Australian General Skilled Migration

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:10:33 +0000

After you have entered Australia on a temporary visa under the General Skilled Migration Scheme, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residence under the Skilled Regional Visa.

To be granted this visa, you must have lived for at least two (2) years and worked full time for a total period of 12 months in a Specified Regional Area of Australia before lodging your visa application. Generally, this is the same regional area that sponsored your temporary visa application.

This visa is for you if you hold one of these visas:

Information Technology: What is it really?

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Sun, 11 May 2008 23:26:44 +0000

So what exactly is Information Technology? Many of us, especially those in IT throw the term around a lot without giving much thought as to the meaning of the words. One of the challenges of the "IT" sector is that you will get a different answer depending on who you ask.

Even the internet is confused. A simple "define:Information Technology" search in Google brings up over 25 different but similar definitions. Wikipedia cites the Information Technology Association of America's definition:

Your business at risk?

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Mon, 05 May 2008 22:31:38 +0000

Running a Risky Business?

Businesses deal with a variety of potential risks every day. There's no way you can avoid them.

But Insurance can help you manage risk and reduce its impact. That's especially important for small business owners who have their livelihood closely tied to their business.

PROTECT YOUR ASSETS and REVENUE
One area many small businesses neglect is insurance to cover your assets and revenue. Many have building and contents insurance and motor vehicle insurance but few are aware of the insurance options available to protect your income.

Skills shortage increased, business confidence decreased...

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Fri, 02 May 2008 05:26:41 +0000

New employee’s costing more than ever to recruit, train and retain?
Are you struggling with the growing cost of wages?
Are you lacking business confidence?

You’re not alone...

A survey by the Australian Industry Group and Deloitte found that 68.1 per cent of companies had been curtailed by the skills shortage over the last 12 months.

The labour workforce would need to increase by between 180,000 to 200,000 full-time workers to ease the current skills shortage.

A CHAMP CAMP

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 23:20:20 +0000

Are you a carer for youth at risk aged 15 to 18?
Interested in a nine day intervention in the bush?
A Champ Camp could be your answer!
The purpose of a Champ Camp is to ‘shape a happy future’.

A young doctor treating the Bush Venture Managing Director said “You probably do not remember me, but I came on one of your camps ten years ago – it was the best bit of real education I got during all my years at school and uni! It inspired me to be where I am today.”

A youth at risk who had been on a camp came back for a visit months later and informed his mentors that he had told his girlfriend that he would not return to her until she gave up drugs as nothing was going to drag him down again to the misery that he had experienced before.

A youth who had been to a Champ Camp, and returned to a reunion two months later, shared that he had come off the psychiatric register two weeks earlier and had a good job - all due to the Champ Camp. He now wants to return as a leader.

A young ex SAS officer who had served in Afghanistan visited a Camp and noted that he had come a long way from that student on a Year 10 camp who was convinced that he could not succeed.

Australian Immigration Law - Spouse Visa Part 2…

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:39:01 +0000

Last month we discussed the very basics of Spouse Visas. The primary requirement for any Spouse Visa is that the couple are in a genuine and continuing relationship to the exclusion of all others.

This month we will address how Spouse Visas work with regards to temporary/permanent residency. In addition, we will address how Interdependent partners are viewed in Migration Law. We will not only see how they fit into the category of Spouse Visas but also how they are recognised in other visas.

Promoting complacency: You get what you ask for in your business and IT metrics

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:08:18 +0000

The only way to know if our IT systems and processes are enabling the business is to measure them. When something in business is measured and made the responsibility of management or a group of people, their behaviour changes.

You may not have thought about it but it’s a fact: Metrics change the behaviour of the people being measured. The trick is you changing the behaviour positively or negatively? The secret between whether you will have a positive or negative impact lies in how well the metric is designed.

How a GPS system can make you money

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:15:27 +0000

Ok, by now you are wondering how the hell a GPS system will make you money….

So let me put you straight. I am not talking about a "Global Positioning System."

My GPS system is "Growth Plan for Success."

Let me fill you in, for any size business and any type of product or service offered you WILL need a plan to reach any stage of success.

Success! What exactly is it… it’s a question most people will ask them self more than once through the rollercoaster journey of business. I believe success usually is a result of personal growth and understanding.

Ever wondered how a search engine ranks websites at number one?

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:59:38 +0000

OK, so most business owners these days have a website. Some of them are spectacular pieces of web wizardry and others are a simple one-page affair. The wizzbangery of your website doesn't have to affect its effectiveness.

The simple process of understanding how people use the web can be an effective insight into making your website an automated marketing tool, converting your customers and raising your bottom line.

Today’s article will focus on giving you an understanding of how search engines work so you can work towards the process of generating traffic to your website through search engines.

Australian Immigration Law - Spouse Visa Part 1…

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:09:06 +0000

Under Australian Immigration Law there are a range of visas which facilitate the migration of ‘spouses’ of Australian permanent residents/citizens. Under the category ‘Spouse Visas’ exists 3 different type of visas:-

Spouse Visa
When the sponsor (the Australian permanent resident or citizen) is married to an overseas national.
Prospective Spouse Visa
When the sponsor (the Australian permanent resident or citizen) is engaged to an overseas national.
Defacto Visa
When the sponsor (the Australian permanent resident or citizen) and overseas national have been in a defacto relationship for minimum 12 months

Although there are slight differences amongst the three different types of visas there is an underlying requirement in each and that is that there is a genuine and continuing relationship between the sponsor and visa applicant to the exclusion of all others.

Don’t be scared off by all that brand talk...

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 02:41:58 +0000

A great brand can set your company apart, give you a competitive advantage and encourage loyalty from your customers and staff.

But there is so much lingo associated with brands!
Brand: equity, essence, attributes, benefits, awareness, recall ...

Small business owners can be forgiven for being confused about where all this fits with growing their business and getting leads in the door.

What is ITIL? An economic analogy

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:37:22 +0000

It is no secret that ITIL can be and is a tough sell. Especially to those that have never heard of it. Even tougher still, is explaining it to people who "know" what it is but have been spun around by the vendor spin machine so much that they often don't even know why they bothered in the first place.

One of the biggest issues is it is not easy to explain in one sentence. Most people's attention "IT attention span" only lasts about 40 seconds. I ran into the same problem when I was in the software space. There is no quick way to explain "Field force automation". It's a marketing term and you have to assume the person you are speaking to knows what the heck "Field force" is.

PR shouldn’t cost the earth to get the attention of the world

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 23:00:34 +0000

With most SMEs now identifying the need to incorporate public relations into their marketing mix, many are underestimating their ability to take publicity into their own hands.

If SMEs want to catch and keep the attention of their savvy consumers, they’ve got to do more than send out a press release and keep their fingers crossed in the hopes of some media coverage.

Smaller businesses can learn much from the big players: at some point in their life cycle even they had to rely on cheap but clever ways to get media exposure.

Marketing using your Freeline

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 04:15:33 +0000

Unhappy with your sales performance but not sure why?
Do you have hits on your web site, lots of interest but only a few sales?

I have recently met a number of business people unhappy or confused with their sales results online and sometimes offline. Remember that customers want to trust you before doing business with you. This begs the question. "What are you doing to build your client's trust?"

The Fundamentals of Marketing

noreply@greymouse.com.au (Greymouse) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 23:09:28 +0000

Every business owner shares one thing in common:
The desire to create a stable, steady business that achieves profitability and grows over time.

But not every business owner knows the secret formula that makes that possible.

So what is that secret formula? In a word, it's Marketing.

"But what does the word 'marketing' mean?" you ask. "Is it just getting the word out about my business? Because I've done that, and I can't really see any difference."