http://www.thebusinessreferralsclub.com.au

Stefan Boni from Elite Pest Control and Carpet Cleaning sees termites most days. While physical barriers are the best deterrent, many houses fail to keep vegetation away from houses; keep timber up against the house, with the consequences of termite ingress. For all your pest inspections, and termite treatments, call Stefan on 5497 8253

Paul Brennan from Brennans Solicitors on 07 5438 8199 provides legal services, conveyancing, IP protection law on the Sunshine Coast. Paul spoke of his childhood. His mother died suddenly when he was 10, and his father, an ex-Spitfire pilot turned policeman, died a year later. Paul was brought up by family, and from his personal experience the lack of a will creates many problems. Paul says you cannot plan for everything, but the best Christmas gift you can give anyone this year is a will for both parents of your children.  For creation of your will call Paul today.

Peter Thompson from Insurance Advisernet who provides business insurance on the Sunshine Coast including Public Liability, Professional Insurance, Life and business continuity insurance says all businesses have to re-evaluate how they manage customers and continue to hold them and increase customers in tough times.

10 years ago, Wayne learnt the story of referrals and a business that keeps on working. Provide marketing material that gives 1000′s of impresssions. This was well before the PPC (Pay per click) on Google Adwords that return 1 to 3% conversion to customers. He bought a sticker machine a few years ago and now produces stickers and other marketing material at short notice (within the day) at reasonable prices. Wayne showed a range of easy to order products which keep your business name and contact details in front of your customers. Email Wayne on FM104.6 for your love dedication, or call Wayne on 07 5442 3341

Greg from GK Painters has recently been accredited and become part of the GreenPainters, an iniative to provide zero VOC and zero carbon. Greg provides reliable painting services to the Sunshine Coast. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary, room-temperature conditions. Their high vapor pressure results from a low boiling point, which causes large numbers of molecules to evaporate or sublimate from the liquid or solid form of the compound and enter the surrounding air. An example is formaldehyde, with a boiling point of –19 °C (–2 °F), slowly exiting paint and getting into the air. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary, room-temperature conditions. Their high vapor pressure results from a low boiling point, which causes large numbers of molecules to evaporate or sublimate from the liquid or solid form of the compound and enter the surrounding air. An example is formaldehyde, with a boiling point of –19 °C (–2 °F), slowly exiting paint and getting into the air

Goals are hard to do. That’s why few ever do them. Why are they so hard? Too complicated, too busy. Here is a simple Goal setting document which asks for only 3 personal goals that you want to focus on over the next 3 years, and 3 business goals. 5 questions on how to achieve them. They are SMART (stated, measurable, achievable, realistic and time boxed). Have a go, download this file and fill it out.

Rod Hurst from The Unfair Adavantage is a business coach on the Sunshine Coast providing business coaching to the businesses.  Hugh Butler from the Wizard Trader develops software for share trading software.

Lance Milne Electrical at Palmwoods on 5442 2460 does electrical servicing for both domestic and industrial clients on the Sunshine Coast.

Mike grew a short distance furniture moving business into a professionally managed enterprise that today turns over $30 million a year with over 500 employees, known as MiniMovers. In recent years Mike started mentoringand growing other businesses. Recently he completed a 3 year program studying Entrepreneurship at MIT in Boston USA.  All this has given Mike a “practical” sense on how to GROW a Business.   Along the way Mike realised the way “business” is taught at University’s creates great “managers”, and how business is encouraged in the myriad of smaller courses actually restricts the growth potential of MOST business owners. In Mikes estimation 90% of Business Owners only “own a job”. The secret of business growth lies in developing the right strategy.

Great talk, great ideas.

Download the short precis of his talk here.  Mike OHagan Bootstrapping Worlds Best Value

Is Facebook for your business.  Chrissy Withers from Lime Social Media from the Sunshine Coast assists businesses who want to use Facebook for business and can steer you in the right direction by asking some simple questions about your business and customers.

Bli Bli Stationery owners Mark Stephens purchased their newsagency 4 years ago.  With the GFC and the changing move from retail to online, Bli Bli Stationery now provides reasonably priced business and office stationery to local businesses on the Sunshine Coast.  Go to www.bliblistationery.com.au for competitive office supplies delivered next day.

The Sunshine Coast doesn’t need another business owner – but we do need entrepreneurs!

The Business Referral Club presents entrepreneur Mike O’Hagan, owner of multi-million dollar enterprise ‘MiniMovers’. Mike has a simple message for local businesses: Don’t be misled into owning a job, think like an entrepreneur and you WILL see endless opportunities. Are you a local business owner concerned about the current economic climate? Are you beating your head against a brick wall feeling like you’re treading water? Think differently and do it differently is the message Mike O’Hagan is sending Sunshine Coasters.

Mike O’Hagan will be sharing how most people in business are misled into owning a job, when Australia really needs entrepreneurs. He says “Never in 30 years of business have I ever seen as many opportunities to start and grow real business as now – especially in great areas to live like the Sunshine Coast – and never have I seen so much misinformation diverting business owners’ attention away from what’s really happening”

Listen here for interview with Mike O’Hagan, interviewer Kellie Angelique from Sunshine Coast MixFM

Here are comments from club members representing a cross section of business on the Sunshine Coast:

We all need to be a little more positive (and not read the negativity in the papers) spend a little more and it will all go around to be a stronger coast economy, be, think and act positively.  Grant Keating, President Accountant, Keating & Associates

The arrival of Mike O’Hagan’s presentation couldn’t be timelier. A lot of the ‘talk on the Coast’ is that times are tough and businesses are struggling under the economic crisis. Think out of the box? I can do that.  Kellie Angelique, Vice President Onyx Media Messages On-Hold

Warren Buffet is quoted “I will tell you how to become rich. Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful.”  With the downturn on the Coast right now and all the doom and gloom, now is as good a time to start a business.  So we did. Hugh Butler, Secretary Entrepreneur, The Wizard Trader.

Time is a limited resource, so we need to work smarter not necessarily harder.  Small business owners need to focus more on working on the business, not in the business – which is a thought often lost in tougher economic conditions. Lee Priem, Treasurer Bank Manager, Bank of Queensland

I believe this is as true now as it was when The Magic of Thinking Big was written in the 50s after the depression years. Wayne Knetter, Promotional products, 4CP

Many do ‘own a job’ on the Coast, however opportunities are definitely there for those that are bold, innovative and dare to make changes. Tony Jannides, Bookkeeper, AccountsPro

At present, everybody seems to be keeping their heads down but the Sunshine Coast especially Kawana has great potential. Paul Brennan, Lawyer, Brennans solicitors

Drive your own destiny, tap into your imagination, reap the rewards from your know how. Eddie Peel, fridge repairer “Fridge on Today”.

The time for action is today, yesterday has gone and tomorrow is a dream. Anna Seale, business coach “Inspired leadership”

You can’t do today’s job with yesterday’s methods and be in business tomorrow. Zane Wood, plumber, “Woods Plumbing”

The poor, the unsuccessful, the unhappy, the unhealthy, are the ones who use the word tomorrow the most. To make things happen you must do it today! Rod Hurst, business coach “The Unfair Advantage”

Business is still steady, but the economy needs to be beaten into shape. Mark Campbell, panel beater

Business is down, people are cautious but signs are good for the future Bryan Bruce Sign painter, Bryan Bruce Signs

Business is floating but you must be positive and innovative to prosper Edwin De bruyns, Antenna and TV repairs

About the event

This must see presentation and networking event will be held on October 13^th at The Headland Park Golf Club to get underway at 7am. Join the friendly members of the Business Referrals Club as they welcome the ‘been there, doing it” kind of guy, Mike O’Hagan.

To avoid disappointment secure a spot today. Call Tony Jannides on 0419 768 104 or register at www.mikeohagan.eventbrite.com. Venue: Headland Park Golf Club, Golf Links Rd

Cathy Robinson from Suncity Travel has cruise and cheap airfare specials at Suncity Travel.  For the best advice and service for travel agencies at Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast, call Cathy.  As part of the Travelscene travel agencies, Cathy has great deals on Hong Kong travel this month.  If you want to see some great views of Hong Kong click here

Term deposits and the government guarantee update.

As you may recall, the government guarantee arrangements for deposits and wholesale borrowing were introduced in the latter part of 2008 in response to extraordinary developments in the global financial system. The arrangements comprised of two parts which included the Financial Claims Scheme (FCS) and Guarantee Scheme (GS).  Under the FCS, all deposits under $1 million with authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs) were automatically guaranteed by the government, with no fee payable. Furthermore, under the GS for large deposits and wholesale funding, eligible ADIs were able to obtain a government guarantee on deposits greater than $1 million for a fee. This scheme was withdrawn effective 31 March 2010. Last week, the federal government announced some changes to its government guarantee arrangements. Treasurer Swan announced plans to cut the guarantee threshold from $1 million to $250,000. While changes are to take effect for most accounts from February 2012, they apply immediately to term deposits taken out from 11 September 2011 onwards, with all existing term deposits covered until 31 December next year.  This announcement means that the Financial Claims Scheme will become a permanent protection for all deposits at banks, credit unions and building societies rather than expiring, as previously scheduled, next month.

How does this affect your term deposits?  Term Deposits under $250,000 will continue to be guaranteed by the government under the FCS.

Call me, Graham McIntyre from Compass Financial Services at www.compassfinancialsolutions.com.au for financial advice regarding term deposits and government guarantee updates servicing the Sunshine Coast

Anna Searle from Inspired Leadship provides business coaching and mentoring.  Anna’s guest at the meeting was Melanie Summer.  Melanie and her entire FLASH FOTOS team won not one, but TWO Telstra Business Awards – the MYOB Small Business Award, and Telstra Regional Business Award, Queensland.

Inspired Leadership is proud of the achievements Flash Fotos has created. Flash Fotos has been a client of Inspired Leadership’s for the past 18 months. From an initial Strategic Review, a 10 year strategy has been developed, with supporting key processes and action plans. To get your business working for you, rather than you for it, contact Anna now

Neil Dickinson from North Coast Auto Broker

Neil Dickinson from North Coast Auto Brokers on 07 5477 5399 has been in the new and used auto broker / car sales business for the past 20 years, 12 of them as an independent broker.  He takes the money either as a fee payable, or paid as commission when you buy or sell anything on tyres (except aeroplanes).  He reckons he is kept in business when people buy or sell a boat or caravan and always have to upgrade their vehicle.  So a good referral is someone buying or selling a car.  Refer him today.

Angie Selig from Boom Marketing (www.boommarketing.biz) presented Roil Platium, a synthetic oil that is marketing through various channels, including Neways which Angie is part of.  For more information, contact Angie on Mobile: 0411 232 126.

Wayne Knetter from 4CP Promotional Products (www.4cp.com.au) gave a 5 point summary to improve the referrals process.  See the links on the Resources Page to read more.

Noni Croft, known as non-stop Noni

Gez McFadden and Noni Croft from PlayFit presented their business.  Gez took over the business when the owner went back to New Zealand 5 years ago; and Noni has been there right from the start. They offer a boutique service:  no lock in contracts, no hidden fees; just old fashioned personal service.

Are you? interested in weight loss, muscle gain, rehabilitation, wedding day preparation, getting your body back after having your bub, feeling young and active again, being at the peak of your sport, overcoming depression, anxiety and stress or just feeling and looking your best?  Take into consideration your age, gender, lifestyle and goals and click on the link which seems most like you.

The team at Play has the right skills, attitude and understanding to help you achieve your dreams. It is as easy as choosing what you want to achieve and letting one of our Playful Play team help you achieve it!

Tony Wurth from Wurth IT on 4th August says that if you do not want to be one of the 13 million who get their personal identify hacked each year, use a strong password on all of your accounts.  Do not use password, abc123, qwertyu or any other such well known passwords.  Make it two words, include punctuation and numbers.

Peter Thompson from Insurance Advisernet spoke about public liability.  10 years ago, he dealt with 2 cases a year.  Now it is 2 cases a week.  Don’t be at risk.  Take our PL insurance today.

Eddie Peell. Fridge on Today

At the meetin on 21st July Eddie Peell from Fridge on Today for fridge repairs today.  Not tomorrow.  We heard the 5 minute talk  Lance Milne Electrical from Lance Milne the Poet, and Karen Milne The Singer.  See them on YouTube

Bob Kain from BK Design and Drafting provides a good service and he should samples of his work at the meeting on the 14th.  See him at www.bkdesignerdrafting.com

Maxine Field from Buds on Buderim provided the live orchids for the most referrals for June 2011 – Steve Ledger from Commworks Media and for May Arthur Treweek from Arthur Treweek Constructions.

At the meeting on 7th July, Cheryl Robert as business of the week highlighted the issues with aging and care for the aging. See more at http://www.homeinstead.com.au/

Kellie Angelique and Tony Wurth introduced their new group. Looking for a name and looking for a gig.

See them on YouTube Kellie and Tony Sing Norah Jones on YouTube; and Dixie Chicks

Bob Ansett. Can do. Remain Optimistic

At the Bob Ansett Breakfast Meeting on June16th Bob’s message was clear.

“If there’s any one message I have, it is to simply remain optimistic. … We can change things and we can overcome enormous adversity if we remain optimistic.”
The meeting was well attended with over 55 guests and visitors.