theentrepreneurialmother.com.au » political offerings

Change? It’s Only Just Begun!

theEmother — Thu, 26 May 2011 07:36:23 +0000

You’re probably familiar with eBay and PayPal. They’re businesses that have transformed and challenged traditional retailing because they enable individuals to trade online, bypassing normal supply chains. We’re now on the edge of another wave of transformational change of how business and work are done.

Robert Gottliebsen at Business Spectator recently interviewed Matt Barrie from which connects workers with businesses on a global basis. Businesses post jobs that workers bid for. Payment occurs online when jobs are finished. It’s mainly small business people doing work for small business people. But it brings the power of ‘big’ to the little businessperson’s business. The interview is here:

At that link we last covered zaarly and uber which also empower self-employed people to do big things. I know of many other transformational business service models. It’s the replication of a trend we’re seeing in IT, for example, where contracting is rising. Forget about industrial relations, human resource management and jobs for life! This is about stock exchanges for jobs, fast moving, with people making their own choices.

Government isn’t coping. This is reflected in comments from Peter Strong of the Council of Small Business Australia. He referred to the recent budget as a ‘big business budget’ in a TV interview. This big business view is probably why the administration of paid parental leave, for example, is looking so complex for small business people and why a Commonwealth Bank survey found small business drowning in red tape.

Government will fail when it tries to force its administrative convenience onto this global business realignment. So watch out politicians! An analysis of voting trends amongst self-employed people showed a strong willingness to swing their votes.

http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/45026.html

Very, very interesting indeed… a sign of things to come… just wonder how the government will view it/legislate for or against it??? Time will tell.

From Ken Phillips (Exec. Dir.) and the team at Independent Contractors of Australia

A Call Against Complacency…

theEmother — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 03:35:25 +0000

Many will agree that a system of incentives is, and has been, the backbone of the success of the capitalist economic system. That over centuries, a network of incentives has driven innovation, which in turn has encouraged the inventiveness that has led to the unparalleled generation of ideas, goods, and services across America and the industrialized West.

By Dambisa Moyo for ChangeThis.com […]

Given the evidence and importance of positive incentives, why, over the past 50 years, have policymakers embarked on a systematic and deliberate strategy of putting in place a catalogue of policies that dis-incentivise citizens from acting in a manner that could be beneficial to their economies, and the world at large? Read on…

Employers Worldwide Lack a Strategy for Developing Women Leaders, New Mercer Survey Shows…

theEmother — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 06:12:47 +0000

No surprise to read (from CLOmedia.com) a headline like that I’m sure. Here’s the rest of the sorry story…

New York — March 7

Despite efforts by organizations around the world to achieve a diverse workforce, the majority – 71 percent – do not have a clearly defined strategy or philosophy for developing women for leadership roles, according to the new Women’s Leadership Development Survey conducted by Mercer in conjunction with Talent Management and Diversity Executive magazines.

The survey, conducted in December 2010, includes responses from more than 1,800 human resource, talent management and diversity leaders at organizations throughout North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia Pacific. The survey included a broad cross-section of industries with for-profits, high-tech/telecommunications, financial/ banking and durable manufacturing organizations representing the largest segments. Responses, which addressed current commitment and support for women’s leadership, plans for the future and obstacles to success, were fairly consistent across regions.

According to Mercer’s survey, almost half (47 percent) of employers surveyed globally indicate that their organizations do not offer any activities or programs targeted to the development needs of women leaders. While 21 percent of organizations said they offer some activities or programs, another 6 percent of organizations said they are planning to add programs and activities in the future. Read on…

Employ Contractors? READ THIS…

theEmother — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 04:17:18 +0000

and it won’t matter what size you are…

Organisations engaging contractors should be on notice.

With Unions pushing the Federal Government to limit the number of independent contractors, on the basis that contractors are disadvantaged and better placed in traditional employee/employer roles with full entitlements, many organisations may be forced to put contractors on the payroll.

Putting contractors on the payroll means organisations have to foot the bill for all employment costs such as PAYG, superannuation, annual leave, etc Contractors may lose better pay rates, tax advanatges and the flexibility in their work… read on

“Contractor Double Jeopardy” by Brad Twentyman for Human Capital magazine…

ICA reports Small Business Policy and Program failure…

theEmother — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 09:36:37 +0000

ICA Overview:

Professor Ken O’Neill is one of the world’s pre-eminent authorities on small and medium policies. In a keynote address to the International Small Business Congress, Professor O’Neill has declared that government policies and programmes for SMEs globally over the last 25 years have produced no results and are a complete waste of money. He called for urgent review and reform. Below is an edited profile of Professor O’Neill and an edited version of his speech.

This talk will suggest that much of what we variously (and imprecisely) describe as enterprise entrepreneurship and small business policy probably doesn’t work—with great waste of money as a result.

We say it doesn’t work because overall rates of entrepreneurship or business growth are not rising or, where they are, it is difficult to attribute them to specific policy interventions of the sort which are universally applied… read on

Hazel Hawke’s Vital Role in Bob Hawke’s Success…

theEmother — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 02:16:43 +0000

I was really pleased to see this article in TheAge this morning. Not only does it give another side to the “love story”, it also shows Hazel to be a prime example of an entrepreneurial mother, even when in a relationship. She did amazing things with the opportunities she had, and that’s all one can DO. Hats off to Hazel…

…It did not take long for Hazel to develop a following of her own – which in subsequent elections became a major reason voters supported Hawke. Hazel’s speech to the National Press Gallery in January 1984 established her as an unassuming, disarmingly honest, sincere and intelligent human being – an ordinary woman, one we could all identify with and admire for the way she handled herself.

There was a strong feeling among women that if Hazel stayed with Bob, he couldn’t be as bad as reports suggested.

In an interview on Sunday following the telemovie, Hawke struggled to remember what Hazel’s interests were as the prime minister’s wife. He came up with ”education”, but he could not remember any details.

Children, their welfare and the arts were Hazel’s priorities. Among other organisations, the Brotherhood of St Laurence, Austcare, the Australian Youth Orchestra, the NSW Heritage Council, World Wide Fund for Nature and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation had Hazel’s support. This meant she worked for them; she was not just a figurehead… keep reading

Self_Employed exceeds 2 million!

admin — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:24:44 +0000

There’s a growing movement afoot…are you a part of it?

The latest from the Independent Contractors of Australia…

* The latest labour force survey released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (June 2008) shows a steady increase in the number of self-employed people. The number of self-employed people in the community is over 19% of the workforce. That¹s 2.03 million people (2008) up from 1.9 million (2004).

It¹s also clear that as people mature they gravitate toward self-employment. 50% of the self-employed are aged 35-54. 28% are older than 55. This could predictably result in larger numbers of self-employed as the workforce ages. For ICA’s full commentary on the latest ABS figures click here…

* Three further ATO links to help prepare for the end of the financial year (on tax deductions, business seminars and rental properties) can be found on their news page

Conspiracy of the Rich…The 8 New Rules of Money by Robert Kiyosaki

admin — Fri, 29 May 2009 11:21:27 +0000

Not only is this a very clever may to market one’s wares and be extremely engaging, the chapters are also a most worthwhile read.

I strongly recommend you register yourself at http://conspiracyoftherich.com to not only avail of the process, but also the free chapters. And you never know, you might just want to throw in your two bobs worth too…

The Right Book. The Right Time. The Right Price.

Robert Kiyosaki, author of the #1 bestselling personal finance book of all time, Rich Dad Poor Dad is taking a new approach with his next book. He’s releasing the book, Conspiracy of the Rich: The 8 New Rules of Money, online — for free. And he’s inviting readers to participate in the writing process.

Conspiracy of the Rich: The 8 New Rules of Money, is an interactive project in which Kiyosaki not only offers his written ‘draft’ chapters online, but invites feedback, commentary and questions from readers across the globe via website forums and blogs. Reader feedback is then incorporated into the book as it is written and released, chapter by chapter, on the Internet. This bold and unique approach will enable the millions of people around the world who have put the Rich Dad principles to work in their lives — as well as those who are challenged by today’s harrowing economic times — to engage directly with Kiyosaki and literally help him shape his new book as it is being written.

“We are living in tumultuous, unsettling and frightening economic times,” said Rick Wolff, Vice President and Executive Editor for Hachette Book Group, publisher of Rich Dad Poor Dad and the 26 books in the Rich Dad series, “and Robert believes that people today, perhaps more than ever before, are hungry for information and financial education. The fact that he is committed to writing and distributing a new book to the world for free is amazing to us, and indicative of his genuine concern for the challenging economic times in which we live. Today, more than ever, the world needs a voice they can trust and someone they can rely on to deliver the cold, hard facts about what is really happening in the world.”

“This is the right book, at the right time, at the right price,” says Kiyosaki, in reference to the free and universal access to this book. “This is not the time for traditional answers. The time for this book is now — and the Web will let us do that.”

In Robert’s Words
“When I am interviewed for this book, I am often asked the question, “How did I get the idea to do this book?”

Since I was asked so often, I thought I would share it with you. This book began in September 2008. I got the idea for the book as I was in the hospital recovering from open-heart surgery repairing a problem I have had since birth, two leaking valves. Fortunately, my arteries are clear so the operation was limited to just the heart.”

About the Book
Conspiracy of the Rich: The 8 New Rules of Money shares Kiyosaki’s view of global economics and explore why people are now finding themselves challenged by these turbulent times. Kiyosaki not only provides people with solutions to their financial problems, but explains what created today’s economic chaos — and how it can be eased. Conspiracy of the Rich: The 8 New Rules of Money reveals that what appears to be the worst of times is actually an opportunity in the making, and a chance for people to invest in their financial education.

Read an excerpt from the book:

Back to the Future
Faced with such an overwhelmingly bad economy, President Bush pushed through a landmark bailout plan aimed at saving the economy, saying, “This legislation will safeguard and stabilize America’s financial system and put in place permanent reforms so these problems will never happen again.”

Many people breathed a sigh of relief, thinking, “Finally, the government is going to save us!” The problem is those are not the words of President George W. Bush. Those are the words of his father, George H.W. Bush. In 1989, the first President Bush asked for $66 billion to save the Savings and Loan (S&L) Industry. The $66 billion did not solve the problem. The S&L industry disappeared from sight. On top of that, the estimated $66 billion rescue package eventually cost taxpayers over $150 billion – over twice the amount originally estimated. Where did all that money go?

Like Father Like Son
Twenty years later in September 2008, President W. Bush asked for $700 billion making a similar promise, “We’ll make sure, as time goes on, this doesn’t happen again. In the mean time, we got to solve the problem. And that’s why people sent me to Washington, D.C.”

Just as with the first President Bush, the estimated bailout cost was severely undervalued. By November 2008, the total bailout pledge through various Treasury programs was up to $7 trillion and today is expected to go higher. Where is all this money coming from, where is it going… and to whom?

Find out…http://conspiracyoftherich.com

Tax alert for the self-employed

admin — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:29:23 +0000

More great information from ICA…

At ICA we keep you ahead of the small business news that can affect you.

* It’s happened again! An independent contractor working through his own company has failed the ‘results test’. The court decision supports the ATO’s approach that people working through companies and trusts may have all the company/trust income treated and taxed as if it is their personal income. The ATO is auditing such arrangements, potentially affecting 700,000 workers in Australia. ICA recommends that potentially affected people immediately review their arrangements to ensure tax compliance. http://www.contractworld.com.au/reloaded/ica-news.php

* ICA is consistently impressed with the Victorian Government’s approach to small business. It leads Australia with dispute resolution through its Small Business Commissioner. It has just announced a small business marketing package which is worth looking at. http://www.business.vic.gov.au/BUSVIC/STANDARD//pc=PC_62627

* Do you have a rental property as an investment? The ATO has just released some information on claiming tax deductions for repairs, maintenance and capital works. The information is helpful and easy to read. http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/pathway.asp?pc=001/002/002/010/005

Regards
The Team at Independent Contractors of Australia

National conference on independent contractor issues.
Independent Contractors of Australia is planning a national conference for late 2009 in Melbourne. We’ll keep you informed as plans unfold.

Fair Treatment under contracts

admin — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:25:52 +0000

If you’re in business, then you need to read each of these articles…

ICA brings you the news and updates that others miss. If you¹re an independent contractor or a business engaging independent contractors, these news items are important.

* Have you ever been concerned that your contract is biased or unbalanced? Independent Contractors of Australia is working to do something about this. Click here: http://www.contractworld.com.au/reloaded/ica-news.php

* Tax breaks for independent contractors. Check this government
announcement:

http://www.contractworld.com.au/pages/PDFs/Tax_Break_Fact_Emerson.pdf.

* It¹s about time business paid on time. The Small Business Minister sends a warning to big business. Pay up! http://www.contractworld.com.au/pages/PDFs/Emersonsmalldebts.pdf.

* Think about it! How do political trends in the UK impact in independent workers? http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=10608

Regards

The Team at Independent Contractors of Australia