Category Archives: Business

Updates and articles on my involvement in business events.

Government, Indigenous Affairs, Indigenous Business, MyMBAjourney@MBS, Networking, Videos

20191024a- Interview with Toni Scattergood

Toni Scattergood is a horse and motorbike riding country girl come lawyer and social policy procurement advisor who is studying a part time MBA at the Melbourne Business School. Toni and Damien talk post Data Analysis mid term exam about her journey into starting an MBA. She talks about her work encouraging her to do post graduate studies and opting away from doing an Applied Finance course to do the MBA. She talks about the benefits of doing the MBA part time and being able to meet other students from diverse backgrounds. She talks about waht each person brings to doing Syndicate group work.

Toni and Damien also talk about their passion for social procurement where Toni works on projects around infrastructure policy. She has found herself transitioning from working as a lawyer to being an advisor around policy on social procurement to meet the Victorian Government Social Procurement targets. This conversation struck a conversation between them on a subject they are both passionate about and how new it is to Victoria commencing in 2019.

Toni talks about balancing life commitments as to segrating them into work, study and life. She talks about the commitment to doing gym sessions in the morning, work beyond the nine to five job and then studying for the MBA. Toni talks about the importance of not focusing just on the grade but the learning and applications of the MBA, something she has also learnt from her career. Toni talks about the importance of her networking and learning about social procurement and social enterprise, how social procurement adds to the value and benefit of not just the business, but the community as a whole. Toni talks about breaking down the perception that social procurement is a premium cost but look at the innovation that is coming from this.

Toni can be found on LinkedIn: Toni Scattergood

Business, Business Development, Business Tips, Chambers of Commerce, Communication, Community, Motivation

2013: Reflecting on the year that was and what 2014 has in store

2013-2014As 2013 draws to a close,  I have drawn on the inspiration of a friend of mine, Luke, to reflect on what has happened in the year and what 2014 has laying ahead for me.

  • My biggest success was losing 18 kilos. I feel a lot better about myself both physically; emotionally and mentally. I did this by making  lifestyle changes that I knew I would continue with, meaning no fad diets! To learn how I did this, read “How I Lost 18Kg By Eating An Elephant”.
  • I have continued with my community work, sitting on several not for profit organisation’s. Unfortunately at the end of 2012 I had to cease being a mentor to the Flagstone Junior Chamber of Commerce at Flagstone State Community College due to my work commitments this year. I remained the Treasurer of the South East Queensland Indigenous Chamber of Commerce (SEQICC) and President of the Indigenous Construction Group Australia (ICGA).  The SEQICC has under gone some major changes this year which I am proud to be a part of,  including securing office premises and taking on a full time CEO. The ICGA is undergoing its own review after some set backs, but I am positive about its role and contributions it will make to the sector.
  • I started an event management business, Murritsi Events, with 2 partners at the end of 2012. In October of this year the other partners decided to pull out of the business. I decided to continue with it. I learnt you really need to have business partners who are as committed and as hungry as you are to make the business succeed by doing the hard yards. Otherwise they will lose interest, slow down and drop off.
  • For my bookkeeping and consulting business, Foley Business Management,  I completed the units I need to obtain my BAS Agent Registration. I have also submitted a proposal to a potential client and I’m looking at office space near the city.
  • I am in the process of having a provisional patent lodged for a phone app concept I’ve had for some time now. This will allow me to start discussing the idea with developer’s and other’s who can provide valuable input and feedback on the concept.
  • I recently posted on my Facebook page how I have been so focused on my work this year, I have become a recluse to my friends. It took the wisdom and life experience of 3 mentors to tell me to enjoy myself,  as life is a journey and not a destination.
  • I have started to reconnect with old friends. More so at the end of this year as I started to reflect on how busy I have been. I caught up with an old school friend who works  not far from where I live. It was great to meet up with the guys I did a Tafe course with a few years ago and find out what they are doing. Needless to say, arvo drinks turned into dinner that then turned into more drinks.
  • I took on a comment a friend made while we were at dinner. He described me as ‘conservative’. Its true, and as a result I thought I needed to revamp my appearance. So I have new glasses, changed my hairstyle, grew facial stubble (on weekends!) and updating my wardrobe also due to the weight I have lost.
  • I have also taken on the comment from Sass of being a ‘Judgie McJudge’. That is in my personal life I am quick to make judgement of people. So I am going to make a concerted effort to be less critical of people in my personal life. This has started by getting to know Sass better!

So what does 2014 have in store

  • I hope to start taking on clients for Foley Business Management early in the year, building on my existing relationships and identifying new ones, namely in the Not For Profit sector. A goal of my business life is to leave the legacy of “creating a better world for our children’s children”.
  • Murritsi Events will be second, with Foley Business Management taking priority. But it will find its place I am sure with the right approach early in the year.
  • The Phone App will begin to come together as I start to put together a rough business plan after talking with the right people. There are no definite times for this as IT start ups are a new area to my skill sets. So I will be looking for the right people to make it happen!
  • I will be looking to move closer to Brisbane in the first half of the year. An office in near the city will be the incentive I need to move in there to save myself the 1 hour travel to work each morning at peak hour. With the office I will also try to separate my work/personal life better. A home office means you’re at work when you should be at home and at home when you should be at work!
  • I’ll continue with my health and fitness, by looking to return to study/train in martial arts.
  • I’ll continue with my community work by providing my services on a voluntary basis for organisations I feel are worthy to the community. This for now includes the SEQICC and ICGA. I will limit myself to being involved with no more than two organisations in a voluntary position, as I have done in 2013.
  • To enjoy myself more and be more social, planning my weekends as much I do for my work days. I will look to join some social groups to get out and mingle with people outside of my professional network, be it cooking classes, photography etc.
  • TAKE A HOLIDAY that isn’t a stop over on a business trip or a few hours between meetings!!!!
Business, Business Development, Human Resources, Motivation

Having The Right Mindset For Success And Business

(2013.07.22) Having The Right Mindset For Success And BusinessToday I had two things happen to me that gave me two different feelings.

The first was attending a meeting as the President of the Indigenous Construction Group Australia (ICGA) to discuss some future opportunities. The meeting went well and I came out of it feeling very positive.

The second event was after attending the meeting I returned to my car to find it had been towed. Someone had removed the bollards to prevent people parking there to undertake some construction. Though I found it strange the manager had parked his car in the same area before I arrived. But I had parked where I wasn’t meant to even though I didn’t know and there was nothing to tell me otherwise. Naturally I wasn’t very happy at having to pay $350 to have my car taken out of the impound when I wasn’t at any fault!

So on the bus ride to the impound I thought about these two events. I thought about how I should be feeling. My feelings were mixed. On one hand I had a great meeting which had me feeling good. But on the other hand I had my car towed because someone had not properly secured the area to prevent me parking there or put up signs telling me not to park there, which cost me $350.

So I thought back to last night. Last night I attended a meeting with some friends of mine. We all share a common interest of investment and wealth creation. We started meeting about 5 years ago but we slowly became less involved as the global financial crisis took a greater hold and was beginning to bite into our pockets. As our first meeting, we agreed for the next two weeks we would not start looking at investment strategies. Instead we would first get our mindset right by listening to audio books on the subject.

I personally listen to people like Anthony Robbins “Awakening The Giant Within” and other business books that include creating a positive mindset. When I first listened to Robbins I thought it was just a ‘touchy feely’ approach to setting goals. I was raised that goals are achieved by hard work, not thinking about your emotions. But the more I replayed and listened to the audio book the more I took on what he was getting at.

One of the story’s Robbins tells is of Honda, the maker of Honda cars and motorcycles. Honda had a number of setbacks but he persevered until he achieved his goal. He could have given up due to any one these major setbacks. But he didn’t, he continued forward focusing on his goal. As a result he created the Honda motorcycle and car manufacturing companies we know today. Honda overcame these negative events to become a household name.

So today I had a positive and negative influence on how I would feel about the day. You know, having my car towed cost me $350. but it’s just money and I can make it back if I set my mind to it. So I am not going to let that affect how I feel. But the meeting for ICGA today will have a positive affect for not just myself, but also other people. And for that reason I can feel good about my day today!

~ Damien Foley

Accounting and Finance, Business, Business Tips, Chambers of Commerce, Communication, Human Resources

Public Holidays- Did You Know Labour Day for Qld Is Now In October, Not In May?

Business owners, especially the self employed,  have a lot to deal with as a business. So knowing when public holidays are coming up is generally not at the top of the priority list. But it does affect a lot of businesses, in the way of staff availability, completion of projects and jobs, planning meetings and timing of bank payments. Not knowing when a public holiday is on can be costly to business, not to mention embarrassing if you publicise the wrong date!

Here are the links for Public Holidays in each state. If you need the Queensland Public Holidays, the Justice Departments website has a great feature to the right which you can click to Subscribe to their calendar to add to yours to be kept constantly up to date with Queensland’s Public Holidays. South Australia also has the ability to be kept up to date via emails, but also subscribes you to other email notifications.

Australian States Public Holidays

Queensland Public Holidays

NSW Public Holidays

Victoria Public Holidays

ACT Public Holidays

Tasmania Public Holidays

South Australia Public Holidays

Northern Territory Public Holidays

Western Australia Public Holidays

Business, Business Development, Business Tips, Chambers of Commerce, Marketing, Motivation, Sales

Its Not What You Know, Its Who You Know!

Grant Hackett and Damien Foley
Grant Hackett and Damien Foley- RDA Gold Coast Event October 2011.

We have all heard these words before, but how true are they? Is it more important to have contacts then it is to learn and gain knowledge? Are the two independent of each other or is there a relationship?

I attend a number of networking events so I wanted to share with you what I do when preparing for a networking event.

1. Identify key events– your time is just as precious as money in business. Choosing which events to attend is crucial. Networking is about meeting people that will add value to your business.

2. Cost of attending– There is not only the money cost but the trade off. You could attend the event or you could spend that time working in or on your business (“Work on your business, not just in it“).

So I have decided the event is worth attending as it could create some great opportunities for me.

3. What is the purpose of me attending– Give yourself goals or objectives for the event.

Now I need to prepare for the event

4. What do I need to know before attending– You may need to do  research before going to the networking event so you go prepared.

5. What do I need– You will need 20-50 business cards, an elevator pitch to introduce your business and possibly brochures. TIP: I highly recommend a pen and a notepad. Extra TIP: stick to the basic essentials. SECRET TIP: Your own personalised name tag!!!

6. Clothes– You have found out what the event or location dress code is, so dress to this. TIP: it is easier to dress down then to dress up. Extra TIP: Wear something eye catching that grabs attention.

7. Logistics– Know how you are getting to the event and leave enough time to arrive on time. TIP: Find out parking places and cost from the event venue. Extra TIP: Give yourself extra time to freshen up before walking into the event.

8. Personal Grooming– Look how you want to be remembered, as you only get one chance at a first impression. TIP: brush your teeth if you’re a smoker or strong coffee drinker. Secret TIP: Tic Tacs or mint chewing gum can be used for mouth freshener.

You are now at the event.

9. Remember your goals and objectives at item 3.

10. Moving around– don’t walk around asking for business cards and handing out your business cards like a black jack dealer. Take your time to talk with people.

11. Alcohol– my personal preference is to not drink. But if you are, moderation is essential.

12. Relationship– take the time to listen to others as well as talk yourself.  TIP: build a repour/relationships. Extra TIP: Don’t spend all your time talking with people you already know or with one person/group. Secret TIP: We have 2 ears and 1 mouth, use them accordingly.

13. Finishing the conversation– If you want to meet the person for a follow up meeting after the event, let them know.TIP: by saying. “[name] I would like to meet up again for a chance to talk more. Would you like to meet later for a coffee?” Extra TIP: When you say you are going to call them, call them. Secret TIP: read the Extra TIP again so you remember.

So, is it not what you know but who you know? It is a combination of both. If you go prepared knowing what you need to know, then when you do meet the right people, you will be ready to build a relationship with that person. I leave you with these words

“Luck is where opportunity meets preparation” ~ Benjamin Franklin

~ Damien Foley