I recently shared my thoughts on how Gen Y is starting to radically change how business is conducted. By 2025, 57 per cent of our clients will be millennials and if we are not strategic in our thinking now we won’t be relevant to a very big portion of the market coming forward.

Read the full article on the Business News Australia website here: http://www.businessnewsaus.com.au/articles/preparing-for-the-milennial-tidal-wave.html

Ever wondered why you think the way you do about money?

Well if so, try and go back to remember what your earliest memory of money was.

For some, it may centre around receiving pocket money or for others it may be simpler in that you were given money on a regular basis to buy your lunch at school. Thinking back to how your parents talked about and spent money will also influence your relationship with money now.

So once you’ve reflected on your earliest memory, then ask yourself, what is most important about money to you now?

Everyone’s answer will be different. So I’m not here to analyse you right or wrong. There is no right or wrong in this question. Just how you feel about money will influence how you make decisions about purchases, savings and giving: three things that we do with money.

But the one myth I want to stamp out straight away is that money is not the root of all evil.

Money is merely the way we exchange value for services or goods that we wish to acquire. The problem isn’t that we could always do with more if we had more, the problem is when we become greedy to have more than we deserve or can do good with.

Yes money can change everything for you. There is no doubt that it can powerfully influence our thoughts and actions in ways that we’re often not aware of, no matter our economic circumstances. Studies have proved that wealth and the pursuit of it has been linked to immoral behaviour. But we should never punish ourselves where we can be blessed with our fair share.

The most important aspect we should never let money do is cloud our moral judgement. There have been many studies suggesting that merely thinking about money could lead to unethical behaviour. A classic example of this is theft. The thought of having what you want if only you had money at your fingertips, has led many white collared criminals to do the unthinkable.

Money itself can be addictive, especially if you have been used to receiving a certain level and then that level begins to drop. You may find yourself between a rock and a hard place before you feel comfortable again should your level of income not be as affluent as you were used to. This can lead to other mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.

The biggest lesson we should always remember is that money can’t buy happiness, and certainly it can’t buy love. We all think it can make us happier, but I’ve witnessed more destruction of families where wealth is involved, and on the flip side where there is absolutely no wealth at all, than when there is just enough in a family.

The recent GFC period saw many people have to adjust their spending habits and do with less than they had been living off previously. Of those who came through that period with next to nothing on the other side have been the ones I’ve seen grow the most. The pursuit of getting the next big thing (boat, house or car), fell away and finding joy in the simple things in life, such as the rose garden, became the next best thing.

There could be a lot said about how money makes you feel. But really it is the level of disposable income that you have that has a direct correlation on “how you are feeling”. Sure, if we asked the average person are they happy with what level of income they are earning, most would say no. Not sure we’d meet anyone who would answer with they’d like to be earning less however. We’d all like to be earning more when it is said and done, because we think it will make us feel more comfortable.

But trust me, it would simply mean you would learn to live to that means and there would be a new drive to want to earn more again. The missing part about wanting money, is we need to understand why we want more of it.

If it is simply to buy the next big thing, or smaller things like the next designer handbag, let me challenge you with the two other things that we can do with money: save it and give it to help others.

You might have answered right in the beginning that you are more of a saver than a spender. This may have been as a result of how you were first taught to handle money or that you were influenced by those who spent it and never had anything to show for it.

The question of why you are saving also needs to be reviewed. Do you have a major purchase or investment that you wish to make with that nest egg? Perfect reason to save your money. Or on the flip side are you just a little tight and don’t like to spend at all? Once again, no right or wrong answer.

We should always be mindful of having some reserve of money for a rainy day. And those rainy days come when you least expect it. There is a new generation of people who rely on the credit card or the pay-day lenders for their rainy day needs. And this type of habit can be very unhealthy for a family.

Bring back the teaching of saving I say. The best way of achieving this is to aim for a reserve amount that you should always keep. This is most important for business owners as every business needs working capital. But personally, we should always look to have some kind of cash reserve, just in case.

The last thing that we can do with money is to give it. Now for those of you who may be spenders or savers, this might not come naturally for you. Giving of money can be very spiritually rewarding. Knowing you are assisting another person or people can change your whole mental state, and I don’t mean in the negative; unless you really are a tight keeper of money.

To give is to receive. You might not always receive back in hard cash, but the feeling of giving and receiving joy is sometimes unexplainable.

I recently leant money to a friend who I did expect to receive it returned. So far it hasn’t come back and whilst I was coming to grips with how that was going to make me feel, I started to reflect on what did that money do for him and his family. Well that story is a great one. He was able to get his visa sorted out in America, allowing him to return to his home country of the Philippines where he was able to surprise his elderly mother. The joy that I witnessed upon his return, was more than enough return for me in knowing where that money went. If he doesn’t get to return that money to me now, I’m not worse off. Assisting his family to reunite has been enough reward for me.

Giving didn’t come naturally to me in the first instance. I wasn’t brought up that way. But it’s something my husband has taught me graciously over our marriage. Now I can’t stop giving. Now he has a go at me at our level of giving sometimes. But the joy and satisfaction I receive in making a difference for others, is so rewarding.

So I encourage you today, to think about your earliest memory and what it is about money that’s important to you. If you don’t like what you see then do something about it and make a change. Hopefully, one for the better.

I hear you!

“Raising three kids and running a household keeps me busy! I also have this gig on the side called a fulltime job!”

Luckily for me my job is something I truly enjoy. With 3 boys including an almost teenager who is completely experienced in all aspects of life and knows it all (who needs Google?) and a teething 9 month old my job is a safe haven. I am quickly learning that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the key to keeping my energy levels high, essential to maximising Mummy brain power!

Being at work gives me the opportunity to interact with work colleagues and in particular, new clients. Welcoming clients gives me a great sense of satisfaction and the conversation is never about the latest video game!

Combining work and home life equals organisation. Keeping everything running smoothly at home has given me the skills to keep everything running smoothly at work. It is something I pride myself on.

As much as I enjoy working at Quill and love the daily challenges; my favourite part of my day is going home to my family and starting the best job of all, being a mum.

As you know Quill’s Gold Coast offices have merged into one office hub, where our Superannuation team and Gold Coast Accounting and Financial Planning teams can work collaboratively together to give our clients the best possible service. Due to the move we thought it would be useful to supply all our clients with our updated office contact details. Please see below the details for all of our offices locations:

Southport 

P (07) 5528 2000 F (07) 5528 2200

Address: 10 Short Street, Southport, QLD 4215

Postal: PO Box 10466 Southport BC, QLD 4215

Email: southport@quillgroup.com.au

South Brisbane

P (07) 3840 4700 F (07) 3846 3522

Address: 195 Vulture Street, South Brisbane, QLD 4101

Postal: PO Box 3331 South Brisbane, QLD 4101

Email: southbris@quillgroup.com.au

Eight Mile Plains

P (07) 3423 3700 F (07) 3423 3711

Address: Building 22 Garden City Office Park

2404 Logan Road, Eight Mile Plains, QLD 4113

Postal: PO Box 4557 Eight Mile Plains, QLD 4113

Email: eightmile@quillgroup.com.au

If you have any questions in regards to our offices please feel free to email Loren Tier, Marketing Co-ordinator at Quill.

We have all had those conversations with people where you feel like you can’t get through to them.  No matter how you say it, or deliver the message, they just don’t seem to get what you’re saying.  Well, we all need to take stock occasionally and think about how we communicate.

One of the most important factors to understand about communication is rapport.  The rapport you display in the office as well as at home is so important and plays a big role in the success of all relationships. Rapport is a state of harmonious understanding with another individual or group that enables greater communication, which in turn makes the entire communication process easier and always more effective.

When we develop rapport with other individuals, three important things usually occur:

·      Individuals feel valued;

·      Individuals feel understood

·      Individuals feel they have options and don’t feel over-controlled

The effectiveness of our communication is usually evident in the responses we receive. So, it’s important to remember that if we use negative language patterns, such as indirect requests, it can develop resistance instead of rapport which lessens our ability to influence behaviour. And once rapport has been lost, it can take a long time to rebuild it.

We create and maintain rapport subconsciously through matching non-verbal signals, including body positioning, body movements, eye contact, facial expressions and tone of voice with the other person.  Communication is 7% verbal, 38% tone of voice and 55% body language.  If there is a mismatch between what we are saying verbally and what our body language is saying, then the person we are communicating with will almost always believe the body language. Building rapport, therefore, begins with displaying appropriate body language – being welcoming, relaxed and open.

The way we use our voice is also important in developing rapport. When we are nervous or tense we tend to talk more quickly and this in turn can make you sound more tense and stressed. We can vary our voices, the pitch, the volume and pace in ways to make what we are saying more interesting but also to come across as more relaxed, open and friendly.

Building rapport can be incredibly beneficial to your career – it opens doors and helps establish good relationships with clients, colleagues and team members.

If you’re looking to improve the connections you have with others, give it a go and start building!

Did you know that there are a range of resources available to you across Federal, State and Local Governments and private industry to assist you in all stages of your business? No matter what your business is, there is support available to see you from start up to growth, innovation and export trade assistance or upskilling your business and staff. This support includes:

• Grants and assistance
• Advice and support
• Skills and training

City of Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is the sixth largest city in Australia and one in five workers on the Gold Coast own their own business. The City of the Gold Coast is committed to supporting local entrepreneurs. To foster this commitment to Gold Coast registered businesses with high growth potential, they have developed the ‘Competitive Business Toolkit’.

The toolkit details a range of programs offered to assist your business to grow and is aimed at businesses who undertake research and development but is not limited to businesses that don’t either.  The programs offered by the City of Gold Coast include:

• Growth Accelerator Program
• Innovation Program
• Online Business Program
• Emerging Exporters Program
• Export Assistance Scheme

For more information, please visit http://business.moregoldcoast.com.au/

Queensland Government

There is a range of State funded and subsidised programs on offer to assist businesses. The State offers support in respect of grants, rebates, subsidies, incentive schemes and research fellowships. Some of the grants on offer are innovation grants, home-based business grants and other forms of business support.

For more information on the grants available, please visit https://www.business.qld.gov.au/business/support-tools-grants/grants

The State Government has also developed ‘Small Business Solutions’ which is an award-winning Queensland Smart State initiative focused on offering assistance to small businesses, micro businesses and home-based businesses. Support for these businesses includes access to business mentors, mentoring and coaching, and access to vocational training through workshops all of which are subsidised by the Government to make it more affordable.

For more information on the Small Business Solutions please visit http://smallbusinesssolutions.qld.gov.au/content/sbs-standard.asp

Federal Government

The Federal Government is committed to helping Australian businesses of all sizes, in all industries improve productivity and competitiveness, and create jobs. They offer support through:

• Workshops, Training and Seminars
• Grants
• Access to Advisors
• Personal counselling services

For more information on what the Federal Government can offer your business, please visit www.business.gov.au

 Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards

The Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards were launched in 1996 with 2015 being the celebration of their 20 year anniversary. The aim of the Awards is to seek to contribute to the identity of Gold Coast business and to foster pride in the wider Gold Coast business community. The Awards are awarded monthly and there are many categories that can suit almost every type of business enterprise. The Awards categories include:

• Emerging Business
• Family Business Award
• Health and Wellbeing
• Trades, Professions and Services
• Retail, Wholesale and Distribution
• Manufacturing and Construction
• Knowledge Management and Information Technology
• Tourism, Hospitality and Event
• Mayor’s Innovation GC Award
• Environment and Sustainability Award.

The awards are a great way to promote your business and be acknowledged for your hard work and efforts in business, and also within the community.

For more information please visit http://www.goldcoastbusinessawards.com.au/

They say you don’t know what you don’t know. Now that we have told you about all the opportunities you could utilise for your business, don’t miss out with the excuse “I didn’t know”. We are more than happy to assist you with finding out what is best for your business.

Would you like to get your business involved in some of the big projects that are available around Australia and New Zealand but don’t know where to start.

There is an online business network that offers a source for potential new business for suppliers and a search facility for project managers.

The Industry Capability Network.

http://www.icn.org.au/

ICN could be described as an industry matchmaker.

The heart of ICN is the ICN Gateway

http://gateway.icn.org.au/

The role of ICN is to find the suppliers and service providers who are best equipped to meet the requirements of hundreds of projects across Australia and New Zealand.

Every day ICN works with local suppliers and project managers to help save valuable time and money in the procurement process.

Benefits for suppliers

When it comes to finding new business opportunities, one of the biggest challenges can be breaking into new markets or expanding your supply chains. ICN can connect you with the best projects planned or already underway across Australia and New Zealand – and around the world.

With almost three decades assisting local companies find opportunities within government, private sector and major projects, ICN Gateway could uncover an opportunity that’s just what you are looking for to expand your business.

Benefits for project managers

ICN Gateway is a key connection point for major projects and the best suppliers in the region. It helps to take the cost and effort out of the procurement process.

The ICN can also assist you with:

• compliance with Local Industry Policy and Local Industry Participation Plans
• supply chain development and management
• identification of joint ventures, partnerships and technology transfers
• research for tariff concession and Enhanced Project By-law Scheme (EPBS) applications
• improving tendering capability

ICN currently has over $400 billion worth of projects listed and some of the projects ICN have assisted in within Queensland are:

• The Bowen Gas Project
• Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games
• Parklands Gold Coast.

It’s worth the look.

Most people spend an average of around 1800 hours per year at work, with Australians slightly below the OECD average.  Combine this with 2500 hours sleep per year and it is not surprising that some people complain of not enough time to exercise or keep fit.  Recently we decided to trial a 100-day Global fitness challenge for our team who generally spend most of their working day sitting in front of a computer screen.

The aim of the challenge was to walk, run , swim or ride the equivalent of 10,000 steps a day.  In doing so, each team of 7 joined in a virtual tour of the world over 100 days learning something about each country as they progressed. Initially we weren’t sure what the take up rate would be or whether our business or participants would gain any value from the experience.  The results were very surprising and I would certainly recommend other businesses to give it go.  The initial surprise was that around 90% of staff agreed to participate which was a lot higher than  we expected. Secondly, having split everyone up in teams of seven or eight there was a great level of friendly competition and banter between teams.

Only 13% of participants recorded the recommended 10,000 steps per day average at the start of the challenge and by the end of the challenge over 50% were averaging over 10,000.  For most of those who did not regularly exercise each day it was a realisation of how little exercise one does in a typical desk job.  Most people reported a reduction of stress, better eating habits, weight loss and above all else, simply feeling better about themselves.  In an age where heightened stress and depression are a common place in our society anything that employers can do to reduce this I think is very important.

The Global corporate challenge now has over 1500 businesses competing each year and I will certainly be recommending that we participate again next year.

At the Quill Group the firm has been participating in the Global Corporate Challenge.  The main focus of this event is to provide some friendly competition between team members on who can do the most steps over a 100 days.  At the moment I am personally in the middle of the group with an average of 12,079 steps per day, 477 KM walked and 145,740KM on the bike.  However, the biggest drain on my daily average is the days at work where no exercise happens.  I think my daily average would be around 4,000 to 5,000 steps.  Now this is because I spend so much time sitting on my gluteus maximus typing and talking away.  So it got me think what I can do to try and get some exercise while sitting. Here are some little exercises that I have been doing:

Set a calendar alert for yourself as a reminder to stand for one to three minutes every half hour. Better yet, mix things up with various stretches to ease the tension from sitting. Here are five ideas you can do right at your workstation.  There are plenty of other exercises that you might find useful as well but this article could go on forever

Stretch your Shoulders out

• Place one hand under your opposite elbow.
• Lift your elbow and stretch it across your chest while keeping the rest of your body still.
• Hold for 15 to 30 seconds.
• Repeat with the other arm.

Lift those Legs

• Sitting in your chair, hold on to the armrests, engage your core, and extend both of your legs off the ground.
• Alternate between flexing and pointing your toes five times.
• Release your legs and repeat until you feel the burn-even in your abs!

Talk to the Hand

• Extend one arm out in front of you with your palm facing outward (like you’re saying, “talk to the hand”).
• Use your other hand to pull your fingers back toward you and hold for five breaths.
• Next, point your fingers toward the ground, push your fingers toward you, and hold.
• Repeat with the other hand.

The Bobblehead

• Face straight ahead and tilt your head towards your ear, making sure not to move your shoulder.
• Hold the stretch for 15-30 seconds, then return your head to the starting position and relax.
• Repeat on the other side.

 Do the Twist

• Sit up straight and place your right hand on the back of your chair.
• Twist your body to the right and hold
• Now, do the same on the left side and hold.