ZaaBiz Blog

From the Interceptor to Pricilla, Australian culture is all about the wide open roads, and the machines that drive them. So it’s no surprise that the Federal Government is focusing its attentions on the nation’s failing automotive industry – it’s a matter of national pride! (Even though there is no guarantee that the money will stay on Australian soil).

Industry Minister, Kim Carr (vrooooom) along with KevinPM have dedicated $13 million to Ford, and are investing a further $21 million to find research and design of a more fuel efficient motor.

The result is that Ford will not be shutting the doors of its Geelong motor manufacturing plant in 2010 as planned.

This follows the announcement of a $6.2 billion assistance package over 13 years, and $1.3 billion to be placed in a ‘green car’ fund. There are differing reports over whether the new Ford funding is sourced from the original $6.2 billion plan – but it is most likely a ‘parallel’ plan.

The ongoing operation of Ford’s Geelong plant is a sign of the “significant commitment” Rudd and Carr expected from the automotive industry when they announced the original plan. The move will save 1300 jobs; 400 at Ford and up to 900 at its component suppliers.

There are issues, however, with the new plan slightly contradicting the reasons listed by Ford to shut the plant in the first place. And there is still no commitment from the car company to keep it local and continue producing the Falcon in Australia.

According to Carr, this heralds a new era of collaboration between the unions, government and industry – following the current trend for modern industry and business to operate under a spirit of ‘fraternity’, rather than disjunction or competition - creating a strong and positive community.

People across the globe will soon be feeling the effects of Citigroup’s latest round of job cuts – if they haven’t felt them already.

As the company cuts back 50, 000 jobs worldwide in an effort to reduce employees by 14%, there will also be a reduction to the 2, 500 strong Australian Citigroup workforce, with some job cuts already taking effect.

This is just the latest addition in a string of stories resulting from the global financial crisis, and these pieces of bad news aren’t likely to slow down any time soon. Not only does the Citigroup example show the volatility of today’s business environments, it also reminds us all of our place in the global business sector.

Whether we like it or not, Australian businesses are inexorably linked to the global stage. Rather than keep this factor in a blind spot, organisations, no matter how large or small, should remain both aware of, and active in, the global sector.

The best starting point for this world-wide engagement is through the world-wide-web. As our lives become more and more effected by the world beyond our doorsteps we can’t just sit back and carry-on with traditional ‘business-as-usual’; the many ways in which we engage with that world outside also have to change.

As a community saavy to the trends in the global marketplace, ZaaBiz member and finance professional Duncan Arkinson has founded the Global Crisis Group on ZaaBiz. We hope that, in time, this group will help to increase practical communication about the crisis amongst ZaaBiz members, and act as a place to raise ideas, concerns and questions in this time of economic hardship.

Signing off,

Louise.

This spring has shown amazing cricket matches between the leading two nations Australia and India. After an initial great start by the world’s No 1 Australian in Bangalore, the Indian team has certainly convinced all viewers with pace and precision. And after we saw a few Australian Greats retire this year, it is now the Indian team saying good-bye to Ganguly and Kumble, with everybody speculating how long the great Tendulkar will play for his country.

With this final match in Nagpur from today the 6th of November the Aussies have to win in order to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Follow the latest discussions in our ZaaBiz group “Crazy about Cricket“. This is the last game in this series, our ZaaBiz team of Indian and Australian nationals will watch with joy.

Last night saw the fascinating speech of Julian Campbell at the ZaaBiz - Infusion event in Sydney’s CBD. Julian is a highly acclaimed public speaker, a business consultant and self-made entrepreneur and never appears without his long standing friend: Percy the Penguin.

Julian Campbell, speaker at the ZaaBiz Infusion event in Sydney

In his speech, Julian explained to a strong crowd the analogy of the March of the Penguins with the tasks a small business owner faces in their daily life. His nine steps on their way to success include recommendations such as:

1. Maintain a positive attitude
2. Results require hard work
3. Planning is crucial
4. Working together as a team to achieve results
5. Lay down on your tummy and relax from time to time
6. Go with the tide
7. Make yourself unique
8. Follow your instinct and
9. Perceverance is king

The last point actually was the idea behind his friend’s name Percy. Julian gets plenty of attention from media, clients or simply in the street when walking with his Penguin to his business encounters. What a brilliant friend to take along.

Julian Campbell with Percy at the ZaaBiz Infusion event in Sydney

The networking session after the main speech proved very useful again, we saw many new faces in the 50 people strong crowd and it was good to see that many professionals from financial institutions found their way to the event, even after another day of hefty losses on the stock market. Our next event is scheduled to take place in Melbourne, organised by our wonderful Judy Cheung, who recently moved to Victoria’s capital to grow our joint events down there. More about this event can be found here.

Business Networking in Sydney

There are often suggestions made about ways to assist older individuals to remain mentally active after they retire. At this point retirees are rarely challenging themselves as they during their working lives. Scientific studies often suggest ways to to combat problems ranging from boredom to Alzeimer’s disease. Recent suggestions have included crossword and sudoku puzzles and retaining an active social life.

A recent study from a team of scientists at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry has suggested that using search engines like Google can also help prevent late onset brain disorders. They have cited the need to formulate search queries and filter relevant results as having a positive impact on brain function particularly in middle aged to older individuals.

Here, at ZaaBiz, we have an even better solution. By searching on our site through your existing business contacts or searching for new business contacts not only will users obtain the benefits cited above, the networking itself will assist people to interact for business and socially. As noted above this is another proven way to assist brain function. So encourage everyone to use ZaaBiz, if not for the obvious benefits, then for their long term health!

Cheers,

One of India’s leading online IT publishers Express Computer Online interviewed a series of IT professionals in India about the use and importance of the right storage strategy in their businesses.

The requirements for the ‘right’ storage is certainly a major point of interest because of the enormous growth in digital media and user-generated content. Web service providers may face increasing challenges and costs when tackling today’s necessary global performance and its pressures with an increasing product depths of the platforms

ZaaBiz CEO Michael brought this subject to the point: “Companies based on a Web 2.0 model depend mainly on UGC (user generated content). Storage therefore is crucial in today’s world of mainly free Web services. Users aim to use additional functions such as uploading images, groups, videos or comments. Therefore, any service provider of Web 2.0 services needs to prepare for a constant increase of disk space. A lack of storage space would be interpreted as user-unfriendly.”

Michael added that future investments of ZaaBiz are conditioned by the requirements that the business will face in terms of the strong growth of ZaaBiz members, new functionalities offered or possible diversifications implemented.

Social networking today is all about empowering the user to become active. This seems obvious on a business networking platform, where the member’s profile needs to be filled out and where the display of information about his/her previous business experiences is a critical value for others to explore.

Our team at ZaaBiz also offers members and members to be the chance to speak out on our two company blogs. We run two blogs that give you the background to what goes on behind the scenes at ZaaBiz.

Our Australian blog provides you with information about our operation downunder; we have used it earlier to help new members understand the ins- and outs of business networking. Have a look yourself; there is plenty of background information on our Australian blog.

Recently we launched our Indian blog focussing on what happens with ZaaBiz in India. Our membership growth in India has been quite phenomenal in the past months and we have decided to inform our Indian members (and obviously all other interested members from all over the world) on what our plans are in this amazing country. And even more so we see an ever increasing link between India and Australia, two of the powerhouses in Asia Pacific.

In the true sense of Web 2.0 we would like you to have a look at our blogs and start participating. Give us your opinion, share with us the secrets of your Web 2.0 experiences and tell us how you network with other business professionals.

I read this great little book a few months ago - it’s an oldie but a goodie!

‘Who Moved My Cheese?’
by Dr Spencer Johnson

It’s a great book written as a parable that is insightful and revealing. It’s about dealing with change in your work and in your life.

It helps you to:

• Anticipate change
• Adapt to change quickly
• Enjoy change
• Be ready to change quickly again and again

We all know that change is inevitable, whether it is in our personal or business world. Learn how to deal with change so you are less stressed when it comes around again!

A fun and insightful read.

This book review is brought to you by ZaaBiz Business Group,  “Women in Business”.

An income alone is not enough to attract and keep good people, especially women.

More often than not, the employee is interviewing the employer/company with a very scrutinising eye!

What does the company do, how does it treat its employees, how does the company differ from other companies out there, and does the company have an environmental conscience?

Women want exciting and challenging positions. Women are interested in progressive employers who offer flexible working hours, training & development, networking opportunities, equal pay and even childcare facilities/options.

Find a new opportunity by searching & connecting to our ZaaBiz members online!

Make a daily “to do” list. Cross items off as you get them done. Anything that doesn’t get done goes to the top of tomorrow’s list. If it sits on the list for another day - cross it off anyway  - it can’t be that important. Or delegate it!

Turn it off. That’s right! Turn your mobile off so you can get your work done. That’s why they invented voicemail! Use it!

You’ve got mail! This is another classic trap. Disable the email notification chime, so you can concentrate on the task at hand. Jumping between your task & unimportant emails just slows you down. Once your work is completed, log in to your emails & deal with them then. No one needs an instant response!

Book in your exercise time. Pay for the gym membership or a personal trainer & ask them to call you the day before you are due at the gym as a reminder. They want to see you get results too!

Be early for appointments. ‘On time’ is on the verge of being late! So aim to be there 15 minutes before the appointment time. That way, you’ll stop cramming one more little thing in that will make you late.

Keep your cool. Once you panic, you become ineffective and nothing is achieved. If you feel you are getting overwhelmed - get up from your desk and walk around your office. Pick up a glossy mag and take a 5 minute break. Once you are back at your desk, revisit your ‘to do’ list and see what you can do next.

Brought to you by the ZaaBiz Business Group, “Women in Business”