When those contacts just disappear...

...from your Outlook or Outlook Express contact list, what does that mean?Before you start screaming at the PC and threatening it with a sledgehammer (a favourite trick of mine), here's a tip I found out the hard way when I suddenly lost visibility of all my contacts when trying to send an email a few years ago.

Your contact list will become invisible in Email mode if you have 1000 contacts or more. Most of us don't have that many on our contact list (although the Forum did!), and perhaps Microsoft has fixed it with the latest version. I use a Mac these days so can't comment accurately on that.

So what you have to do is delete some of your contacts, and once you're down to 999 or below they will all magically reappear. There are probably a heap of old contact emails you still have which no longer work, so why not do a regular purge of your email contacts and remove the ones which are outdated?

Mentors wanted for Stepping Up

Call for Mentors for Young Entrepreneur Stepping Up Program. Any mentor will tell you that it is both a privilege and a buzz to help ayoung entrepreneur on the way to growth and success.

Mentors will be matched with young entrepreneurs for the Stepping Up program. 12 mentors are needed. The commitment is 10 hours over 2-3 months between September and December 2009.

New mentors and those who are a bit rusty can top up their knowledge and skills in a handful of short breakfast sessions in the Macquarie centre vicinity starting in approximately 2 weeks.

Prospective mentors should register their interest with course facilitator Greg Jenkins on 9874 0418 or 0418 486 501 | greg@tincanlearning.com | www.tincanlearning.com

Ryde is Stepping Up for young entrepreneurs

Calling all young entrepreneurs!

Starting a new business offers both excitement and challenge. Do you have a plan for the next phase of growth and success?

If you are a young entrepreneur (ie up to age 35 but exceptions can be made) and have operated your business for two years or more, you will be thrilled to learn that the NSW Government subsidised Stepping Up Mentoring Program is coming to Ryde in 2009.

Stepping Up is a program that helps small business owners grow and succeed and to build profits, jobs and exports. The program is subsidised by NSW Department of State and Regional Development (DSRD) www.smallbiz.nsw.gov.au.

Stepping Up Ryde will help young entrepreneurs to update their business plans for growth and success and to better equip them to face the highly competitive, technologically savvy, global and green ‘new economy’.

Stepping Up Ryde is designed for busy people. Short breakfast workshops, group coaching, one-on-one expert mentoring and self paced e-learning is an ideal blend to give you the learning you need with minimum impact on your business.

Stepping Up Ryde will kick-off in late September during Small Business Month. The program will run over 8 weeks in the Ryde/Macquarie Park area from October 20 to December 9, 2009.

Stepping Up Ryde has four (4) core components.

Eight (8) hrs of workshops on current business growth issues facilitated Greg Jenkins of TinCAN Learning

Eight (8) hrs of group coaching where participants consolidate their knowledge, network with like minded entrepreneurs and learn from each other

Ten (10) hrs of one-on-one mentoring with an experienced business person who is a “voice of experience”

Self directed e-learning via a web based course management system with hundreds of valuable links and resources

As a young entrepreneur, you will pay only $250 plus GST after a massive government subsidy of $750. Places are limited. If you know of anyone who would benefit from this program, do pass this information to them. It’s a fantastic offer.

Stepping Up Ryde is supported by Ryde Business Forum, City of Ryde, Macquarie Park Rotary and the NSW Government.

Information for both participants and prospective mentors is available from Greg Jenkins on 9874 0418 or 0418 486 501 | greg@tincanlearning.com | www.tincanlearning.com

Small Business September

As you probably are aware from the regular e-news and Intercomms, Small Business September is just around the corner. In the Forum we have a fantastic mix of companies of all sizes - from the multinationals and big Aussies down to one-person operators.

If you're from a larger organisation you might ignore Small Business September and its events - after all you're working for one of the big guys with established procedures, marketing, and support. But don't dismiss it. There are free events all over Sydney which could benefit different members of your team or provide you with new and clever ideas.

Visit our website www.rydebusiness.com.au to see the events in our area, or www.smallbusinessmonth.nsw.gov.au to find out what's happening all over Sydney.

It's World Water Week - have you thought about how you can help?

I was thinking about this Ryde Business Forum blog over the weekend. I wanted to write something about World Water Week but also share TPR Group's Well Water Project in association with World Vision where we give $20 for every water related product installed in offices around Australia to to build Wells and Sanitation projects in Asia. However somehow our modest and genuine efforts (we're a national franchise organisation comprising of some 35 owner operated small businesses) seemed to nowhere convey the urgency of the need for clean drinking water to many of the world's population, including children. And I felt if I didn't convey the urgency of the need we wouldn't be able to encourage our clients' to contribute either. We're just starting out with our 'little' Well Water project but our plans are big. Eventually we'd like to be able to demonstrate with case studies of how Australian businesses have contributed to building wells and even an overseas delegation of how our fund raising has contributed. If you are interested in learning more you can read more of this blog

Do you know how to attract new customers and grow your business with social marketing?

Remember when everyone was just beginning with websites. Everyone wondered how this would help a business, now we all couldn't do without our online shopfront. Same now applies to Social Media, a new tool for business. Get it right and you have the power to connect with thousands of new clients 24/7. Dismiss it and it might just overrun you anyway...

Not convinced, well I share in my seminars a case study of a US lawyer who gets ALL of his work via social media. No wonder he's writing a book!

But Back to basics: In this tough economy, Social Networking offers you a free way for your business to connect with your target market and build client relationships with a few clicks of your mouse. It offers any business, organisation or individual the opportunity to attract new clients through the 'cocktail party' analogy - connect with people who have an interest in your business segment, product or simply value what you share in manner that they trust, so much so that you are their first call when the need arises.

Move beyond the buzz words and learn how to use Social Media to make a tangible difference in your marketing strategy

Coming up in association with the Ryde Business Forum in November we will be running 101 basics social media seminar that that addresses the business case for social media:

* How to use Social Media to increase your google ranking for your website.
* How to monetize your Social Networking profile.
* How to connect with hundreds of thousands of possible target clients.
* How to put your Social Networking on Auto-Pilot to work to grow your business 24/7

Think you have mastered social media? Have your heard of Furl, Propeller, Reddit or Tumblr? Maybe not, but you will surprised how these can help grow your business. Wanting to get started now - call Kathie on 0448881516
Kathie Melocco - Transformational Marketing
Kathie Melocco is a transformational marketing consultant. Among her clients are the national indoorplant hire company TPR GROUP - a member of the Ryde Business Forum. Formerly Tropical Plant Rentals, the TPR Group has evolved into Australia's only company marketing happiness and wellbeing in the workplace to increase productivity. Today they are much more than an indoor plant hire company. Their new website will be launched shortly. Stay tuned.

Brand New House & Land in North Epping for less than $850k?

I have a vacant block of land for sale in North Epping & have just had Huxley Homes draw up plans for a 5 bedroom home on the site.

You can have the house & land for less than $850,000

Click to see the land (66a Eastcote Rd North Epping) & you can email me for a copy of the plans I have had drawn up.

Tell us your best G'Day story and we'll deliver the coffee to your office

At TPR GROUP every Friday we as a company take the time to get close to nature, usually drinks in the afternoon are outside.

Here's my wish list for today:
1. Walk in the nursery at lunchtime
2. Take my laptop outside and work by the dam in the sunshine
3. Water my pot plant on the desk

What will you aim to do? Post your your G'Day (grounded in nature)list and a brief description on how it made you feel. The winner will receive Coffee on us, delivered direct to your door.TPR Group is an indoor plant hire company with franchisees serving over 2000 businesses Australia wide. Post your comments on our blog

Attract and Retain the Best!

* Pay employees fairly – make sure you know their market value – they will!

* Treat each and every employee with respect. Show them that you care about them as people, not just as workers.

* Praise accomplishments and attempts both large and small. Praise at least 4 times more than you "criticize" and do so both publicly and in private. Convey praise both verbally and in writing, as soon as possible and ensure it is done sincerely.

* Clearly communicate goals, responsibilities and expectations.

* Let them make mistakes and help them learn from it.

* NEVER criticize in public, in front of customers or the team.

* Recognize performance appropriately and consistently. Reward outstanding performance. Do not tolerate sustained poor performance – coach and train or remove!

* Involve employees in plans and decisions, especially those that affect them. Solicit their ideas and opinions. Encourage initiative.

* Create opportunities for employees to learn and grow. Link the goals of the organization with the goals of each individual in it.

* Actively listen to employees concerns – both work-related and personal.

* Share information promptly, openly and clearly. Tell the truth… with compassion.

* Celebrate successes and milestones reached.

* Create an organizational culture that is open, trusting and fun!


MacPac HR provides an innovative and unique HR and Recruitment solution for your business.

Strategically aligned with your company’s goals and cultural values, we partner with you to help grow your business.

Contact Clare McCabe on 8060 8561 for more information.