http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php Dot Com Women is an online forum for entrepreneurial women in all stages of business and entrepreneurial activity. Members can meet like-minded women in business, promote their enterprises, forge strategic alliance and become critical thinkers in the world of business. en Sat, 19 May 2012 18:41:36 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=38 Sat, 03 Dec 2011 01:19:01 GMT I'm reading a novel from David Lodge, one of my favourite authors. His books are often about academics (as he is/was before he retired to write novels) and this one is about a man who is a lanugage/linguistics academic in his early 60s who is noticeably going deaf. It looks at the realities of deafness and the challenges presented in social and professional situations when you are literally unable to decipher what is happening around you, even with hearing aids and other resources. Ironic for someone whose career has been about deciphering language and messages.

The book's title, which works brilliantly in English, is Deaf Sentence. However, as the author points out in his acknowledgement, this title is extremely hard to effectively translate into other languages, even poetic or well-known ones.

It has made me think about how well our work 'translates' into other areas of business and how successfully we communicate with people outside our usual niche or market segment. Sometimes we are excellent at something, eg writing, but only when writing something for advertising, or for technology or for children. Of course it is good to have a specialty but are there times when we close off opportunities because our language or our objective is too narrow, when we actually have the skills needed to cross into slightly different territory?

Meanwhile, I will keep happily reading Mr Lodge and pondering this question in my own business and in life. ]]> Thumbnail http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=38 http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=37 Sat, 12 Nov 2011 05:08:05 GMT During the week my car met another person’s car, quite unexpectedly, when the other car bumped into my rear bumper in traffic near our respective... During the week my car met another person’s car, quite unexpectedly, when the other car bumped into my rear bumper in traffic near our respective homes. Speaking later to the insurance company I provided all the relevant details including the rego number of the other vehicle.

They asked about the colour of the vehicle. I said, ‘light blue’. Pause.

Even as I said it, I knew I was not sure. Was it light blue? Or was it the effect of the morning sun shining on it? Was it blue at all? The other driver wore a hijab – perhaps it was her head covering that was blue?

I read today of a modern publishing phenomena: a popular blog has now been compiled into a book and published on paper! The book/blog is about self-delusion and its extremely long title begins with the words, You are not so smart…

I have to agree. Yesterday I saw the other car involved in our little mid-week collision. As it slowly passed, I had to concede that the colour was indeed blue, the darkest midnight blue one can imagine.

Delusion. At least I have the car damage to prove I was hit from behind, otherwise who knows if my recollection would be worth anything at all? ]]> Thumbnail http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=37 http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=36 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 04:40:35 GMT I have just been reminded how useful it is to have an outside influence occasionally make you look at your business in a different way. In this... I have just been reminded how useful it is to have an outside influence occasionally make you look at your business in a different way.

In this case, I have started on an ecourse that in some ways may require more time than I feel I can spare for it and in some ways may be easier than I need (ie aimed at those less experienced than me). However, by the end of lesson one I had made the time to review and update a couple of things (some of which relates to a software update that gave useful features I had never known of!) I think just having regular topics to consider and being 'forced' to stop client work to do so will have a lot of benefits.

So I am making mental notes to keep doing things to get such reminders of important but not so urgent tasks.

How do you keep making time for reviews and looking at the big picture? Is it something you do consistently, or you do need the occasional prod like me? :) ]]> Tashword http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=36 http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=35 Fri, 25 Feb 2011 05:09:07 GMT I love my work. In the last few weeks being a freelance writer has given me the opportunity to interview people helping others to rebuild after the... I love my work.
In the last few weeks being a freelance writer has given me the opportunity to interview people helping others to rebuild after the devastating flood in SW Queensland, to learn more about how enterprises are using social networks like blogs, wikis and Facebook, to edit a 16pp magazine supplement, to talk to an author about editing his book, to develop a campaign to help a client launch a new service and to advise another client on their advertising spend in 2011.
I’ve also investigated voluntary work with Disaster Recovery teams and continued to preside over my local multiple birth association, organising a picnic to mark Multiple Birth Awareness Week, 13-20 March.
Phew!
Never a dull moment. I am a lucky girl. ]]> Thumbnail http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=35 http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=34 Thu, 17 Feb 2011 04:42:17 GMT Perched on dolls' house-sized chairs, my husband and I sat at our daughters' desks for last night's meeting with the class teacher. Filled with adults, the room looked very small and much less play-oriented than the preschool we've been used to for the last two years.

We like the teacher and I've already shared several conversations with her at morning assembly or afternoon pick-up. I feel comfortable with her. She's been teaching long enough for her first students to be now in their mid-twenties. She and I are probably very close in age. She also seems to have standards like those of our family (clothes, behaviour, language) so I think our girls will be fine with her.

However, even more than these important factors, I'm really happy that she's on my wavelength educationally and particularly in the writing department.

Last night she said this: Even in Kindergarten I want the children to learn not just letters or words, but sentences. Sentences are very important. They should just say what you need to say and then finish. We all need to be able to make good sentences, all our life. So many adults don't even use sentences. When people write, even businesses and banks, sometimes what they write is just ramble and is very hard to understand. They need to learn how to write good sentences.

It was like music to my ears. Thumbnail is built on just such a premise. Fortunately many people still need help with making good sentences so the business prospects are good. ]]> Thumbnail http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=34 http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=31 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 01:40:43 GMT Now Day 10 of Month 2, this year finally feels as though it is coming together. The children are at school and the husband at work. The ironing is... Now Day 10 of Month 2, this year finally feels as though it is coming together. The children are at school and the husband at work. The ironing is (sort of) up to date and the dinner exists in my mind (if not in the kitchen at present). My work is starting to regulate after the stop-start of January, the insane heat of early February, the rush of suddenly urgent tasks that ought to have been done last month, the clients' general malaise throughout summer and their apparent reticence to pay invoices...

I'm working today, don't feel like I'm running against a giant, invisible clock, don't have a gnawing sense that there is something I've missed. I'm breathing out and settling in. 2011 is coming together. Prepositions abound. ]]> Thumbnail http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=31 http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=30 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 04:12:00 GMT It's day 5 of 2011 and, amidst news of political intrigue, terrorism, war, flooding, extreme snow, rain, temperatures and, in the case of Aussie cricket, extreme ineptitude, I felt like listing 5 positive things that have happened in my little world so far.

1. The sun in my eyes - after months of putting up late afternoon sun coming in my office window and straight over my left shoulder, making my PC screen impossible to see, I moved the furniture around and am now facing the wall that used to be on my left side. The sun still comes in that window but the angle is different and I can now use the blinds to their fullest effect. (A bit like the cricketers I think... if you always do something the same way, you'll always get the same result.)

2. Use-by dates - the turn of the year is a great reminder that things are that much closer to being out of date. I went through the all-purpose cupboard above the fridge that housed assorted warranties, medicines, kids colouring and craft items that needed to be out of reach and long lost bits and bobs that were no longer relevant. Out they went!

3. When life hands you lemons - or rather overripe bananas. The batch of banana muffins that came out of the oven smelled and tasted all the better for having used fruit no longer good for eating raw.

4. Making the call - I heard from a friend prior to Christmas, and felt pangs of guilt that I had not kept in closer touch with her. I took note of her new address and phone number but days went by and I didn't call, being distracted and overloaded with many other things. Finally yesterday I did call, and left a message, and today spoke to her husband. He said that my friend was also feeling guilty, blaming herself for not staying in touch. I will call her again when she isn't working. She and I were each others' bridesmaids - not someone to lose touch with easily - and I look forward to laughing again with her soon.

5. Standing on my own two feet - or actually walking. It seems like a long time since I walked anywhere by choice (not counting shopping centres of course). The kids took the scooters they got for Christmas, donned the elbow, knee and "head" pads (as one of my girls calls them), and set off with me in search of a new playground and a purveyor of drinkable coffee.

Thanks for reading. Happy 2011. Here's to 5 positive things in your life. :) ]]> Thumbnail http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=30 http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=29 Fri, 31 Dec 2010 05:34:42 GMT Forgive me reader, it's been 26 days since my last blog post. Here are some of my reasons:

1. Christmas - shopping (lots), socialising (a little), working (even though the rest of the country seems to be out to lunch), cooking, wrapping and planning. Who has time to write anything except lists in the lead-up to Christmas.
2. Children - two of them, four years old and little dynamos they are too. Not yet at school but already into the cycle of terms, holidays and the 'what week is this' lambada. Finishing preschool a week before Christmas called for entertainment, stimulation and seasonal events such as swimming, Santa and steering them cleer of too many 'early Christmas presents'. Oh and too much sugar of course! :rolleyes:
3. Malware - the whole (and I do not exaggerate) of Christmas Eve was spent dealing with malicious spyware on my PC. I swear that's when I was going to write my blog! Honest.
4. PMS - enough said.:mad:
5. The time of year - perhaps it's performance anxiety but somehow articles and blogs written near the end of December really ought to be deeper than normal and offer some wisdom on the year just gone and the year that is to come.

Today it's 31 December. Wherever you look, online or in life, it feels that society, and everyone with it, is about to leap off the precipice of 2010 and into the great unknown of tomorrow. I pray we all land safely, without a hangover so as to be able to land on our feet and make a great start. Talk to you next year. ]]> Thumbnail http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=29 http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=28 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 06:48:35 GMT Business is good for relationships, or at least in some way. Business takes time and working with someone, in a partnership or any collaboration,... Business is good for relationships, or at least in some way. Business takes time and working with someone, in a partnership or any collaboration, involves patience while you learn to understand each other and the objectives of the task.

Sometimes clients are in a great rush and sometimes suppliers are in a great rush, with deadlines and economic realities impacting on the process of writing or designing or building or whatever.

However good business requires that we respect deadlines, even while resisting the compelling urge to take short-cuts, accept answers at face value, assume that we can speed things up.

Relationships and business are about taking and making best use of time. It is a non-renewable resource and absolutely irreplaceable. ]]> Thumbnail http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=28 http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=27 Tue, 30 Nov 2010 01:29:11 GMT "But it's the end of November. It's nearly summer. I don't want to wear long pants!"

This was part of the conversation this morning with my daughter about what she was going to wear today. I'm sure it was echoed in thousands of Sydney households. I felt the same way myself, although I had to be the voice of reason for her.

"I know it is nearly summer but it's actually quite cool today and I don't want you to get cold. You can't wear a summer dress. You have to wear long pants."

Dressing for the weather, instead of for the date.

Over coffee, I thought how much this applies to business as well. We tend to "dress" our business for the time of year, and not for the actual conditions.

Retail expects boom conditions going into Christmas and feels cheated if the profits don't roll in. But it's December! Yet out in the marketplace it may not feel like time for celebrating, with shaky conditions in interest rates, scarily high utilities bills and uncertainty about the new year.

Conference organisers expect record numbers to a function that is an annual record-breaker, simply because it has always exceeded expectations before. What if this year the event doesn't break records and delivers only a slim margin? It's common to be disappointed rather than to see that any gain in positive, even if it a modest one.

In my small business, there are times when I expect to be quiet and plan outings with my children, only to find myself in demand and working late into the night. (I'm not really complaining! :D)

What about you? Are there things that you are counting on, certain times of year that should be one thing or another? Are you able to read conditions, reacting quickly when your expectations are challenged? ]]> Thumbnail http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=27 http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=25 Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:12:24 GMT I know there's been lots of comparisons done about how businesses are like children. But here's another one :)

After having Child #2, I remember thinking "If I knew what parenting was REALLY going to be like, would I have done it?". Meaning, if someone had written down all the pros and cons on a piece of paper, would I (pre-kids) have thought that looked like a good idea?

Being completely honest, I'd have to say "no"!!

But would I change anything now? Not on your life! Because I can now fully understand that the pros outweigh the cons (most days, anyway!). And because those little cherubs provide a constant source of surprises and joy.

And so the other day, I found myself pondering the same question about my business: if I'd read another business owner's honest, no-holds barred account of running a business, would I have done it?.....another resounding "no"!

Who in their right mind would ask for no (paid) sick days, unrealistic deadlines from clients, being on a continual (steep) learning curve, working weekends to get a job finished, thinking about work 24/7 (although the best ideas do come in the shower).

But of course, pre-business, I had no idea of the amazing "pros" that would come from running my own business:
- the amazing people and contacts I've made
- the extreme joy and pride that comes from taking an idea and seeing it come to fruition
- the satisfaction of providing a valued service to clients (and the lovely feedback I get!)
- the increased confidence in myself and my abilities

...and the list goes on.

Starting and running a business is one of those things that you can't REALLY prepare for. Sure you can read books, go to courses, talk to people who are doing it. But just like parenting, until you actually start experiencing being a business owner and having the ultimate responsibility for it's success, it's hard to really "know". ]]> Michelle Grice http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=25 http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=26 Wed, 17 Nov 2010 09:20:36 GMT Sounds good, and tantalises with its prospects. It is easy to get into (like marriage) and costs surprisingly little upfront (unlike marriage). Then... Sounds good, and tantalises with its prospects. It is easy to get into (like marriage) and costs surprisingly little upfront (unlike marriage). Then the hard work starts getting the thing designed, written, hosted, launched. Like getting a good marriage off the ground.
The moment is here. My site has launched and I now I set about trying to 'market' it - tell all and sundry to go and look at it and linger a while and perhaps even lure others to look at it too.
I love my business and now, its offspring, my website. I am grateful to the designer and developer who have brought me this far. Of course I'm not married to my site (and future pruning, adjusting or even separation is quite feasible). But it does feel revealingly personal and a little odd to be putting it out there for others to love or hate or to simply ignore.
I guess this is the next test. I've been doing this business for a while. Now I will have to open myself up to widespread critique, positive or negative. It's like marriage. Complete exposure. :eek:
http://www.thumbnail.com.au/ ]]> Thumbnail http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=26 http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=24 Fri, 05 Nov 2010 00:46:15 GMT As I sit at my computer this morning and write a blog post, my current attire of pyjamas (although it is I must admit quite close to midday) reminds... As I sit at my computer this morning and write a blog post, my current attire of pyjamas (although it is I must admit quite close to midday) reminds of one of the reasons I love being in business and particularly a dotcom biz - my clients can't see my pink PJs with little black hearts on!!!! Not that I am one to wear my PJs for hours - but every so often, I think it is good to reflect on the many benefits - both big and small! of being a biz owner.

Non biz-owners often can look at you in horror as their face says something like 'why on earth would you want to be in biz?'. Well I have a lot of answers at the ready!!! - I love the creativity, the innovation, the networking, the challenges, the legacy I am creating, the lifestyle I am forging, the passion to learn and grow, the interesting people I can connect with ............etc etc........and of course including the PJs!

So my encouragement to u 2day is go CELEBRATE being a biz owner - you are a champion and your life is a role model to many others around you. It is g8 to be in biz! ]]> Maree Cutler-Naroba http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=24 http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=23 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 06:43:00 GMT I love how in the going-ons of each day there is opportunity to reflect on growing and developing as a business owner. Today I went for an eyebrow... I love how in the going-ons of each day there is opportunity to reflect on growing and developing as a business owner. Today I went for an eyebrow shape and wax - which took only just a few minutes and not a huge amount of $ - but here is what I thought about:

The eyebrow shape and wax is done by someone else - more skilled at doing this than me! As I lie on my back and they have the light shining on the eyebrows, they expertly apply the right amount of hot wax to get rid of the excess hair. I cannot see what they are doing but I can feel it. The tweezers are then used to get that final shape right and to reach hais on the eyebrow that are not positioned where the wax goes. The final result - lovely shaped brows with the right shape and thickness, looking just for a short time a little red from the treatment, but that soons settle down. And there you have it, feeling like a women again!!!!

So what parts of my biz do I need to get some help on, who can look at some angles of my biz from a different perspective, who can see some areas in my biz that are overgrown and need trimming and shaping, what areas of my biz do I need to apply some 'hot wax' too? Like me, I would encourage you to ask yourself is it time to book your biz in for an 'eyebrow shape and wax'? ]]> Maree Cutler-Naroba http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=23 http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=22 Sun, 17 Oct 2010 05:34:08 GMT How hard does it have to be? I've written for others with hardly a moment's reflection yet writing for my own website is proving beyond me. I've started several times and find today that even finding a closing line for an elusive poem has been easier than the web writing I should be able to do without a hitch. Finally, writing in long- hand, on pages of the draft website printed by my trusty printer, I seem ready for the task.

I'll just hang the washing out first, while the sun still shines.
And I might send a couple of emails ... ]]> Thumbnail http://www.dotcomwomen.com.au/blog.php?b=22