Monkey Business
Awesome Foundation Brisbane
Nov 29th
The Awesome foundation in Brisbane will give $1000 to someone doing something awesome every month. No strings attached.
Why
1. Awesome needs to be rewarded more.
2. Satisfaction for the 10 who donate $100 every month.
How? I want to participate
Add your name to the Google Docs Spreadsheet
When we have 10, we’ll get started!
6 things entrepreneurs should remember
Sep 7th
I was asked to speak at an Entrepreneur’s networking event called the Hive in Brisbane. (It’s a free monthly event. check it out) It was the first ever in Brisbane, so I had no idea what to talk about. I decided to simply share some of my favourite business tips that I have learned from others. They made a difference for me. Remember them if you can.
If you’re an entrepreneur, it’s likely that you have a short attention span so your brain will be thinking about all sorts of ideas while you’re reading this, so I’ll keep it short.
1. Generic VS Brand
Nike vs Sportsclothing
Google.com vs SearchEngine.com
McDonalds vs Burgers
Which of these have you used and which of them have you not? You don’t need to answer, I think you get the point.
The only time that a generic brand has an advantage is in the first 6-12 months. If you plan on being in business longer than that, and you plan on receiving repeat business, then a Brandable business name will become more and more important.
2. Sharing Ideas VS Keeping them Secret
Sharing your ideas can bring feedback, vital relationships, funding, fine tuning.
What about thieves?
People who can make your idea happen, don’t have the need to steal it
People who need to steal your idea, don’t have the ability to make it happen.
Therefore, sharing your idea is very important. Also help others with their ideas. Share your secrets with the noobs. Why? Because if it helps them, they’re going to want more one day and they will want to return the favor.
3. Culture of Innovative
Ask staff to contribute new ideas every week. All humans are smart!
4. Worst enemy of a great idea is a different great idea
“Jack of all trades, master of none” I always wanted to be Jack. Good at everything. In 2002, I read a book named “good to great”. Until then, I thought it was better to be a Jack of all Trades. I was lucky enough to learn that companies and people who are the best in the world at something are much more successful and make a tonne more money than those who are good at everything.
Choose a niche you can be the best in the world at.
Be the:
- Best event organiser for social media
- Best car rental comparison website
- Best blogger on using social media for business
- Best female actress who can play a uber nerd with an Australian accent
- Best mechanic at servicing mini coopers
5. Build Relationships
Go to networking events to build new relationships. Don’t get caught talking to existing friends the whole night. There’s nothing wrong with walking into an existing conversation and introducing yourself to strangers. All the cool kids are doing it. Jump on the phone and build a real relationship. It’s a great way to acquire real links.
6. Advertising VS Word of mouth
Word of mouth advertising will increasingly become more important than traditional advertising. Divert more budget towards activities that will encourage word of mouth advertising.
My Disappointing Apple Investment Company Experience
Jul 26th
I have had a disappointing experience.
No, not with the company that makes iPhone. Apple Investment Company runs a investment service in Australia. It’s not easy writing this since I’ve always believed that if you don’t have anything good to say about someone, then don’t say anything at all. Apple Investment Company did have some positives but unfortunately, the overwhelming negatives made the experience regrettable. This page is dedicated to sharing my experiences. Something I wish I had been able to read before I became a customer. Is Apple investment company a scam? I don’t know. I’m not a scam professional so I cannot say. I need to be very careful with what I say here since I am not a licensed financial service provider so I can only comment on the facts of my dealings with them. This means I cannot advise on whether you should or should not use Apple Investment Company. Additionally, I have never used their software without bugs. Therefore, I can’t comment on how effective the software is when it is working as it should, nor can I comment on whether or not it can make you solid returns.
January – March 2010
I became a customer in January. For 3 months, I experienced a comedy of errors and disappointments. Some disappointments include:
- lied to about how much time it will consume. I was told “all you need to do is press a button”. Truth is, there were hours of time spent on signup forms, bank account details, Justice of the Peace signature for forms to sign up a FOREX account.
- software had bugs so didn’t start. I helped them debug. After 3 months with no software, and broken promises, I lost all confidence
26th March 2010
Today I requested a refund. Although I’m not entitled to a refund, I have requested one for various reasons, mostly that I had lost all confidence in them as a company I do business with.
6th August 2010
Today I’m still waiting for a refund. The reason I’m holding back on publishing disappointments is because they said “you need to remove complaints about us, or a refund contract cannot be organised”. As an example, they said that publishing information on OZRipOff is what is actually delaying the refund.
20th August 2010
ARGH!!!! I’m in a vicious circle. It goes something like this…
- I give Apple Investment Company the chance to refund a very disappointed customer
- Refund doesn’t come
- I feel even more disappointed and feel obliged to share my experience in a public message
- Apple Investment Company finds the public complaint and kindly informs me a refund will come if I remove or retract it
- I comply
- Go to Step 1
This cycle has happened several times now. Today was Step 2 of the cycle.
26th August 2010
Step 3 of the cycle today, so I’ve made this post public again.
After 8 months of disappointments I’m thinking I no longer want a refund if it means I need to be silent and unable to share my experiences. At least it might break the cycle.
February 2011
They threatened legal action if I didn’t remove my blog about them. I know I have been honest with my words and have taken care not to offend with slander. I have also ensured that participants in the discussion are real. I have chosen not to give in to their empty threats.
Summary
I don’t know if Apple Investment Company is a Scam or not. I didn’t deal with them long enough. However, the time I did deal with them was horrible for me. Software bugs, lies about refunds to silence me, delay tactics, false claims during sales pitch about how much time I need to invest, it was all very very regrettable and enough to break my motto of not saying anything bad about others.
Please Comment
If you’ve had a positive or negative experience with them, please comment. WARNING: Please only use facts in your comments. Do not write slander or I will need to edit them.
Has Apple Investment company tried the sales pitch on you yet? Please let everyone know how they have tried.
UPDATE 4th July 2011
I believe Mark Power, the Financial Services Licence holder is a victim as well. Sure, he screwed up by giving a dodgy company use of his licence, but he is already paying for that mistake. Apple apparently didn’t pay him commissions for the trades and Mark Power successfully terminated the licence in early 2011. If I’m right, this means that lodging a complaint with Financial Ombudsman Services will not get a desired result as Mark doesn’t have your money. (BTW, each FOS complaint will cost Mark Power around $1800, which I think could be better spent on the real culprits) Mark’s website is here http://www.markpower.biz/ and I’m sure he will have contact details of those responsible if you want to take them to court.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?
Two names have become apparent according to the ForexPeaceArmy website.
Shane Andrews and Stephen Keating (AKA Steo Keating)
Some people have suggested taking them to court. With or without a lawyer at small claims tribunal or wherever. Up to you. When you do, be sure to let everyone know as there are many parties at ForexPeaceArmy who are also looking for them. Their phone numbers can be found on this forum… http://www.forexpeacearmy.com/forex-forum/scam-alerts-folder/8895-apple-investment-company-fx-calibre-6.html#post66683 and as mentioned earlier, Mark Power should have their address.
3 reasons why a Culture of Innovation wins
Jul 20th
Ideas For New Technology
Each week, every IT employee contributes an idea to improve our core technology. Out of habit, the sub-conscious brain will be thinking about these ideas if it is asked. Every brain has a good idea waiting to be found. It just needs to be asked.
Improved Customer Service
The word of mouth advertising that can be received from exceptional customer is priceless. Without customer service employees being responsible for leading the innovation of customer service, we’d have pretty average customer service.
Employees that Own
Money is a need, not a want. Therefore, a salary beyond a need, is not a good motivator. Humans need more than money. Sure, VroomVroomVroom pays decent salaries, but this is more because the company is doing well. After watching this video on What Motivates you, you may agree that a culture of innovation is a far greater motivator.
Rent a Car
Jul 19th
I made this search form for VroomVroomVroom in 2010. If you need to rent a car, this is the place to do it!
White Search Form in iFrame
Current Projects
Jul 12th
VroomVroomVroom
Global Car rental comparison website. So proud of her.
Car Insurance Comparison
Started as an SEO experiment then comparison website. SOLD
Road Trip Mania
Worlds largest road trip club
Green Logo
Project to help people go gree
Terminator – Bride of the Machine
Jun 3rd
The’re getting married tomorrow. Terminator is their favourite movie, so I shopped this for them with my noob skills.
How to get into the IT industry
Mar 7th
1. start a blog or website that demonstrates your skills. Simply show off working examples of your work, with descriptions. This is VERY attractive to prospective employers. To me, this is more important than CV’s in IT.
2. Earning a degree helps, but isn’t necessary. Without a degree, it’s more important to show you have the skills with demos. It also means an employer can use the lack of degree as an excuse to pay you less. A tafe course or short course will help with legitimacy as an alternative
3. Get a professional email address for applications. warez32, bigdog, ladiesman69 is kind of dodgy sounding. I know it’s fun, but I don’t know you yet, and I use everything I can to try to judge you quickly.
4. Make your CV easily accessibly. I don’t have Microsoft office. Don’t save as docx. Host your CV somewhere without ads. Google Docs would be a good choice.
5. Get some real paid experiance. It doesn’t matter where from. Get an odesk account and apply for jobs on there http://freelanceswitch.com/finding/how-to-win-any-job-on-elance-odesk-or-gurucom/
6. Contribute to an opensource project or even start an opensource project of your own. Obviously include this in your demo portfolio and CV.
7. Teach yourself about SEO and mention this in your CV and demos. This is very important to companies now. You may find you really enjoying it. If you do, choose a niche to try to rank a keyword for as a demonstration.
Percentage of traffic distribution on Google
Mar 2nd
Why it’s important to own the top rank on Google
Is Man or Woman selling this table?
Feb 1st
Take a look at this table. It is being sold on eBay. Now lets play a little game. Is it being sold by a man or a woman?
Don’t cheat! Try to figure it out.