Living in the Real World
I was set to write a light post on best business books. But when I read Joanna’s fabulous article and Stephen’s distressing news, it just didn’t seem right. So here’s my two-part response instead.
In seeking our first break in 14 months, Fonnie and I looked at many places in spa country. Some had little wellness centres out the back. Some had restaurants tacked on. One just did accommodation and had strategic partnerships with other specialty service providers.
We booked this last one, on the premise that if we wanted a health treatment or a decent meal, we could visit the historic, newly renovated spa complex or go to a standalone restaurant.
Our choice was so well validated that I mentally composed a message identical to Joanna’s. When you do one thing really well, the results can indeed be spectacular. Just check out Saltus 1!
Having endorsed Joanna’s point, I can add that finding one’s true path certainly isn’t easy. So I was much saddened to see Stephen’s report. Having laboured to articulate a crystal clear mission, he faces obstacles on the very eve of its execution.
While I know nothing of Stephen’s case, and haven’t even met him, his contributions to this forum have been frank, frequent and fecund. I therefore feel like one of ‘our own’ is in distress.
This leads me to believe that we’ve created a genuine community in which people can seek comfort and advice and report success and failure.
With people like Joanna and Stephen among us, we can only become richer. So my sincere thanks and thoughts go out to you both.
Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.
Holy bluddy Hot-Tubs Batman! Talk about targeting one thing that you do really well! Ever thought of becoming a travel agent? :- ) That Saltus1 place looks pretty amazing…I’d sleep in their website! :- )
Well Paul…you have certainly gone above and beyond the call of duty on this one mate…I am humbled and honoured by this support.
You raise a very good point about having created a genuine community. This is no mean feat and is testament to your good self, the high calibre of other contributors like Joanna, and dare I say it, ‘Malcolm the invincible’, Andy and all the other great commenters that have participated on this remarkably young blog.
So thank you for providing and nurturing such a great community.
And let’s not forget our beloved ‘Deep Ocean of Mystery’ humbly toiling in the background and without whom none of this would either function or improve…Yep! I’m talking about you Megan :- )
Oh to update you on the progress of my situation:
As you know from my last comment on Joanna’s excellent blog ‘Do your thing and do it well’ ( http://mybrc.myobnet.com/2009/08/11/do-your-thing-and-do-it-well/#comments ), I had written to A Current Affair.
Well I sent the account that I sent to ‘A Current Affair’ to the offices of Mr. Steve Whan (NSW Minister for Small Business) and to Mr. Mike Kelly (Federal Labour MP).
I just received a phone call from a very helpful bloke from Mike Kelly’s office (with whom I spoke yesterday). He has since received and reviewed my account and rang to inform me that he has forwarded it to the office of Julia Guillard for further action. Heartening news…not to mention surprisingly fast.
So, with the amazing support of you fine folks and such rapid action from the government, I’m feeling quite heartened this morning.
I’ll endeavour to provide more news as it comes to bare…
Thanks again…film at 11.00 :- P
Cheers
Stephen G
Fan-bloody-tastic, Stephen! I’m crossing everything that you may acheive a speedy resolution. Thanks and amen to your kind comments. Especially re Megan, who is an absolute joy to work with.
Great news, Stephen! Amazing how the threat of A Current Affair can kick a government agency into motion. Please keep us updated on your progress.
Thanks Andy…I appreciate your kind words of support.
Ironically, it wasn’t my intention to leverage the government to action by using ‘A Current Affair’ as any kind of threat. It’s just the way it unfolded… I just want the the situation resolved as quickly as possible so that I can get on with launching my business and paying my rapidly mounting bills.
I applied for an increase on my credit card limit about 5 weeks ago…my bank contact (who incidentally is a really nice and helpful person), informed me the other day that there is still no news on my application…damn! Are these banks the same people that tout the addage that ‘Time is Money’?
If I don’t get this small amount of extra funding soon I’m literally ‘dead in the water’ and being sued by a Training Provider & Government Dept will be the least of my problems :- P
Cheers
Stephen G
Hi Folks,
Thought it might be nice to balance the equation with some good news:
noSh-it! Wood-Fired Pizza has achieved its inaugural ignition! YAY!
Yep! My ‘beeyootiful’ new oven-trailer (lovingly crafted by Geoff Chilman & his son Trent & Family from Alfresco Woodfired Pizza Ovens in WA – http://www.alfrescowoodfiredovens.com.au/ ), arrived at home yesterday morning and was fired-up for the first time yesterday evening. Not cooking just yet, as I have to keep a small fire going in it for 3 days while the oven cures. Just FYI – Apparently this curing phase releases over 100kg of water stored in the materials of the newly born oven…I reckon that’s pretty amazing!
I am determined to proceed as scheduled and not let government funded service providers of ‘Small Business Support’ get in the way…especially not when I’m this close. (Isn’t it amazing though, that when someone wants to ’screw’ you, they seem to be able to suddenly act very quickly…I received a letter from DEEWR yesterday informing me of my suspension from the NEIS Program). Wow! Imagine how well off our country would be if these orgs could act as quickly to help people?)
Though I have had to cancel a few orders and cut a couple of corners that I was hoping not to (due to the above mentioned (Comment 4), delays leading to increased costs and consequent funding constraints), it’s full steam, or should I say ‘full smoke’ ahead…
Stay tuned… :- )
Cheers
Stephen G
Congratulations, Stephen! That is wonderful to hear.
Amazing about the curing thing. I’ve always wondered why you have to ’season’ woks with oil, given that you cook everything with oil anyway.
Beautiful link to the oven site. Is that where you got the reverse type inspiration for your site?
I’ve often railed against the ineffciencies of local government communications http://www.squidoo.com/Copywriter-Confessions but I’m yet to get a reaction. I hope you fare better.
Thanks Paul :- )
Re: Reverse-type inspiration – actually, reverse-type (for those that aren’t familiar with the term, it’s not writing backwards…it’s using white or light coloured text on a black or dark background), is something that I have used on occasion over the years…graphic design, brochures, presentations etc… if I had to attribute any inspiration I’d have to say it was likely from ‘Gaming’ and ‘Movie’ sites. They seemed to be the first ones that managed to use it and make it work in the Web medium.
Re: Government inefficiencies – I reckon that, just for the record, I should say that I don’t think that DEEWR is at all the problem in my situation. Sure the contract could probably be revised to be a bit more equitable (like most Commonwealth Gov’t Contracts), but I really don’t think DEEWR has done anything untoward…at least not intentionally.
It’s the NEIS Program Service Provider that is the problem.
My intuition (no evidence to support), is that the Service Provider has been slack (which they certainly have from my perspective), from DEEWR’s perspective and DEEWR may have kicked their butts and told them to get their ‘effluent’ together. So, like many larger organisations (i.e. non-corporeal entities with legal rights), they pass the buck to their human minions (i.e. employees and customers). Why? Because they can!
Second day of curing the new oven is going gang-busters…it’s all working beautifully…can’t wait to cook my first test pizza :- )
Cheers
Stephen G
PS Hey! It just occured to me…it’s the weekend Paul! What are doing here? :- )
I always camp beside my PC on weekends, just in case you or any of our other readers should need me.
With regard to Burn-a-debt’s first pizza, I think the theme should be bridal white: brie, chicken, button mushrooms, sea salt, egg whites; that sort of thing. Any takers?
Greetings,
I have been away on a conference for last week and it appears I have missed a lot in just a few days! Stephen if you feel so inclined could you please explain a bit more about the training and why they are threatening to sue you? Sounds really strange.
The secret to a great pizza is meat, meat and then meat covered in egg, onion, salt and bbq sauce. Kind of a healthy living sort of thing. Great for the Saturday night munchies around 3.00am……
Live the dream Stephen, you ar emaking me hungry!
Welcome back Malcolm! How’s Australia’s retail and manufacturing sectors looking to you? Care to give us any hot insider predictions?
Did you see that Paul?…I’ve been asked to elaborate! Me! Elaborate! Quick! Take a picture or something :- )
Is this where I say “Be careful what you ask for? :- )
Butt Seriously;
Hi Malcolm :- )
Thanks for your inquiry.
I have to be a bit careful to keep this in perspective, as you are only hearing my side of the story…hence my previous brevity…not to mention that I didn’t want to put anyone to sleep; nor do I wish to appear as either a matyr or a pariah…a whinger I can cope with :- )
Oh and just to save you reading the following for nothing, I don’t know why they are threatening to sue, beyond an apparent and heretofore unacknowledged breach of the contract.
Elaboration:
The really sucky part is that the Training Provider (Government contracted Service Provider), is using DEEWR to threaten me…the actual contract is with DEEWR. I haven’t spoken to DEEWR at any point so far. I would say that the Training Provider may have the capacity of ‘contract manager’, but I’m not sure.
The Breach – Apparently, my business has taken too long to ’start-up’ according to a clause of the contract (not to mention a rather anal interpretation of it). I have fulfilled all of my obligations to the best of my abiility and under the advice and guidance of the Training Provider’s previous employess, including attending all scheduled (and contracted), meetings where my circumstances as they changed and/or not, where reported and placed on file by the previous employee (NEIS Program facilitator); who incidentally was very helpful, courteous and with whom all was well. Recently the Training Provider sacked all the old staff and hired new employees.
My gripe is that the new NEIS Program facilitator, whom I met for the first time last week, who admitted not having read my file, opened the meeting with “You are suspended from the NEIS Program”. From then on it just got worse, including threatening that if I did not provide the information (already on file) and rework my business plan (which I have neither the time, resources nor inclination to do right at the moment), I would be removed from the program and sued to recover all NEIS Payments I have received to date (this represents my entire income for the past 9 months – somewhere around $8000.00). Try starting up a business on that? :- P
Every time I tried to explain anything she simply said “You’ve read the contract haven’t you?”…not getting anywhere, I left the meeting and I think you know the rest.
Re: Secret to a great pizza – I ‘wholepizzadly’ agree Malcolm…I’m a self confessed ‘meatosaurus’ and a pizza without meat is compost as far as I’m concerned :- )…but as we both know, my customer base will not consist of just you and me :- )…so I will start with some good quality basics and respond to the caprice of the market; which my little business is designed to be extremely good at.
As it happens, tonight is rather auspicious. I’ve spent the last 3 days curing the oven (i.e. burning it in to remove embedded moisture and to set the compound bonds), and tonight I’m cooking my very first noSh-it! Wood-Fired Pizza test pizza…I’m the scientist and the guinea pig :- )…wish me luck.
Oh and I just got a reply from the bank…they declined my request to increase my Credit Card limit. So I’m 2 weeks out from launch, after 6 months of delays (largely attributed to the bank), I’ve had my income summmarily removed, I’m down to my last $1000.00 and the bank reckons I’ve reached the limit of my capacity to repay my Credit Card (based on my initial application 9 months ago). They don’t seem to be interested in what is happening now. And this is called reality? :- P
But as you say, “Live the dream”…I’m wholly focused on continuing with my launch as best I can. I’ve come too far and I’m too close to even hiccup at this point…if anything, all this ‘Small Business Support’ has served only to strengthen my resolve…Yeh! I know it sounds corny, but it’s true…and even I’m impressed with just how strengthened it is… :- )
Chocks out, flaps up, hats off, stand back, smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em…noSh-it! Wood-Fired Pizza is about to hit the fan, regardless :- )
I have to say that the support I’ve received from the folks here has infused my resolve with high grade titanium…thanks again
Cheers
Stephen G
Dang, Stephen, there’s a whole jolly book in this ‘adventure’ you’re having. Talk about doing things the hard way. How sweet it will be when you finally triumph over all. Meanwhile, I’ve dispatched a 44 gallon drum of grit, just in case you run out. Which I doubt. Good luck, Squadron Leader, the eyes of mankind are upon you!
Pip pip ol’ bean! :- P
A jolly book indeed…but unfortunately, like war heroes, the jolly books are only a small proportion of the myriad and ONGOING Small Business stories we hear about.
I’ve been around long enough to know that, although the ‘props’ in my spluttering ‘bomber’ may be unique to my situation, that the smoke, flames, trajectory and the sound it makes when it hits the ground are all too familiar and far, far too common.
With all our ’smancy’ new words and methodologies and multi-mediated analytics, the statistics for Small Business and their fatalities remains pretty much unchanged:
Excepted from a presentation called “An Overview of Australia’s Small Business Sector” by Professor Michael Schaper
Dean, Murdoch University Business, to the Council of Small Businesses of Australia – February 2008 ( http://bit.ly/4ejaAo ):
The Consistency Rule
- Patterns remarkably consistent over time.
- Only minor variations in figures from one
period to another.
- No significant changes for Australia over last
twenty years.
Exits & Survivals – Australia
“Exits” includes cessation, liquidation or
receivership, change of ownership, mergers.
Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates (1997):
• Average rate: 8.5% p.a. of all small firms.
• Exits are highest in retail industries,
partnerships, & new businesses.
• 18% of businesses exit after 2 years
• 24% after 3 years
• 35% after 5 years
• 55% after 10 years
• 65% after 15 years
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2007):
• Of the 1.87m firms operating in June 2003, 65.0% still
trading in June 2006 and 58.4% in June 2007.
• Least likely to survive are new firms, non-employing
firms,low turnover firms
(Sources: ABS (1997) Business Exits in Australia, cat. no. 8144.0, pp.5-12; Counts of Australian Businesses,
Including Entries and Exits Cat.no.8165.0 Canberra: ABS, p.19. – http://bit.ly/4ejaAo )
I don’t have to tell you about the pyramid shape of and inherent imbalances and inequities (arguably undepinned by individual vested interests), in our economy?
But we are the ones making it up aren’t we? I mean only 100 years ago (less in some places), we were still working 8 days a week and sending our children to work in mines, weren’t we? And it’s taken US this long to move to a 5 day (though be it still a 400 hour) week? (Well it’s a progress of sorts…at least fewer children are in mines…at least in the Western Countries). My point is, WE create the ‘Economy’, don’t we?
Is it worth mentioning here that ‘ecos’ comes from a Greek word element ‘oikos’ meaning ‘Home’? (Ref: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eco)
So, although I’m fortunate enough to have this fine platform in which to vent my spleen and the fine moral support of the good folks here, I hardly consider myself or my concerns ’special’ in the ’scheme of things’.
What’s the answer? There isn’t ONE. There are MANY little ones, and they are US. We could start with removing the ’stigma’ around talking about ‘actual’ money and stop hiding our ‘financials’ under our beds with our ‘porn’ books that we think our Mums don’t know about.
We can better monetise the so far hidden (or ignored), intrinsic values that an operating small business has and generates in the community and economy. Hopefully this might result in Insurance Companies, Banks & Financiers assessing ‘REALITY’ and delivering ‘TIMELY’ services (including micro-loans), that are assessed against the cost of the business dying, rather than against the banks balance-sheets and underwriters prescription drug intakes. They do it with big businesses…why not the little ones where the ‘real’ and larger proportion of money, costs AND PEOPLE are?
It’s an embarrassing planet at times…no wonder so many are so keen to blow it up?
I’ll take a breather here…
Cheers
Stephen G
As you would know, Stephen, the Canberra bomber had jets, not props.
It was highly adaptable and set a world altitude record in 1957. It remained in service until 23 June 2006, 57 years after its first flight.
I’m confident you’ll do similarly well.
Ha! I hadn’t made that association – ‘Canberra Bomber’ :- ) Nice one Paul :- )
In my vain attempt at metaphor blending, I attempted to use ‘props’ both literally and metaphorically (i.e. ‘props’ as in ‘theatrical properties’ or contents of my stage/cirucmstance). Somehow, I reckon ‘turbines’ may have been a tad more confusing. :- P
Your kind words of support continue to be a balm and an inspiration, for which I continue to be very grateful.
Cheers
Stephen G
PS I have always liked the old Canberra Bombers. I have even worked on a few (showing my age again :- P). I love how the engines are started…an electrically ignited cartridge (one for each engine and each start), is fitted to the front of the engine. Each cartridge contains the equivalent of about 4 sticks of dynamite; so the engines literally explode into action :- )
Well, we seem to have metaphored each other to a standstill!
I always wondered why the RACV wouldn’t cover my Canberra Bomber. Now I know. Never could get the old girl to roll start, either…
Happy times, nonetheless.
Mate! I reckon the day when you become metaphored to a standstill, I’ll be respectfully placing a final fairwell Pizza on your headstone! :- )
Never give up, never surrender! :- )
Re: Canberra Bombers – yeh! You’d probably draw a bit of attention in a multi-level carpark…they spew out enough smoke on start-up to rival a nuclear winter! :- )
Cheers
Stephen G
[...] Living in the Real World mybrc.myobnet.com/2009/08/13/living-in-the-real-world – view page – cached blog_world I was set to write a light post on best business books. But when I read Joanna’s fabulous article and Stephen’s distressing news, it just didn’t seem right. So here’s my two-part response instead. — From the page [...]