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Small Business Owner is myBRC/MYOB’s flagship blog about the very special experiences of owning and running your own business.

Featuring business copywriter Paul Hassing, Small Business Owner takes an honest, warts-and-all look at the lives and times of Aussie small business owners. Paul’s candid confessions shine a humorous light on small business ownership and gives you the chance to discuss what’s on your mind with Paul and other business owners. 

Along the way, Paul and others share their triumphs, challenges and frustrations and the lessons, tips and tricks they’ve learned over the years that might just make your life easier (or at the very least, funnier).

We reckon you’re going to have lots of those ‘oh yeah, that happened to me too,’ moments.

Don’t be shy to share your thoughts, we’re all very friendly!

Who is this Paul guy?

Paul Hassing owns his own business The Feisty Empire and has been in the copywriting game for more than 20 years. He regularly contributes to myBRC through his Copywriter Confessions series and step-by-step guide on How to write perfect job ads and we thought he’d be perfect to share the trials and tribulations of small business ownership – all with a smile.

That’s all we’re going to tell you about Paul – you’ll get to know him more by reading his blog!

 Malcolm Owens

Malcolm Owens is CEO of Sampford IXL, a major Australian maker and importer of premium home appliances whose brands include Gaggenau, Neff, La Germania, Cannon and IXL. When circumstances permit he plans to one day speak, write and teach on corporate strategy, wealth creation and personal success.

Malcolm is a father of three, passionate surfer, published author and member of the National Speakers Association of Australia.

He has a black belt in tae kwon do, collection of self-restored classic cars and multi-property investment portfolio. Malcolm is also a voracious reader, fitness enthusiast and regular goal setter who plays hard, works harder, loves life and doesn’t waste a moment.

Joanna Maxwell

Joanna is the owner of WorkInColour, which runs creative thinking and related workshops for business, as well as programs for people looking for a whole new career, or for ways to make their current career more satisfying. Her mantra is that everyone should have the tools to work in colour and not in black in white.

Joanna believes in the power of creativity to enable individuals and businesses to flourish. (She also believes that Star Trek is the best TV show ever made, but don’t tell anyone…)

Sonia Cuff

Sonia has extensive corporate IT experience in the banking, health and government sectors. Always a Kiwi at heart, she moved to sunny Queensland in 2004 and still supports the All Blacks. Now a member of the world’s largest IT franchise, Sonia is passionate about helping small business owners around the world with the right technology advice and support. 

Angie Porter

Originally hailing from Melbourne, Angie Porter is the director of Searchlab, a UK-based training and research company for Google AdWords and search marketing. Angie has been working in internet marketing since 1996 and has spent the last two years specialising in AdWords.

 A regular contributor to myBRC on the topic of internet marketing, Angie is a self-confessed Collingwood supporter – but we do ask you not to hold that against her J

Kate Bezar

Kate is the Sydney-based founder, publisher, editor and dreamer of Dumbo feather, a half magazine, half book she describes as a ‘mook’. Published quarterly, Dumbo feather speaks with five remarkable individuals in each edition and explores their creativity and passion. In their own words, they tell you how they discovered their passion, what inspires them, the lows as well as the highs on the journey and ultimately why they do what they do.

Ben Angel

Ben is an author, business and lifestyle columnist, personal stylist, marketing specialist on personal branding and founder of Nationwide Networking. As a professional speaker he has delivered presentations for Toyota, Australia Post, Australian Institute of Company Directors, Action International and Energise Enterprise Business Festival. 

Judy Oldmeadow

Judy is a baby boomer grandma who owns and runs Samaria Creek Morgan Farm. There she breeds some of the world’s finest family-friendly Morgan horses.

With over 20 years’ equine industry experience, Judy is a master at interpreting horse body language.

Having also worked in Human Services as a Family Support Worker, she’s adept at facilitating perfect partnerships between horses and humans (be it for an hour, a day or a lifetime).

Many clients attest to Judy’s ability to create life-changing experiences. Her straight-shooting blog is called Good Morgans.

Adam Finlay

Adam L. Finlay has a Masters in Communications and edits research papers, major projects and course materials for a major university. He’s also an Associate Writer with The Feisty Empire. He excels at creating logic out of disorder and has an infinite creative capacity for headlines, taglines and branding statements.

Adam Lachlan is his artistic left brain (or is it right brain?) alter ego, an awarded songwriter/singer and burgeoning cartoon impresario who plays djembe (African drum) in the Barwon Heads Ukelele Band. Learn more at Life on Earth Cartoons.

Stephen Hamilton

 

 

Bambi Gordon 

 

  

After decades in middle- to senior- management marketing roles in Australian media – such as Fox FM, BRW Group, Network Ten – Bambi has spent over 10 years in small business. She is co-owner of a number of businesses including Regional Events Australia, The Brew, and her ‘baby’ The Woo where it is her job to remove the cloak of mystery from the scary beast that is marketing to expose it for the friendly, enjoyable and common sense friend that it should be for small biz operators. 

She is about to present the first Small Business Marketing Training Day later this month in Melbourne. Her skills extend to being able to write about herself in the third person and – who knew – getting published on Small Business Owner. Woo Hoo.

 

 

 

Graeme Bowman

Graeme Bowman was was put on this planet for two reasons:

- To stop people falling asleep during conferences and events

- To inspire people to think more creatively

 

As a Corporate Comedian, MC and Hoax Speaker, Graeme has many years of experience at turning ho-hum into ha-ha at conferences, launches and awards presentations. An audience that is laughing is not sleeping.

 

Also, as a Lateral Thinking Facilitator, Graeme offers entertaining keynotes and workshops that motivate people to challenge their current thinking style and give them valuable tips on how to think more creatively.

 

He also works as a Presentation Skills Coach and a writer of speeches, scripts and copy.

 

 

Heather Samsa

Heather has spent her working life helping small business get ahead, doing the bookkeeping and associated tasks and is employed on a full-time basis. She grew up in Marysville and her parents still live there. Which is why she created ‘The Marysville Cookbook’, to give something back to the community Marysville in their time of need. This book was given to the residents in memory of the old Marysville.  She is also the writer behind www.itaintalwaysmylife.blogspot.com and www.itaintalwaysso.blogspot.com . Her husband of 22yrs puts up with a lot, but supports her endeavours to help the community of Marysville rebuild. 

 

James Mason

James is the Managing Director of Mindshop. Mindshop is a provider of support services to fast track the success of Business Leaders and Advisors around the world. In his role James gets to work with some of the world’s leading developers and implementers of strategy across their growing 600+ membership base. This provides him the unique opportunity to observe within hundreds of business’ each year what’s working and what’s not by way of new trends, business tools, technology and strategic thinking.