1. www.southcitybulletin.com.au | April 2015
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www.smallbusinesssolutions.qld.gov.au
I
n the recent Build a Better Business Program
workshops, Small Business Solutions Mentor
Rudi Tartaglia delivered a top-notch, peer-
reviewed, accredited curriculum to two
groups of participants covering: Business
Planning, Marketing, Product and Services, Legal
Obligations and Finance.
Small groups, better engagement
Class sizes were small, allowing for more
intimate engagement. Workshop participant,
Rachel Gibson co-owner of All Ears Hearing in
Springwood, says, “I really like the small group
scenario as I can ask lots of questions and get
answers and ideas relevant to my industry and
business.”
Small numbers allows Rudi to check in with
each participant personally to see how they
are grasping the content and help align it with
their particular business situation.
“When we work through each piece of
curriculum, I will talk to each individual and see
how that applies in the context of their own
business,” says Rudi. The SBS workshop is
“where the rubber meets the road,” says Rudi.
“When we speak of a cash flow statement, I
will get workshop participants to do action
plans in the workshop to show them how they
can do that in their businesses. So they learn
to apply.”
Build a Better Business
Workshop & Mentoring
Local Business Owners
on Track and Moving Forward
With the Build a Better Business Program
Eleven local business owners and managers on the Southside are excited
to fast-track their businesses as they implement new tailor-made business
strategies and see their businesses in a whole new light.
Do you want to grow your business in 2015?
This program is designed to enhance the business skills, profitability and growth of small
businesses through a workshop and mentoring program that is affordable and specifically
geared for small business. The program consists of 5 business workshops, one-on-one
business mentoring and networking opportunities.
Small Business Solutions provides owners the opportunity to get real business assistance
from accredited industry professionals. Participants who complete the full workshop
and mentoring program may be eligible to receive a nationally accredited qualification
BSB40407 Certificate IV in Small Business Management.
Benefits:
• Develop an action plan to better your
business
• Understand the legal requirements in your
business
• Plan and grow your finances
• Create an innovative market strategy
• Develop an innovative team
• Directly address your customers’ needs
• Build on your client relationships
• Establish business networks and support
• Get business advice from a range of
successful business owners
• Produce a practical, user-friendly business
plan
• Participants who complete the full program
may be eligible to receive a nationally
accredited Cert. IV in Small Business
Management.
Date: One-on-one mentoring in your
workplace - date and time to be arranged
with mentor. 5 business mentoring
workshops in your region - contact SBS for
date.
Cost: Only $395 for over $4000 worth of
training and mentoring, which includes 2 hours
one-on-one business mentoring, a series of 5
business workshops, networking opportunities
and business mentoring support.
Bookings: Call 1300 40 60 80
or enquiries@smallbusinesssolutions.qld.gov.au to enquire
about future workshops.
Applicable and doable
What Rudi doesn’t want to see happen is for
participants to go home with copious notes and
not know how to apply that information to their
business.
And Rachel Gibson is proof that the
workshop information is very doable. At the
end of each month she is now looking at the
budget for the coming months and even year
– something she never did before. Plus she is
creating a Cash Flow Forecast. “This is helping
us to keep on track,” says Rachel. She added
that she can’t wait for her one-on-one session
with Rudi, which is part of the program for each
participant.
A consistent theme in the Build a Better
Business program is around the psychology
of business and how people think about their
business. Rudi explained that they talk about
the motivation around the business, what grabs
them to keep it going. It’s good to learn that
business growth is not always on a consistent
trajectory up. Just knowing that it’s normal to
have ups and downs can be a relief for some
business owners.
Participant seeing business
with new eyes
The program is helping participants to see their
business with a fresh pair of eyes. Shona Doyle,
of Multilink Enterprising Chameleon, says, “It’s
given me insight as to why I never seemed to get
ahead – as I was always working in the business
and not on the business. Now, I can prioritise
and give a reason why I have given something
priority by using the strategies I’ve learned and
the documents I’ve had to create.”
Taking the time to take a fresh, new look at
your business, with the help of a professional,
impartial viewpoint, is well worth the small
time and monetary investment in this program.
In the long run, it’s going to pay dividends –
more profits and more time for family and other
pursuits, instead of living for your business.
(Left to right) - Heather Lidstone, Sulata Pop, Corneliu Pop, Rudi Tartaglia (Mentor) and Stephen Lin