Monday, October 29, 2012

A Bias For Trust Seth Godin


Two very simple truths:
a. Don't waste your time initiating relationships that aren't going to thrive and benefit both sides.
b. Productive connection requires mutual trust. You can't empathize with someone you don't trust.
If you enter an engagement filled with wariness, alert for the scam, the inauthentic and the selfish, you'll poison the relationship before it even starts.
Those you deal with won't be challenged to rise to your expectations of excitement and goodwill. Instead, they'll struggle in the face of your skepticism.
Instead of seeking and amplifying the sharp edges, consider focusing on the dignity and goodwill of the people you're working with.
Sure, there are people out there who will disappoint you. But expecting to be ripped off poisons all your interactions instead of saving you from a few dead ends.
An open mind and an open heart usually lead to precisely that in those that you are about to deal with. Perhaps we should give people a chance to live up to our trust instead of looking for the gotcha.
Just last week someone to whom I’d given some seriously great advice (which she acted on!) asked me in a Seminar after asking sceptical question after sceptical question if she had to make a choice to join B1G1 today.
I said, “Yes you do.” And then I quickly said, “Actually, what I just said to you had nothing to do with you joining B1G1. You don’t have to join B1G1 now — you can do it whenever you want. What I just gave you when I said ‘Yes, you do have to do it now’ was mentoring advice. It was advice for your entire business not advice about B1G1. Just let go. Do things now. Trust. And your business will blossom.
Seth says it much more profoundly than I do. But we share the same conviction. Let’s say it again; ‘Perhaps we should give people a chance to live up to our trust instead of looking for the gotcha.’
Brilliant advice, Mr. Godin.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

CRE8’s “Ignite your life leadership”


After 25 years of studying highly successful people, and becoming one himself, Brett Jones has developed CRE8 - a system that works to create what you really want in your life. Wealth, a passionate marriage, a fulfilling career or business, and a powerful healthy body. “Yes, you can have it all” – says Brett.


The Cre8 Leadership System is used by Crown Group, McDonald's, Procter and Gamble (all billion $ companies) and our 10X Geraldton Partner Greg Smargiassi, swears by him!

Brett Jones will be presenting  CRE8’s “Ignite your life leadership” seminar at our offices which will reveal how the system works.

When:-  7pm on  Thursday 1 November 2012.
Where:- Level 7, 14 Martin Place, Sydney 2000

Because we are hosting the event, I have negotiated 20 complimentary tickets (valued at $550)   Click here to register your place

At this  Ignite Your Life Leadership evening,  Brett will show us how to construct NEW LIFE HABITS that will drive our success:
  • Create a MILLION dollar business
  • Build a millionaire lifestyle
  • Learn what really motivates a team
  • Create work/life balance
  • Become a better, more aware leader and parent
  • Learn the skills that lead Richard Branson to be able to run 53 companies.
  • Breakthrough patterns of limiting behaviour that hold back your success.
  • Bring those you love closer with your behaviours
  • Grasp your passion, to push through to new levels of achievement
To your success!
Ivan 

Capital … Is it really the Holy Grail for Startups?

New businesses can succeed without an external cash injection. It may take more time, resilience and persistence and it will require you to have a good support/mentoring network. Have the confidence to know if you focus on providing the highest quality experience for your clients, manage your costs appropriately and believe in your abilities, you can succeed.

10 Lessons From Black Monday


Tom Stevenson is an investment director at Fidelity Worldwide Investment. article from morningstar 

1. Keep calm and carry on. The FTSE 100 ended 1987 higher than it started and within two years the index had surpassed its pre-crash peak. By the time you have recovered your equilibrium, the moment to sell has very likely passed and by panicking at this stage you will simply miss out on the subsequent recovery.

2. Look through the market gyrations to what is happening in the real world. The 1987 crash was triggered by over-exuberance (the market had risen by nearly 40 per cent in the first nine months of 1987) and was then compounded by automated computer trading. The underlying economy was sound at the time - hence the quick recovery.

3. Take a long-term view. The 1987 crash looks insignificant on a long-term chart today even though, at the time, it felt like the end of the world.

4. Be prepared for the worst and don't put all your eggs in one basket. I was in Hong Kong at the time of the 1987 crash - the market there shut for a week, emphasising the point that emerging markets can sometimes be markets from which it is difficult to emerge in an emergency.

5. Don't try and time the market. When your emotions are running high you will make the wrong investment decisions because our brains are hard-wired to run from danger. The best investors do the reverse - they walk towards danger, albeit with their eyes wide open.

    
6. Invest regularly, a little at a time. This way, you will take advantage of market falls like the 1987 crash, picking up a few shares or units in a fund when they are cheap and even though your mind is telling you to put your money under the mattress.



7. Reinvest your dividends. The chart below shows the performance of the UK stockmarket since the 1987 crash - the lower line reflects just the capital growth while the second includes the compounded benefit of putting dividend income back to work in the market.


8. Keep some of your powder dry. Crashes happen, and when they do you want to have some ammunition ready to take advantage of them. It may be frustrating to have even a small proportion of your savings earning next to nothing in cash when shares are rising, but so too is being unable to capitalise on bargain basement prices when periodically they appear.





9. Beware of buying high and selling low. Remember that the stockmarket is the only market in the world in which we prefer to buy when prices are high and are put off by low prices. Think about how you would buy fruit and veg at a street market. You would behave in exactly the opposite way.

                                    
10. Watch costs but worry more about value. The difference between the charges on an actively managed fund and a tracker might be 1 per cent a year. If you back the right manager, however, that might be the best 1 per cent you ever invested.

Be the Change you want to see in the World!

It's amazing how you can achieve change with encouragement, fun, inspiration and a great teacher! What a treat at Manly Corso

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Property Investing through your Superannuation


November 2012
Purchasing an investment property through your superannuation is one of the most innovative and complex strategies currently available.

Ark Total Wealth has been recommending this strategy to its clients since legislation was amended in 2007.

At this educational seminar, Ark Total Wealth will share the following with you;
- What is a Self Managed Superannuation Fund and the benefits and risks

- How to put together the structure to purchase an investment property in your super

- How to analyse an investment property

- The different loan structures available within super

- Costs and Risks of implementing this strategy

- How this may fit into your overall wealth creation strategy

There is no cost to the seminar and you will have access to qualified advisors throughout the night to answer any questions you might have.

If you can't make either seminar, please feel free to 'click for an advisor' to request more information.

Regards,
The ARK Total Wealth Team
Seminar
To register just click the link below;
Duration: 1 hour
Location: Suite 702, Level 7, 14 Martin Place (entrance through Pitt Street)
Tea, Coffee and Nibbles will be supplied

http://arktotalwealth.com.au/email_enquiry.html
https://www.facebook.com/arktotalwealth
https://www.facebook.com/arktotalwealth

www.arktotalwealth.com.au  | info@arktotalwealth.com.au 

Friday, October 19, 2012

5 Pointers to help you create you Unique Selling Proposition


Your uniqueness separates you from competitors in the minds of customers. How does your service or product better service your client than anyone else?

Identify your Unique Sales Proposition (USP)  or “Point of Difference” from the customers perspective.

Give them a compelling reason to buy!

It goes without saying that you need to have as a standard minimum, a great product or service, and a story of how your product or service is special and why your customer should trust you.


5 Pointers to help you create  and promote your Unique Sales Proposition
  1. Identify your target customers            
  2. What customers pain do you solve?
  3. List three customer benefits by using your product or service. (from the clients perspective)
  4. Are any of these benefits unique or better than your competitors;
  5. Make a list of the ways to communicate and promote what makes you unique eg, website, brochures, emarketing, webinars, events, seminars,  on-hold messages.


What is your Unique Selling Proposition? For the best answer, I will arrange you to promote your business in Spark Magazine (www.sparkmag,co) on a video, that can also be posted on your website and other social network sites!

Seven Gems from a Lead generation webinar I attended



 
Nurture, nurture, nurture your pipeline. 
Give amazing value to them. 
Fill your pipeline with  thousands of people who appreciate all the free information you give.

Once your pipeline is filled, leads will start to be funneled through the “pipe” and something magical will happen…. Sales will increase and your business changes into something significant.


Things to Think about when doing a prezzo or webinar
  •      Understand your target market – try get into the minds of them. What do they want? What will interest them?
  •      Give the audience what they want. Provide them with a potential solution to their problem. Get them from “pain to pleasure”, from “fear to freedom”
  •        Show them your personality. Relate to them. People like to deal with people. Show them why they should like you, position yourself as the expert.
  •        Drive them to a simple website or a landing page. DOon’t drive them to a complicated website that will take them hours to read information that is not relevant to them.  The objective is to get them as a lead. 
  •        The first contact should be no one threatening and reward them for filling out their details.
  •        Powerful Headlines are key followed by 3 – 5 bullet points. Create interest and intrigue…. Entice people to fill in detais to hear more.
  •        Always have a call to action –  A form to leave name, email, tel # , address.

Target is on target - a potential USA bargain!

Target is on target to have one of its best holiday season. They are offering matching online prices with their main competitors like Amazon and Best Buy. Shares of Target could be a pre-holiday bargain going into this holiday season with this intensely competitive pricing strategy. Spend the possible capital gains buying holiday gifts

Extract from a newsletter from my mate, Ketan Mehta @tcdg.net

Monday, October 15, 2012

Family fairytale dream home - SOLD

If the three bears lived with Goldilocks and her extended family, they would choose this charming treasure. 


Experience the luxury of easy living in a spacious, idyllic setting, tucked away in the heart of St Ives. (5 minutes from shops, schools, station, parks and nature reserves).

Over six bedrooms, each spacious and sunny. An oversized living room area and dining room area, inviting you to indulge in the luxury of easy living. Magnificent outdoor family entertainment area with large, heated saltwater pool, furnished gardens and tropical style cabana.

This home is the magic ingredient essential for a happily ever after.

http://www.domain.com.au/ore/Public/Gallery/Photo.aspx?adid=2010030754&pic=1&mode=Buy&st=1


2 YEAR FIXED RATES AT 5.29% - time to act!!


With Christmas just around the corner, there is no time like the present to look at restructuring your finances to improve cash flow not only for the festive season but the years ahead.

There have been substantial movements in fixed rates in recent months with some 2 year fixed rates from as low as 5.29% on residential loan facilities and 5.00% for 1 year fixed on commercial loan facilities.  

Give Danny or Sandra a call on 02 9290 2777 to discuss a solution which suits your personal circumstances and get on the road to a better financial future.

Danny and Sandra are committed to providing good quality financial advice to all their clients. 

If you are seeking a faster, short term solution, they can also assist you with a personal loan or motor vehicle finance to suit your short term goals and objectives.







Terms and conditions apply. All applications are subject to credit assessment criteria. Fees and charges may apply.


Do You want to maximise your export grants?


FEDERAL GRANTS ON HOLD

It has recently come to light that the Federal Government has placed a 'temporary pause' on new grants. It has been confirmed that the Commercialisation Australia program and the Clean Technology Investment Fund, among others, have been affected by the pause.

Swan... we are putting a pause on $2b worth of government grants.
We need a surplus!
While the programs are still open for application, no new grants are being written for the duration of the pause which has been described as a 'normal part of the budget process'. At this stage all background work such as preparation of guidelines and the assessment of applications is continuing as normal, but uncertainity remains regarding how long the pause will last and what will happen to the grants programs following the conclusion of the pause.

EXPORT MARKET DEVELOPMENT GRANT

EMDG is the financial initiative of Australian Government aiming to help and aid current and aspiring exporters.

Do you want to maximise your export grants?
Global and domestic economies are facing turbulent times. Europe’s sovereign debt crisis, the struggling US economy, Australian’s two speed economy and wavering business sentiment are just some of the challenges facing business today.

Australian businesses have historically demonstrated their resilience and resourcefulness during tough times. Initiatives such as EMDG are important tools in bolstering the current account and foster strong, sustainable growth.

The Export Market Development Grant:

• Provides a 50% rebate on eligible overseas marketing costs above $10,000 (minimum spend $20,000).

• Acts to encourage Australian exporters to seek out and develop overseas markets. These markets include goods and specified services and industrial property rights which are substantially of Australian origin.

• Has a maximum grant payable of $150,000 per annum for a maximum of 7 years.

We at BSI believe that there is no better time than now for exporters to plan their activities and to establish or increase their overseas market share.

If you wish to know more please contact us and we will be happy to arrange a meeting for an obligation free initial eligibility assessment.

BSI INNOVATION
Suite 1, Level 3
55 Holt Street
Surry Hills NSW 2010
P: 02 9212 5505

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Home value increases – fleeting figures or real recovery?

Home value increases – fleeting figures or real recovery?
Posted on 10/09/2012 by Staff Writer of www.maximam.com.au

The market is schizophrenic about the state of the property market.

Some are optimistic while others are not yet convinced.

Housing Industry Association (HIA) chief economist Harley Dale is uncertain there is a recovery in the making.

Referring to recent building approval figures for the month of August, Dr Dale is skeptical that the modest improvement made are indicative of a market revival.

"Without evidence emerging soon of a sustainable recovery in leading indicators such as building approvals the prospect of a third consecutive yearly decline in dwelling commencements, from a starting point of recessionary levels, will come into play," Harley Dale said.

However, last week's (October 2) RP Data‐Rismark September Hedonic Daily Home Value Index Results revealed that Australia's capital cities have experienced a 1.4 per cent increase in dwelling value over September and a two per cent capital gain in quarterly value terms.

The positive results were welcomed by RP Data research director Tim Lawless and Rismark International chief executive officer Ben Skilbeck – which they interpret as a significant indication of market rebound.

"The recovery in the housing market is broad based and not simply attributable to a seasonal spring uptick," said Mr Skillbeck.

"Over the four months from end May to end September actual Australian capital city house values have increased by 3.4 per cent.

"If we adjust this to take into account seasonality, the increase is still a strong 2.9 per cent which represents an annualised pace of 9 per cent per annum."

Mr Lawless added that auction rate figures were up by roughly ten percentage points and that there is considerably less listed property in the capital cities from the same time last year.


Wednesday, October 10, 2012

NOW COULD BE THE TIME TO CHANGE LENDER!

This is a summary of an article that Paul Clitheroe wrote in the North Shore Times today  - Paul is the chief commentator of Money Magazine

The RBA's official rate is now 3.35% - a 3 year low - have your interest rates on your mortgage reduced?

3 years ago, the average rate was 5.7%, it is now 6.35% (hmmmm) -  with a little bit of shopping around, you may be able to secure a lower rate.

Ratecity - the online comparison site shows a difference between the lowest and highest rate as 1.8%. On a $300,000 loan, this could mean an extra $355 per month (money that I would rather have in my pocket , thank you very much!)

With so much variation, it makes sense to see how your loan shapes up. Bear in mind that refinancing might come with additional costs. These additional costs might offset potential savings.

That's where a Liquidity Broker comes in handy!!

Fill out the attached form, and we will do the numbers and work out whether you have a great deal, or you could do better.

 


Tuesday, October 09, 2012

‎5 Quick takeaways about the market ahead:

5 Quick takeaways about the market ahead - from John Mcgraths Facebook page

1. Interest rates will fall further. Aussie bonds rates are around 2.5%. This suggest that borrowing may come down under 5.0%. The professional markets rarely get it wrong. Good for FHB, investors & upgraders.

2. The Australian share market is around 35% off its all time highs. The US is now only 5% off & the FTSE around 16% down. So this suggest as the AUD comes down we should see a catch up in the ASX. Good for top end properties.

3. 41% of new mortgages last quarter (AFG) were to private investors. That means people are seeing property as again a blue-chip investment & a reason to re-deploy their cash savings in a better growth place.

4. Auction clearance rates have seemingly settled in around 60%-65%. This is right in the middle of what you would call ‘steady state’. A good sign.

5. Nobody wants to ring the bell but all signs are that we are beyond the worst. Most Australians de-leveraged during the GFC so are in better shape in many ways than beforehand assuming they kept their jobs.

Sunday, October 07, 2012

10X is looking for succesful BDM's in Australia and New Zealand


There  is a business opportunity for a strong Business Development Manager to earn a potential of $200k plus plus.

It calls for someone who is:
- a highly skilled sales person (preferably B2B)
- keen to drive results for themselves 
- keen to make a difference to countless business owners

Though you will be operating independently, you'll be part of a great team who will provide them with world-class IP, training and a network of like-minded professionals.
 
We have 60 leading accounting and financial planning firms and their alliance partners, looking for the right professional to cross sell their services to each others clients and prospect databases ... Ie dealing with warm leads! 
 
 
If you are or you know anyone who is
- a self starter
- has at least 2 years experience, with a proven track record
- likes working towards kpi's targets and achieving goals 

and would be interested in finding out more, 

we want to speak to you now - send your CV/profile to me on ikaye@bsi.com.au 
or register your interest on www.10xconsultant.com.au 

What’s a fair deal for cash and expertise?


September 19, 2012 | Posted by Richard in Confessions of a serial entrepreneur |




“I’ve been doing this for four years. I’ve put a huge amount of money, my money, my wife’s money, which is our future, on the line. I can’t make a mistake now. I don’t want to be the founder that ended up with the tiny little minority share of the thing he started, while other people made all the cash.”

These were the clear sentiments Andrew Slorance made to the BBC for its documentary, The Perfect Wheelchair, which aired last week.

He was explaining why he rejected Richard's offer for expertise and investment in return for a 50% interest in his carbon fibre wheelchair invention.

Was he right?



"His wheelchair certainly looks much better than any I’d ever seen." said Richard.  Instead of being all chunky, metallic and industrial looking, it looks like something Batman would use – black, sleek, strong and lightweight. And there is no doubt the invention is his baby.


In a heart-rending story, Andrew fell out of a tree at the age of 14 and lost the use of his legs. For the 24 years that he’s been wheelchair bound he’s wanted to design a better one, and so he did, inspired by Formula 1 racing cars.

Then, four years ago, convinced the design could be commercialised, he left his job as a film editor to pursue it as a business. As a Scot, he was given money by Scottish Enterprise, and by Highland and Island Enterprise, and when that ran out, he remortgaged the family home for £50,000.

The problem was finding a way to reduce the production cost of the wheelchairs. Indications were that it would need to retail at a staggering twenty thousand pounds, more than eight times competitors’ prices.

Andrew went through about six prototype manufacturers, always trying to get the cost lower. Getting his target weight of about 6 kilos was also a big challenge and he struggled to do even better than the normal, non-carbon fibre chairs. He argued with many of the suppliers before moving onto the next, blaming their inability to meet his specifications on them only being interested in doing their day job, no more. They responded that he kept changing the specifications and the design. Interestingly too, he never sought the opinion of any other wheelchair users, and at one point said “it doesn’t matter if I go to a user group and they don’t like it, I’ll go on regardless”.

So when Andrew tried to eventually demo it at a trade fair, it was perhaps no real surprise that a potential customer hesitated about the design, worried she’d fall out. She also shrieked when told the price. The Beeb interviewed Andrew’s family, who talked about the strain, emotionally and financially, on all of them.

So I would say to Andy, the value of expertise, experience and contacts is worth far more than inventors often think. And investor’s cash, like their own cash, represents a lot of hard work and sacrifice.

Sometimes the smaller piece of a successful pie is the best business strategy on the menu.

Wednesday, October 03, 2012

Sandra Crossland talking about



Our own Sandra Crossland from Liquidity Finance talking about the opportunity for Women in the Workplace as mortgage brokers! "http://liquidityfinance.com.au/about/team.html">http://liquidityfinance.com.au/about/team.html


As seen on Brokernews.com.au
 

Tuesday, October 02, 2012

October - Educational Webinar Series

Ark Total Wealth are proud to present their SMSF Strategy Series to our subscriber list. I encourage anybody who is interested in wealth creation in Australia to attend this series. 



Self managed super funds (SMSF's) are now one of the largest and fastest growing segments of the super industry having an annualised growth rate of 20%.

Education amongst members as to what they can do with their SMSF's and how they can most effectively use them is patchy however, and many are simply not unlocking their SMSF's full potential.


The Ark SMSF Strategy series has been created to educate and empower SMSF directors/trustees to get the most out of their retirement funds, increase their wealth and manage their tax.
Webinars will be held on the following topics:


How to buy property within a SMSF


If you can't attend a webinar, or you are not sure how to log on, please 'click for an advisor' on the right and we can provide you with the steps on how to register or a brief run down of the webinar content.
At the webinars we will cover off the following;

Personal Insurance - The different insurances that can be held within an SMSF and the tax consequences.

Direct Equities and Managed Funds - What your investment options are within your fund and how to get access to these investments.

Transition to Retirement Strategies - A detailed look at the options when approaching retirement and the benefits of utilising this strategy

Property in Super - How to purchase an investment property within your super with borrowing

At the conclusion of the webinar, we are happy to provide fact sheets and a short video on each topic, however we will not be sending out the specific  slides.

Regards,
The ARK Total Wealth Team

Please click the links below to register for the webinars:
SMSF and Personal Insurance
Investing within an SMSF
Retirement Strategies
Buying Property in an SMSF
Each webinar will be 30mins in duration
 


www.arktotalwealth.com.au | info@arktotalwealth.com.au