EO Melbourne's online catch-up events: Chat Roulette and Needs & Leads

In a time when physical interaction is limited and most people are at home due to restrictions, reaching out to one another is of great importance. Having a community where members can seek help or extend assistance can make a huge difference in people’s lives. This is how EO Melbourne has become a flourishing environment for entrepreneurs where continuous growth and constant support takes place.

Recently, the chapter held virtual catch-up events that allowed members to get to know each other at a deeper level and lend a hand to those in need. Members were more than enthusiastic to participate in such endeavours that provided them with an avenue to strengthen their bond as they navigate the challenges of the current crisis together.

How do successful entrepreneurs get continuous professional growth?

No matter how good one is or even if they are an expert on a particular thing, there will always be room for improvement and growth. It applies to everyone, including entrepreneurs. Each one of us has strengths that we can capitalise for our chosen fields of endeavours, as well as weaknesses which we can still work on to expand our knowledge and hone our skills set.

And when you reach the peak of success in your career, how do you ensure that you continue to grow professionally? Entrepreneurs Rick Nieuwenhoven of Nieuvision, Rob Roy Rankin of Rankin Business Lawyers, and Adam Stewart of Debt Recoveries Australia, ADC Legal and Nova Team Solutions share their experiences and learnings when it comes to pursuing their professional growth.

Experimentation in business: the risks and rewards

Taking risks is a huge part of the entrepreneurial journey. You need to invest resources, time and effort to bring your venture to greater heights, and it is guaranteed that there will be many forks on the road and lots of trial and error before you can get there.

We’ll take a look at two circumstances where entrepreneurs had to experiment in their business and take the risks to reap the rewards.

President's Update - September

From the President

Dear EO Melbourne,

How are you doing? Are you okay?

As a fellow Melburnian & Victorian, I know better to bring up yet another reminder of the unique situation we’re finding ourselves in.

What I do want to remind you about is that, as the leaders in our companies, the amount of responsibility and pressure we have on our shoulders is incredibly unique. We have to deal with making tough decisions on a daily basis. We have to constantly think about the future and how we can survive & thrive. We have to come up with a plan C, D, E and F.

Hiring the right person is not enough, then it comes the induction process…

Hiring new staff members is crucial because it takes a lot of time and effort in introducing them to the team and your corporate culture as well as briefing them on how things are done in our organisation. It’s one thing to have a strong recruitment process where you ensure you select the right candidate and it’s another to bring that person on board to be part of the team. the Induction training puts structure and system in making sure that nothing is missed in the process of onboarding.

Lauren Staley, Managing Director of Infolio Property Advisors, an experienced collective of buyer advocates, vendor advocates & property managers, and Miguel Donnenfield, Co-Founder of Creativa Videos, an animation and video production studio, share how they train new members of the team to make sure that the new hires acquire the necessary knowledge and skills needed for the job.

An ounce of fun in your workplace to make work enjoyable for you and your team

How do you make your workplace fun for your staff? Or do you have enjoyable days at work with your team? StudioHawk Founder Harry Sanders, Etto Street Pasta Bars and Truly Deeply Founder David Ansett and Blackhearts & Sparrows Co-founder Paul Ghaie share what they do in their respective businesses to inject fun into their work environment, as well as how they care for their teams.

Overcoming self-doubt in the entrepreneurial journey

It is not at all times when business leaders are confident of themselves or of the decisions they make. The reality is that there are moments of self-doubt, which can often freeze you on your tracks. We wonder when such instances occur along the business journey, how do entrepreneurs overcome their weaknesses and move ahead towards their goals?

KHQ Lawyers Founder and Managing Director David Kelly and Lights Lights Lights Director Danielle Mastro reveal how they embraced the experience and used it to strengthen themselves.

Online training: how to conduct it effectively

To adapt to the present challenges, events like meetings, seminars, conferences and training sessions move from the physical space to online platforms with the use of technology. There are pros and cons to this scenario -- it allows everyone the opportunity to take part of these virtual sessions regardless of location, but poses some limitations on what can be done and cannot be done.

Anthony Lam, Managing Director of Punchy Digital Media, and Jeni Clift, Professional EOS Implementer and the Director/General Manager of DWM Solutions provide some tips and pointers on how you can conduct your online training sessions more effectively.

The biggest hurdle in the first 3 years of my entrepreneurial journey

The entrepreneurial path is always filled with risks and challenges. It is not a smooth ride but the journey can be rewarding. The most difficult phase is the early stage where birth pains mixed with the lack of experience can make the trials seem insurmountable. But it is also at this point where entrepreneurs can learn a lot and use those lessons as tools towards achieving their goals.

Laiken Kerr Clarke, Director at MediSound, and Cesar Aldea, Founder and Director of Aldea Consulting, share the biggest hurdle they had to surpass in the first three years of their business. Read through their stories and learn from their experiences.

Music Makes Better Entrepreneurs

How has music played in your personal and entrepreneurial journey? For some, it helps relieve them of stress while others use it to pump some energy into their day.

Entrepreneurs live busy lives as it is, which are often filled with stress and pressure from various angles. With the challenges that the current crisis brings and the uncertainty that the future beholds, they need more than ever to turn to methods and solutions that can contribute to their mental health. Music is one tool that brings energy to a lethargic mind and respite to a weary soul.

Let’s get a closer look at WeTeachMe Founder Kym Huynh, Koh Living Director Tui Cordemans, Liston Newton Advisory Director John Liston, and Marketing Melodies CEO and Founder Dean Cherny on the role music has played in their lives.

President's Update - August

From the President

Dear EO Melbourne,

Are you a hedgehog or a fox?

The fox, a cunning creature, is able to devise multiple complex strategies for sneak attacks on the hedgehog. The fox eagerly waits for the hedgehog to wander on its path each day to be able to pounce and say, “Ahah, I’ve got you!”

The hedgehog rolls its eyes and says, “Here we go again, will the fox ever learn?” and rolls into a ball with its sharp spikes flaring out. The fox, midway through pouncing, sees the hedgehogs defence and calls off the attack.

Each day, this game of fox and hedgehog continues, but despite every calculated attack, the hedgehog always wins.

10 tips in looking after your mental health: Holding on to hope through COVID -19

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 early this year, many of us have experienced a roller coaster of emotions including fear, anxiety, anger, frustration and feelings of sadness and grief. EO Melbourne Resident Psychologist Katerina Papamarkou shares 10 tips on how to look after your mental health.

Celebrating small successes to motivate your team - our members share their experiences

There are great advantages and satisfaction when your team are motivated and inspired by what they do as this contribute to the overall culture of your organisation. One way to fuel their zeal and keep them satisfied at work is to celebrate small wins with them, as some of these entrepreneurs have come to recognise its importance.

How do entrepreneurs Gary Lorden, Director at Monitor Consulting; Jason Bertalli, BNR Partners Director – Franchise & Business Services; Mark Calabro, HungryHungry Co-founder; and Tristan White, Founder and CEO of The Physio Co support their team members during these challenging times? They share their experiences and learnings in this article.

We asked the question: As an entrepreneur, how do you practice diversity and inclusion in the workplace?

Having a diverse workforce and ensuring the inclusion of everyone within an organisation – regardless of race, gender or beliefs – help grow a company’s corporate culture, enhance one’s competitive edge and contribute to its bottom line. If you want to learn how to uphold diversity and inclusion in the workplace, read the stories and tips from Anou Khanijou, Director of IFOTA Group and Managing Director of anouconcept; Anthony Holdstock, Partner at Sharp & Carter; Nyree Hibberd, CEO of Koh Living; and Costa Vasili, CEO and Founder of EthnoLink.

EO Melbourne members share their secret recipes for Social Media Success

EO Melbourne Members Robert Tadros, CEO of Impressive Digital; Hannah Vasicek, Founder and Director of Francesca Collections, Nathan Chan, CEO and Publisher of Foundr Magazine; and Tom Caw, Founder and Director of Untitled Group Australia cite Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest and LinkedIn as among the top social media platforms they use in their respective businesses.

Can changing your morning routine make you a better entrepreneur? Here are some real-life experience shares.

Salt & Fuessel Director Gabriel Esseesse, Torii Consulting Director Joe Woodham, Work Healthy Australia Managing Director and Founder James Murray, and Banjo Executive Director & Co-founder Andrew Colliver share the morning routines that work effectively for them, helping them face their day and tackle the things ahead of them with energy and focus.

President's Update - July

From the President

Dear EO Melbourne,

Apocalypse!

If you tuned into our End-of-Year Gala celebration a month ago, you would have heard me start my welcome speech with this bizarre word. In all honesty, I knew I had a tough job on my hands to grab your attention as the celebration was held virtually for the first time in EO Melbourne history. I hoped it worked.

Ways of streamlining your business

As your business grows, you will find that tasks increase, files pile up, materials (and dust) gather and more things need your attention. Some items take longer to turn around, need several documents and require to deal with a lot of people. When work gets more complicated and unproductive, maybe it’s time to review your business and see where you need to streamline and simplify things.