Colin Benjamin

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Colin Benjamin

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View > Welfare to the rich: Friday, 3 October 2008 Small business owners must manage cash flow as if it was a river of gold. COLIN BENJAMIN

View > All that glitters...: Friday, 26 September 2008 The most important place to adopt the truth, trust and full transparency formula is in the small office of your bank manager. COLIN BENJAMIN

View > Make your banker your buddy: Friday, 19 September 2008 Smart companies that have been following the suggestions in recent columns now need to rebuild connections with the commercial lending section of their banks. COLIN BENJAMIN

View > Turnaround time: Friday, 12 September 2008 OK, things are going downhill, but this is not the time to abandon your planning for the climb back up. COLIN BENJAMIN

View > The regulators need regulating: Friday, 5 September 2008 Transparency is a fine quality, if it is applied where it’s needed. COLIN BENJAMIN

View > Barracking for Barack: Friday, 29 August 2008 Businesses around the world will be hoping Barak Obama can win the White House and reinvigorate the global economy. COLIN BENJAMIN

View > Expectations crunch: Friday, 22 August 2008 The credit crisis may go longer than it needs to purely through the lack of direction so evident from our leaders. COLIN BENJAMIN

View > Give us your best Glenn: Friday, 15 August 2008 Consumer confidence; is it up or down? You’d never know from the ‘experts’. COLIN BENJAMIN

View > No second half recovery: Friday, 8 August 2008 Crossing your fingers for better times? There are more productive efforts you need to tackle. Extract those digits – here’s what to do. COLIN BENJAMIN

View > How to future proof Australia: Friday, 1 August 2008 If firms with less than 10 employees were given access to tax credits for genuine investment in new technology and venture capital funds for born global activities and rewarded for taking on productive labour, Australia would be future proofed beyond the resources boom.

View > What a difference a year makes: Friday, 18 July 2008 Every business must understand that as the credit crisis gets worse, they must have very strong trade and credit policies. COLIN BENJAMIN

View > Wall St needs another animal statue: Friday, 11 July 2008 Bulls? Bears? No, it’s up to us gazelles to make a go of it. COLIN BENJAMIN

View > Get your business downturn-ready: Friday, 4 July 2008 As with every downturn, there are going to be advantages for someone – just make sure you position your business now to give it a good shot. COLIN BENJAMIN

View > Put up the shutters: Friday, 27 June 2008 Risks to your growth are growing fast. It’s time to take defensive action. COLIN BENJAMIN

View > Make the best of the worst of it: Thursday, 12 June 2008 Those businesses that make the most of the next six months to build up capacity will be looking for agents of change and choice rather than leaving their expansion to chance. COLIN BENJAMIN

View > Oh boy, it’s Obama: Friday, 6 June 2008 Did you feel the world shift dramatically this week? I did. Here’s how, and the good news for Australia’s SMEs. COLIN BENJAMIN

View > Re-do the business plan: Thursday, 29 May 2008 Get a fresh sheet of paper and do next year’s business plan. Start with a review of all costs, and downsize every projection by 20%. COLIN BENJAMIN

View > Let’s talk about what is really happening: Thursday, 22 May 2008 If oil goes to $US150 to $US200 a barrel, thousands of SMEs will be crushed. So why isn’t anyone talking about it? COLIN BENJAMIN

View > Get your hands on the budget shovel: Thursday, 15 May 2008 We need the triple T standard (truth, trust and transparency) to ensure business opportunities from the budget are not a closed club for the big guys. COLIN BENJAMIN

View > Mirror mirror: Thursday, 8 May 2008 When the credit crisis ends and the RBA starts cutting rates, it’s a fair bet the banks will keep mortgage rates high. COLIN BENJAMIN

View > The Three Rs make for a bumpy road: Thursday, 1 May 2008 The world is learning a new set of Three Rs – refinance, regulation and rate volatility. COLIN BENJAMIN

View > Before the dawn: Thursday, 24 April 2008 We may be about to face the fate of becoming part of the food chain rather than the value chain – but hold on. COLIN BENJAMIN

View > Knock-on or knock-out?: Thursday, 17 April 2008 Why should the small end of town suffer the knock-on effects of a falsified economy, with not even a squeak from those who oversee this mess? COLIN BENJAMIN

View > High risk high jinks and the regulators: Thursday, 10 April 2008 Business owners, be outraged. Next time you go to get credit you could well be told you are too high risk. COLIN BENJAMIN

View > That Rollercoaster Ride: Thursday, 3 April 2008 Where are we on the crazy roller coaster ride? At the bottom, that’s where, and we are so blinded by the volatility that we can’t see the underlying fundamentals clearly.

View > Don't believe the 'everything's fine' bleat: Thursday, 27 March 2008 Are we heading for a Swan dive with the Australian economy, with his version of the slowdown we have to have (shades of another novice treasurer)? COLIN BENJAMIN

View > Bernanke's Botox solution: Thursday, 20 March 2008 The US Fed action was no silver bullet, but at least demands for truth, trust and transparency are emerging. COLIN BENJAMIN

View > What falling consumer confidence means: Thursday, 13 March 2008 The RBA should hold fire even though consumer confidence is not falling evenly across all social groups: COLIN BENJAMIN

View > Turn, turn, turn again: Thursday, 6 March 2008 The good news is the economy is on the turn. The bad news is good times are a year down the track. In the meantime...

View > R becomes S: Friday, 29 February 2008 R may stand for recession, and S stand for sovereign, but how much should we stand for? It may be as simple as ABC.

View > Funny business: Thursday, 21 February 2008 The big end of town cuts back on bonuses, and consumers are pessimistic. It's funny business, and the spin doctors are getting out of their depth.

View > Consumers are finally getting the message: Thursday, 14 February 2008 The message is finally sinking in – and the first businesses to feel the bite will be dealing with worried consumers.

View > Let the local, and global, clustering begin: Wednesday, 6 February 2008 The Mitsubishi closure and the proposed BHP/Rio deal each have huge implications that could fundamentally change the way you do business.

View > Consumer confidence is falling (no Glenn, NO GLENN, not now): Thursday, 31 January 2008 Feeling less confident? Surveys show you're not alone. I wonder if the RBA's Glenn Stevens realises? I'd better dash off a letter...

View > The cuts (rises) we have to have: Thursday, 24 January 2008 What happens next all depends upon consumer confidence levels of the punters versus the mindset of the professional fund investors. Stay tuned...

View > Trends for the year ahead: Thursday, 17 January 2008 Now is not the time to bury your heads in the sand; rather it is a prime opportunity to consolidate your base for a renewed burst of entrepreneurial energy later in the year.

View > Lock down: Friday, 11 January 2008 Survival this year will depend on seeing beyond the crisis mentality. Every smart plan for 2008 must have a fall-back option.

View > A slightly revised view of “The view ahead”: Thursday, 3 January 2008 The venture capital vultures are hovering, and the bottom feeders expect a meal off an asset fire-sale. Make sure your business isn't on the menu.

View > Good news: Thursday, 13 December 2007 The clouds have cleared from my crystal ball. Why? It all has to do with some decisive gnomes...

View > Kind cuts: Thursday, 6 December 2007 Why is the RBA watching inflation and holding fire on rates while the reverse is the case in the US and Europe? Here's why...

View > The future is now: Thursday, 29 November 2007 The danger we face is that “the future” is limited to a series of three-year scenarios designed to retain the reins of power rather than construct sustainable prosperity.

View > Small business and independent contractor election update: Thursday, 22 November 2007 With but a day between this blog and the election, you would think all the decisons have been made. Think again...

View > Dephic Fed commentary: Thursday, 15 November 2007 It's time for some medium term predictions. Here are the trends you need to be aware of post-election.

View > Credit crunch crisis: Monday, 12 November 2007 Will the Australian and Asian markets get a case of US-flu? We will certainly know by 24 November.

View > A fortnight is a long time…: Friday, 9 November 2007 Want to know the real dominant election issue? The electorate's 'unsurety', and the role major banks have in it.

View > Here comes the cavalry…: Monday, 5 November 2007 The future starts tomorrow, but it promises to be a time to hang on to your hat with both hands.

View > Tsunami watch list: Thursday, 1 November 2007 If Costello's tsunami rolls in, surfing it safely is not an option. But keeping your head above its water – maybe. Here are some tips...

View > Fear the recession: Thursday, 25 October 2007 Pay heed everyone. There are real signs of a global slowdown.

View > Age of uncertainty: Thursday, 11 October 2007 An election result will at least end the uncertainty in one part of the economy.

View > Racism’s dangerous legacy: Thursday, 4 October 2007 Racist attitudes being pushed by the Federal Government can only spell bad news for small and medium businesses.

View > Reset the clocks: Thursday, 20 September 2007 Markets, the dollar, oil and gold – they’re all rising as Australia enters a new phase. It’s not good news for SMEs.

View > Portents: Thursday, 6 September 2007 Remember this blog – by mid-September we will know if my mid-October warning is looming.

View > My wish list: Friday, 31 August 2007 Now is a good time for small businesses to start laying out what they want of government. My own suggestions range from dismissal to mentoring.

View > A world apart: Thursday, 23 August 2007 Welcome to our new two tier world, where the rich and princely salaried classes stand to gain even more while the small business operators are getting hit with higher costs.

View > Hold on tight: Thursday, 16 August 2007 Think of the economy as a roller coaster and we’re staring at a long, steep fall. Get the picture?

View > The crisis in confidence hits home: Monday, 13 August 2007 Watch out. Everything is going to slow down and business owners are going to face a credit squeeze.

View > John Howard is far from dead: don’t write him off too soon: Monday, 6 August 2007 Will the coming election spell the end of a Howard Government? I'm not so sure...

View > The countdown is on: Tuesday, 10 July 2007 The good times will keep rolling until about March, so companies need to focus hard on sales to make the most of the nine-month window.

View > Confidence or over-optimism?: Tuesday, 26 June 2007 The latest consumer and business confidence figures in Australia might be heading north, but elsewhere in the world it’s another matter.

View > Don't turn cultural perspectives into blinkers: Monday, 25 June 2007 Trade seminars can be a trap for the unwary exporter when prejudices can be presented in lieu of expertise.

View > Affirmative inaction: Tuesday, 12 June 2007 Not only will we soon have more union-sponsored candidates for safe seats than at any time since Federation, we will also see the battle of the sexes.

View > Scratch the hype and you'll uncover some real issues: Friday, 1 June 2007 Why is John Howard trying to get elected by banging on about IR when he should be talking about how to start businesses and remove barriers to growth?

View > Ominous signs: Tuesday, 29 May 2007 Beware election year complacency. There are signs that crises could be created that SMEs won't like.

View > Waiting for the other shoe: Thursday, 10 May 2007 The federal budget was remarkably silent on any moves to help the small-business sector grow.

View > The e-season: Thursday, 3 May 2007 The e-season is upon us, in which politicians ensure they are seen to being doing something positive to combat climate change.

View > The credit squeeze is here: Thursday, 26 April 2007 Don’t worry about interest rates rising next week. The Reserve Bank has already begun putting the squeeze on excessive borrowers.

View > Never had it so good: Tuesday, 17 April 2007 Any minute now we’ll be hearing soothing words from the Prime Minister that we’ve never had it so good. Funny, I’ve heard those words before…

View > How to create an entrepreneurial culture: Thursday, 12 April 2007 A study of the characteristics of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs was revealing for the US market – and the trends are mirrored here.

View > Use Easter to build your own success story: Thursday, 5 April 2007 Too often, SMEs focus too much on product and sales, and forget to promote the real business driver – the nut behind the wheel.

View > Fast broadband’s promise: Thursday, 29 March 2007 Australia could catch up with Northern Ireland’s small-business revolution within a decade.

View > It’s time: Thursday, 22 March 2007 Just when people and businesses are suffering from time compression, we should be learning how to take a longer view.

View > Good times? I'm buckling up: Thursday, 15 March 2007 As all the economic indicators on the economic roller-coaster keep pointing up, I get the feeling things are about to change.

View > Everything except crystal balls: Thursday, 8 March 2007 Ripe plums, rising rivers and white coats feature prominently in the forecast for trends in 2007.

View > Decision time on change: Thursday, 1 March 2007 Australia’s SMEs are going through a massive period of change, which will change the business landscape. Don’t be left behind.

View > Keep the team right and ready: Thursday, 22 February 2007 Pay attention to human resources this year, there are plenty of traps ahead.

View > The buzz masters: Thursday, 15 February 2007 It is no good saying you have a better mousetrap. You have to squeak and get all the cats miaowing.

View > Don’t get conned: Thursday, 8 February 2007 The year ahead is a minefield for prospective business owners ... but forewarned is forearmed.

View > Offensive strategy: Sunday, 21 January 2007 Explore those good ideas you thought up over Christmas before the same old customer demands overwhelm you.

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