Hi!

Happy Chinese New Year to you. It is the year of the rat! The beginning of the cycle. So we’ve decided to get on board. This is an exciting post for me because things are going to be a – changing. Many of you have been calling in on my blog from time to time over the last 4 months or so. As you have probably noticed Greg and I are gearing up for some pretty big changes in business and life generally. And to reflect that change I am re-designing my blog and tweaking its direction.

You see, the more time I spend talking with business owners, the more I realise how few businesses are designed to fulfil the lifestyle desires of the owners. Most people have ended up in the business they’re in by accident, or they had grand plans about what they wanted their business to look like, but lost site of it somewhere along the way.

I am convinced that it is entrepreneurs and business people that are going to make the biggest difference to the world. Did you know that according to a Bank of America study entrepreneurs donate 25% more than other wealthy individuals to charitable causes? But not just that, when a business is designed to fulfil a need, to solve a social problem or in some other way make a meaningful contribution, people are employed, homes are created and families’ lives are secure.

Not everyone is an entrepreneur… they are a rare breed. Many people call themselves entrepreneurs, but they aren’t really. Did you know the word entrepreneur comes from the French: entreprendre- to undertake. So technically speaking, an entrepreneur is one who undertakes. So these rare individuals need support. They need to be encouraged and supported to make their contribution, because they are the catalysts for change.

So entrepreneurs and business owners: this site will be for you. So my vision for my blog moving forward is a resource for entrepreneurs and small business owners. When we re-launch, it is my intention to interview successful business owners and entrepreneurs to find out what makes them tick. Find out what gets them out of bed in the morning. And find out what strategies they are employing as we move further into the information age to reflect the changing needs and desires in the market place. How is the information age changing the way we do business, and the scope of what we can achieve through business?

Through the articles, interviews and other resources you’ll be finding here, I hope to provide you with inspiration, motivation, strategic advice and up to the minute notification of what’s new out there, solving the latest problems the small business owner or entrepreneur faces. You’ll find reminders to keep designing your business to support rather than hinder your lifestyle, and ways to keep keyed in and excited about the journey. Your’s is a great gift, the ability to envision a different future, and to be able to bring that future into the present through business. I hope to be able to serve you in the best way I know how.

Come back over the next weeks to see the changes and expect a lot of great value as we move forward! Oh… and it should be easier to read too!

Wishing you a prosperous life of contribution, and Business On Purpose.

Warm regards,

Joanna

Hi guys,

Many of you may now be wondering why on earth two perfectly sane Australians would want to drop everything, leave the land of sun and beaches (as wretched as the Port Melbourne beach may be!) and move to the land of the endless drizzle and the double decker bus.

Well… same goes here!! Greg gave his notice at his job as an air traffic controller yesterday: something he has been fantasising about doing for about 5 years now I think. So things are looking definite! And the nerves are starting to set in for him. Not so much for me because as you know I’ve been a gypsy for about 3 years now. Actually I said to a friend of mine we were thinking about moving to London and he said “I wondered how long it would be… you are a bit of a rolling stone”.

So the whole thing has been inspired by the new life we are creating. As I said on a previous blog post, we are sailing, we have definite rules for business projects that we are taking on. Now these are bearing fruit, and all of a sudden it seems we’re not tied to Australia any more. Well, we’re not tied to anywhere. We are free agents. I love it. We can run our businesses from a laptop in London, Lisbon, or Launceston (why we’d want to run them from Launceston I can’t imagine, but that’s by the by).

Seriously you lot, the internet has absolutely transformed the way business can be done and it disturbs me how few people are aware of the leveraging power there. If you are living under a mushroom with regards to what’s available, for the love of God- please do yourself a favour and go out now and buy yourself this incredible book by Timothy Ferriss: The Four Hour Work Week.

I kid you not, it has absolutely transformed our lives. We were on this path really since July last year, but I bought this for Greg for Christmas and wow! (Yes, it was one of those presents you buy for someone coz really you want to read it, but don’t tell Greg. I had it finished before him… oops!) What Tim outlines in this book will really press some buttons. For a recovering workaholic like me it has triggered somewhat of an existential crisis. But all of that is fabulous as its leading to us actually consciously creating life just how we want it.

And right now… just what we want is to be in London. There’s loads of opportunities over there. I can’t wait to catch up with all you London folk. Perhaps we should arrange a big get together somewhere. Hmmm… yes I’ll put my thinking cap on. Any recommendations of where? (somewhere they could fit between 4 and 400… depending on how many people read this… this will be the acid test won’t it!!)

So, Joey’s recommended, no ESSENTIAL READING of 2008 is definitely the 4 hour work week. Buy it for all your friends too. Just don’t try to get it at the Port Melbourne Readings because we bought the last 4 copies! Oh… I’m adding Tim’s blog to my blogroll too. There’s simply too much to be learnt.

Have an awesome day you guys!

Love joey x

Hi guys,

Check out this video (its not the most visually spectacular, but the message is a good one!) Worth having a look at their website and seeing how creative some entrepreneurs are ou there!

Cheers,

j xx

Greg and I are in the Hunter Valley. Just tasted some yummy wines… The Tower Barbera comes highly recommended!

The point however is most people are busy working and we’re about to open a bottle of vino, and chill out befor dinner. Boy life’s tough! Today is one of those days to be grateful.

What’s more we just had an awesome couple of days on the central coast staying with friends, and we have another new business plan together and will be launching in March. I love the life of an entrepreneur.

I’ll tell you all about it when i get back. Just wanted you to know i haven’t fallen off the face of the earth.

Remind me to wax on about the joy of teams next time.

Here’s to red and roquefort!

J x

Sincerest apologies for my absence the last couple of days. You may remember my video recently “joey’s had an idea”? Well, the last couple of days I have been in Perth meeting some of the most extraordinary people. Well, truly they are ordinary people doing extraordinary things because of extraordinary levels of inspiration and drive.

I have been humbled, and moved by this incredible bunch of people. I had the opportunity to work with Mark (who I refer to in the same earlier post), and to discover just what it means to be in flow.

Have you ever had the experience of having an idea, but it’s more like you are tuning into a broadcast across the universe, and the more you investigate the idea, the more you realise that other people are picking up on the same broadcast? That has been the experience with my trip to Perth.

I came over to team up with Mark and create something that we both feel passionate about, that would inspire entrepreneurs around the world. Unsurprisingly, yet impressively, our excitement and conviction has attracted so much support, and the trip has been a huge success.

I promise you guys will be the first to know when the project is ready for human consumption

Meanwhile, its 11:45pm, I’m in the Qantas lounge in perth, and my li’l fingers are dragging across the keyboard. So excuse me while I catch a few Zs. Hopefully they wake my up to put me on the plane. I get to see greg in 6 hours. Hooray!

Have an awesome day!

Joey x