Posts Tagged ‘Business’
Knew or new business ideas? was first published on Women in Focus.
Women in Focus is a recently launched website and initiative by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. It is a place for women to be inspired, informed and connected with other women in business in Australia and around the world. Angela Vithoulkas, CEO of VIVO Cafe Group, will be the Guru on the Business Beat section and will be providing weekly articles on all things small business.
For so many small businesses, the start of the New Year is full of resolutions, plans, strategies, promises and commitment to change. It signifies hope. For just as many small businesses it represents a tough financial time, a realization of limitations and an in-your-face look at the shape of their business. It’s tough either way.
It may seem strange to label hope and plans for the future as tough, but resolutions don’t come free. When you say out loud what you wish for or where you want your business to go, be or achieve, you pretty much set yourself a benchmark that’s a yes or no situation. Its black or white, it’s a you did it or you didn’t. Suffice to say I’m not much for New Year Resolutions!
Ready, willing and able was first published on Women in Focus.
Women in Focus is a recently launched website and initiative by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. It is a place for women to be inspired, informed and connected with other women in business in Australia and around the world. Angela Vithoulkas, CEO of VIVO Cafe Group, will be the Guru on the Business Beat section and will be providing weekly articles on all things small business.
When the words “disability” or “impairment” are mentioned in the workplace, many things happen. A noticeable shift takes place, people look away or shuffle their feet. They are not quite sure whether they should say something or nothing. Have our attitudes changed much regarding employing or doing business with people who have a disability or impairment?
I recently had the pleasure to interview Greg Standen from Hassle Free Marketing on one of my radio shows. He is the proprietor of the business and was coming on the show to talk about employing people in the workforce who may have physical challenges. It didn’t occur to me right away that he may have a challenge himself. When the thought eventually crossed my mind, I was too embarrassed to ring and ask him if he needed anything “special” from me.
Your health is good business was first published on Women in Focus.
Women in Focus is a recently launched website and initiative by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. It is a place for women to be inspired, informed and connected with other women in business in Australia and around the world. Angela Vithoulkas, CEO of VIVO Cafe Group, will be the Guru on the Business Beat section and will be providing weekly articles on all things small business.
I don’t tolerate my own health weaknesses very well. Yet my major business decisions, plans and moves came from either my own health crisis or those close to me. Although I also acknowledge that I have a very short memory of these milestones and always believe it won’t happen to me….
I’m sure I’ve mentioned once or twice before that I have been in business with my brother all our business lives. We have grown up together literally in the hospitality world. We know what its like to have a health crisis in business and the effect it can have on those around you. And when the one thing that you have always relied on lets you down - YOU, it’s an eye opener.
Jobs for the Young in Business was first published on Women in Focus.
Women in Focus is a recently launched website and initiative by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. It is a place for women to be inspired, informed and connected with other women in business in Australia and around the world. Angela Vithoulkas, CEO of VIVO Cafe Group, will be the Guru on the Business Beat section and will be providing weekly articles on all things small business.
As an employer for almost three decades, it is safe to say that I have personally hired and fired hundreds of people – very young, young, middle aged, older than me age and a lot older than me age. They all had positives and negatives going for them in terms of interview, trial and hire. Is it different working with young people than same age or older than me people? Yes, and I think my world of hospitality is a great example of talking about youth in business since we work with apprentices a lot.
It’s true that many employers take on youth just because they are a cheaper option. I disagree with this strategy, but that’s just me. I have never employed anyone because they would be a less expensive choice. I hire based on attitude, and if you think that bad attitude and disinterest are realms reserved for the youth, YOU ARE WRONG.
Strangers and business was first published on Women in Focus
Women in Focus is a recently launched website and initiative by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. It is a place for women to be inspired, informed and connected with other women in business in Australia and around the world. Angela Vithoulkas, CEO of VIVO Cafe Group, will be the Guru on the Business Beat section and will be providing weekly articles on all things small business.
Going through airports is a fascinating business journey for me the employer, for me the waitress and of course the traveller.
As a traveller - and I’m mostly day trips - I empathise with customers at my café who lug around bags, have a lot of down and in-between time, need to plan meals and want somewhere quiet. As an employer I like to observe how other teams operate together in stressful and busy situations like peak time at the airport. As a waitress I just want to really scrutinize, look and compare the way people behave in various food and beverage places.
Team Business was first published on Women in Focus
Women in Focus is a recently launched website and initiative by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. It is a place for women to be inspired, informed and connected with other women in business in Australia and around the world. Angela Vithoulkas, CEO of VIVO Cafe Group, will be the Guru on the Business Beat section and will be providing weekly articles on all things small business.
I recently heard business referred to as a team sport. I had never considered business a sport. Until now. I realise I am taking liberties with this particular interpretation, but just go with me on this!
As I took a closer look at this message, I wondered what I would find. Yes I call my people my “team”, I guess I could even be their “team leader”, but is my business a sport? Yes and no, just to make it easy and clear. My business team could in fact be participating in a sport - we compete against others, we sometimes end up a bit battered after a long match day and we do not take losing well. And too many losses in a row result in someone getting the axe. So at this point we agree, business is a sport. Read the rest of this entry »
You And Your Values in Business was first published on The Leadership Magazine
Is it easy to answer these questions quickly?
- What are your business values?
- Do they reflect your personal views or are they strictly business?
- Do you know your value?
I constantly look at all parts of my business, virtually daily. Like many other business owners I never like standing still. But understanding the values of your business and your personal value to and from your business isn’t always straightforward. It’s not something you can touch or push or poke. It’s something you learn, develop and evolve into. And sometimes, if you are lucky, those around you will help point out the obvious.
Eat Pay Leave was first published on Women in Focus
Women in Focus is a recently launched website and initiative by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. It is a place for women to be inspired, informed and connected with other women in business in Australia and around the world. Angela Vithoulkas, CEO of VIVO Cafe Group, will be the Guru on the Business Beat section and will be providing weekly articles on all things small business.
When I sit back to look at my business, the hustle and bustle and the comings and goings of the people, I get entertained and rejuvenated. It’s fun, in a twisted Jersey Shore way. There is never a dull or quiet moment in hospitality, even less possibility of that in a kitchen and then take into account the fact that we serve real time customers in what can sometimes be a volatile and emotional transaction. Read the rest of this entry »
Chicken Salad, No Chicken was first published in Women in Focus
Women in Focus is a recently launched website and initiative by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. It is a place for women to be inspired, informed and connected with other women in business in Australia and around the world. Angela Vithoulkas, CEO of VIVO Cafe Group, will be the Guru on the Business Beat section and will be providing weekly articles on all things small business.
In my business of food, I find a lot of my daily challenges pretty much sum up life as a business owner. It’s the front line of my business war that dictates my strategy, highlights my problems and often showcases dilemmas that will produce profound change or deliberate denial.