Random Political Post

Who else in New Zealand is disillusioned with the current political system?

Who else is confused by the fact that we live in a so-called 'first world' country, yet we struggle to find happiness? Many of Generation Y (and other generations) are living so...precariously.

Experts say a new class is emerging, but its not like the traditional 'wealth' class system, it transcends that. Its people like me and my peers in Gen Y and its called 'The Precariat'. Apparently its not just in New Zealand. The Precariat are the young ones making a lot of noise at governments in Europe, South America and beyond.

It encompasses all of us who are just 'winging it' week to week, year to year. Our jobs are not secure and our careers are totally random. Many of us feel stuck in a rut. And in the mean time, we're programmed to consume well beyond what we need, and most of us are on Facebook. How did we get caught up in this weird cycle? We're definetely searching for something..identity? What is it?

As a member of the Precariat, I have so many questions.

For me...I feel that education, health and everything in our lives has become so commodified that the quality of our lives has become diluted. That is why we are struggling with happiness.

For example, why are doctors so focused on selling me drugs to get commission, they treat the symptom and not the cause. There's something very wrong about that! Not to mention how quick they are at prescribing anti-depressants.

Why did we pay $30-$40,000 on a university degree and find that there were no jobs for that degree? Why are there seven universities and many more polytechs in a country with a population the size of Sydney. Somethings up with that.

Why do many baby-boomers have second rental properties while their own children (Often Gen Y and Precariats) cannot afford homes for their new families?

Why is it that we are encouraged to breastfeed for six months (at LEAST) yet paid parental leave is only for three? Why is it so expensive to live that we need TWO incomes just to survive?

Why are the victims from the ChCh earthquake getting shafted so much?!

Why are so many of Gen Y's kids getting allergies? Something is up with the food we are eating. And I have a funny feeling its all linked up in supermarkets maximising GP.

As a private business owner I get all that private enterprise, freedom stuff. But there needs to be a line drawn.

I feel like somethings going to give. I believe the Precariat will bring about a positive change in the world and we will see some exciting changes in the future. I would like to take part in that.

Anyone else share these feelings? Or totally disagree? Would love to hear some others sentiment, as politics is something I rarely share with others. I won't judge!

Balancing on a Cloud

Check out my brand new guest post over at Vend Retail Blog. You'll get an insight in to the innovative new way we run our businesses from The Cloud, and find out how I balance my work demands with my little ones so smoothly. Thanks to Vend POS for the opportunity!

Source - weheartit

Welcome to the world Baby Girl!

I'm proud to finally share with you, the arrival of our new baby daughter, Violet.

It was beautiful, sunny and around lunchtime when Vi was born October 16th. She came 14 days overdue, 8lbs7oz. Her arrival was a little more exciting than what I experienced with Rose's. During the final, intense stages of labour, on top of a nasty cough and cold, I endured an hour long rush to Christchurch hospital in the ambulance with sirens blaring. Luckily the entonox gas was a lot stronger in the ambo! The trip was such an adrenaline rush it helped my labour along and I was able to deliver Vi naturally. And I was standing up at the time (I highly recommend this position now for getting a baby out)!

Violet is a delight and she's growing like a weed, already in the 91st percentile for size. We all adore her, especially her sister Rose. Vi is all smiles and we are too.

Waiting for baby...

Source

Well I'm a week overdue now and still waiting to meet our precious new little girl. I'm finding it super hard to concentrate on anything at the moment so please excuse me as I take a short break from writing.

Back soon, lotsa love
xoxo

Shop Talk: Creating Good Word-Of-Mouth

Source

So word-of-mouth is the most effective way to promote your business. How do you create good word of mouth?

1. Competitions

Lets say last month you spent $500 on 4 weekly adverts in the newspaper. You're not sure who read it, if anyone at all! And you're not that confident you got the wording right and if you're happy with the position of the advert in the paper. It's totally hit and miss.

Wouldn't it be far more effective and engaging with your audience to run a campaign over the month where you giveaway a product that COST you around $500, but is worth to the receiver: $1000?

The competition entries are a way for you to physically measure how many people have taken notice of your campaign and who they are. So you are conducting important market research at the same time. Measurable marketing is the best kind of marketing so that you know if you are wasting your money or not. And if its worth doing again.

Be creative with your competition idea so that its newsworthy enough to notify the media. Read about how to write a press release here.

When you have a winner make sure you get some photo's of them with their exciting new prize. This photo and your competition story could make the news and get you:
a) A prime spot in the newspaper
b) A much bigger space in the newspaper than the adverts you had paid for
c) An interesting story that people might enjoy reading compared with a boring, generic advert.
d) An angle which makes you sound very generous with your giveaway offering

Once I had an interview in a magazine which was a full page - it cost me nothing! An advert of that size would have cost me upward of $30,000! And who loves reading ads anyway!?

2. Events

You can also notify the media if you are sponsoring an event, or holding one yourself. If you hold regular, exciting events, send regular press releases and after a while the media will get to know you as an exciting, forward thinking business.

When sponsoring an event its a good idea to also be involved with a Charity - this is also more newsworthy and the charity may provide you with free press also.

3. Create Brand Ambassadors

Give outstanding service. This is a very simple one. There are countless businesses out there providing poor or just mediocre service to their customers. Don't be one of them. Make sure your service is efficient and second-to-none. Impress your customers and ensure your staff are trained to do exactly the same. Keep in mind we live in the age of convenience so anything you can do to make your customers life more convenient, do it and reap the rewards.

Spoil your staff. This is also very simple. Think of ways you can reward your staff and create incentives for them. Make sure the workplace is always high energy and fun. Give your team lots of attention and training and they will have no choice but to spread good word of mouth about your and your business. And sometimes staff are your best customers!