Discipline should begin in childhood. It is in childhood that we learn to respect ourselves and others, which enables us to become productive, responsible and fulfilled individuals. As adults, discipline helps us to achieve. In our business and personal lives we can go about setting all the goals and dreams in the world, but without discipline nothing will happen. 

Discipline also brings freedom; this seems a strange statement, yet it is true.  With discipline in our lives we feel a sense of achievement and satisfaction when the goal is met.  We can then go on to set more challenging goals for ourselves… and so it goes.  Most successful people will tell you that they love challenges and will often use the benchmark of previous success to propel them forward. 

Our discipline can also motivate and inspire our loved ones, friends and acquaintances to achieve for themselves.  What greater legacy to leave behind than a legacy of seeing others reach their potential in life and sharing in their success?

Discipline should be embraced as a friend, not an enemy. Without it we would be a sorry mess. 

Could a lack of discipline be the root of all the problems society faces today? 

Claire Osborne

The spoken word is more powerful than we can imagine. The words we speak to our children, or partners and friends can damage or restore. Something that was said to us as a child can resonate in our hearts and minds till the day we die. What we say can have ramifications that we may never see, but can remain in our hearts forever. Words can soothe the soul or sear it for life. Wisdom tells us to choose our words carefully and not to open our mouths in haste.

We cannot take back our words once they have been uttered. They linger forever and no matter what we do we cannot steal them back. What words have you spoken today that may have hurt or damaged someone you love? The only remedy is to consider our words before we speak them. Our words can be a soothing ointment or a sharp, stinging blade.

What do you want your words to be?

Understanding where your customers are coming from (or tracking your leads in marketing speak) is one of the pillars of effective business marketing. Why? Because it gives you an insight into which marketing strategies are working for you and helps you to spend your marketing dollars wisely. It also tells you who your customers are – helping you to target & engage the right audience, and in turn convert more customers.

Tracking your leads can be as simple as asking prospective clients how they found you. 99% of people will not mind you inquiring: “If you don’t mind me asking, where did you hear about us?”

However, there is no point in asking the question if you don’t keep a good record of the answers.

Your head is no place to store and organise vital client information and a drawer full of business cards won’t contribute to the growth of your business either. Excel spreadsheets, while perhaps adequate for very small enterprises, are cumbersome and labor-intensive. Instead, look into a good quality customer relationship management (CRM) program or lead tracking software to help automate and streamline the process.There are plenty of these excellent database tools available, at all price points – including several good free options (found online) for very budget conscious, small businesses. Not only will they keep a record of where each client came from, but they can help you to manage the process of turning leads into customers and continue building the relationship into the future.

Want to know how many people have come to you through your website and what they thought of it? Your online activity can be easily tracked with Google Analytics, a free tool which shows you how people found your website, how they explored it and how you can enhance their visitor experience.

At the end of the day, you won’t know unless you ask. And you won’t have a good idea of the big customer picture unless you keep a good record of this information. So get asking and get organised!

What areas do you need wisdom most? Is it your financial life, family or some other aspect in need of it?

We can’t wait to see you all in 2012. It’s going to be a great year!

- From the Team at Osborne Yuille

While in India we were privileged to open another school for kindergarten children, taking in 100 children from the quarry district. Our current school for primary and high school children has 600 pupils. The children attending our schools are all underprivileged, quarry children from the slums of Bangalore. We currently have 19 children now ready to go into university and college.

It costs around A$1000 per annum to put a child through university in India.

At this time of Christmas and in the spirit of giving, you may be moved to sponsor a child. In doing so you will be providing them with the opportunity of an education through school or university. Visit www.oya.com.au for more information. All donations are tax deductible.

We would like to wish all of our clients a very happy Christmas and a prosperous new year.

Claire

The GST is a tax on both goods and services at the rate of 10%. It was introduced in July 2000 to replace a range of inefficient state taxes and broaden the existing wholesale sales tax system, which gave unfair tax advantage to suppliers of services.

Everyone in Australia is subject to GST – even churches and charities. There are only two legitimate ways to completely avoid it. One is not to buy anything and the other is to move overseas.

There are some goods and services that are GST-free. They include many basic foodstuffs, medical and educational services, disability services, some services provided by religious institutions and charities, transport, precious metals, duty-free items and grants of freehold land. Other items, such as financial services

and rental of residential premises, are exempt from GST because they are input-taxed – which means that no GST is applied to the selling price, however, the supplier of the input-taxed good or service is not entitled to claim back any GST (as an input-tax credit) on anything acquired to produce it. A private sale by an unregistered individual to another unregistered individual also escapes GST.

Whether you like it or hate it, GST is here to stay. It is highly unlikely any new government coming into power will reverse it. Once major reforms like this are introduced they usually prove too difficult to roll back.

To read more, download our latest Newsletter – Strategy Plus

Image by Mario Testino

I don’t expect the newlyweds, William and Kate, will have too many financial concerns or a great need for budgeting. One of the main concerns for newlyweds though is money or a lack of it. It is important to start planning early, budget carefully and keep out of debt.
Don’t start a marriage with a lot of debt. Heavy debt and money worries are a good way to break up a healthy relationship or marriage. Early on in the relationship, even before taking the vows if possible, concentrate on paying off any personal debts so that you can go into the marriage debt-free.
If you have debts from the wedding, such as the ring, reception or credit cards, concentrate on paying them off as soon as possible. Then, as a couple, sit down and work out a budget and financial plan for yourselves.
Another big  mistake couples can make is going into a mortgage which relies heavily on both incomes. A baby comes along and the couple is suddenly relying on one income only.
Your first home does not have to be your dream home. Some couples decide to rent in their desired area (perhaps closer to the city or in a more advantageous spot) knowing it is out of their reach to buy. They then buy an investment property in a regional or more economical area, at a price that is affordable and possibly positive or neutrally geared.

Remember you can build up gradually to your dream home – it does not have to be your first and last purchase.
It is also important for newlyweds to put their wills and personal insurance planning in place. I know you are indestructible, as it only happens to other people.

We are all hoping that 2011 will be a successful year, with the world’s share markets picking up, helping us to recover from the last two years. Most analysts are saying that markets are improving and we have certainly seen evidence of this in the last quarter of 2010. I believe recovery will continue slowly over the next two years. While there are still concerns out there about the debt in America and Europe (notably the state of PIGS – Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain – economies) there is light at the end of the tunnel.

As we look forward to a successful year in 2011, it is perhaps a good time to reflect on the word success and what it means to you.

To me, life is not about being as busy as possible. It’s about enjoying the journey, both personally and professionally. It is important to find balance in life, giving time to our families and friends, and just occasionally stopping to smell the roses.

Have a purpose in life and commit to the goals you have set yourself. Stay focused with your finance and investments. Yes we have been through a major global financial crisis, but we are recovering and investments are recovering. Remember share and property markets go down, but they also go up. The Global Financial Crisis may have impacted your business and finances, but there is no use beating yourself up over it. It’s part of the journey of life. Enjoy the creation around you and stay focused on your long-term personal and financial goals. Think of those who have lost their lives, homes and possessions to natural disasters in recent times – it certainly helps put things in perspective.

Until next time,

John Osborne
CEO, Osborne Yuille