I have seen a lot of start ups in my time. From my study days in my undergrad in marketing and Masters in Entrepreneurship, to being involved in Start Up Weekend and Key Person of Influence programs - I must have seen hundreds of pitches for new business ideas. 

Kids spell love TIME! They don't care what sort of car you drive or what brand clothes you wear, they only count their relationship with you by how much Value time you spend with them. I'm not talking about driving them places, cooking dinner, doing emails while they watch TV time - I'm talking about real Value time. 

"Burn the ships, conquer or die!" Hernán Cortés famously said during the Spanish conquest of Mexico in 1519AD. Since then 'burning the boats' has become a popular motivational phrase and one which I can relate to.

Below is an email I sent to Energy Australia after having a poor experience getting my electricity connected. I am testing the power of social media to get issues fixed. Will it make a difference? We shall see!

Imagine Socrates back in ancient Greece around the 400BC mark. Sitting around in cool white robes, eating grapes with his best mate Plato thinking about stuff all day. What a life!  Much better than being a human battery like Morpheus was.

Recently I was working with a large company to rebrand all of their top executives. The type of engagement I really love as we get the whole team looking awesome at once. After we had just finished the photoshoot and were working our way through their biographies we were told that one of the top staff members had left to go to another company. He was a great guy so I made a mental note to keep in touch.

A few years ago I left the cushy corporate life to start my own business Social Star. I knew starting a new business would be challenging, but I didn't realise how much! The energy and hours required to grow something from nothing are extraordinary

I have been working with several real estate agents lately and have developed a red hot strategy to help them stand out in their target suburb of choice. Every since I completed a national speaking roadshow with LJ Hooker last Spring, the team at Socal Star and I have been helping many agents develop their Personal Brands and stand out online.

Lost your job? Hate your job and want a better one? In a client facing role and struggling with sales? Cold calling with no result? If this sounds like you need to stop selling you and start attracting and the best way to do that is with a Powerful Personal Brand.

A friend recently confided in me that she is using LinkedIn to meet people. After trying to meet people on many of the popular dating sites, including Tinder, she is turning this attention to LinkedIn.  As a LinkedIn expert, she asked me for advice on branding for all her profiles. 

Let me tell you a story of John. He is an experienced sales manager at a large IT company and wanted to make the next step in his career to being on the senior management board. He also had aspirations to be on some Advisory Boards to set him up for later in life when he could have paid board positions.  

If you own your own business the fastest way to double it's value is by protecting your Intellectual Property (IP). It is so effective at increasing the value of your business because you don't have to create anything new! It's simply protecting what you already have created. 

I have nerdy confession to make, I love LinkedIn! They don't even pay me to say that (but if you're listening Jeff Weiner...) I just find it really useful. I don't spend that much time using it. In fact, I probably waste more time on Facebook. 

IF TODAY WERE THE LAST DAY OF MY LIFE, WOULD I WANT TO DO WHAT I AM ABOUT TO DO TODAY?’

STEVE JOBS

This simple quote from Steve Jobs says it all. Work is such a large part of our lives we ought to enjoy it. 

Feeling that need to get your life story on paper? Want to share your life knowledge with those who could benefit from your experience? KPI told you to write a book? Before you start tickling the keyboard and dreaming of a lavish book launch, here are five things you must know before picking up your quil. 

It's official, Telstra has won me over. I now am an advocate, a fan and a promoter.  In the past year I have noticed a remarkable change in the customer service level of Australia's largest Telecommunications provider. 

I want to make a bold prediction: Facebook will not be the head honcho in social media by 2020. In fact, I believe LinkedIn will surpass the value of Facebook in that time. Why? The main problem rests with the way Facebook makes their money. 

I have a confession to make - I harbour a dream to become a professional speaker. There I said it out loud. Now it's real! A few months ago I thought this crazy idea of mine was just that, crazy.