Australian Entrepreneurs

The e-book “In Hindsight” recently launched by Nokia as part of its E7 smartphone promotion presents the business journeys of seven ‘unsung’ Australian entrepreneurs.

New business owners can learn a lot from the inspirational and often wry admissions of each:

• how they achieved their goals,
• the difficulties they faced along the way
• the most important lessons they learned

At the end of each entry there is a “Note to self”. This is advice they would now give to themselves, with the benefit of hindsight, to any

Australian Entrepreneurs starting out.

Below are snippets from each of the Australian entrepreneurs stories.

You can download the very interesting and free e-book In Hindsight .

At the end of this post is a link to a contest to give up and coming Australian entrepreneurs the chance to get their business idea off the ground. They will receive mentoring, cash and an E7 phone. Be quick. Closing date for submissions 14 August 2011.

Will Young - Campos Coffee

(Australian entrepreneurs with cult-status café owner and coffee supplier with a reputation for ensuring a quality coffee experience  whether in his own cafes or those of  his stockists)

 It was heartbreaking. I had lost my family’s money and my best friend and my coffee dreams were shattered – for the time being. In hindsight, if Starbucks hadn’t opened we wouldn’t have closed and I wouldn’t have later bought Campos.

Note to self; there are too many people feeling ripped off in this world, they need to feel they can get quality for a decent price.

Jamie Fuller – Skins

(Australian entrepreneurs sportswear company which took their technology for medical high compression garments to the athletic world and proved that using their garments improved performance and speeded recovery from sports activities)

It would have been impossible to try to explain to big booty blokes why they should be wearing tights. Getting the medical support team to recommend a product automatically gives it kudos and once the athletes wore SKINS they loved them

Note to self: Keep taking risks – they’re going to pay off for you, just get a second opinion whether you like it or not.

Marcus Blackmore - Blackmores

(Australian entrepreneurs continuing the company his naturopath father started back in the days when naturopaths were considered ‘quacks’. Selling vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements Marcus focusses attention on the company’s most precious assets– the employees)

If you work with complementary medicine and you’re successful then you’ve got to be a bit thick skinned at times to deal with the criticism you get. I’ve had old-school doctors criticise me for the business I am in but I know how little they taught doctors at medical school about nutrients, vitamins and minerals. What many of them know about nutritional medicine you could write on the edge of a razor blade.

Note to self: Pack a life jacket-you’re going to need it.

 Australian Entrepreneurs  - Abigail Forsyth – KeepCup

(Australian company producing barista-standard re-usable coffee cups to replace disposable take-away coffee cups and reduce waste.)

Since that first day my focus has always been winning business customer-by-customer. If you have a good product and a good story that is well told, it’s likely to be repeated.  In this age of social media and rapid spread of ideas, its this repetition that is and will continue to be the cornerstone of our success.

Note to self:  Follow your instincts every time, they are good ones. Going global may be your goal but impatience can get you in trouble, so do your research thoroughly – the market will always be there for you.

David Handley - Sculpture by the Sea

(Another of our Australian entrepreneurs – a visionary and creator of free visual art displays – the events have now been going for 15 years. Sculpture by the Sea displays bring rich revenues to the coastal suburbs hosting the events).

 What I set out to achieve in Sculpture by the Sea has been achieved. It has facilitated the dreams of hundreds of artists and brought art to the people while helping to generate more of a senses of community

Note to self: For god’s sake get yourself some business mentors onboard from day one. you think you know what you’re doing but you don’t.

Hayden Cox - HaydenShapes

(Australian entrepreneurs surfboard shaper and inventor of FibreFlex. Using carbon fibre technology to improve surfboard speed and handling. FibreFlex is now patented and licensed internationally)

 If I hadn’t got on a plane to go to Japan then I never would have known that someone would’ve had my boards in the shop. We still sell to him. You generate your own luck. That doesn’t come from staying home and wishing.

Note to self: Hey mate,  you’ll think you’re starting this business so you can surf more. Think again.

Australian Entrepreneurs – Shelley Barrett -  ModelCo

(By listening to the needs of models, this Australian entrepreneursmoved from being a model agent to a supplier of  innovative beauty products which have attracted superstar endorsement and widespread media attention)

However much you think you’re going to spend, double it. Listen to others. You might learn something. Surround yourself with the right people. Network, network, network and be positive. Help people. It will come back to you.

Note to self: Be prepared, keep your eyes wide open, don’t be afraid to ask for help and lean on your family.  You’re going to give it a hell of a go and bite off more than other people can chew, but you’ll do it.

Download the free  e-book In Hindsight

NOKIA  is giving one up and coming Australian entrepreneur the chance to get their business idea off the ground. they will receive mentoring, cash and a smart phone.  Closing date for submissions 14 August 2011. Click : Australian Entrepreneurs Contest

The Swanbourne Business Centre is home to many up and coming Australian Entrepreneurs who start their business operations with a  controlled-cost serviced office Australia .

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