Comments for Naomi's BLOG

Comment on Questions… by naomisimson

naomisimson — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:58:48 +0000

Hi Kim,
Thank you for sharing your situation - you are not alone. I will send the 3 questions via email separately.
Naomi

Comment on Fit to be an entrepreneur. by Jo - living savvy

Jo - living savvy — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:02:16 +0000

Growing old "gracefully" takes effort I do believe. A friend and I used to say we are not running or working out for the present but preserving ourselves for the future! Enjoy what you are doing there are enough exercise and activities out there to keep us flexible and healthy that I am sure you will find something that you enjoy.

Comment on Questions… by Kim D.

Kim D. — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:38:19 +0000

Hi Naomi I got to know of you on your episode of Secret Millionaire, & admired from that your passion for what you do & also how you balance life as a wife, mother & business leader. i recently reconnected with your blogs thru your presentation at a recent business chicks event. i did not attend as i live in a regional area, but in following up from your blog i am interested in knowing the 3 questions you would ask a mentoree if approached? i too am a wife & mother who is so close to getting my 'career' self-confidence back on track having being Mum for 4years. I am so close to getting my interior styling business (which i just love & feel passionate about what i can do) & myself 'out there' yet keep getting a flood of self doubt that holds me back. i am surprising myself with this doubt as I have had a successful career & do have confidence in general. in the past i couldn't understand my girlfriends describing how difficult it was to get belief back in yourself out in the 'work world', and four years on here I am! thank you for sharing your personal motto 'if its meant to be its up to me' in your recent blog. it hit a nerve & made me realize i just need to get it out there & see what happens! i am sure there are many women/mothers looking to rediscover there self-belief & confidence, perhaps your 3 questions you have to ask of mentorees such as ourselves, could help to guide us along on our journeys.. Many Thanks

Comment on Questions… by naomisimson

naomisimson — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 05:43:28 +0000

Hi Mark,
Thanks for the question... RedBalloon was self funded by the founders. We put in the capital from our savings... and then we grew organically. I know you have probably heard this before - but like most entrepreneurs every dollar earned goes back into growing the business. So yes it was a shoe string. Even now budgets are still tight.... but I like to say 'it is not the size of the budget that counts but what you do with it that matters' not sure if the RedBalloon Marketing Manager would always agree with me.

I have maintained a really good relationship with our bank.... and they know us well. So I would encourage you to nurture a banking relationship - and really get to know the bankers as individual people, as well as being totally transparent about what you are planning or doing. I was listening to Gail Kelly recently - and she said that Westpac is very committed to business customers... St George would be too... Bring your banker with you on the journey. I know ours is enjoying the ride.

Comment on Questions… by Mark Williams

Mark Williams — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:56:36 +0000

Hi Naomi

A couple of financial questions for you. Start-up funds!! Did you have good financing to start your businesses or did you do it on a shoe string to start with? If you did get financing, how did you get your bankers to take you seriously?

Comment on Questions… by J. Kingsford Smith

J. Kingsford Smith — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 08:32:34 +0000

Hey Naomi - thanks for the great words of advice and I totally agree with your comments re outsourcing. As I grow my business, I try to do everything... as I believe that the clients put their trust in me... but its not scalable or sensible. I have recently taken on 2 fabulous marketers & I'm learning to utilise them more - and this free's up my time.
Now to outsource the silly things at home that I dont enjoy doing anyway... like ironing, cleaning, using the treadmilll....hmmmmm!

Thanks again.

Comment on Disgusted… I want authentic marketing by Anthea

Anthea — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 01:09:24 +0000

You have hit the nail on the head. I have only been living in Australia for a few years but am (at best) completely amused by the political campaigning here - it's like schoolyard "tit for tat"! No wonder it even insulted your 12-year-old son's intelligence. It IS embarrassing, you're right. And I also agree with the previous comment: I would like to be given some reasons why I should vote for one party over another. The adverts are simply annoying and are not educating voters at all. How do our "leaders" ever expect the country to advance beyond this hamster wheel (a really squeaky, irritating one) of political rhetoric without acting like real leaders and standing for something?

Comment on Disgusted… I want authentic marketing by naomisimson

naomisimson — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 03:41:45 +0000

This is an interesting read on the effectiveness of online media - http://www.smartcompany.com.au/politics/20100818-abbott-vs-gillard-s-online-marketing-wars.html

Comment on Disgusted… I want authentic marketing by Ally

Ally — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 03:13:03 +0000

I agree completely with you comment about "scare mongering"! I dont want to know why I shouldn't vote for one party...I want to know why I SHOULD vote for the other. It seems as though they lost sight right a the very beginning. It's almost like they are saying "I dont have any characteristics good enought to tell you why I should be a leader but the other person has a whole bunch of bad points, so I'll tell you about them instead."

Comment on Cut through by Chris Maloney

Chris Maloney — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 21:21:32 +0000

Glad you like the post Naomi. You and the team are doing an amazing job at being an authentic voice in the market, which is often much harder than it seems. Keep up the great work!