Key to success

By Danielle Galvin
FUTURIST Paul Higgins spoke at the Casey Business Breakfast on Wednesday and warned small business owners to “dodge bullets” by being innovative and taking risks.
Mr Higgins was the keynote speaker at the breakfast which was held at the Cranbourne Golf Club.
He said social media, online deal websites and blogs could threaten small business owners.
Mr Higgins quoted leading management academic Gary Hemel.
“Somewhere out there is a bullet with your company’s name on it,” he said.
The strategic business consultant spoke about the threats to small businesses and encouraged traders to be savvy and innovative.
“Be prepared to fail. Take risks that won’t completely ruin your business but will challenge you,” he said.
Mr Higgins was introduced by Melbourne Football Club great David Neitz.
“I’m hoping he can look into the future and tell us that Melbourne will win the grand final next year,” Mr Neitz joked.
The breakfast was sponsored by Officeworks, the Melbourne Football Club and Monash University’s Berwick Campus.
Tim James, a business account manager at Officeworks, said it was a privilege to work with the City of Casey.
“It’s great to see so many businesses represented here this morning,” he said.
Mr Higgins quoted sci-fi writer Liam Gibson to explain that social media would affect businesses big and small.
“Liam Gibson warned that the future is already here, it’s just not evenly distributed.”
The breakfast was attended by 180 business owners and employees from the City of Casey and the Cardinia Shire.
Mr Higgins explained the changing “competitive landscape”.
“The three t’s in this landscape are technology, transparency and trust. These are driving future change,” he said.
Mr Higgins encouraged business owners to be innovative by looking into ways of improving their business model and “delighting customers.”
“Be able to pick apart your business. Sit down with business owners in the area and ask them how they would attack your business.”
City of Casey Mayor Shar Balmes announced the nominees for the business awards at the breakfast.
“This is the second year for the Casey Business Awards. This year, we had 80 businesses nominated.
“It’s going to make judging difficult,” she said.
Nominees in the Social Enterprise Business of the Year category included the Madcap Café, R&M Cusworth Warner and Waverley Industries.
In the Retailer of the Year category, the Cranbourne Market, Gloria Jeans, Telechoice in Fountain Gate and Framing to a T will battle it out.
Other categories in the business awards included New Business of the Year, Manufacturers of the Year, Hospitality and Tourism Business of the Year and Health and Personal Services Business of the Year.
Cr Balmes congratulated the nominees.
She said the City of Casey had some impressive businesses that should be recognised.
“I’m a bit of a fan of Casey,” she said.
Winners for the Casey Business Awards will be announced on Thursday 27 October at the Arthur Wren Hall in Hampton Park.