People involved with the internet every day (most of us) find it difficult to understand that there are still some small businesses who claim they don’t need to have a web presence or use email.
Case in point. An advocacy service for subcontractors in the construction industry recently told the writer that nearly two thirds of their members still don’t use email.
It’s a real problem for them since they physically mail out over 2,000 letters each month – that’s $1,000 in postage alone – particularly when you consider they could have simply emailed a newsletter and also saved on the envelope and paper costs.
Of course, the tradies themselves are the big losers here because the biggest gains going online are in time management.
Consider the average sparkie. He continually takes calls on his mobile all through the working day – and at night too, for most. He has to stop work to take the call and then record somewhere what he has agreed / quoted or just jot down contact details etc. Not only is this very disruptive, since he will invariably still be on the tools himself, but he has no proper records. And he also has a massive phone bill each month!
If, on the other hand, he was using email he would have an automatic written record logged in and, more importantly, he would be able to handle most, if not all, his business enquiries at a time when it suited him.
Some diehards may say that their customers want answers straight away and prefer to talk directly to them – but there are some great examples here and overseas of tradies who have bucked the old traditions by starting their own websites and utilising email whenever they can - e.g. the fastest growing UK plumber in London with over 30 vans on the road in less than four years of web based operation.
YOC can also quote some great local examples see:
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Mortgage foreclosure … the options
Anecdotal evidence suggests there are a worrying number of families in NSW who are now struggling under the burden of increased monthly payments and are rapidly approaching a personal financial precipice.
Most pundits agree that the official statistics are often massively understated since families at risk usually do not wish to flag their financial difficulties to either the authorities or friends and neighbours.
Loss of a family home is a deeply traumatic experience for all concerned and a tragedy that most people would avoid if at all possible, but the simple fact is that being unexpectedly retrenched or having your long term employer go bust are often circumstances beyond your own personal control and can make even the strongest of people feel extremely vulnerable and insecure.
What are the options?
There are a range of counselling services available online, which lay out the legal options, and can be very helpful for you to discreetly check out your rights, e.g. http://www.cclcnsw.org.au/
However, talking to your nearest and dearest is usually the best first step.
Many people are unwilling to approach their friends or families about financial problems through some misguided sense of shame, but the fact is that these types of problems can happen to anyone … and they should more properly be viewed as being part of living a full life.
Often you will be pleasantly surprised by the reaction (as they say - you find out who your real friends are), but also realise that some will not be in the position to assist you and may not be willing to acknowledge the extent of their own money or marriage problems.
It is usually a good idea to approach your lender if you are in default (i.e. missed a single payment) and discuss the options available; certainly ignoring them won’t make the problem go away and you may just antagonise them, which is the last thing you want to do.
Remember, it’s just business to them, so they will usually opt for the easiest route to resolve the issue and they may not want to crystalise a loss by dumping your property on to a depressed market, particularly if your equity is low (or nil) and you have no other assets for them to claim on.
There are a few certainties in life (in addition to death and taxes). Life does go on. Circumstances do change. And it’s a great life … if you don’t weaken.
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