Michael Cohen testifies against Donald Trump in Congress

Christian Woods
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Michael Cohen testifies against Donald Trump in Congress

US President Donald Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen has testified against him in US Congress, saying that he is a racist and a liar.

Despite pleading guilty in 2018 to having lied to Congress, Cohen was adamant in his testimony that Mr Trump had forewarning that Hillary Clinton’s politically damaging emails would be released and that he welcomed the news. However, Cohen said that he had no “direct evidence” that there was any collusion between Russia and the Trump presidential campaign.

Trump’s Republicans have been quick to dismiss Cohen’s testimony as coming from a convicted liar. Cohen compared Mr Trump to a Mafia “mobster” who expected absolute loyalty from his subordinates and for them to protect him even when it meant breaking the law.

Cohen declared that “I am not protecting Mr Trump anymore,”

He also said that New York prosecutors were performing an investigation into conversations between him and either Trump or his advisors following an FBI raid on his hotel room. He declined to provide more details, citing the fact it was still being investigated by federal prosecutors.

Originally seen as one of Mr Trump’s closest allies and chief legal representative, Mr Cohen has gone from saying he’d “take a bullet” for his former boss to someone who has now implicated the President in campaign finance violations.

Mr Trump, who is currently in Vietnam for a planned peace summit with North Korean Leader Kim-Jong Un, responded on Twitter by saying that Cohen “did bad things unrelated to Trump” and that he was “lying in order to reduce his prison time”.

Cohen is expected to report to prison soon to begin serving his 3 year sentence. Federal prosecutors see Cohen as a very important witness due to his close relationship with President Trump during the timeframes that are under investigation.

Maxwell ton powers Australia to T20 series victory in India

Christian Woods
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After Australia was smashed all over the park in consecutive T20, ODI and Test match series’ at home against India, Glenn Maxwell decided to return the favour. Possibly feeling left out by all the centuries being scored by Test contenders in the Sheffield Shield, Maxwell smashed an unbeaten 113 off 55 balls to chase down India’s imposing score of 190 with 2 balls to spare.

Maxwell also top scored with 56 in the first match, a much lower scoring affair which Australia won 127-126 after Pat Cummins scored the winning runs on the final ball. In that match Maxwell was the only Australian apart from D’Arcy Short (who scored 37 and also contributed 40 in the second game) to make a reasonable score, and he was the top scorer (from both sides) in each game.

Aaron Finch, who remains the Australian captain for both T20s and ODIs, has now gone 19 consecutive short form games without reaching 50, and fell for a golden duck in the first match of this series before reaching 8 in the second. Marcus Stoinis, who was elevated to the Test squad during the Sri Lanka series but did not get a start, achieved a 1 followed by a 7.

Maxwell remains the most overlooked player in Australian cricket, after being controversially left out of the Test team last summer despite starring in the Shield and even more controversially still being excluded after the ball tampering trio were banned. He was seemingly on the outer even within the one day squad, being sent in to bat at 7 and constantly put in the position of trying to save matches with only tail-enders as partners.

After carrying Australia to victory in this T20 series, Maxwell will surely have to bat higher in the 5 upcoming ODI games, also in India. He has modified his game slightly to focus on playing more orthodox shots than the ridiculous and awe-inspiring switch hits and reverse sweeps that led to his nickname “The Big Show” but also saw him get out cheaply far too often.

8 tips to starting your own magazine as a small business

Adam Smith
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8 tips to starting your own magazine as a small business

It’s a myth that you need an established publisher to help you self-publish a magazine. In fact, it has never been easier to start your own magazine than it is now. It’s a fantastic way to share your knowledge with your audience and educate them about the topics you are passionate about. For small businesses, starting a magazine helps to showcase various products and services.

Your magazine has to be engaging and stimulating, as well as informative and admired by your target audience. Obviously, there is some work involved in pulling it off but it can be rewarding in the long term. Let us check out some of the useful tips and advice to get started with self-publishing and printing your own first magazine.

1. Research the competition

It goes without saying that self-publishing your own magazine has to be financially viable  and worth the amount of time, money and effort that you will have to put in to make it a success. So, before you dedicate any resources to the project, it’s recommended that you carry out some market research and assess what kind of value you can get back from this activity.

Simply visit some local stores and find popular magazines in your niche. These will be your top competitors. Try to understand what appeals to the audience that buys them.

In case you can’t find any publications in your niche, it’s quite possible that your target market isn’t there (or isn’t big enough to generate traction).

2. Define your USP (unique selling point)

If you feel other magazines aren’t able to fulfil the demands of your niche, think about how exactly yours will stand out from the pack. What is the unique selling point of your magazine? Can you make your magazine completely unique and still retain that appeal to your target audience?

3. Find your niche audience

Without knowing what audience your magazine is going to be geared towards, you can’t make the content appeal to their reading interests. Therefore, you need to know more about them than just their age group and gender. Things like what they like and dislike, or perhaps what brands they follow are keys things to be researching. A good way to figure this out is to talk to people who are in your target audience and ask them to see what they usually look for in a magazine. Frame your magazine around these suggestions.

4. Plan your budgets

Close up of tax information
Budgeting is important. Photo: stevepb, Pixabay

Keep in mind that the goal is to become one of the most successful magazines of its type in the market and crush the competition. Of course, it will take plenty of hard work to get there. So, before you start, it’s good to have a well-planned budget already in place in order to ensure the survival and growth of your business.

Once you have a clear idea of how much money you would like to invest in this business, you can then decide about magazine printing costs, distribution costs, and any additional investment that might be required.

5. Launch marketing campaigns

If you want your magazine to rule the market, a lot will depend on how well you promote and sell it during the early stages. In fact, even the most popular magazines in the market had to fight for their survival and get secured space in retail stores.

It’s good to have a website that can complement the magazine. Plus, people can subscribe online via the website. Then, you can invest in some social media marketing as a way of promoting both your magazine and the related website. Reach out to social media influencers in your niche who can reach out to their subscribers and help build a following for your magazine.

To start with, you can create your initial audience by targeting people who follow any publications or magazines similar to yours. Once you have enough feedback on the campaign, you can then optimise it for better results and even find similar audiences to the people who like your magazine. When it comes to marketing, the sky is the limit!

6. Publish superb content

Person reading a magazine
Good quality content is important. Photo: kaboompics, Pixabay

Get a hold of some good writers who can contribute to your magazine on a regular basis. You can find them on various freelance sites and if you are serious about it, you will soon build a network of high-quality writers who can provide you with a regular supply of good articles.

7. Find a reliable printing company

It’s crucial to find the right printing company for getting custom magazine printing done at affordable prices. You can print your magazine online as there are companies that can provide online printing services. Make sure to ask for a preview before printing.

8. Deliver the print edition in the correct layout to the printer

Try to make the process of magazine printing easier for the printer by delivering the final draft of the magazine in the expected format. Make sure it’s a single file and all the pages are in the correct order. If you have any questions for the online magazine printers, it’s always good to ask them, rather than assuming things on your own.

How to enjoy race day if you can’t make it to the Melbourne Cup

Mike Smith
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How to enjoy race day if you can’t make it to the Melbourne Cup

Although the Melbourne Cup is the only horse race in Australia that actually brings the nation to a grinding halt for around 4 minutes, the majority of Australians can’t make it to Flemington Racecourse to actually watch the race live and join in all the festivities.

Not to worry though, as there are many other ways to cash in on the excitement of the big race day even if you are situated thousands of kilometres away from Melbourne. Let’s look at some ways you can fully enjoy Melbourne Cup day without attending the actual race.

Call in sick

Group Of Male Friends Celebrating Whilst Watching Game On Screen In Sports Bar
Photo: Monkeybusinessimages, BS

Do you think your boss will really believe you’re sick on Melbourne Cup day?

Probably not, but if you can wrangle the day off work, then that’ll leave you free to party or do whatever you fancy on the day of the race.

Even if you have to work in the morning but can get the afternoon off, it’s still almost as good.

Many people believe the day of the Melbourne Cup should be a national holiday anyway, and there is currently a big push to make this happen. Until that becomes a reality though, and if you don’t live in Melbourne, you’ll need to get out of work somehow.

Spend the day at your local race track

Melourne cup
Photo: Chris Phutully, Wikimedia Commons

In most locations throughout Australia that do have a major racecourse, there will undoubtedly be Melbourne Cup events and local races taking place. This is probably one of the closest ways there is to experience the Melbourne Cup vibe, even if you’re not at Flemington.

Local Melbourne Cup carnivals also give you the opportunity to dress up to the nines – both women and men – just as if you were at the real race. It’s a day of Melbourne Cup glamour and fashion, champagne and fun no matter where you may happen to be.

Attending one of these huge local race days is another good reason to do your best to get the day off from work.

The Melbourne Cup work party

Melbourne Cup work party
Photo: Rawpixel, BS

Many businesses will only operate until around lunch time on the day of the great race, and will often host a lunch or a Melbourne Cup party either on the business premises, or at a local bar or restaurant.

If you’re lucky enough to have a boss like this, then your Melbourne Cup revelry will be sorted, and very likely all at the big boss’s expense too, which is an even better deal.

Organise your own Melbourne Cup party

Organise your own Melbourne Cup party
Photo: Jovanmandic, BS

Do you or a friend have a huge TV? If so, then your place or theirs will make a great venue to watch the race whilst partying it up both before and after.

Private parties can ultimately be one of the very best ways to enjoy the festivities. It can save money on going out to a venue, plus you can surround yourself with your closest friends or family members.

In fact, you could even organise your very own Melbourne Cup 2019 sweepstakes to add even more excitement to the event. Have a kitty where there is a major prize for whoever picks the winning horse, plus minor prizes for 2nd and 3rd.

What if you’re flying solo on race day?

Whatever you do, if you have a bet on the race, or are wanting to at least watch it live, then the best way to enjoy it is by locating yourself somewhere with a big screen.

Many local bars will have huge screen TVs showing the race when it happens. It’s always far more satisfying watching Australian sporting events on a large screen, rather than perhaps a small screen at home. It’s also a lot more fun and exciting with other people around, even if you may not know them.

Hang out at the local TAB

If you’re a serious racing punter, then maybe an afternoon spent down at your local TAB might be the best way for you to enjoy the world’s greatest horse race. This gives you ample opportunity to study form guides and place bets on any of the races taking place that day, either at Flemington, or everywhere else around the country.

Enjoy some quiet time

If you’re not into horse racing or the Melbourne Cup, then simply enjoy some quiet time while everyone else is glued to television sets. At least you’ll get about 4 minutes of peace.

horses
Photo: Andreas1967, Pixabay

Whatever you do on Melbourne Cup day, there are many ways to enjoy the moment without having to actually be at Flemington.

A guide for F1 fans on the 2019 Australian Grand Prix

Evelyn Johnson
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A guide for F1 fans on the 2019 Australian Grand Prix

The Australian Grand Prix has always been one of the most attended Australian sporting events. This year it is all set to rock into gear on March 17 in Victoria, Melbourne. The first round of the 2019 Formula One season will occupy fifty-eight laps of Melbourne’s GP circuit.

Albert Park will be hosting the opening race of the season, which will be the 24th time it has been utilised. Twenty racers belonging to 10 different teams will participate in the race. The big names to follow include defending Australian GP champion, Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) and defending World Drivers’ Champion, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes). Australians will also be excited to see their very own, Daniel Ricciardo, drive for his new home Renault, after leaving Red Bull Racing at the end of 2018.

Orientation week will be inaugurated and hosted in Melbourne’s Federation Square prior to the race. Alfa Romeo Racing, Racing Point, Alexander Albon, Lando Norris, and George Russell will be making their competitive debuts in this race.

How to maximise your enjoyment at this year’s GP

Being part of the spectacular race and roaming the city can be an exciting trip. Besides enjoying the race, check out the Eureka Sky-deck at Riverside Quay for some quality time with family or friends. Furthermore, tourists should check out the Melbourne Aquarium, Eureka Tower, Brighton Beach, Grampians National Park and Luna Park.

For an electrifying trip, climb to ‘The Edge’, where one can view the entire city below from a clear, glass box. Exhilarating stuff! If you get bored of all the racing, pay a quick visit to the nearby Great Ocean Road, which is 245 kilometers along the Victoria Coast. The city is surrounded by multiple scenic beauties and rivers, which intensify the excitement of the match. This can add some great adventure to your trip to Melbourne.

Look for discounts

The tickets for the Australian GP can be pretty pricey, so make sure you’re on the lookout for some nifty coupons. Check out a wide variety of ticket outlets and you just might nab a discount of 10 or 20 per cent on your entry fee. Not sure what to wear? Don’t worry, many sports brands are running discount offers on sports apparel and footwear brands/attires. Keep your eyes peeled for some money-saving codes!

Some facts about the Australian GP

Australian F1 Driver, Daniel Ricciardo driving.
Daniel Ricciardo driving for Red Bull at the 2016 Australian GP. Photo: Dustin Halcon, Wikimedia Commons

In 2017, the approximate global audience for Formula 1 was simply incredible: 352.3 million viewers. In December 2017, the Australian Grand Prix was officially honoured as the first Formula One World Championship in an FIA World Motor Sport. Lex Davidson is Australia’s most successful driver in the Australian GP, winning the race four times between 1954 and 1961. He also won the Driver’s Championship in 1957.

While Sebastian Vettel is the two-time defending champion, Australian fans will be hoping Danial Ricciardo can pull off a major upset. However, this appears unlikely given Ricciardo’s recent form with his new Renault team and questions surrounding the power of the engine. Ricciardo himself has suggested that Renault may not be a major threat in the World Championships until 2020 or 2021. Nonetheless, Aussie fans will be excited to see some of the best racing talent in the world going head to head on the grid.

Past winners

Year Driver Car
2018 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari
2017 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari
2016 Nico Rosberg Mercedes
2015 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
2014 Nico Rosberg Mercedes
2013 Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault
2012 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
2011 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault

An overview of 2018

Lewis Hamilton in 2011
Lewis Hamilton held pole position in 2018, however, he would go on to come second in the race. Photo: Nick Webb, Wikimedia Commons

In 2018, Lewis Hamilton started the race in pole position, however, it was Vettel who would go on to win. Crowds have been steadily growing in the last few years. The race day usually attracts over 100 000 people. In what could be a great sign for Australian hopefuls, Daniel Ricciardo posted the fastest lap time in the 2018 race, recording a time of less than 1 minute 26 seconds. However, Ricciardo would go on to finish 4th, just missing out on a podium finish to Kimi Raikkonen in 3rd place.

All in all, it is sure to be a great day in Melbourne for die-hard F1 fans and the like.

Want to improve your business? Here are a few tips

Mike Smith
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Want to improve your business? Here are a few tips

There are a lot of factors that go into determining how profitable a business can become. However, that subject is too broad to be covered in just one article.

Nonetheless, there a few things that you could start doing right now that will instantly help you improve your bottom line.

This article will discuss the various things you can do to improve your business.

Assess your situation

SWOT Analysis table template with Strength Weaknesses opportunities and threat that infographic design template 4 rectangle text boxes for presentation report and project management tool.
Photo: Ningkub, BS

Before you make any changes, you need to ensure that you fully understand the various issues affecting your business’s profitability.

These could be issues ranging from your current business practices to trends in the wider environment. In order to do a proper assessment, consider utilizing the following tools:

  • SWOT Analysis: This is a tool that helps you recognize your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
  • Benchmarking: This involves measuring your business’s performance against those of similar businesses in your niche.
  • Market Research: Thus involves investigating the industry and market in order to recognize trends that may affect your business.
  • Trend Analysis: This involves utilizing business data that has been collected over time to help you predict trends.

Assessing your situation will help you know what is affecting your business negatively and what you can do to improve your situation.

Lower expenses through operational efficiencies

It is no secret that driving down costs will help increase your profits. To achieve this, you will have to perform a systematic cost control.

What is systematic cost control?

Calculation Financial Budget Count Tax Vat Wage Concept
Photo: Rawpixel, BS

This involves identifying the most significant cost centers. These include purchasing, production, marketing, and administration.

You will, therefore, have to evaluate your profit and loss statements for the last six months. After that, list down your expenses and rank them from the highest to the lowest. This will help you identify where you could save.

The next step should be recording your actual costs and comparing them with the amounts allocated in the budget.

Now figure out why there are discrepancies between your intended budget and what you actually spend.

If your actual expenditure is higher than what you budget for, it means that there is room for improvement. The following are tips to help you make some quick savings:

  • Carefully review invoices from your suppliers for overcharging.
  • Eliminate unnecessary costs.
  • Find alternatives for your utilities. For instance, most businesses spend a lot on fuel. And because fuel is a recurring cost, you should consider doing a fuel card comparison to help you make savings on your fuel expenses.
  • Eliminate inefficiencies in business by replacing manual systems with digital ones. Chances are you could be overpaying your taxes.

Nurture existing customers while looking for new opportunities

Create your logo
Photo: Pressmaster, Bigstock

You should have a strategy in place for nurturing your current customers.

Remember that it is the old customers who keep your business running and not new ones. As such, you need to stay in contact with them and keeping them informed about your offerings or promotions.

It should not always be about selling. In your newsletters, you can offer them something of value from time to time. For example, give them free information that helps them in some way.

But do not forget to work on building your customer base. There needs to be a balance between nurturing your customers and looking for new ones.

If you run an Aboriginal business, consider promoting it by taking advantage of free listings on ABDWA (Aboriginal Business Directory Western Australia). More and more organisations are looking to work with these businesses, and they routinely utilize this directory when searching for suppliers.

Utilize social media

Friends networking on social media
Photo: Rawpixel.com, Bigstock

One of the most powerful promotional tools we have today is social media.

This platform not only gives you the opportunity to market your business but also allows you to derive valuable insight through social listening.

Having your ear on the ground through social media allows you to know what your customers or target audience think about your products. Moreover, it allows you to know about current trends in the industry and what appeals to various demographics of consumers.

This allows you to tailor your products to their preferences so that you can appeal to them.

Social media also allows you to improve your customer service since you can communicate with customers more easily and in real time.

Network

The harsh reality that any entrepreneur has to deal with is that success is not only determined by what you know but also who you know. This is why you need to work on building relationships with people through networking.

Make it happen

There is always room for improvement in any business. Consider utilizing the above tips to help you improve your business and profitability.

Education in Australia: these major trends will reshape how we learn

Mike Smith
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Education in Australia: these major trends will reshape how we learn

The digital age has brought about countless changes throughout numerous industries.

These changes have also deeply affected most if not all aspects of our lives, especially when it comes to education and career.

Though the primary education system is drastically changing in how they approach teaching Australian children, it’s the higher education system experiencing the most disruption.

These trends are poised to change the very foundation of the Australian educational system long into the foreseeable future.

One in five Australian students believe physical colleges won’t exist in 20 years

Focused girl concerned about difficult online assignment looking at laptop screen studying working in cafe, millennial student thinking of problem solution reading hard task on computer making notes
Photo: Fizkes. BS

In an article published by Studiosity, a 2018 study discovered that one out of five Australian students believe physical college campuses won’t exist in 20 years.

A response expected from tech-savvy millennials, a generation that has been behind many disruptions throughout numerous industries.

However, the article further states that even respondents between the ages of 34 to 41 years-of-age are mostly the group that feels this way.

Even more interesting, international students and women were less likely to question whether or not physical campuses would exist 20 years from now.

But statistics show that there is a rise in online course registration globally. And more people are beginning to see the benefits of pursuing a degree online.

Some of the most popular courses include online nursing masters like this one, or Machine Learning, Science of Well-Being, Algorithms Part One, English For Career Development, Financial Markets, among a few others.

Educators focus on students’ mental health and mindfulness

Calm woman relaxing meditating with laptop, no stress free relief at work concept, mindful peaceful young businesswoman or student practicing breathing yoga exercises at workplace, office meditation
Photo: Fizkes, BS

Mental health and mindfulness have already been on the rise for some time now.

However, such programs are becoming more of a standard fixture in many Australian classrooms.

Such organisations as The Resilience Project, Trinity Kids, and Smiling Mind equip educators with applications, meditation, music, talks, and activities that assist children in dealing with the mentally harsh environment of school.

In 2018, Monash University and Smiling Mind conducted a study on how to improve students’ emotion regulation.

Mindfulness was subsequently created by the group in order to focus attention on the experiences a person has during a current moment.

Smiling Mind chief executive Dr Addie Wooten said to The Sydney Morning Herald, “Its [popularity] is increasing hugely, we’ve grown about 35 per cent over last year.”

Wooten continued to say that her company plans on reaching over 100,000 more Australian educators in 2019 and their “on track to do that.”

“Once teachers try it once or twice it’s quite amazing how quickly kids respond to it,” she added.

The Internationalisation of Australian universities

education, international and people concept - group of happy exchange students with notebook and takeaway drinks talking outdoors
Photo: Dolgachov, BS

Studies show that a quarter of university students in Australia are from abroad.

That means 25 per cent of those living and learning in Australia deliberately chose Australia as a place to get an education.

This news is surprising when you consider that these foreign students pay double or more in fees, not to mention getting a student visa and living costs.

However, this also forces Australian universities to deliver an exceptional learning experience.

One of the issues faced by both students and lecturers is that most international students struggle with the English language.

Lectures have inadequate time to assist students with their language skills while they’re trying to keep pace with their workload, such as assessing course content.

The thing is, Australian universities increasingly rely on international enrolments in order to support their growing budgets.

This causes them to search for strategies to guarantee their high-valued students not only enjoy their stay but succeed as well.

The digitisation of the education system

Everyone is aware of how much technology is influencing most if not every aspect of our lives. Educations is one of those aspects.

Today, students from all levels are accustomed to most everything being online by now.

This generation is considered to be the Spotify and Netflix generation, and they expect their schools to be up to date when it comes to technology.

Thus, schools and universities are discovering various ways to replicate these technological experiences in the students’ academic lives, not only those done entirely online.

Though Millennials were the ones who introduced technology to the classroom, it’s Generation Z who is causing schools to increase their bandwidth.

Generation Z is by far the most connected group of students in history.

In 2019, we’ll begin to see this in more earnest as schools decide to start adopting more tech-based teaching and learning tools.

Whether you’re an educator or a student, it’s important to pay attention to these trends and others so that you’re prepared.

One of the mistakes many people make is not being sufficiently prepared for the changes that are taking place.

Test contenders find Shield form in the lead up to the Ashes

Christian Woods
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Test contenders find Shield form in the lead up to the Ashes

A number of contenders for test batting spots on the upcoming Ashes tour have found form against the swinging Duke ball in the Sheffield Shield – at exactly the right time. While Australia’s short form specialists are away on a tour in India, those who were left behind are taking their chance to boost their first-class averages and get themselves onto the tour.

Kurtis Patterson, Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris all made centuries in the last round, while Joe Burns and Travis Head also got 50’s in each of their innings, and Marnus Labuschagne also chipped in with 50. The overlooked Matthew Wade scored 77 in his first dig, but failed in the second.

Even Matt Renshaw shows signs of getting back into form just in time, coming up with 29 in the first innings and 47 in the second for Queensland. He noticeably lifted his strike rate in the second dig, getting to 47 in only 5 more balls than it took to score 29 in the first. His combination with Burns looks like it will be a valuable one for Queensland in the second half of the season, with the pair of them able to occupy the crease and blunt the new ball consistently.

Harris, however, was the standout opener (and batsman) of the round, absolutely plundering the Queensland attack to score 95 in the first innings and 174 in the second to carry Victoria to victory. The big century was particularly impressive given how much pressure Harris was under at the time, coming in chasing 304 for victory and with his opener partner Travis Dean out for a duck.

Bancroft was also very impressive, scoring 138 and carrying his bat in his first red ball innings since the ball tampering saga in South Africa last year. With 86 in his second innings, Bancroft’s average for the season is currently 224. He was also under plenty of pressure and was the only one preventing a total collapse for Western Australia, with the next highest scores after his digs being 66 and 22.

Patterson carried on his hot run of form in the same match to lead NSW to an innings victory, with Bancroft (who scored more than half of his team’s runs) unable to save his team despite his heroics. Patterson scored 134, while NSW captain and wicketkeeper (and former test wicketkeeper) Peter Neville was unbeaten on 101 when he declared.

The run of form by Australia’s batsmen will give the selectors an unfamiliar headache – they suddenly have too many in form players to choose from, rather than not enough! Some bowlers may have also forced their way into contention, led by Jackson Bird who took 11 wickets for 112 runs at an economy rate of about 2.5 per over.

Clarence Lee talks about teaching people how to succeed in business

Christian Woods
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Clarence Lee talks about teaching people how to succeed in business

Clarence Lee is from Real Online Business, a company that provides tools and learning materials that help people succeed in their businesses. Real Online Business believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to prosper, and gives easy access to solutions that result in equal career opportunities.

Clarence answered some questions about their business.

What inspired you to start Real Online Business?

It’s common knowledge that the job market is competitive, when you apply for a job you are judged on everything, from your qualifications, to your hobbies and the way you dress. It’s hard to land a job, and even harder to get a job that you love.

Starting your own business is a great way of earning money through doing something you love. But it can also be really hard to know how to start a business and also how to grow that business. I wanted to find a way to help people to succeed in their businesses and make money through online investments.

I think that everyone deserves an equal opportunity at success so I wanted to find a way to provide everyone with access to lifesaving, life changing and career developing solutions.

Real Online Business focuses on working from home. What are some of the best careers to pursue if you want to work from home?

A lot of people want to work from home- I’ve found that it’s something that can have an impact on the career path someone decides to take. Sometimes people choose to avoid certain jobs because it won’t allow them to work from home. But there are plenty of careers out there that do allow you to work from home.

If this is something that’s important to you, there are three main areas that I would recommend perusing: Affiliate marketing, Amazon associates and professional writing.

There are obviously plenty more job opportunities out there that will allow you to work from home, but these three are the main ones that spring to mind. The great thing about these jobs is that they can pay really well and there is also room for career progression.

Working from home has its benefits, but it can also be challenging, what are the best ways of staying motivated?

A big part of success is your mindset; you need to believe that you can do something in order to actually achieve that goal. A big part of Real Online Business actually revolves around self-help, changing your mindset and motivation.

Motivation is a huge thing for many people; it can be hard to stay motivated when you’re working at home by yourself; if you change your mindset then everything changes.

One of the best ways to stay motivated, in my opinion, is by having a set routine. Although you’re working from home, you are still working. So, set an alarm and get up at the same time every day, finish work at the same time every day and have breaks at the same times. I also think that lots of people fall into the trap of not getting dressed, or working in their pyjamas, but this prevents you from getting into the productive mindset you need to be in. So, I’d say that getting dressed properly, and having a dedicated working space really helps with motivation.

The best thing people can do when they work from home is mentally approach it in the same way as they would if they were actually leaving the house to go to work.

One of the main focuses of your business is making money online. What advice would you give to people who want to earn a living through the online world?

Yeah, making money online is a big focus for us. There is a lot of money to be made online, if you know how to go about it. I think it’s interesting, because people approach making money online so differently to making money in the real world- but the truth is it’s exactly the same.

The secrets that apply to making money online are no different to the ones people would recommend for making money in the real world. The truth is there are no shortcuts to making money online.

If you want to be successful and earn a decent living through online methods, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication. The internet is full of creative people so if you want to stand out, you also need to be creative and innovative. But it’s also important to have a good understanding of what you’re doing, if you want to be successful online, you need to know as much about your industry or product as possible.

The internet is a huge part of daily life now; do you believe that making money online is the future?

I think there have been a lot of changes over the years, and the internet is much more prominent than anyone would have anticipated. A few years ago people would have thought you were crazy if you said you wanted to earn a living online, but now people do it every day.

I do think that more and more people are finding success online and it certainly offers new businesses and entrepreneurs the platform to expand- which is great! From what I have seen so far, I would say that making money online is going to continue growing in popularity and is going to become much more common.

Your business places a lot of focus on entrepreneurs and people who want to start their own business or grow their current business. What advice would you give to people for growing a successful business?

Starting a business is really hard- I know because I’ve been there. But it is also really rewarding, so the first bit of advice I’d give to entrepreneurs is don’t be intimidated. It’s a long process that takes a lot of work, but it’s really worth it.

I would also say that innovation is key, try to find something that is unique or hasn’t been done before, this will mean you have less direct competition. For people that want to grow their current business, I’d suggest really analysing your competitors. Find out what they offer, what they do well and what they don’t do well- learn from their mistakes and find ways that your business is better than theirs.

I would also say that you need to stay focused, set a goal and do what it takes to get there. You need to be prepared for minor setbacks, that’s normal. But you just need to roll with the punches and keep going. It’s really all about your mindset, if you are mentally ready and emotionally prepared, you will succeed.

Are you a stressed student? It’s not all bad news!

Haley Williams
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Are you a stressed student? It’s not all bad news!

It’s not all bad news when it comes to feeling stressed and studying according to Psychotherapist Ron Rapee. In fact, students who worry about their studies are more likely to study harder, put in more effort and, as a result, do better.

“A moderate degree of anxiety can often benefit studies. On the negative side, when anxiety gets too much, it can markedly interfere with performance.”

When worry is excessive, this is when it causes issues for students, particularly when the worry interferes with the ability to concentrate, making study less efficient, explains Prof. Rapee.

“Ultimately many people simply “give up” and avoid their work because it is too overwhelming.

“High levels of anxiety can also reduce performance in exams by affecting concentration and memory,” says Prof. Rapee.

So, if you’re studying and feel overwhelmed by assessments to the point of not being able to focus, what’s the remedy?

5 Ways to cope with study stress

According to Clinical Psychologist and author of Anxiety Free, Drug Free, Renee Mill, stress comes from a perception that the load is too much, so managing the load through the following stress-relieving tips may help.

1. Give yourself a reality check

Reminding yourself that you are in a normal situation and that hundreds (if not thousands) of students have coped with study and assessments just like the one you are facing is helpful, says Ms Mill.

“It is not an exceptional situation or an impossible task. You are no different to all the others who have gone through this.”

2. Break study tasks into smaller parts

When it comes to facing all the work at once to prepare for assessments, it can be overwhelming for even the most diligent student.

Instead, try tackling one chapter at a time so that studying becomes more manageable and don’t be afraid to ask for help from your tutor if you’re struggling with time-management, says Ms Mill.

3. Plan study and relaxation

It can be easy to fill your spare time with endless study blocks, but keep in mind that time for relaxation is just as crucial to your mental health and your academic performance.

“When you plan what you will study each day, plan for relaxation time every day too.

“Studies show that the average concentration span is 40 minutes, so cramming for two hours may be a waste of time.

“Instead, study hard for 40 minutes, then have a walk around the block and study for the next forty minutes.

“After five hours of study take a longer break, such as a two-hour break to swim, meet a friend for coffee or read a novel. This rests your brain and replenishes it.

“You will learn and retain more (information) if you incorporate rest-study times throughout the day. It is a myth that sitting and studying for 18 hours a day will improve your performance.”

4. Eat healthy foods, regularly

Eating a healthy diet is essential to study performance, as you need the energy to focus, advises Ms Hill.

“You need to keep your blood sugar constant to have the energy to think.

“Chocolates and fast food may provide a quick lift, but after 30 minutes you will crash and be low in energy. Rather, have regular small meals which incorporate low-GI (glycaemic index) foods.”

Low GI snacks could include a handful of almonds, a small bunch of grapes, dried apricots, carrot or celery sticks with hummus, apple slices with peanut butter, or a boiled egg on wholegrain toast.

5. Stick to a regular sleep routine

While everyone has different sleep requirements, it is essential to establish good sleep hygiene as a student.

“Go to sleep at your regular bedtime and have eight hours of sleep.  This allows your brain to clean out the “garbage ” of the day and prune your neurons, so your brain is fresh and ready to go again in the morning,” advises Ms Hill.

The key to reducing stress as a student is to maintain balance by avoiding studying ridiculous hours, and to understand that study and assessments are a regular part of student life, which is achievable, explains Ms Hill.

“It’s important to get the healthy eating, sleeping and exercise behaviours in place at the beginning of the year, so they become habitual,” says Ms Hill.

It’s also vital that students maintain the study load from the beginning of the year (or whenever a study program begins), hand in assessments, get help when it’s required and feel confident in their learning journey, explains Ms Mill.

 

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