Message from CEO

Hello Members.

I am not telling you anything new in saying that winter is truly here! We have a heap of events that are coming up that are perfect for staying warm, shaking off the winter blues and catching up with friendly faces from the business community. 

This coming Tuesday the Mayor of Wodonga, Cr Kevin Poulton, will be speaking at our June Members Lunch at La Maison Restaurant.  Please don't delay as today is the last day to book a spot with cutoff at 3pm sharp. 

I was very sad to learn about the demise on May 31 of the Business Recovery Advisory Service that was funded by Business Victoria. I know that this service which was provided free to businesses and gave a lot of valuable support to those of you whom took advantage of the advice and counsel of Sam Hicks and her team over the past two years and gained a lot of value in more ways than one. 

The good news, however, is that Sam has returned to her own business where she does similar work and I know that many of you whom she has assisted are retaining her professional services going forward. 

We are very pleased to be able to spotlight her here as a new Member of Business Wodonga. Welcome to our business community, Sam, and thank you for all that you have done. 

-Graham 

Member Spotlight

Small Business Victoria Workshops

Sponsor Spotlight

“Hi I’m Jeffery from Plumber’s Tools and we sell a range of quality hand tools for every plumbing job….”

So how do you make you profile video engaging? Compelling, even? (Sorry Jeff, but I drifted off there, yawn…..)

You’ve heard me talk about ‘how are you/you product/organisation a solution to the problem’.

Start there.

And look to Hollywood, that often has no problems keeping us glued to the screen for 2hrs.

Story theory, used in just about every blockbuster, goes something like this.

Introduce a character

They want something, and have conflicts.

There’s an incident that puts them on a quest to get that thing

What stands in their way?

What do they do about that?

How does it end?

Incorporating these elements shouldn’t be contrived or clumsy (because we want engaging, no wait, compelling!), but they sure are tried and true ways to hold attention. Maybe there are some elements you can incorporate into how we tell your story? Now, Jeff, let’s try again…

“When I started out as a plumbers apprentice the only hand tools we could get were heavy, and poorly sized so we needed lots of them to cover the range of fittings we’d come across. I’d need an entire set just to mend a leaking water valve. Hmm heavy and ‘lots’. It was exhausting, and inefficient. [problem]

So that’s when I started to imagine a range of hand tools that were light (my mountain bike was carbon fibre, maybe we could try that?) and each tool could handle 4 times the sizing range because of the mad design. That way I’d only need to carry a few [solution]. I worked with some designers (way smarter than me!) and eventually fabricators to make some samples. [quest] When I gave them to my tradie mates who were still on the job to check them out…. Omg you wouldn’t believe the feedback…..and when a solicitor called with a ‘cease and desist’ I knew I was into something” [how does it end?]

Do leave me hanging Jeff! What was the feedback? Did they do the job? And didn’t I hear the big tool makers tried to shut you down? Tell me about that…

Jeff’s story isn’t real. But yours is! And every bit as interesting.

Footy Tipping

Information & Events

EDGE Solar Program

Allison's Corner

Hi all,

Apologies to all of you as I have been sick again this week.  Still no COVID, after multiple tests thank goodness!

Winter is upon us, and we even had snow in Beechworth.  

If you’ve ever felt like your mood or stress levels have been impacted by changes in the weather, you’re not alone. While some of us thrive during the colder months, research shows that up to 20 per cent of the population are likely to face “winter blues”, which are emotional challenges people experience as the season changes, including low mood, sleeplessness and lethargy, decreased motivation and concentration, or just general lack of energy.

Scientifically speaking, as the days are shorter in winter and daylight hours are limited, this impacts your body’s circadian rhythm (or body clock), leading to imbalanced serotonin and melatonin levels — both of which are essential for maintaining healthy emotional wellbeing and sleep. In addition, the rainy weather also means you are isolating indoors, avoiding social settings and reducing outdoor exercise, all of which can also contribute to decreased mood and motivation in the cooler months.

However, while I’m sure we’ve all faced a bout of winter blues at one point in our lives, the reality is that you don’t need to just “put up” with symptoms and instead can make simple changes in your day-to-day routine that will help you achieve balance and contentment — even if the weather is doing the opposite.

So, here are some top seven ways to beat the winter blues and any niggly winter blues symptoms to thrive to your fullest capacity during these next few months!

1. Get physical

In the words of  Olivia Newton John, ( you can hear the song can't you .... hehe), getting physical should be your go-to solution for combatting any signs of low mood or motivation. Countless studies link regular exercise to improved mental health and emotional wellbeing in individuals, not to mention it also helps reduce the risk of developing more serious illnesses. And just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you need to put your joggers in the closet. Even if the weather isn’t suitable to go outdoors, you can still hit the gym, try some indoor sports, or even if you don’t want to leave the comfort of your house, try an easy at-home workout plan or YouTube fitness videos. Just stay physical.

2. Try not to overindulge

I’m sure I’m not the only one who uses winter as an excuse to become a couch potato and indulge in a bit more food and choccie; no one’s going to see your beach body for another six months, right? Well, while it can be tempting to indulge more during winter, unhealthy foods and excessive alcohol can impact your emotional wellbeing and really heighten those winter blues. Instead of trying to cut foods out or make things incredibly hard for yourself, simply keep your diet as balanced as possible and limit your indulgences such as alcohol, sugars, unhealthy fats and unhealthy carbohydrates.

3. Goal setting is for everyone

Goal setting is an essential part of teeing yourself up for success and, no, you don’t need to be a business or a high-flying entrepreneur to set goals. Your cognitive abilities are strengthened as you set and maintain goals, no matter how big or small they are. On chilly mornings, it can be hard to even get yourself out of bed. So, start small and work your way up to bigger goals. These will help keep you centred, give you motivation for each task and help you stay more focused. 

4. Sleep, but don’t hibernate!

There’s a reason many animals hibernate for winter. It’s cold, going outdoors is a difficult feat and it requires more energy to get up each day. In Australia, as there is no daylight savings in winter, the days are shorter and the sun goes down earlier, this can totally offset your body clock and lead to disjointed sleep patterns. A natural response is to oversleep; however, this can actually be worse for your health. The best thing to help yourself get back into good sleep patterns it to maintain your routine (preferred hours of sleep per night), avoid over-sleeping and try to minimise screen time before bed. Even standing outside in the darkness for a few minutes will tell your body it’s time to get some rest. 

5. Beware the opposite of self-care

People are always saying they don’t have time for self-care.  It’s actually self-sabotage. Every time you put your health and wellbeing in the “too-hard basket”, you are putting yourself at risk. While it is hard to make time and effort for yourself and do good things for your body during winter, it’s one of the best ways you can set yourself up for success. During winter, make sure you still do things that make you happy and fuel positive emotions in you, such as maintaining your social life, finding time to relax and practising mindfulness, reading, switching off from work etc. All these small ways you can look after yourself will make a world of difference.

6. Don’t make excuses for your mood

The first and most obvious sign of winter blues will be your mood. If you’re finding yourself getting snappy, feeling lethargic or just generally low, this is a good indication that the weather might be getting you down — and you don’t need to feel pressure to make excuses for it. But, thankfully, you don’t need to wait it out, either. Be sure to talk to your housemates or close friends/colleagues about how you’re feeling, journal things out if you need to and, in some instances, seek out a healthcare professional if you feel you need more in-depth support. 

7. Seek professional support

In today’s day and age, it is no longer taboo to seek the support of a qualified healthcare practitioner or psychologist to discuss your mental and cognitive wellbeing. If you notice any significant changes to your health during winter, or you recognise it in any friends or family, it is recommended you speak to a professional about your symptoms so they can help you get on the right track. Feeling a bit down during winter is normal, but it doesn’t have to become the norm.  WE all feel it!

These help me and I thought I would share.  Do what makes you feel better I say.

If you are aware of anything that should be a member and think they would benefit, please feel free to give them my number, or pass on their details to me and I will make contact.

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We work with members and the local business community, we offer a variety of opportunities for businesses in our region to connect and engage with one another, to be your voice and to provide learning and development opportunities.

Whether through one of our events, workshops or referrals, Business Wodonga and our greater network is here to support you in business.

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Please contact Business Wodonga with your business needs, concerns or questions on 02 6056 8302 or mail@businesswodonga.com.au.

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