Over that 35 years I have successfully operated and on sold small businesses. These businesses were in sectors including printing, horticulture, I.T. I also successfully exported products in the horticultural and electronics fields. I am visually impaired and have been throughout my adult life. This was not a barrier to my ambition to start and operate businesses, which I did successfully. I had t
o contend with the usual small business issues, including business loans, dealing with banks, BAS and tax issues, employing staff, leasing and purchasing business premises, finding and retaining customers, dealing with suppliers both domestic and internationally, planning and goal setting. I never let my disability act as any form of impediment, and neither should any other with a disability and similar ambitions. I was employed for over five years in the Commonwealth Public Service. I have started and operated small businesses since 1988 and am recently semi-retired. I also took on a number of community-based roles. These included: Chairperson and legal Principal of an independent school, for four years, Chairperson of the Body Corporate Committee of a commercial/industrial complex for eight years and manager and assistant coach of a football team. I also was the project manager for the two houses that we have built. In my 35 years in business, I have experienced the highs and lows and encountered most of the issues that present themselves. I would like to share the benefit of my experience to help you to avoid or minimize issues that may be presenting your business. There are a multitude of ways to proceed in small business with some being more successful than others. I can help you avoid the dangers by supplying proactive actions you can take in the whole range of small business operations. Prevention is best as getting caught up in issues takes your emphasis off your business, which in turn can have financial consequences.
