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Be proud of your budgetary discipline
5:06AM | Monday, 13 MayThis article first appeared on November 20th, 2012. Recently, I managed to shock a few people over lunch by telling the tale of when I haggled with a salesperson over the price of a fare back from the airport. “Sure, that young sales rep should have taken more personal responsibility. But haggling over the couple of dollars difference between a two-hour ticket and a SkyBus? Sorry to say, but that’s just being a scrooge,” they say. A scrooge? As a kid, while other kids were busy watching He-Man, Old Taskmaster stuck up a bedroom wall poster of Scrooge McDuck. Hand drawn on reused paper too. Being called a scrooge is an honour! Of course, long-time Taskmaster readers will know how much fun cost-cutting competitions at work can be. And who wants to pay for a vicuñacino when an instant coffee does the same job? Especially when that instant coffee comes in a bulk container you bought from CostCo. Some people seek to persecute the financially prudent amongst us who are inclined towards saving over spending. “Miser. Cheapskate. Skinflint. Moneygrubber. Penny-pincher, Tightwad. Cheap,” they say. What these spendthrifts need to understand is that when you’re building a business funded by someone else’s hard-earned savings, a little budgetary care doesn’t go astray. If you succeed in doing what Instagram’s founders did earlier this year – sell a lean start-up with 13 staff to Facebook for $US1 billion – it’s you, rather than the big spenders, who’ll be laughing in the end. So don’t be shy about cutting your costs or saving your money. Instead, show some (fiscally disciplined) pride! Get it done – today!
Revealed: Characteristics of $1 billion consumer tech companies
3:36AM | Friday, 15 MarchThe average age of companies that the owners sell at more than $1 billion is seven years, according to US venture capitalist Jacob Mullins, who has revealed the common characteristics of $1 billion consumer tech companies.
Instagram hits 100 million users – three things you can learn
2:27AM | Wednesday, 27 FebruaryThe co-founder of Facebook-owned photo-sharing platform Instagram has outlined key reasons for the company’s success, after hitting 100 million users since its launch in October 2010.
The business buzzwords set to dominate 2013
3:30AM | Friday, 15 MarchYOLO. Swag. Totes. Although Generation Y has a great deal to answer for when it comes to questionable additions to the lexicon, it’s worth remembering that the business world also has its fair share of linguistic aberrations.
Instagram clarifies policy changes following user backlash
3:22AM | Monday, 11 MarchFacebook-owned start-up Instagram has been forced to clarify changes to its privacy policy and terms of service, after users were led to believe their private photos would be sold to advertisers.
The start-up dilemma: Sell up or remain solo?
8:00AM | Wednesday, 1 AugustIt is a dilemma for every start-up. The business is set up with a vision, a small but talented team and it will make a difference in the marketplace.
The next social media wave: Five golden rules to follow
6:50PM | Wednesday, 20 JuneSocial media is a relatively cost effective tool that increasing numbers of Australian businesses, regardless of size or sector, are eagerly grasping.
Seven golden rules on the who, what and why of social media
6:29PM | Sunday, 3 JuneAre you keen to hold your own when people talk about social media? Do you want to get to the bottom of all the tweets, likes, friends and pins people have been talking about lately?
Eight Australian sites nominated for 2012 Webby Awards
4:37AM | Saturday, 21 AprilEight Australian websites have been nominated for the 16th annual Webby Awards, which attracted 10,000 international entries, including Freelancer.com, Fervr.net and StreetAdvisor.com.
10 secrets to Instagram’s success
5:21AM | Wednesday, 2 MayIt’s fair to say Instagram has dominated news headlines this week, after being acquired by Facebook for an astounding $US1 billion.
Stay lean as you climb to the top
4:39PM | Tuesday, 10 AprilOne of the things that struck me about Facebook’s $US1 billion takeover of photo app maker Instagram was just how few people the company had – just 13 full time employees, who will share in a bonus pool of $US 100 million as a result of the deal.
THE NEWS WRAP: Facebook buys Instagram for $US1 billion
4:24PM | Monday, 9 AprilFacebook has announced a $US1 billion deal to buy popular smartphone photo-sharing application Instagram.
Nostalgic photo service an Insta success
9:08AM | Thursday, 8 SeptemberIn a bid to invoke nostalgia among consumers, US company Instagram has come up with a way of making photos spontaneous and tangible again.
