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MONEY ANGELS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA FOR YOUR BUSINESS SEED CAPITAL

Henry — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 09:07:22 +0000

Australian Association of Angel

Investors Member Services

Purpose

The objectives of the AAAI are to:

Promote ethical and efficient angel investment and angel syndication in Australia.
Promote the growth of angel investment in Australia, including encouraging and informing the establishment of new angel groups.
Define best practice for angel investor members in an Australian context.
Disseminate information on and access to formally recognised syndication models.
Be a source and channel for information and education of angel investors and entrepreneurs seeking angel investment.
Represent the interests of angel investor members in Australia as a peak body in dialogues with governments, peers and industry.
Represent members internationally in dialogues with peers, industry and governments.
Act as a channel for information and opinion from members to form the basis of advice to Government.
Assist with, and direct, research into Australian angel investment activities.
Organise and hold an annual summit conference on topics relevant to members.

The Australian Association of Angel Investors Ltd (AAAI) is the national association for Angel investors founded in 2007. We

Provide a voice for Australian Angel investors;
Offer professional education and provide other relevant information; and
Implement programs of interest in the sector,

to build a professional community of Angel investors and to enable our members to be more successful investors.

The fundamental tenet for AAAI and its members is that by enabling our members to be more successful as investors, more entrepreneurial businesses will be successful and our members will derive greater returns from their investments. This success will then encourage members to continue to invest in similar activities, thus promoting increased and ongoing investment and a sustainable “virtuous cycle” of investment driving the Australian innovation economy.

Since establishment in late 2007, AAAI has:

Delivered Annual conferences in 2008 (Canberra) and 2009 (Brisbane)
Facilitated the delivery of several professional Angel education workshops from the Power of Angel Investing curriculum of the Angel Capital Education Foundation
Secured an Australian license for the delivery of the full suite of ACEF PAI workshops and accredited 3 Australian PAI presenters
Delivered the first full day PAI overview workshop in Adelaide
Significantly raised the profile of angel investing and the AAAI with Federal and State Governments and been invited to several Government roundtable strategic discussions
Facilitated the formation of 6 new angel investment groups
Collated a significant amount of information that is available for sharing by members
Developed and delivered submissions to the Federal Enquiry into the Australian Innovation System
Undertaken the 2008 Annual Survey of Angel Investment in Australia – the first comprehensive survey of Angel investment in Australia
Delivered a submission to the Federal Department of Industry, Science and Research as part of the CCI initiative post the 2009-2010 federal budget for ongoing support of the development of Angel investment infrastructure

Our goals for the next year include:

To facilitate the establishment of more Angel investor groups around Australia
To work with the Federal Government to secure infrastructural funding for AAAI and to support sustainable group operations
To work with the Federal Government to set up a co-investment fund
To organize and deliver the 2010 Annual Conference in Adelaide
To organize and deliver in partnership with regional Angel groups and other stakeholders, a range of awareness and education programs to build awareness, recruit members and offer professional education to support our mission
To undertake the 2009 National Survey of Angel Investment in Australia
To build national and international networks supporting Angel investment
To undertake a comprehensive communication program to deliver the AAAI message
To build resources and deliver value to our individual members and to support group formation

AAAI delivers products and services to members, groups and corporate and government stakeholders.

Sourced and published by Henry Sapiecha

BILLIONAIRES WHO LIVE FRUGALLY

Henry — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:59:56 +0000

Five Billionaires

Who Live Below Their Means

Katie Adams, 04.14.10, 01:10 PM EDT

These billionaires maintain a frugal lifestyle.

At least once in your life–maybe even once a week or once a day for that matter–you have fantasized about coming into a lot of money. What would you do if you were worth millions or even billions? Believe it or not there are millionaires and billionaires among us who masquerade as relatively normal, run-of-the-mill people. Take a peek at some of the most frugal wealthy people in the world.

Warren Buffett
Millions of people read Buffett’s books and follow his firm Berkshire Hathaway’s ( BRK - news - people ) every move. But the real secret to Buffett’s personal fortune may be his penchant for frugality. Buffett, who is worth an estimated $47 billion, eschews opulent homes and luxury items. He still lives in a modest home in Omaha, Neb., which he purchased for just $31,500 more than 50 years ago. Although he’s dined in the best restaurants around the globe, given the choice he would opt for a good burger and fries accompanied by a cold cherry Coke. When asked why he doesn’t own a yacht, he responded “Most toys are just a pain in the neck.”

Carlos Slim
While most of the world is very familiar with Bill Gates, the name Carlos Slim rarely rings a bell. But it’s a name worth knowing. Slim, who is a native of Mexico, was just named the world’s richest billionaire–that’s right, richer than the überfamous founder. Slim is worth more than $53 billion, and while he could afford the world’s most extravagant luxuries, he rarely indulges. He, like Buffett, doesn’t own a yacht or plane, and he has lived in the same home for over 40 years.

Ingvar Kamprad
The founder of the Swedish furniture phenomenon Ikea struck success with affordable, assemble-it-yourself furniture. For Kamprad, figuring out how to save money isn’t just for his customers, it’s a high personal value. He’s been quoted as saying “Ikea people do not drive flashy cars or stay at luxury hotels.” That goes for the founder as well. He flies coach for business, and when he needs to get around town locally he either takes the bus or will head out in his 15-year-old Volvo 240 GL.

Chuck Feeney
Growing up in the wake of The Depression as an Irish-American probably has something to do with Feeney’s frugality. With a personal motto of “I set out to work hard, not get rich,” the co-founder of Duty Free Shoppers has quietly become a billionaire but even more secretively given almost all of it away through his foundation, Atlantic Philanthropies. In addition to giving more than $600 million to his alma mater Cornell University, he has given billions to schools, research departments and hospitals.

Loath to spend if he doesn’t have to, Feeney beats both Buffett and Kamprad in the donation category, giving out less grants than only Ford and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations. A frequent user of public transportation, Feeney flies economy class, buys clothes from retail stores, and does not waste money on an extensive shoes closet, stating “you can only wear one pair of shoes at a time”. He raised his children in the same way; making them work the same normal summer jobs as most teens.

Frederik Meijer
If you live in the Midwest chances are good that you shop at Meijer’s chain of grocery stores. Meijer is worth more than $5 billion and nearly half of that was amassed when everyone else was watching their net worth drop in 2009. Like Buffett he buys reasonably-priced cars and drives them until they die, and like Kamprad he chooses affordable motels when on travel for work. Also, like Chuck Feeney, rather than carelessly spending his wealth Mr. Meijer is focused on the good that it can provide to the community.

The Bottom Line
The dirty little secret of some of the world’s wealthiest people is that they rarely act like it. Instead of over-the-top spending, they’re busy figuring out how to save and invest to have that much more in the future. It’s a habit you might want to consider in order to build up your own little storehouse of cash.

Sourced and published by Henry Sapiecha 15th April 2010

UNHEARD OF BILLIONAIRES

Henry — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:50:01 +0000

Billionaires You’ve Never Heard Of

These ten-figure titans hold sway over whole sectors

of the global economy–but most people don’t know

their names.

James Leprino $2.5 billion Leprino Foods U.S.
Joined father’s dairy outfit at age 18; transformed it into the world’s largest mozzarella producer. Today Leprino Foods supplies cheese for Domino’s, Papa John’s, Pizza Hut pizzas, Hot Pockets, string cheese.

Hiroshi Yamauchi $4.2 billion Nintendo ( NTDOY.PK – news – people ) Japan
Largest individual shareholder of Nintendo. Firm started out selling playing cards; Yamauchi led push into videogame consoles. Introduced Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985, turned Mario, Zelda into household names.

Video: Billionaires You’ve Never Heard Of

David Murdock $2.5 billion Dole U.S.
Took charge of the struggling food company 1985. Today Dole is the world’s largest producer of fruits and vegetables. Company went public last year; Murdock serves as chairman.

Axel Oberwelland $1.7 billion Storck Germany
Became sole owner of the candy company Storck GmbH after his father’s death in 2005. Outfit makes popular Werther’s Original, Riesen caramels. Sales: $1.9 billion.

Jorge Paulo Lemann $11.5 billion Anheuser-Busch Inbev Brazil

With Marcel Telles and Carlos Alberto Sicupira, holds hefty stake in beverage giant Anheuser-Busch Inbev. First fortune: Flipped investment bank Banco Garantia for $675 million in 1998.

Sourced and published by Henry Sapiecha 23rd March 2010

WITH A POSITIVE MINDSET YOU CAN DO ANYTHING

Henry — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 07:05:03 +0000

Hi again

DEVELOPING A POSITIVE MINDSET

The following is a statement from a serious money making person - Jon
It says it all. Take note and learn.
My footnote at the end

QUOTE

I've been ranting and raving lately about the
importance of your wealth DNA.

Why is it such a big deal?

I bump into so many individuals, especially at
seminars and when I get to talk to them, it's
obvious to me that no matter how specific you
layout a strategy, you just know they're never
going to be successful.


How do I know?

It's in the way they speak and the language they
use.

They generally fall into 3 categories. You might
think that this bit doesn't relate to you, but
let's see.

The first question that I ask them is, what is
that has stopped you in creating more success in
your life so far?

The overwhelming answer is that they start
talking about events or other individuals who
have somehow controlled their destiny.

They're playing what I call the "blame-game".

They'll blame the economy, the government, the
stock market, their broker, a real estate agent,
a former business partner, their ex-wife, you
get the drift...


You'll never become wealthy if you fall into
this category.

You have to take 100% responsibility of where
you are at right now. You'll never be able to
move forward if you don't accept this.

Here's an interesting story. I once told this to
someone, (I wont mention who) and they
aggressively came back at me with...

"So if I'm walking down the street and a brick
falls on my head, it's my fault?"

No, it's not your fault... But how you respond
to the event is your choice.

Let me ask you this, do you have any friends or
family that have been on workcover for 5 years,
waiting for payout?

Now don't get me wrong, of course injuries
happen, but your attitude to how you respond to
events that seem challenging at the time is so
important when you're building a foundation for
wealth.

The next attitude of mediocrity is
"justification".

If you're not blaming, you are usually
justifying your situation in some shape or form.

I've had people say to me, "Money is not really
important to me."

Guess what... These guys are usually broke.
Guaranteed.

Another way of justifying their lack of money
position, they generally use dumb comparisons
like, "Money is not as important as love" or
"Money is not as important as your health."

Isn't that dumb? It's like you can only have one
or the other. I know you can have both or all
three.

The next dumb attitude is complaining.

In fact, this is the worst thing you can do,
guaranteed to keep you broke, and it gets even
worse... Your health will suffer as well.

I'm a big believer in what you focus on expands.
Read that again... It's THAT powerful.

When you're whining, moaning and complaining,
the only likely outcome is that you're going to
get more of the same crap that you're
complaining about.

When you're complaining, you become a living,
breathing crap-magnet.

Have you ever met a rich person who bitches and
moans all day long.

THINK POSITIVE ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK

Here's some homework for you that could
potentially give you some instant results in
your life.

Are you suffering from a little bit or a lot of
the above "wealth-stealing" principles?

You might say to me that, nup, you don't do any
of the above.

Here's a challenge for you...

For the next 7 days, try this. Don't blame,
justify or complain... No matter what.

Look at every experience and say to yourself,

"Mmmm.... What have I done to create this?"
(Responsibility)

"What's my positive response? If at all..."

"What can I learn from this situation that will
be useful to me?"

See how you go... I bet you it's not going to be
easy. But if you take up the challenge, you're
going to be amazed at the insights and
transformations that will start to appear.

...And remember, it's nothing more than taking
100% responsibility of your own life.

Regards - Jon


Some people have not got a life.
They are so busy complaining that life passes them by
Scared to take risks and explore opportunities
or better still create opportunities.
They are always victims..HA-HA-HA
Get a grip and crush that mentality or
forever walk in someone elses shadow
YOU CAN GET JUST ABOUT ANYTHING YOU WANTY IN LIFE -
ENGAGE A POSITIVE MINDSET

Sourced and Published by Henry Sapiecha 17th March 2010

BE YOUR OWN BOSS IF YOU WANT RICHES FOR YOURSELF

Henry — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:56:45 +0000

Be Your Own Boss – Build a Successful Business, Not Just an Income Stream
Being an employee for life is not likely to make you wealthy. Working for someone else only makes the employer richer. Unfortunately, the ’system’ is not designed to make you wealthy.Being your own boss and building a successful business will enable you to earn more money and create wealth than you ever could by working at a ‘job’. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying – ‘job’ stands for ‘just over broke’.
Building a successful business, a lifestyle freedom business, allows you to have independence and determine your own destiny. You set your own hours, financial, business and growth goals, and time for leisure.

Let’s take Internet Marketing for example – it allows you to set up a business relatively quickly with little expense, without overheads, and often from the comfort of your own home office.

Like all entrepreneurs who have the guts to take control of their future, you need to decide which way is the right way to go. You are the only person you can rely on to get it started and make it happen.

Success in business is not rocket science. It’s not as difficult as some will have you believe. It takes knowing the difference between what does and doesn’t work.

Believe me, building a successful business is one of the most rewarding things you can do. Had I known years ago where my business journey would take me, I probably would have arrived at where my business is now much sooner.

Here are some more tips:
- When starting a business, most people focus on generating income and lose sight of their long-term goal of having a successful and ’sustainable’ business that will provide freedom, independence, wealth and support many years into the future. Keep focused on building a long-term asset.
- Take one idea and build it up until it is successful. Then go back and decide on what to do next. Keep your focus to the finish line.
- The no.1 question is – where can I win? Position yourself in a place where you’re going to win. Look for the gaps in the market and the market in the gaps.
- Listen to the marketplace. Listening is one of the greatest skills an entrepreneur can acquire. This, plus creatively and quickly satisfying the need/s in the marketplace is the secret formula to creating money on demand.
- Get clued up on how to build a successful business. Don’t stay clueless. If you find you’re missing a key piece or pieces of information to get your plan going, go get that information. Go in search of what’s missing.
- Invest in your financial and business literacy.
- Become an avid observer of the things that propel some entrepreneurs to create major success while others do nothing but struggle.
- Then take the next step – it’s not enough just to keep learning, you must Take Action, Massive Action. Yes, get the knowledge, but then promptly put it to use. Freedom comes from taking action. Deal with the information overload and move forward one-step at a time.
- Focus on progress rather than perfection. Just do it! It’s exhilarating
Posted by Henry Sapiecha22nd Feb 2010

RAGS TO RICHES STORY – MIKE O’HAGEN – mini movers

Henry — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:23:44 +0000

RAGS TO RICHES STORY

Bio of Mike O’Hagan – Mini Movers

Sponsored by the Maryborough Chamber of Commerce Qld

www.maryboroughchamberqld.com.au

For the first 10 years of Mikes work life he worked for 35 different employers. In his words “I’m a product of the many really bad, and the few good, employers I worked for”.

This background helped to influence Mike to “do it differently” in business.

His business career started with buying and selling goods as a second-hand dealer. 8 years later the entrepreneur in Mike surfaced when he launched a short distance furniture removal business. This evolved into MiniMovers. MiniMovers is today an innovative market leader, growing from an initial investment of $200 and a Ute,

www.youbeautute.com www.minimokes.com www.www-trader.com

to an annual turnover exceeding $30 million with over 450 employees. Today, Mike Chairs the Board of Directors with an experienced CEO running the Business.

Mike has recently been on various Government committees including a Small Business Advisory Panel to the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia. He is currently a Commissioner on the Australian Fair Pay Commission, charged with the responsibility of setting the minimum pay for workers in Australia. He is also on the Board of Directors, of the Australian Institute of Management (AIM) and the National Board of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

To keep “on the edge” he is also attending the EO/MIT Entrepreneurs Masters Program in Boston USA. He is a sought after key note speaker who shares a variety of business and thought provoking views over a range of topics. He can answer the questions while keeping you interested, inspired and empowered.

“My education at the very best school (of hard knocks) guarantees I’ll challenge many commonly held beliefs”.

Mike is a true entrepreneur and a business innovator, and you’ll find that his down-to-earth style is both compelling and contagious.

WHAT’S YOUR STORY?

Posted by Henry Sapiecha 28th Sept

SILVER IS UNDERVALUED COMPARED TO GOLD – BUY NOW

Henry — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:34:21 +0000

WOW…!-GOLD IS GOOD-BUY NOW

SILVER IS ALSO A GREAT OPTION

It’s advisable to get some gold. Perhaps you’re probably wondering if it’s too late and that’s really what I’m talking about. Longer term, government counterfeiting is set to destroy paper currencies so I think it’s dangerous to not at least have some gold set aside even at the current price.

But if you’re worried you’re missing out, you might want to consider gold’s little brother: silver…

Over the years, there’s been a ratio of gold to silver of 50.

That’s to say, if you divide the price of gold by the price of silver, you should get 50.

More than that, and silver is undervalued and vice versa.

Gold is about $1000 an ounce and silver about $16, so that makes the ratio 62, meaning silver is cheap in relation to gold.

This could well be the next commodity China wants to accumulate (and send the price soaring). Unlike gold, silver isn’t just a precious metal; it’s used in many industrial applications.

Even better, China is encouraging its citizens to buy silver (as it’s cheaper for them than gold) to defend against Washington’s counterfeiting.

The trouble with silver is that it’s quite impractical to store it

It would take 62 silver coins to equal just one gold coin currently. Another way to is play it through a silver fund like SLV and/or a silver royalty company like Silver Wheaton (SLW).

But all this is assuming Dow Theory works as it’s supposed to and this psychological rally continues regardless of all the ugly fundamentals.

We’re at an important crossroad in any case and money will be made and lost. Now is definitely not the time to be asleep at the wheel.

ADVICE–BUY GOLD & SILVER NOW

Published by Henry Sapiecha 15th Sept 2009

BE A PROPERTY TYCOON – ARE YOU A PROSPECT – FAQ

Henry — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 07:32:51 +0000

Growing your portfolio
Question:

How do you get more finance to purchase more properties when in
our situation? We owe $58,000 on our home, which is valued at
$450,000, and we have a positively geared investment property ($70per week) valued at $150,000. Our newest investment property is valued at $265,000, and it is neutrally geared.

I’d like to know how we could get more properties under our belt?

We are both work full-time and have a great finance track record.

Regards – Karen

Answer:
Karen, it sounds like you are in the perfect position to continue
investing. You are both working full time and you have equity up
your sleeve, so you are ideally positioned to take advantage of the
current real estate market.
You have plenty of flexibility in terms of your LVR, and you have so
much equity in your own home. In terms of finance, there are many
options available to you, such as borrowing against the equity in your own home, or taking out a line of credit. The right finance solution for you depends on the leverage you have against your investment properties, your combined income, and the direction you want to take in terms of actual loan products.

I would recommend that you speak to an experienced finance broker
who specialises in dealing with investors, and ask them to set you up
with a five or ten year plan.

Published by Henry Sapiecha 27th August 2009

FIRST EVER MILLIONAIRE – HOW WAS IT DONE?

Henry — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:03:28 +0000

I was wondering who was the first-ever millionaire.
SOME THOUGHTS FROM ANOTHER PERSON OF INTEREST ON INVESTING

It was a curiosity thing for me, as well as an opportunity
to do some research online to see what would come up.

I was amazed at what I found.

It gave me a real kick up the butt. Up until that point, I
thought I was an action-taker. Unfortunately I was driving
with the hand-brake on.

It's funny how these old secrets come up all of the time and
really shift your paradigm and get you going again.

OK, let's get into it. This is a 161 year old secret that
once you read this - it'll put "making money" into a whole new
perspective.

Success leaves clues, so I dug around and found the name,
John Jacob Astor.


Interestingly enough, he was an American from German
background.

Astor got rich in the early 1800's trading furs, tea, silk
and fine china. Principally a business person to start off
with, but that was not where his real fortune was made.

He invested his trading profits in something that would
prove to be even better...

Real estate.

His most profitable investments were in New York City where
he built a reputation known as the "Manhattan Landlord."

Before he died, he left these powerful words. Astor said,
"Could I begin life again knowing what I know and had money
to invest, I would buy every foot of land on the island of
Manhattan."

Astor passed away in 1848 leaving $20,000,000.00 to his
family.

$20 million is a lot even today but converted @ todays values it would be around about...

Wait for this...

$458 BILLION.

Now that's an insane amount of money.

This brief story about a person you've probably never heard
about has many powerful lessons, doesn't it?

Let's go through them quickly...

#1. Increase your cash flow

#2. Invest in real estate

...I did say quick and simple, it really  comes down to just
the above 2 things.

The parting words of John Jacob Astor should be written up
an posted somewhere where you can see it every day.

Sure, Astor is talking about Manhattan, but don't let that
limit you. Pick any major city around the world (even
Australia) in that time frame and you'd see a similar story.

This real estate thing isn't a fad or a passing-trend, you
would want to live for as long as you can and see as many
cycles as possible.

The sooner you start, the better.

NOTE> Imagine creating an empire that in 100 years time could
be worth $1 billion... The legacy that you would leave for
your family. Begin now.

Sourced and published by Henry Sapiecha 21st August 2009

PROPERTY PRICES RISE IN AUSTRALIA – NOT IN MINING TOWNS

Henry — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:27:56 +0000

House prices start to take off

SYDNEY house prices have shown growth in the three months to June since the global financial crisis struck in late 2007, figures show.

The value of the Sydney’s average home rose 3.7 per cent after five quarters in a row of flat prices, Australian Property Monitors said in a report to be published today.

The result supports other signs that low interest rates, the lowest in 40 years, and a shortage of homes could help Australia avoid house price falls of up to 20 per cent seen overseas.

Property: hottest suburbs in Oz

BRW magazine’s national property survey is out on Thursday. Editor-in-Chief Sean Aylmer lists the most affordable areas to buy.

And in a possible sign that growth in the market was spreading beyond government-backed first-home buyers, the top half of the market grew nearly twice as fast as the more affordable half.

Meanwhile, separate private-sector figures added to fears of a housing bubble fuelled by a shortage of new homes and apartments coming on to the market.

The property figures come after comments on Tuesday by the Reserve Bank governor, Glenn Stevens, that surging housing demand must be ‘‘translated into more dwellings, not just higher prices’’, which some economists saw as a warning of the next housing bubble.

But an economist with Australian Property Monitors, Matthew Bell, said the strength of the top end of the market showed growth in house prices was a well-rounded recovery, rather than a first-home buyer-fuelled boom.

‘‘When you’ve got the top end participating like that, it’s a good indication that you’re getting back to the levels we saw before prices fell heavily in 2008,’’ Mr Bell said.

After being pulled down by its large financial sector, Sydney was the fourth-fastest growing capital city after Darwin, Hobart and Melbourne. ‘‘Sydney and Melbourne have come back very strongly and really are leading the country, in terms of price rises.’’

The mining state capitals, Perth and Brisbane, are the only cities where house prices were lower than they were in June 2008.

Housing Industry Association figures, published yesterday, also pointed to a recovery in the property market but hinted at a looming supply shortage.

Detached home sales rose by 18 per cent in the past six months, the report said, but apartment sales had fallen by 20 per cent because developers struggled to access sufficient credit.

The chief economist at CommSec, Craig James, said: ‘‘While more first-home buyers are building their dream homes, investors and developers are either not interested or not able to participate in building new apartments’’.

Sourced from Sydney Morning Herald.

Published by Henry Sapiecha 10th August 2009