Emajin Golf: Beyond the 19th

In this week's episode of the Emajin Golf podcast, Beyond 19th, we catch up with Stuart Wilson, a Partner at Nevett Ford Lawyers. Stuart provides valuable insights into what to look for when setting up shareholder and partnership agreements, business acquisitions, and divestments.

Nevett Ford Lawyers, a multi-practice firm that dates back to 1854, employs over 50 staff. Stuart is only one of 55 lawyers accredited specialists in commercial law by the Law Institute of Victoria and leads the firm's commercial practice.

From his extensive experience, Stuart offers thoughts for those entering formal business partnerships. He recognises that such partnerships are long-term commitments, so looking ahead and foreseeing potential issues is essential. Rather than relying on standard agreements, you should be prepared to be interrogated on specifics of your commercial intent so that a tailored agreement guarantees clarity for all parties involved, including:

• The reason WHY the parties are entering into business together
• What is the vision for the business and the timeline to succeed
• Structural framework - how the business will operate, being clear on roles and decision-making process
• How are the funding sources formed to establish and the process for additional funds as needed
• Dispute resolution processes - providing clarity on how issues will be managed and resolved
• The exit process - either one party sells, sell agreement insurance trust deed if there is a medical exit or approach to the complete sale and asset allocations

We learn a lot from Stuart's experiences, insights on networking, and his 4-ball dream team, which includes Michael Jordon, Tiger Woods, and his sons (currently 5 and 3, so a little wait, but good to know Stuart has them on the driving range already). Who is in yours?

In this week's episode of the Emajin podcast, Beyond the 19th, we catch up with Graham Shannon, Managing Director of National Sign Build and a key figure within the Emajin community, who shares the evolution of signage and provides some great tips on creating brand visibility through signage.

We learned that Graham grew up in the West, where sports were huge. He did anything he could outside, including his early days with friends in the street, setting up golfing challenges. Initially, he wanted to build houses. His carpentry apprenticeship was completed, and he became a skilled cabinet maker, but seeing the bending of neon tubing for the first time shifted his course into signage, and he became a business owner at 23.

A very proud leader of his talented team, National Sign Build provides end-to-end solutions that include consultation, design, manufacturing, and installation locally, and internationally. Fully equipped with the latest technology, the team has delivered innovative projects in retail, corporate, finance, construction, and health sectors, often in high-risk and complex locations.

Graham shares the transformation of the sector from high-tech equipment that bends metal and paints to creating impact with public art (check out the recent award-winning Public Art). Experienced in bringing brands to life publicly, he offers the following key advice to any business owner:

1. It is vital to continuously re-invent your brand image to ensure you are attracting new business and re-capturing the attention of those who know your business well
2. Explore creative options - technology has enabled the design process to go beyond the letters, it is easier now to experiment with colour, texture, lighting, and specialty finishes to capture eyeballs and get people talking

You will never take for granted a sign you pass now that you know what goes into the process. Of course, we also learn about his dream four-ball team, the must-have 19th-hole drink, and his favorite club, his irons—what is your favorite club?

In this week's episode of the Emajin Golf Podcast, Beyond the 19th, we connect with Volodymyr Katanskyi (Volo), founder and CEO of Worklair. Volo shares the key tips for leading a fully remote team, his ethos of the cumulative effect, and how it has shaped his approach to business and health.

Volo completed his studies as a Software Engineer in Sevastopol, Ukraine. After a few years of working remotely as a software engineer, Volo noted the significant issues that prevented the company he worked for from being efficient. That list of issues motivated Volo to create a model for his company, Worklair, to solve them.

Worklair is fully remote, and Volo shares the following lessons learnt in leading a remote organisation including:

1. The right workplace Tools are vital - audit your office software tools and rationalise them to ensure that everyone is working and performing within the tools that keep your team connected and linked together
2. Integrity of communication is critical - structure, volume, information shared, ease of search, and ensuring the communications are trusted
3. Ensure everyone is accountable for the financials - each person and team must assess the financial implications of decisions and the cumulative value

Volo's center of gravity is built on the Cumulative Effect, which builds on known and prior efforts. Listen as Volo shares the power of reusing technology and proven solutions that can be leveraged to create new outcomes. This enables the team to focus on the creative elements and not the transactional ones.

Volo only started playing golf this year - initially, practice only made everything hurt. Following lessons with our own Allan Haughie, who stopped Volo from swinging at the ball like chopping wood to ensure his head, grip, and body all moved as one. We learn Volo is inspired by Bryson DeChambeau - who inspires your golf game?

its impact on business

In this week's episode of the Emajin Podcast, Beyond the 19th, we caught up with George Hanna, the Managing Director of HDIT. In our discussion, we gained great insights on using AI to drive business efficiencies and the productivity benefits of Managed IT systems.

Since graduating with an Information Systems degree, George has become "the tech guy," working in IT teams across various sectors, including hospitals and finance. While managing an intense corporate career, George was always on hand to help family and friends with their IT needs, which was never a hassle; it provided the confidence to venture out into his own business, HDIT.

HDIT is an IT Managed service provider, executing end-to-end daily IT needs for clients and extending to the development of a longer-term IT strategy that provides the roadmap for cost-effective IT transformation. The journey starts with an audit and the HDIT team has learned to improve efficiency for most businesses, you need to:

1. Make sure the solutions you have implemented, IT software and IT products, are the right ones for your business
2. Utilise the functions and features in your software to get a return on investment - we often invest and only use a small fraction of what the tools are capable of and offer
3. Implement AI which can provide at least 10 hours of efficiencies back into your business a week

Listen as George describes the ways to approach and form habits around AI as you get started, the power of IT partnership and the passion George has for enabling technology to improve the way we work.

George shares his hole 19 drink - what is yours?

In this week's episode of the Emajin podcast, Beyond the 19th, we take a healthy approach with Todd Scarce, COO of Kieser Australia. Todd shares his passion for physiotherapy, the importance of strength training, and setting up a holistic approach to building and maintaining muscle mass to help you play golf pain-free and injury-free while adding an extra 30 meters to your drive... or thereabouts.

With over 30 centers, Kieser attracts people committed to outcomes. It is based on the elite sports model, offering the triage of physiotherapy, rehab, and strength training. Exercise scientists work with physios and trainers to create a client-targeted program to manage pain, post-surgical rehab, and strengthening for overall health, enabling everyone to succeed at the activity they love.

Only 5% to 10% of the Australian population perform consistent strength training each week - Todd is passionate about creating awareness to prevent muscular strength deterioration that causes aches, pains and impacts performance - the message:

• Strength training is like brushing your teeth—you brush your teeth daily to maintain dental health; strength training at least twice a week enables your body to maintain and increase muscle health
• Consider supervision for the effectiveness of your exercise; naturally, you will work harder and use the right technique, which is critical
• Gym equipment has transformed - you can work the muscle efficiently to fatigue without excessive repetitive rounds.

So listen and get started on your journey. You might surprise yourself with improved golf results and a boost of confidence after 18 holes.

Have you told us who your dream four-ball group would be? Todd has.

In this week's episode of the Emajin Golf Podcast, Beyond the 19th, we chat with Julie Cassidy and Luke Ball, who manage over 30 partners for Partners Wealth Group (PWG). They believe that partnerships are integral to building relationships and networks and share the power of those business partnerships in growing your business.

The PWG logo is the three Geese, a purposeful logo as Geese assist each other when flying in formation and can travel 70% further together. In the case of PWG, it represents the Client, Accountant, and Advisor—utilising tax, accounting information, and client risk appetite enables PWG to advise clients on their long-term financial solutions. Establishing trusted partnerships with like-minded professionals is essential, enabling PWG to create peace of mind and material outcomes for their clients' lives.

Despite diverse backgrounds - Julie has a banking and finance career and Luke has a sporting career - both Julie and Luke are aligned on the critical steps to building your networking and seeking professional partnerships including:

• Be clear on your vision and values, it will attract those aligned with those values
• Seek out the experts who can complement your business and balance your strengths
• Ensure you are curious, open, and actively listening when connecting with people, you are seeking your trusted relationship and it takes time to build the conversations that enable both to see the benefits
• While you are seeking connections, ensure that you also give back, taking the time to connect with others within your network

We learn a lot from Julie and Luke, who share their journeys of successfully making those significant changes to their careers, the memorable moments that also teach you resilience, and most importantly, their passion for golf. Listen also for their picks of great golfers to play with and the Beyond 19th drink—what is your end-of-round drink?

Did you know that Geese fly 71% further when in formation? For Mathew Cassidy, Managing Director of Partners Wealth Group (PWG), it is a great metaphor to ensure we all have the right partners around us. It's also the reason that the PWG logo is three Geese. Matthew celebrates 21 years of operation, and becoming one of Australia's leading diversified wealth management businesses. Investments and markets over short periods are challenging, but Mathew shares that "success leaves clues" with the following advice: ● Seek professional advice. The financial sector is complex, and navigating tax implications and investment options can be challenging, so partner with those who know the good, the bad, and the ugly. ● Investing is the process of allocating capital to achieve a future goal - so create your game plan against your risk profile ● Invest as early as you can—As Warren Buffet has shared, the 8th wonder of the world is compound interest, which results from years and years of investing, focusing on the long term. Join us on this weeks episode of 'Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th as Mathew guides us through some incredible investing insights. I'd love to hear your thoughts 💭

In this week's episode of the Emajin Golf Podcast Beyond the 19th, we speak with member Martin Galea, Director of Tick Box Conveyancing, who shares his business journey into conveyancing, approach to business relationships, and building your network.

Martin pursued a legal clerkship, working for a supportive mentor who guided his passion for working with clients in property conveyancing and fostered his natural talents in building an authentic network of relationships. It was not long before Martin, in his early 20s, took the brave step to open his specialist conveyancing practice.

Client referrals are critical in conveyancing, so how has Martin maintained success? He shared his building business relationship tips that include:

• · Having the confidence and competency to give the right advice
• · Understanding as quickly as possible, the client's expectations and how you can deliver service in a timely way
• · Find ways to resonate with people in a way that makes it easier to relate

In any business, the leader and team need to invest time in building a business network of referrals. For Martin, taking time out of the office tests that the systems work while he is not there and gives him a chance to promote the business. Martin recommends:

• · When you choose to become part of a networking program, don't question; go in with the attitude that you will do what you need to do to be successful with that program
• · Be yourself and allow others around you to be similar, get to know others, and enjoy each other's company
• · Keep away from expectations, look at what you can do and bring to the table, and let anything you receive come naturally and do not force it

Martin offers wisdom and sound advice in this engaging discussion. Of course, in addition to business, we learn of his love for the sport, from squash to soccer coaching and, now, golf. Listen for Martin's dream team and bucket list course. I am sure you will want to join him.

In this week's episode of the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th, we speak with member Simone Chin, owner of Atria Real Estate, who shares her incredible journey making a significant impact in the Arts and the Melbourne real estate market.

Simone has a passion for the arts. She started as a ballet dancer, moving away from home at 14 to Sydney and then, at 16, to the Royal London School of Ballet, which ultimately led to 12 years of professional dancing. Simone then ventured into the film industry, taking on Hollywood, successfully working as an assistant to the famous director Fred Schepisi during a peak period of well-known movies for over ten years.

On returning to Australia and raising a family, Simone adapted those creative skills and ventured into real estate, succeeding in learning all aspects of sales and negotiation. Following solid sales results, Simone took on the opportunity to start Atria Real Estate to ensure that the human touch would be the focus in partnering with clients through the emotional complexity of selling and buying.

Simone shares several valuable insights into the current real estate market, including stock challenges that are opening up, while also providing the following advice:

• Seek a real estate advisor you trust - like your doctor and dentist, you need to find your real estate specialist to partner with
• Ensure you are physically and mentally ready to sell - of course, getting the house physically prepared to present is a must, but also ensure you are mentally prepared for the journey of letting go and knowing exactly your next step
• Explore options for your first purchase - an emerging trend to get started is purchasing a portion, either with friends or family, to combine resources through binding financial agreements and tenants in common structures, enabling the property purchase and costs to be apportioned and giving a start to grow with the market

Stepping up to give back to the community comes naturally to Simone, and it is inspiring, whether it be in the Arts, school support, leading BNI, or, more recently, the dedication to the Girls from OZ, a non-profit that provides travel programs for performing arts for Indigenous girls.

It is a great listen to motivate us all to give it a go and give back. Listen out for the 4-ball team and the location; I am sure you would wish you were there.

In this week's episode of the Emajin Golf Podcast: Beyond the 19th we speak with Rob Oppedisano CEO at Big Swing Golf who provides insights on the Golf landscape and making Golf and business accessible to all.

Initially Rob wanted to be a metrologist, however after completing university, took up a graduate opportunity to venture into mining. Rob went back to university to complete his MBA and headed into consulting, but it was the opportunity to transform Big Swing Golf tied all of the passions together.

Big Swing Golf is a franchise of indoor golf entertainment venues, currently 23 around the country making the group the largest footprint of its type in Australia. Designed for those of us tough on time, you can play 18 holes in a short time frame, experiencing 140 international courses providing a viable option in addition to the outdoor golf experience.

Golf is currently experiencing a significant resurgence, there are more people wanting to play putting pressure of availability of golfing facilities. Rob shares the context of the resurgence of Golf and the impact of the key changes including:

• Improving Governance - recognising that Golf is Golf, whether played on the course, driving range or indoor, as a result synergy is forming around the governing bodies to ensure consistency of experience and impact
• Technology - As a distributor of Full Swing simulators which are found in the homes of professionals such as Tiger Woods and Jason Day. Technology is providing effective ways to measure and improve all elements of your game while also providing convenience to practice

A great listen for all of us trying to change the dynamic of our sectors.