Author: Gina Jaaskelainen

88-stars-column-Modewest

88 Stars

Published by Gina Jaaskelainen

It’s been a while since I last did portraits. I arrive at the hotel at 9.45am. It’s too early and I need to wait for my subjects to get out of the lecture. There are 88 of them. I have been hired to photograph an astrophysicist convention in a well known Blue Mountains resort. These are probably the most intelligent portrait subjects I’ll ever get to photograph. It’s a good thing there’s a whole constellation of them. I talk to my contact. She suggests we do the shoot outside, in front of some greenery in the back of the hotel. All I need is a decent background, and the sun facing me. “We don’t want people squinting in the sun,” I tell her. It’s almost time. I’ve checked my camera settings. My flash works. It’s a beautiful day in the Mountains and I’ve been in Australia for almost ten years. When I arrived I had nothing, I think to myself. Now I’m photographing scientists. And then they start coming. The first person steps inside the …

From the Editor: Modewest Issue 4 Summer 2016

Published by Gina Jaaskelainen

This issue of Modewest is, as many of you know, the first issue for 2016 and the last issue of Modewest. It represents the fourth issue and rounds off what we have achieved since 2014 when we began. Issue 1 represented Starting Business. We shared ideas for those starting out, self-discovery as a sole trader, valuing people, marketing within your means and networking for success. Issue 2 represented Running Business. We looked more deeply at moving forward in business, defining your business roadmap, managing your cashflow and balancing work and life for lasting health and vitality. In issue 3 we focused on Growing Business. We introduced social media marketing on Instagram, an effective online brand-building platform. We explored cloud accounting, business funding, maintaining a zero inbox and we shared ways to introduce low carb foods into your diet. In this edition, issue 4, our focus is on Business Strategy. It was difficult for me to decide conclusively to put Modewest to bed this year. I have been excited to both design, edit and produce Modewest …

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Know Your Customer

Published by Gina Jaaskelainen

Have you noticed that when you buy something from an online bookshop you’ll soon receive their suggestions on what to buy next? There is a huge push in the consumer contact industry to collect metrics, preferences and tracking data to capture buying trends. Merging and cross-referencing data across various platforms helps companies build their individualised customer profiles. The purpose is to provide customers personalised marketing—but it can sure feel like you’re being spied on! “Knowing and understanding your customer is an integral part of running a profitable business,” says business mentor Rob Drage from Thexton Armstrong Drage in Faulconbridge. “But, on the other hand, it is possible to ‘know’ too much about your customer, to the point of second-guessing them, and neglecting to find out the truth.” So, how can we learn about our customers’ wishes without invading their privacy? “It does not take very much effort, through a conversation with your customer, to find out, for instance, what they do, how old they are, where they shop, what car they drive, whether they own …

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Basics of Essential Oils Part 2: Topical

Published by Gina Jaaskelainen

In the last issue of Modewest, we explored the healing properties of essential oils on the body and mind from the simple act of smelling them—the aromatic benefits of essential oils. In this issue, we’ll look at how essential oils can soothe muscle aches and pains, reduce skin irritations and sores and provide other healing benefits through topical application. What are essential oils? Essential oils are aromatic chemical compounds that are extracted from different parts of plants and trees, from the flowers, leaves, stems, barks, seeds and roots. Essential oils are chemicals, yes. But it’s important to understand that everything in nature is made of chemicals. There are good and bad chemicals. Some chemicals harm us, impede growth, destroy cells and ruin our health, such as Sodium Laurel Sulphates (SLSs), often found in cheap cleaning products, soaps and shampoos. And then there are good chemicals, such as essential oils. They do not cause us harm when used in the correct way, and they can even heal us. Most essential oils are extracted by steam distillation …

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The Zero Inbox

Published by Gina Jaaskelainen

A couple of decades ago written communication was slow, but ‘snail’ mail and fax allowed us to think about our response—and we could get things done while waiting for a reply. From the 90s onward email has taken their place. With the constant barrage of spam and marketing emails, as well as our personal and business correspondence, managing our inboxes has become a stressful task, however. “Instead of looking forward to emails,” points out business consultant Angeline Zaghloul from Peer Business Consulting in Sydney, “we’re now craving that elusive concept: the ‘zero inbox’—the state of nirvana when our inboxes are empty—and stay that way!” But is the zero inbox achievable? And how do we get there? Despite the approximately four billion email accounts that exist worldwide today, and the average 200 emails people receive daily, email management can be achieved—and sustained—if you apply some basic and practical principles. If your inbox is a complete mess you might have to spend some time doing an initial tidy. As you get things under control, it’s then going to …