Trends
A make or break time of year
Kate Jones 12:00 AM 'Tis the season to make a once a year profit for these small businesses.
Terrified to take time off?
![Alexandra Cain](/web/20151215214804im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/n/z/o/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glnwxj.png/1449015480691.jpg)
Alexandra Cain 12:00 AM If you're burnt out and in desperate need of down time but can't bear to go on holiday, chances are you're suffering from FOTAL.
Cat yoga is officially a thing
![Perth yoga studio Yoga Vine recently held cat yoga classes to raise money for charity.](/web/20151215214804im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/l/n/0/l/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glkmfe.png/1449811517826.jpg)
Cara Waters There's humming yoga, hip-hop yoga and now one Sydney yoga studio is offering cat yoga.
Is your agent dumb and dodgy?
![Alexandra Cain](/web/20151215214804im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/n/z/o/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gliay8.png/1449015480691.jpg)
Alexandra Cain Real estate agents can run, but they can't hide thanks to new technology that rates their performance.
Why are junior staff so stupid?
![Alexandra Cain](/web/20151215214804im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/n/z/o/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glchss.png/1449015480691.jpg)
Alexandra Cain Their stunning sense of self-importance is inversely proportionate to their value. Who's at fault?
Making money out of shark attack paranoia
![Close call: Pro surfer Mick Fanning is attacked by a shark during the finals of the J-Bay Open in Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa.](/web/20151215214804im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/4/g/e/9/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl8lxj.png/1448830543495.jpg)
Kate Jones Aussie entrepreneurs dive into shark deterrence technologies after a sharp rise in attacks.
Bruce Billson quits politics
![Former small business minister Bruce Billson will not contest his seat at the next election.](/web/20151215214804im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/a/i/b/6/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl6959.png/1448324688574.jpg)
Cara Waters Small business community quick to mourn man who has "many fans and few enemies".
Cashing in on adult colouring books
![Colourology founder Sally Belinda Broad is trying to strike while the iron is hot.](/web/20151215214804im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/2/p/0/z/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl2oq9.png/1447996057351.jpg)
Kate Jones Meet the entrepreneurs making serious money from the sudden interest in colouring in.
Death of the evening work cult
![Alexandra Cain](/web/20151215214804im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/n/z/o/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gl0tmw.png/1449015480691.jpg)
Alexandra Cain Is it still acceptable to expect staff to keep slogging into the wee hours?
Seven deadly small business video sins
![The founders of Smudge Publishing, Jonette George, Daniele Wilton and Katie Wilton use video in their business to great effect.](/web/20151215214804im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/v/6/c/3/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gkv5hq.png/1447138359380.jpg)
Caroline James There's never been a better time to yell "action" to your colleagues. But how do you avoid getting it badly wrong?
Meet the Australian woman advising world leaders
![Alexandra Cain](/web/20151215214804im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/n/z/o/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gkv0ch.png/1449015480691.jpg)
Alexandra Cain She co-founded an investment bank and now she's taking New York.
'It exploded from day one'
![Amanda Daley coaches those in the wellness industry on how to build profitable businesses.](/web/20151215214804im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/r/f/i/n/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gkpnkw.png/1447005953495.jpg)
Cara Waters After her battle with illness Peta took a risk. Now she runs a million-dollar health business.
How to survive the silly season
![Alexandra Cain](/web/20151215214804im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/n/z/o/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gkp8ps.png/1449015480691.jpg)
Alexandra Cain The day after Melbourne Cup is hideous. Don't let it ruin the run-up to Christmas.
How to choose a real estate agent
![Alexandra Cain](/web/20151215214804im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/n/z/o/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gkjmid.png/1449015480691.jpg)
Alexandra Cain What should you look for when you're selling or buying a property?
How to run a business from home
![Alexandra Cain](/web/20151215214804im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/n/z/o/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gkai5u.png/1449015480691.jpg)
Alexandra Cain Ignore rules that govern how enterprises should operate in a residential area at your peril.
The ultimate revenge on customers
![customer](/web/20151215214804im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/2/w/g/e/r/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gh5i34.png/1444847491008.jpg)
Kate Jones If you could get back at your clients, would you? Now, there's a way to do just that.
Will you do love jobs?
![Penny Lomas: Often asked to work for those close to her.](/web/20151215214804im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/l/r/w/n/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gjls02.png/1444084353660.jpg)
Kate Jones Knowing how to respond when friends and family ask for a discount is an art form in small business.
Three things that annoy journalists
![Alexandra Cain](/web/20151215214804im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/n/z/o/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.ghu3v9.png/1449015480691.jpg)
Alexandra Cain Some of our colleagues in public relations still have a lot to learn about the media.
Are you a truly great leader?
![Graham Winter: emotional intelligence matters.](/web/20151215214804im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/w/x/3/y/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gjwx6j.png/1443996640687.jpg)
Kate Jones It's easy to be a good leader, but do you have what it takes to be genuinely exceptional?
How to be a whistleblower
![Alexandra Cain](/web/20151215214804im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/n/z/o/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gjnyzy.png/1449015480691.jpg)
Alexandra Cain Here's a range of options if something doesn't smell right where you work.
What will Kelly O'Dwyer do?
![Promoted: Liberal MP Kelly O'Dwyer.](/web/20151215214804im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/q/u/y/y/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gjrzcw.png/1442882871626.jpg)
Ursula Hogben COMMENT: Australia has high hopes for our new small business minister.
Stealing ideas is theft
![Alexandra Cain](/web/20151215214804im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/n/z/o/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gjjpsv.png/1449015480691.jpg)
Alexandra Cain There are steps you can take when a client rips off your intellectual property.
We're in a parking crisis
![Nick Austin of Divvy: has a solution to the parking problem.](/web/20151215214804im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/u/r/a/j/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gjhn0u.png/1443392680077.jpg)
Louis White Where are we going to leave our vehicles when the population reaches 30 million?
What's your anger cost you?
![Alexandra Cain](/web/20151215214804im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/n/z/o/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gjh00n.png/1449015480691.jpg)
Alexandra Cain One study says the figure is $US15,000. And that's just for women.
The year of the small business
![Aulay Macaulay: on track to more than double revenue.](/web/20151215214804im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/b/b/w/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gjbc1u.png/1442097848281.jpg)
Louis White Meet the enterprises turning in their best performance ever.
What's in a name?
![Vinomofo co-founders Andre Eikmeier and Justin Dry: changed one letter.](/web/20151215214804im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/i/y/5/o/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gj43u3.png/1442785530490.jpg)
Christine Long What you call your business has a direct correlation to its success.