☑️ 𝗜 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 ☑️ Wordpress website design for small business. ☑️ Responsive web design ☑️ Website audits

If you want to be taken seriously in business, you need a website.  The website must be visually appealing, functional, responsive and truly capture the essence of your brand.

☑️ 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗡𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗪𝗘𝗕𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗜𝗡 1４ 𝗗𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝗢𝗥 𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦, 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗞!  ☑️

In today's digital age, having a website is not just important – it's essential. Your website is often the first interaction a potential customer has with your business, and it can make or break their decision to do business with you. 

A well-designed website can help you establish credibility, build trust, and attract new customers. It provides you with a platform to showcase your products or services, share your brand story, and engage with your target audience. It also allows you to collect valuable data and insights on your customers, which can help you improve your business strategy and customer experience. 
✔️Visit www.web4business.com.au

☑️ 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗗𝗢 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗡𝗘𝗘𝗗 𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗣 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛?☑️

🔵Website design for small business
🔵Website design for a startup
🔵Website audit
🔵Website redesign
🔵Domain name registration
🔵Logo design
🔵Webhosting
✔️Visit: www.web4business.com.au

☑️ 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜𝗦 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗥 ☑️

**Affordable Website (Re)Design**
Check out affordable web design packages created with small businesses in mind.  
✔️Visit: www.web4business.com.au/pricing/

**Website Audit**
If your website is not working for you or if you cringe every time someone asks you about your website, let us do a website audit.   We will audit your site and make recommendations on how to improve it.
✔️Visit: www.web4business.com.au/services/website-audit/

**Free Website Strategy Session**
Let's catch up for virtual coffee and discuss where you are right now and where you want to go.  I will help you clarify what needs to be done and answer your questions.
✔️Book: https://live.vcita.com/site/web4business/online-scheduling
  
** Library of FREE Resources to help you grow your business**
From guides and templates to expert advice, we provide the tools you need to thrive in today's competitive landscape
✔️Visit: https://www.web4business.com.au/downloadables/

☑️𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗖𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗦𝗔𝗬𝗜𝗡𝗚 ☑️

Check out our client's feedback:
✔️Visit: www.web4business.com.au/about-us/testimonials/

☑️𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗦 ☑️

Some of our recent website design projects
✔️Visit: www.web4business.com.au/portfolio/website-design-gallery/

☑️𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘? ☑️

📞 0405 636 204
✉️ ask@web4business.com.au
🪙 www.web4business.com.au

Ivana Katz

When I started my business, I didn't have formal training in web design.

There was no roadmap — just me, a computer, and a stubborn belief that I could figure it out.

The early years were messy.

Money was tight.

The doubts were loud.

And because I didn't have a university degree, I often felt like I had something to prove.

I worked harder than I probably needed to.

Learned faster than I felt comfortable.

And even when clients were happy, I still questioned whether I was doing enough.

There wasn't a single moment when confidence suddenly appeared.

It built slowly — in small, quiet ways.

One finished project at a time.
One returning client.
One referral.

The self-doubt never completely disappeared.

It just got quieter as I learned to work alongside it.

Looking back now, I can see that those years shaped the kind of business owner I became - resourceful and resilient.

And maybe that's the part no one tells you at the beginning: confidence isn't about never doubting yourself - it's about continuing anyway.

𝐍𝐨, 𝐀𝐈 𝐖𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 — 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐈𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮
Here’s what AI didn’t do:
It didn’t replace me.
It didn’t steal my voice.
It didn’t remove the human from my business.

Here’s what it did do:
It rescued me from blank-page panic.
From endless admin.
From late-night content rewrites.
From trying to hold it all in my head.

That’s the part no one tells you - the relief. The focus. The clarity.

This week’s newsletter is about the fear around AI (especially for creatives) - and why small business owners like you have more to gain than you think.

Wait. You Can Do That? is live now. It’s your shortcut to saving 10–12 hours a week with simple, doable AI workflows. Get it here:
https://lnkd.in/gpKvFzrv

#AIForHumans
#CreativeBusinessTips
#SmallBusinessGrowth
#WorkWithAI
#BusinessWithoutBurnout
#WaitYouCanDoThat
#DigitalSupport
#ProductivityRelief
#TimeFreedom
#RealTalkBusiness

If you’re a small business owner, you’ve probably heard the fear-driven headlines: “AI is coming for your job” “AI will replace content creators” “Don

Open article: No, AI Won’t Replace You - But It Might Rescue You by Ivana Katz • 1 min read

No, AI Won’t Replace You - But It Might Rescue You

When Jordan got his promotion at Red Bull, it felt like life coming full circle in a way I couldn't have planned if I tried.

I was out having lunch with friends when my phone rang, and it was Jordan. You know those moments in life when you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing? This was one of them.

He said, "Mum, I got the job."

And without thinking, the first words that came out of my mouth were, "Oh no!"

I didn't mean it - it just slipped out, because deep down I knew what it meant. It meant he'd be moving to Melbourne.

But I quickly caught myself and told him how proud and happy I was for him. It took everything in me not to cry while we were still on the phone. We talked for a few minutes, I congratulated him again, and when I hung up, the tears came.

That was the moment it really hit me: he was about to spread his wings for real.

Red Bull's slogan is "gives you wings", and here was my son - the same little boy I'd raised on my own, the one I'd built my whole life around - now taking flight in the most literal way.

He was leaving home, chasing his dreams, building a life that was completely his. And as hard as it was to let him go, it also made me realise something beautiful: he didn't just grow up - he grew wings.

Running a small business is already hard enough.

What makes it harder than it needs to be is having to figure everything out from scratch - what to say, where to start, how to structure things, what matters and what doesn't.

That constant decision-making is exhausting.

Over time, I've created a small library of practical guides and templates to make some of that easier - things you can use straight away instead of staring at a blank screen or second-guessing yourself.

If your business feels heavier than it should, this is a good place to start.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐈 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐃𝐨 𝐈𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐀𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞
Some people talk about hustle like it’s a badge of honour.

I talk about it like it’s something I had to unlearn.

Motherhood taught me how to run a business while being pulled in every direction. How to work late. Show up tired. Stay soft and strong at the same time.

That’s the kind of growth no book prepares you for.

This week’s story is a personal one - about the chaos, the freedom, and the moment I realised I needed to start doing business differently. And it’s why I created "Wait... You Can Do That?" - not just to save time, but to honour your energy.

The guide is ready. Get it here:
https://lnkd.in/gpKvFzrv

#MotherhoodAndBusiness
#SoloBusinessJourney
#ResilienceInBusiness
#SmallStepsBigWins
#WaitYouCanDoThat
#WomenInBusiness
#WorkLifeBlend
#RealStoriesRealBusiness
#BusinessWithHeart
#FlexibleFreedom

Some people hit burnout after ten years in business. For me, it came in waves - school drop-offs, unfinished client work, a cold cup of coffee on my d

Open article: The Day I Realised I Couldn’t Do It All Myself Anymore by Ivana Katz • 2 min read

The Day I Realised I Couldn’t Do It All Myself Anymore

If you're doing everything yourself, it can feel like the only way forward is to push harder.

But most of the time, effort isn't the problem.

It's friction.

Too many small decisions.

Too many half-finished thoughts.

Too many things you're carrying around in your head because there's nowhere else for them to live.

That kind of mental load adds up fast.

Not because you're failing - but because running a business this way is exhausting.

And when everything starts to feel messy and heavy, it's usually a sign that something needs tightening - not pushing.

Most people try to save time in business by working faster.

That usually just creates more pressure.

Real time savings come from removing friction -
the small things that make everything harder than it needs to be.
Explaining your offer over and over.

Manually answering the same questions.

Fixing things that should already be clear.

That's why website structure, content clarity, and practical tools like Al overlap in my work.

There are different ways of solving the same problem: making your business easier to run.

If you've ever thought, "This shouldn't feel this complicated" - you're probably right.

I put together a practical guide that shows how to cut out some of that friction and save 10-12 hours a week.

For years, I saw Jordan as that little three-year-old Spider-Man who needed me for everything.

Even as he grew taller, got his driver's licence, and started building a life of his own, part of me still saw that tiny superhero running around in his costume, clutching his toy web shooter.

But the day I went to visit him in Melbourne, something shifted.

As my plane landed, my phone buzzed with a message from him, giving me directions of where he was waiting for me.

He told me exactly where to go in the airport, which stairs to take, and even which elevator to use.

For a moment, I just stared at the screen, smiling. He knows his way in the world, I thought.

When I came up the escalator, I saw him standing there by his car, calm and confident.

And it hit me - that same kid who once clung to my hand in airports was now the one guiding me through one.

He walked over, gave me a hug, took my suitcase without a word, and opened the car door for me. Then he drove me to the apartment he and his girlfriend had just found together.

Another little slap of reality: he wasn't just living on his own - he was building a life.

I sat there quietly for a moment, watching him navigate Melbourne traffic, and this wave of pride.

He didn't need my instructions anymore - he had his own.

That was the moment it truly hit me: he's all grown up.

Not in the "he's taller than me" way, but in the he's-his-own-person way.

And while part of me ached just a little, the bigger part felt peace - because every late night, every decision, every bit of love and effort had led to this exact moment. He was exactly where he was meant to be.

#motherhood #singleparentlife #lettinggo #businessandlife #womeninbusiness #growth

One of the biggest challenges I see with small business owners is not knowing where things are going wrong - just that they are.

That's why I pay close attention to how quickly issues can be identified and addressed, especially when tech isn't someone's strong point.

This feedback from Sonali perfectly sums up the kind of work I aim to do - recognising problems early and providing clear, practical direction so things don't keep compounding over time.

When your website starts creating more problems than it solves, it's usually a sign it needs a fresh set of eyes.

Most people think saving time in business requires a complete overhaul.

In reality, it's often about removing repetition.

Writing the same things from scratch.

Reformatting content you already have.

Manually organising ideas that already exist.

This is where Al is actually useful — not as a gimmick, but as support.

I put together a practical guide showing where solo business owners typically lose 10-12 hours a week, and how Al can realistically help reduce that without overcomplicating things.

If getting time back sounds appealing, you'll find it here.

𝐈𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐨 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫, 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐈𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭
You're overwhelmed because every task requires a decision before you can start.

What do you work on first?
What actually matters today?
What can wait without blowing something up?

That thinking happens in the background all day.
And it's exhausting.

Here's the part you probably haven't named before: nothing is wrong with you.

You don't need better discipline.
You don't need to push harder.
You need fewer decisions sitting in your head at once.

Once you reduce thinking time, the work itself stops feeling so difficult.

If you keep telling yourself you'll sort this out later - this is later.

I've put together a practical guide that shows you how to reduce that mental load and save 10-12 hours a week using Al.

Link in comment

#businessoverwhelm #ChatGPTconfessions #solobusinessowner #smallbusinessaustralia #timepoor #businessefficiency #aiforsmallbusiness #workingforyourself #businesssystems
#smartbusiness

When clients tell me the process felt easy, that's the biggest win.

Not because websites are "easy", but because they shouldn't feel overwhelming or painful — especially when you're already running a business.

This kind of feedback reminds me why clarity, communication, and a solid process matter just as much as the final result.

A lot of people think the answer to feeling stretched is to do more.

More tools.

More content.

More effort.

But most of the time, the real fix is simplification.

Clear messaging.

Better structure.

Fewer things requiring your attention.

That's the lens I bring to everything I work on — whether it's a website, content structure, or the systems behind the scenes.

If you've ever thought, "This should be simpler than it is," you're probably right.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐈𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝

I've been building websites for over 20 years, and I can tell you this with absolute confidence:

Most "unfinished" websites are not unfinished because of time.

They're unfinished because finishing them would force a decision.

A decision about what you actually sell
A decision about who you're for
A decision about what you're willing to be known for

So the site stays "nearly done".

I see this pattern constantly with solo business owners.

The business is real.
The experience is real.
The capability is real.

But the website stays vague, outdated, or half-rewritten because vagueness feels safer than commitment.

Here's how I know this isn't a theory.

One of my clients told me she nearly cried twice:
👉 once when she saw her website for the first time
👉 and again, when she signed her first paying clients

The reason was because finally it said, clearly, what she does and who it's for.

That clarity didn't just help her clients understand her.
It helped her stop hesitating.

This is the part most people miss: unfinished websites aren't neutral.

They quietly drain confidence, delay momentum, and keep you explaining instead of selling.

If your website has been "almost done" for years, this is exactly the work I do.

I help solo business owners turn vague, outdated websites into clear, usable ones that actually support the business you're running now.

If you want your website finished properly, not endlessly tweaked, you can work with me here.(Link in the comments)


#websitedesign 
#solobusinessowner 
#decisionfatigue 
#smallbusinessaustralia 
#businessclarity
#ChatGPTConfessions

Everyone keeps saying AI will save you time.

No one mentions the part where it makes things worse first.

More tools. More experimenting.

And that quiet feeling of, “Am I the only one not getting this?”

That was me.

It wasn’t until I stopped trying to use AI for impressive things and started using it for everyday, repetitive ones that it finally clicked.

This week’s newsletter is about that turning point – and why AI doesn’t feel helpful until you see where it actually fits in your day.

If AI has felt underwhelming, distracting, or just “meh”, this one’s for you.

#ChatGPTConfessions
 #SmallBusinessLife
 #AIForBusiness
 #TimePoorBusinessOwner
 #SoloBusiness
 #WorkSmarter
 #DigitalEfficiency

When I first started using AI, it didn’t save me time. It slowed me down. I was experimenting. Testing things. Tweaking prompts. And wondering why eve

Open article: AI Didn't Save Me Time at First.  It Made Things Worse.  by Ivana Katz • 2 min read

AI Didn't Save Me Time at First.  It Made Things Worse.

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐫.

You put off updating your website.
You rewrite the same page over and over.
You know what you do, but explaining it clearly takes longer than it should

That's not a motivation issue.

It's decision overload.

When too many small decisions stack up, nothing moves.

That's why I created 𝐖𝐚𝐢𝐭. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭?

It shows you how to use Al to cut through those decisions and save 10-12 hours a week.

Less time stuck.

More time actually running your business.

#solobusinessowner #smallbusinessowner #decisionfatigue #timepoor #businessclarity

A lot of people assume saving time in business requires a full system overhaul.
In reality, it often starts with removing repetition.

Rewriting the same ideas.

Starting from scratch when you already have content.

Manually organising things that already exist.

These are the kinds of tasks Al is actually good at - not replacing you, but supporting how you already work.

I put together a practical guide that shows where solo business owners typically lose 10-12 hours a week, and how Al can realistically help reduce that without turning your business upside down.

If you're curious, you'll find it here.

The Broker for Homebuyers and Property Investors | 🏆 5 x Top 100 Mortgage Broker in Australia

I’m Redom Syed, FBAA Broker of the Year 2025 and Founder of Flint Group, one of Australia’s fastest-growing mortgage businesses.

What started as a mission to help families like mine make better money decisions has grown into a $10 B vision — to build one of Australia’s largest, most impactful mortgage groups.

💡 Who we are:
Flint is a modern brokerage, built for modern brokers who want to command attention.  We are a group of 100+ professionals across Australia and overseas united by one purpose: to empower Australians to understand, plan, and act with confidence.

🏆 Why clients and professionals choose us:
	•	Award-Winning Expertise – Recognised as Australia’s FBAA Broker of the Year (2025) and in MPA’s Top 100 Brokers for 7 years running.
	•	Ex-Treasury Economist Insight – We combine data, economics, and lending strategy to create smarter client outcomes.
	•	End-to-End Property & Finance Support – From first homes to complex investment portfolios, our clients access 50+ lenders and hundreds of tailored solutions.
	•	Proactive Loan Management – Our dedicated review team ensures every client stays on the lowest rate available — without needing to ask.
	•	Research-Driven Guidance – Our in-house research team has predicted every major rate and policy shift for nearly a decade, helping clients save tens of thousands.

📅 Book a chat → calendly.com/redom/15min￼
🌏 Learn more → www.flintinvest.au￼
📞 Contact → 0489 943 079 | info@flintgroup.au

Redom Syed - Mortgage Broker

Thinking will be a rarest skill in 2026…

Most don’t even try.

Thats exactly how I built one of Australia’s most watched property pods with 10,000+ downloads every week.

By having my OWN opinion.

I use my brain, think, and share my view. 

Being right or wrong doesn’t matter.  

Actually using your brain does.

Pro tip: move your hands around and talk with confidence (even if you, like the rest of us, have no idea 🤷‍♂️)

Redom Syed

Co-Founder Flint Group | Building the Future of Mortgages | 2025 FBAA Broker of The Year

No alternative text description for this image

Most good decisions that moved my life forward felt uncomfortable at the time.

Like the kinda uncomfortable we all get when we gotta dance on stage…

*gulp*

✅ Quitting a job I loved.
✅ Starting in an industry I knew nothing about.
✅ Deciding to join Flint last year.

None of it felt safe.

They were all risks.

(Now my beautiful kids are doing the same, dancing their way through the real world!)

Because things that scare you often change you.

They help you grow in confidence. 

And avoiding them has a bigger cost.

I started broking in 2015, and I had no idea what I was doing.

So I did the only sensible thing I knew, and became a student.

I found the best brokers in the biz, and watched and studied how the existed.

I really didn’t have any experience.

But I had a healthy fear of being exposed,

And a lot of time. 

Clients can tell when you know things.

And more importantly they can tell when you don’t

You don’t need years. You need obsession.

That’s just how you get better.

People talk a lot about habits, strategy, and mindset.

My biggest and best performance hack?

Going home.

Dancing like crazy with my girls.

Spinning around our living room for hours.

Getting absolutely humbled by tiny humans with better rhythm than me.

Being actually present.

When home is good, work gets easier.

Decisions are clearer.

Pressure doesn’t stick the same way.

Turns out joy is a pretty solid productivity tool.

Big goals are easier to chase when you’ve got something real to come home to.

That’s where my energy comes from, and it's truly incredible. 🤪

Chasing outcomes is easy.

Revenue. Growth. Milestones.

All the things you can put in a slide deck, and feel good about for maybe 5 minutes. 😭

But they’re all just results.

What really matter though, is how everyone grows while you’re achieving those.

Learning together, figuring out problems, making huge mistakes, fixing them, and pretending we knew the answers all along, are the real results.

The numbers will move around.

They always do.

But watching a group of people get better together...

More confident, more capable, more in sync…

That feeling you get from seeing that, never changes.

And that’s what makes building a team worth it.

People think success is about skill or strategy.

I used to think that too.

Then I had four $50m months in a row…after not hitting one in ten years.

Nothing magical changed.

I just started hanging around people who made my standards feel a bit uncomfortable.

Christian Stevens and I push each other daily.

Healthy competition, and zero hand-holding.

He’s been the #1 broker in Australia for years.

I respect it.

(Also…I want it.)

Being that close to excellence messes with you in a good way.

You don’t tolerate average anymore.

Turns out our environment does a lot more work than we give it credit for.

So choose yours wisely.

I used to think being taken seriously meant acting serious.

Polished, composed, and “all under control.”

But that isn’t me.

(My current idol is Bandit from Bluey...)

Turns out Mr. Serious Face version of me isn't very good.

So i stopped trying.

I joke more, and laugh at myself, and play at work regularly.

And weirdly…everything becomes simpler.

I learn faster now.

Bad days don’t stick as long, if at all.

And work feels lighter, even when it’s hard.

Highly recommend trying 'playing' more, and being 'Mr Serious' less.

A few weeks ago, I had dinner with one of the most successful mortgage brokers in the country.

We ended up talking about what actually separates the best from everyone else.

It wasn’t strategy.

It was speed.

In his business, when a lead comes in and no-one calls within five minutes, it’s an issue.

Harsh? Maybe

But wrong? Not really.

If someone reaches out, that’s when they want to talk.

Just like when my girls ask me to play, they want me to play now. Not in 5 minutes or an hour.

When I was starting out, I answered the phone wherever I was.

24/7 was the motto

(No one actually calls at 2am)

You can’t do that forever, and you shouldn't.

But early on, it makes the difference.

Deals don’t just fall over because of strategy. They fall over because someone was slow.

Simple lesson.

Trying to do everything yourself is the fastest way to stay small.

If you're doing all of the below ⬇️

✅ Credit. 
✅ Processing. 
✅ Post-settlement. 
✅ Customer management.

You are the wearer of all hats...and likely the master of none.

What all this does is pull you away from where you create real value.

Your value isn't in spreadsheets & servicing calcs...

(and boy...do i love a pretty spreadsheet!)

Brokers value is in lead generation, speaking directly to clients & partners, and building momentum.

Everything else drains time away from this.

That’s what 'thinking bigger' actually looks like.

If you want to grow fast, stop trying to do everything yourself.

Build a team that frees you to focus on what you do best.

If people can’t see you online, you don’t exist at all.

Most trust is built online now.

So early on, I decided I had to be myself.

Not louder.
Not flashier.

Just the daggy dad that is me.

Most people copy each other.

That’s why they blend in.

But the only thing no-one can copy, is how you think.

That’s the brand.

How do you communicate with 120 people across 4 countries?

You don’t overthink it.

I sat in my office.
Hit record.
Talked.

Had a thumbnail made, on the spot.
And sent it.
All in 30 minutes.

No script.
No production.
No drama.

Just a simple and silly message to kick off the year and get everyone aligned.

Sometimes the best way to lead a big team…is to keep things small, human, low-stakes, and fun.

Happy start to the year ✌️

Every Tuesday at the office…Toastie Tuesday happens.

No agenda, no strategy.

Just fancy cheeses, breads, deli meats, fresh tomatoes, and actually sitting still for five minutes.

Sure it’s loud, messy, and someone always burns theirs. 
(Someone being me. 😬)

But it’s there, where half the real team bonding lives.

No slides, and no meetings.

Just a small weekly ritual we always show up for.

Turns out teams aren’t built in boardrooms.

They’re built over melted cheese.

Earlier in my career, I said yes to way too much.

Not because it was smart, but because it felt productive.

I had meetings everyday and everywhere, and lots of chaotic energy, (which I now save for when I’m at home with my girls.)

It took me a while to realise that I was just tired…not effective.

Learning to say no wasn’t about being difficult.

It was learning about being honest with myself and what actually mattered.

Once I started protecting my time, the work just got better.

Not instantly, but enough to notice.

Turns out ‘no’ isn’t rude.

It’s just clear.

And that clarity makes life a lot easier.

One thing I didn’t expect after a year of building businesses

Almost everyone starts with making money as the goal

That’s important, it’s how businesses stay alive, thrive and grow.  

But…

That’s not where the fun lives.

The stories you collect, the people you meet and the experiences you live while building…

Living life knowing i’m having a real crack at the biggest boldest version of myself…and won’t be dying wondering or living ‘what ifs’

That’s what all the old wise men who claim the journey is better than the destination mean…

Happy Monday ✌️

The RBA just delivered a hammer blow. 

They've just INCREASED the INTEREST RATES.

They called it a "line ball" decision. It wasn't.

Every single Board member voted to increase rates. 

It was unanimous. 

And if you looked at the Aussie Dollar the second the announcement dropped, the market knew it too. It went straight up.

Here is the damage report: 
Households: A $500k mortgage just got ~$80/month more expensive. 
Sydney & Melbourne: Already slowing down on the idea of this hike. Expect the brakes to be tapped harder. 
The Affordable Markets: Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, and Hobart are defying the trend.

The Economic Reality: 
When rates rise, borrowing capacity falls. People don't stop buying homes; they just buy cheaper homes. Money flows away from the expensive luxury markets (Sydney/Melbourne) and into the affordable segments (Perth/Adelaide).

The RBA has made their move. 

The era of "cheap money" is definitely not coming back anytime soon.

Are you positioning for growth or just holding on?

Organic content gets you seen.

People start to recognise you, hear your voice, and trust you.

That’s the real challenge.

Once that’s working, paid ads just speed things up.

I’ve always looked at it pretty simply - ads can’t replace your brand.

But they do turn the volume up.

(Like me in the car when Taylor Swift starts playing.)

The mistake is running them up too early.

Or chasing the noise, instead of the right people.

When your message is clear, and your process actually works, ads feel like acceleration instead of chaos.

Brand first. 

Fuel later.

Early on, I spent too much time getting ready for 'perfect' to knock on my door.

Biggest rookie move…

Waiting for the perfect investment property? That one costs a fortune.

Some people wait years…and pay a lot more

But you soon realise there’s a great deal out there every single day.

And that 99% of the performance comes from actually executing on one of them. 

So what did I do?
✅ I started showing up instead.
✅ Just bought tha thing, decided on it and moved forward.  

You get better by doing.

Not by thinking, or planning, or staring at the ceiling at 2am endlessly.

The ones who win, aren’t the most polished, or put together.

They act like Nike, they just do it 😄

This is why interest rates are still under pressure.

The Jan 28 CPI came in hotter than the RBA would like, but the details matter.

Goods inflation has cooled.

You can see it rolling over clearly on this chart.

Services inflation hasn’t.

And that’s the problem.

Services = rent, insurance, healthcare, wages.

The stuff that doesn’t come down quickly.

So even though headline CPI looks better than last year, the RBA can’t relax yet.

As long as services inflation stays elevated, rates stay higher for longer.

The CPI print didn’t open the door to cuts.

If anything, it keeps the door firmly shut.

That’s the takeaway.

The biggest shock when I became a broker was realising how much of the job is selling.

And how much I had to learn.

I thought selling meant talking more, being clever, and saying impressive things.

It did not.

Turns out it’s more about listening.

People feel your energy straight away.

They know when you’re just waiting for your turn to talk.

Being a dad actually helped here, because you learn pretty quickly that talking less and paying attention gets you further.

(Especially with tiny humans who don’t care about your pitch.)

Once I stopped trying to ‘sell’ and started trying to understand why someone was calling me, everything became simpler.

Broking is a relationship business, and people just want to feel looked after.

I didn’t learn that from scripts, I learnt it by getting it wrong a few times.

Interest rates are rising. 

Borrowing is getting tougher. 

Investor confidence is shifting. 

The property market is entering a new phase, and understanding it early could make all the difference.

🎥 Full video on YouTube

taplio

The Battle

Ivana Katz

Redom Syed - Mortgage Broker

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreIvana Katz's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreRedom Syed - Mortgage Broker's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Ivana Katz

Redom Syed - Mortgage Broker

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Ivana Katz's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreRedom Syed - Mortgage Broker's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreIvana Katz's LinkedIn Performance