ITP Techblog

I missed my update last Monday, I was home sick thinking it might be Covid but it turned out to be a common cold - touch wood I still haven't joined the thousands of New Zealanders who have experienced Covid19. I also heard last week that as a whole the workforce in Aotearoa is down by at least 10% on any given day in 2022 due to Covid, and that we can expect this to increase to 20% out during this flu season.

These are strange and unusual times, businesses are under increasing pressure and this extends to staff - the ITP team is like every other workplace ourselves with team members isolating and looking after whānau or sick themselves.

We have all heard how tough it is for our medical practitioners especially those in the front line, keeping this in mind the same could be said for anyone right now - so a good reminder to be patient and kind with each other.

It's not all bad news this week though. Tomorrow (Tuesday) is the shortest day and we have our first annual Matariki holiday this Friday. Tbh I am always surprised to hear it's the shortest day, the weather has only just turned NZ winter cold, and it's only June - but yay.

Immigration Webinar

SAVE THE DATE - on Wednesday July 6th at 1pm - Immigration NZ will be joining me for a 50 minute webinar to demystify for all of us what is happening with the recently announced border changes. They will explain what's next for the 600 Tech Worker Visas and options for employers moving forward.
This Webinar will involve a presentation from Immigration staff followed by Questions and Answers - if there is anything you are very keen they cover please email [email protected] before the 1st of July with your questions so we can pass them on and ensure they are addressed in the presentation.

We will get the event link up this week.

From Yesterday to Tomorrow - Startups

Chapter 4 covers a space I have been knee deep in for over 10 years, so it's interesting reading an essay on startups with a very Waikato flavour, with a Covid impact summary and a nice reminder on how Cloud technologies have unlocked opportunities for anyone to deploy an app or cloud based service oh so easily.

Written by Chris Gardner and called "A new environment for digital start-ups".

There is a wonderful quote from the featured Venture Capital investor Rob Vickery talking about startups and points of difference here in NZ "…all about company culture, inspiring talent to come and work for you, retaining talent. How you create that shared experience as a start-up is a cool and unique challenge". In my experience many VC's have paid lipservice to culture and inspiring talent - while talent was in abundance - so it's refreshing to hear this view from a time before our current crisis.

The chapter concludes with a short list of advice for aspiring founders:

1. Start with a unique business model. You need a point of difference. There is absolutely no point in doing the same thing as everyone else in your sector.
2. Bring in experts. You might hold the monopoly in your field but be sure to validate your business ideas with those who know business well.
3. Brainstorm until you can brainstorm no more. Define the principles under which you will do business. These really are as important as your point of difference.
4. Establish goals for the business using the SMART methodology: Specific Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-based.
5. Do not go it alone. Ensure someone else in the business has your back. A problem shared is a problem halved. Two brains are always better than one.

Want to hone your presentation skills?

Delivered as a series of short courses during July "How to become a badass presenter" starts next week. Born from a belief that there is a presenter in all of us this 3 part series of 2 x 2 hour and 1 x 3 hour sessions will take you from learning about the impact of communication styles, through to how to plan a great presentation and then how to make your own presentation come to life.
I love the objective of "appropriate use of gestures and movements" something I need to learn as a person who talks with her hands and wanders the stage waving her arms when presenting (unless I am tied to a lectern).

You can read more or register here. Well priced for ITP members and non-members alike.

Finally

Want to write an article for TechBlog? get something off your chest? or shine a light on a fabulous initiative? or your own cool tech? we are keen to utilise this platform for our members, partners and supporters to create and share content. Our Friday newsline goes out to a serious number of thousands of subscribers so lets give them stories to celebrate the creative vibrant and sometimes challenging industry we all represent. Email [email protected] with your idea.

Stay warm out there. Kia pai tō rā Vic.