The Startups Carnival runs from March 3 to 17 2008 and is a great opportunity for those people trying to get a new initiative off the ground in the technology space. With an initial focus towards Web 2.0 / Social Networking but also inclusive of other technology environments, initiatives in green technology, it will be a good opportunity to showcase some of the new great ideas that are on the verge of fruition.

So how does it work? Here is an extract from the Startups Carnival site:

How it works:
It’s an online (web based) carnival, starting on March 3, 2008.
On receiving the applications/registration from various startups/ventures, profiles/information will be compiled in a web format. These profiles /information will be published on the carnival portal, starting March 3, 2008. Three/four profiles will be covered everyday on the portal.

So please keep watching the space and make sure you have got your feeds subscribed as we have some grand plans on this to take it further.

In terms of what participants get are:

• New ventures learn about other ventures and people behind these across Australia.
• We are finalizing Judging Panel of 3 to be announced by Monday Feb 18, 2008. The panel is going to judge all the ventures on originality, simplicity, technology and marketability. They will select the top three. They will also provide some suggestions to all participants.
• We are also working on with some sponsors on offering some form of prizes to the top three ventures and few freebies to others. Once finalized it will be published on site.
• We are also working on getting some famous global bloggers to write about this initiative and people/ventures who are participating.

I’ve been fortunate enough to be invited as a judge along with Duncan Riley and Ross Dawson

So if you have a venture, then check it out and be a part of it.

I’ve been looking around at some online timesheet tools and Miles Burke at Bam Creative suggested 88 Miles from Mad Pilot

Having looked at a heap of timesheet tools, this looks like a really good tool - and by good fortune developed in Perth.

Some of the features I was looking for included:

1. Web based (a given really)
2. Allow multiple clients
3. Allow multiple projects
4. Allow multiple consultants to work on any mix of the above
5. Provide individual timesheets
6. Provide team reporting
7. Be easy to use
8. Fairly priced

Some new features coming are likely to include additional reporting and adding your own logo to timesheets.

So far I’m impressed and have started using it, worth giving a try….

You can get the gist of medical insurance if you have been through life insurance quotes. However to comprehend something like a cheap car insurance, you will have to read the relevant insurance quotes.

It is a real pleasant surprise to once in a while get really good service. Yet with the tonnes of business material written about service, you would think that everyone would have got this by now. And yet….

Bad service drives us insane - and I am certain drives so many people to make negative comments online to help others avoid bad experience. Good service is much better to share….

… so it was a nice touch that today I received a gift basket out of the blue from my finance broker. It made me reflect on the service I’ve had in finance over the years direct with banks and that of my previous broker, and how this was so different. Much better attention to detail, continual follow up - I never had to chase him. And so unusual in many service encounters, seriously good follow up after the deal was done.

If you would like similar, then I’d happily recommend my broker John Zaninovich to you.

(no, this is not a paid announcement - good service deserves a plug!)

I was flicking through one of my old journals (if you want to read up on the value of keeping a journal or how to, then check out 5 Steps to Journal Writing by a friend of mine, Todd Hutchinson), and came across 4 quotes I noted after reading a book of Shakespeare quotes.

• We work by wit, not by witchcraft - Othello
  Some in the IT industry would argue the modern day equivalent twist on this is where there is mystery there is margin! In terms of people, process and technology, demystifying process and making technology more simple aids greatly to project success….
• The force of his own merit makes his way - Henry VIII
  Enough said, you’ve got to be good at what you do…
• To business that we love we rise betime and go to it with delight - Anthony and Cleopatra
  Would an internal staff satisfaction survey get lots of these kind of responses?
• Too swift arrives as slow as too tardy - Romeo & Juliet
  There is always enough time to do it right the second time…

And as a bonus, not sure of the author:

• If in doubt, fall back on the truth

Great quotes are always interesting to share - they often provide succinct insight or expression of a situation. If you have a moment to share your favorite quotes, please do!

When you are borrowing loans, it does not matter if it is for car finance or is being borrowed as a student loan. You should pay it back according to a foreseen plan. Do not take any risks specially if it is an unsecured loan.