Charly Leetham

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Anyone who has been following our story will know that in August 2007, Stuart and I walked away from our franchise businesses in a considerable amount of debt.

For four years, Stuart and I worked hard to make our franchise stores a success story. At one point we ran 4 stores concurrently - one at the request of the Franchisor.  It seemed for a while that we were a success story - even winning the State Franchisee Of The Year (ACT / NSW) and the Tuggeranong Hyperdome’s Retailer Of The Year.  Read more…

I’d like to share with my readers, an answer I provided to a Linked In contact some weeks ago.

The question posed was:

How do you find the time to do an MBA when you’re juggling an already very busy workload and home life?

Read more…

A slightly different topic for me to blog on today.  Is it appropriate to use a Z or S in the spelling of certain words?

Being an Australian we typically use the letter S when spelling particular words like: Read more…

Over the past couple of days I have been asked by many people why I ‘allowed’ my child to pursue her own entrepreneurial endeavour, particularly in a field like Psychic Development.

It really is quite simple.  I don’t want either of my children to be a position of having to trade Time For Dollars in a job that they may or may not enjoy.  I want them to have the option of choosing where and how they work. Read more…

I am very big on encouraging my children to have online businesses.  Today, I received the best news ever!

My 12 year old Daughter, Rhiannon has been selected as one of two Under 16 year old entrepreneurs to be featured in a book written by Business Writer Peter Economy.

Rhiannon receives this honour through a competition run by Jenny Ford from Cash Smart Kids and will be featured in Peter’s 2008 Charity Book Project.  The Charity Book Project was developed by Peter Economy as a way to use his passion - writing - to give something back, and hopefully to make the world a better place.

Read more…

Some will ask why I have decided to post this article on this blog, and not my business blogs.  Simply, although I firmly believe that the proposed Internet Filter for Australia will impact my business, my views are deeply personal - it goes to my rights as an Australian Citizen and, as such, I feel that this is the best place to comment!

The Australian Government appears to be at it again.  This time, the Australian Government is attempting to ‘clean the Internet Feed’ provided by ISP’s to the population.

The Government is ‘proposing’ to filter inappropriate content from the Internet feed into Australia.  A most concerning proposition.

I first really understood the full implication of the proposed Content Filter in an article posted by Computer World - http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;13996352 Read more…

There are days that I am ashamed to be a parent.  Reading News.com.au this morning - not something I would normally do except someone sent me an interesting link - and I came across the article:

Mem Fox says daycare ‘damages’ babies

As a mother who did have her children in Daycare from a VERY young age - the headline, of course, caught my attention.  I was disgusted by what I read and the first comment on the article really made my blood boil.

For those who know me…. I am an extremely passionate person and believe in standing up for injustice when I see it.  When I read this article - I felt is spoke directly to me and I felt it necessary to respond.

62 year old Mem Fox, is the author of Possum Magic (an Australian childrens book).  According the article, Mem Fox drew howls of protest after comparing child care to child abuse early last month and in her first major interview since, Fox stated that babies less than 12-months-old who are placed in prolonged day care will suffer brain damage. Read more…

My son turns 14 today.  When I reflect on this, I am amazed at just how quickly the time has passed.  Something many mothers do, I’m sure.

I look at the handsome young man who stands before me today and I remember the cute baby I held in my arms, what seems to me, only yesterday.  I remember him starting School…. and I can only wonder what the future will bring for us.

I am incredibly proud of this young man.  He is my ‘pal’ as well as my son and I thank God every day for sending him to me.  O.K, maybe there are some days that are more of a challenge than not - but…. I know how blessed I am to have a son like Morgan.

So, on this day, I celebrate my son.  I say to him that the world is his oyster and his life will be what he makes of it.  I can only hope to provide the guidance and tools to make of life what he will.

Please join with Stuart and I as we wish Morgan, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Image by Kodamakitty via Flickr

When is enough, enough?  Personally, I hate the emails I receive that promise bad luck or prosperity if you forward them on to friends and colleagues.  To me, it’s just another form of spam and honestly, my inbox is full enough without dealing with the rubbish in those emails.  However, I realize that it’s personal choice and I have asked many people not to forward rubbish like to me, but if others are happy receiving, great!

However, what happens when it is kids receiving this stuff?  I mean, seriously, some of the things that are said in these chain emails is upsetting and can be quite dangerous to a childs mindset.  As readers of my many blogs will know, I am very passionate about my kids being online, developing and managing their reputations and building their online businesses.  I know that there is a risk in allowing them to be so ‘open’, but I also trust them to bring questionable things to my attention.  My kids also give me full access to their email accounts and know that I check them regularly. I’m glad I did! Read more…

Just over 13 months ago, Stuart and I literally walked away from our EzyDVD Franchise stores.  We were terribly in debt and decided it was time to cut our losses.

We sold our two stores back to head office and walked out in a world of debt.  I mean serious debt with no way of moving it off!

Here we are today, 13 and a little bit months on, living with my parents selling the last of our property to survive.  It looks pretty grim…. or does it really? Read more…