Antonia Kidman Blog

Career and motherhood…can we have both?

sarahr — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 07:05:12 +0000

I truly believe that achieving success in your career comes down to being passionate about what you do, and having confidence in yourself. This often develops through time and experience. We need to recognise our skills and strengths and let people know about them so it can lead to more opportunities.

For me I draw an enormous amount of personal satisfaction from paid work. It is a big part of my well being. But motherhood has also had the most profound effect on me and I’ve been very lucky in that I have flexible and supportive employers, so I’ve been able to balance both.

Motherhood brings me so much joy and satisfaction. It is the hardest job I’ve had to tackle yet at the same time the most rewarding. I love the attributes it forces you to develop - such as patience, tolerance, and endurance. It’s relentless, it never stops and I guess that’s what makes it so challenging.

Many of us take time out from our careers when we have children. Money, lifestyle, adult company and maintaining a career are some of the many reasons they decide to head back to paid work. But it’s fair to say the longer we are out of the workforce the harder it can be to re-enter.

One of my close friends is struggling to find purpose for herself as the last of her children prepares to leave home. She’s been a stay-at-home mum for most of her life and having had her children early means she is still very young. Knowing what to do and how to do it can be daunting.

It’s not just mums who suffer from lack-of-confidence. This fear rings true for many of us who are just starting out or thinking about a career change. But there are lots of ways we can improve our chances of achieving the career we desire. It may take longer than expected or the journey might be bumpier than first thought but in the end it all adds up to experience that will serve us well.

Here are some of my tips for returning to work that I have learned over the years, but I guess they apply to everyone (regardless of whether you have children):

Firstly, ask yourself what do you want to do? After kids (or another key life change or event) many people want a change. Look at yourself and what you can do. Write down what you are good at, if you find this difficult sit down with your partner or a friend and compile a list. Then start to think about the roles you’d like to do. If you find there is a gap between what you can and what you’d like to do it might mean doing a course to bridge that gap.
Look at your resume. Don’t simply leave a gap for the time you have spent as a stay-at-home mum. Turn non-paid work into work speak. For example, canteen duties at school might read as handling money, working as a team, providing customer service. Volunteer, charity work and helping your partner with their business should all be listed in ways that an employer understands. Respect all of your non-paid work. Think of yourself being more skilled than before.
Find a family friendly employer. Then be proactive. If you see a business you think you might suit ring and send in your resume. Finding a job is about having a game plan. It’s a task and you have follow through on it. There are also a lot more recruitment firms that specialise in advertising flexible roles – such as www.careermums.com.au.
Network. Never underestimate the networks (family, social and former colleagues) that are available to you,. Some fantastic leads can be rendered this way. Tell people what you want. Send out an email. Be bold and brash – remember confidence is key!
Maintain a connection while on leave caring for children. Stay in touch. Go in for a work meeting once a month. Talk to your employer about the possibility of project work just to stay involved. This might also be the time to explore the possibility of internal courses to keep your skills up.
And finally, don’t gear yourself up to do too much. Before you start your job, remember that love, respect and responsibility are components of any partnership. Ensure that family responsibilities are shared with your partner and you have an adequate support network in place. Because your change in lifestyle will mean a change in your partner’s too – so while you are taking up paid work, he will need to take up more of the unpaid work around the house.

What do you think?

The challenge of negotiation

sarahr — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:34:01 +0000

Recently, I was talking to a friend of mine who was recounting her contract negotiations with her employer. The setting was a lunch meeting at a restaurant. They chatted all through lunch and only after they had finished their main courses they started discussing her contract. Fortunately, the outcome was favourable for her but despite this she was disturbed by how incompetent she felt in the area of negotiation.

I don’t think my friend is unusual. Many women are uncomfortable when it comes to workplace negotiations. I find raising the subject of money with an employer, agent or even friends and family incredibly awkward. In fact, I’d willingly have someone handle these discussions on my behalf. But I know I’ll never get better at it unless I practice so that’s exactly what I do.

Good negotiating skills are an asset and so it’s worth your while to take the time to hone them. Try these tips for negotiating your next contract or pay rise:

Know your worth – Do your research and have a realistic idea of your market value. Cite examples of your successes and achievements.
Above and beyond – Delivering more than your job description will hold you in good stead. Taking on extra study or work to improve your performance will only enhance your value.
Timing – While your boss’s mood at the time of contract negotiations is beyond your control, timing is worth considering. Asking for a pay rise after a string of retrenchments or cost-cutting may not be appropriate. It might be better to wait for more favourable conditions.
Remember it’s business – your personal reasons or problems are not your boss’s. Your value to the company is based on what you do during business hours.
Be prepared – Write down what you want to discuss and the points you’d like to raise. This way if you suffer nerves you won’t be failed by forgetfulness.
No ultimatums – If things don’t go your way retreat with dignity and take the time to consider your next move. If you do decide to go elsewhere it’s best to do it strategically and on amicable terms.

Are you a good negotiator? I would love to hear your secret to successful negotiating!

My Savings Goals

sarahr — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:13:36 +0000

FebuSave is the perfect time to make us all more accountable for our money. It’s a great motivator to get your budget for the year in order as well as help determine your financial goals for 2010.

Personally, my initial goal for Febusave is work out where my money is going, prioritise what I spend and where I can cut back. This year will be my year of travel so I am saving for some little trips I can take throughout the year. I also want to try to increase my general savings but I’ve spent the last few years in serious savings mode so now I want to live a little too. I’m never frivolous but possessions just don’t seem to mean as much to me at present, it is life experiences that excite me. So saving for travel is my key savings goal during FebuSave.

But it’s important to remember that you can save for more than one goal at once - make sure you are saving for different timeframes in the short, medium and long term. FebuSave is a great opportunity to take the time to think about what you want to achieve, not only this month, but in the 6-12 months - as well as 5-10 years. By starting good habits now you will benefit by reaching your goals sooner

The Journey That Matters - A Year In Reflection

sarahr — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 02:05:11 +0000

The beginning of the New Year is a great time to reflect on the last one, and 2009 was certainly an interesting year. The huge uncertainty about the global financial crisis (GFC) ensured that conversations about money were taking place. The GFC has dominated headlines and instilled fear and caution in many of us. Subsequently, our goals have changed from growing wealth to preserving capital. This all occurred only a few months into my financial journey with ANZ, so it was an intense start to getting my head around economic fluctuations and how they impact us all.

Armed with a new found knowledge and interest in finance I was keen to take on the challenge of money confidence. The doom and gloom that dogged the year was not going to affect my determination to take control. My decisions have been measured and any risks I took were calculated, but that is my nature.

I was mindful of my long-term goals and am pleased to say I stayed on track to achieve them. I have realized that by making small sacrifices now, I can avoid having to struggle in the future.

The work I put into setting up my financial plan meant I had an adequate buffer should anything go wrong. This proved to be a great relief (as there were a few unexpected expenses!) and in this environment of uncertainty I was truly grateful for my preparation.

My conservative instinct was reinforced when I read about the failures of many investment vehicles. That’s not to say I’ll never move away from this position, but while my family is young and I’m able to work I hope to make the most of this opportunity to provide for our future.

I wonder what 2010 will bring…

Happy New Year everyone!

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas…

sarahr — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:07:24 +0000

Can you believe it’s Christmas again? This year has flown by! Christmas in my house is full of ritual and tradition. Some old and some new, but it’s the familiarity and comfort these customs generate that make the season unique.

Every year I mark the start of the festive season by embarking on the very domestic pursuit of baking! As Christmas pudding is possibly my favourite dessert, it is one of the many traditions that I’ve adopted. The smell of baking fruit wafting through the kitchen is heaven and in years to come I hope it will be a nostalgic memory for my kids.

Another is my love of Christmas carols. From the moment we decorate our tree I have carols playing - mostly old ‘Rat Pack’ selections featuring Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Junior. It’s such a lovely time and Christmas music immediately evokes excitement and happy thoughts.

Financially Christmas can be pretty daunting – particularly as families expand (as this generally means more gifts to buy!). While it’s easy to get caught up in the sentiment of the season, the commercialisation of the day can be distracting. It’s a time of giving and for most of us that means a time for spending. However, with some good preparation and realistic expectations Christmas can be full of peace, goodwill and generosity without spending too much. Here are my tips to ensure Christmas remains a joyous season!

Speak to your family about expectations. Be realistic and talk honestly about what is going on at this time.
Remind children about what is done for them throughout the year, things like birthdays or other celebrations and holidays. Also create excitement about other activities on the day, so the emphasis is not all on presents.
Make sure everybody you are celebrating Christmas with has a similar view or expectation, set out some rules so everyone is buying within the same price range.
If the family is getting too big to buy for, suggest taking a ‘Kris Kringle’ approach to gift giving. There are a few variations on how Kris Kringle works but the basic principle is that names of each participant are randomly drawn out of a hat and allocated to another participant meaning that each person only needs to buy one gift.
Slow things down. Christmas morning is an exciting time but in my house sometimes the opening of gifts can be frenzied. I’ve started to slow things down a bit by teaching my kids to enjoy reading the cards and thanking the giver instead of madly opening packages.
Keep some for a rainy day. Children can receive lots of gifts over the course of the day; why not consider putting some away for later so they really appreciate them.
Buy smart. I’ve banned anything that is time consuming to assemble or requires batteries – experience has taught me my stress levels will stay much lower this way!

What are your tips and tricks to making Christmas a peaceful and joyous occasion in your house? I would love to hear them!

Take the hassle out of investing

fional — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:40:26 +0000

There are many questions to be answered before taking the plunge. Antonia talks about how investing can be made easy with the ANZ Online Investment Account.

Taking a long earned break…with kids

mattf — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:07:21 +0000

One of the great joys in life is travelling. For Australians it’s virtually a rite-of-passage. In my late teens I spent a year aboard and loved every moment of it. Twenty years later I still experience a thrill every time I head to the airport or pack up the car. With school holidays upon us, here are my travel tips for those families embarking on a precious holiday!

Where to go?

Keep it simple. The simplest holiday can often be the best. If you’re holidaying with young children it’s a good idea to stay in the one place. Travelling to many different places that involves lots of sightseeing can be stressful and perhaps better suited to older children. If you’re keeping an eye on cost, options like camping or a beach house can be both relaxing or adventurous and relatively inexpensive.

Resorts that cater for families are appealing because there are usually activities to suit all age groups. But they can be expensive. So it’s a good idea to get a recommendation from someone you know and trust before choosing your destination.

Travelling overseas is wonderful and very exciting, but with little children it can be a lot of pain for not much gain. There is so much airport security these days; I find it hard enough travelling on a plane myself let alone with four young children! If the idea of international travel is too hard to resist, destinations closer to home are likely to save your sanity.

Getting there

This can often be the hardest part. Whether it’s by plane, train, or car, a long trip with children can be taxing for those with the most even of temperaments! Not to mention the dangers of taking your eyes off the road to deal with distracting or fighting children. It’s really important from a safety point of view that children realise the driver has a very important job to do. Families need to plan ways for kids to be kept occupied in the car.

Some of the best ways to keep children occupied and avoid the repetitive sounds of “are we there yet?” include:

Have plenty of snacks – cut fruit, veggies, drink bottles

Kids tapes or CDs with stories or music

“Car pack” filled with toys, books and activities for each child – sharing can be difficult and a main source of frustration

Regular stops at places where children can run – stop just before lunch to avoid queues

Car games like “I Spy”

Money tips

ANZ Travel Card† – a prepaid Visa card available in four different currencies USD, EUR, GBP and NZD. It gives you access to your own money wherever Visa is accepted.

Credit Card – eliminates the headache of carrying cash. In most countries you can withdraw cash with your credit card from an ATM. These days most credit cards require you to have a PIN.

Cash – It’s always a good idea to have some local currency in cash. But carrying large amounts of cash is not a good idea it can’t be replaced if it is lost or stolen.

Traveller’s cheques* – the good old fashioned traveller’s cheque operates like cash but can be cancelled if stolen or lost. American dollars are the most commonly accepted traveller’s cheques.

* ANZ recommends you read the American Express® Purchase Agreement and Disclosure on Fees and the ANZ Financial Services Guide, before deciding to acquire or hold the product. Fees and charges apply. Travellers Cheques are issued by American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (incorporated with limited liability in New York, USA), and certain related entities and are arranged through American Express International, Inc., ABN 15 000 618 208. AFSL No. 237996. Incorporated with Limited Liability in Delaware U.S.A.® Registered Trademark of American Express Company.† Federal Government legislation requires ANZ to verify the identity of all ANZ Travel Card holders and, accordingly, if you are not already a current ANZ account holder, you must complete ANZ’s customer identification process.
ANZ recommends you read the Product Disclosure Statement and the Financial Services Guide (PDF 213kB) before acquiring the product.

Any advice does not take into account your personal needs and financial circumstances and you should consider whether it is appropriate for you.

Living in interesting times

nerissaa — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:12:17 +0000

There is a curse, reputedly based on an ancient Chinese proverb, which proposes to the recipient, ‘may you live in interesting times’. At times, the credit crisis has certainly seemed to be the curse in action, particularly for those thinking about investing in the share market. Some investors have jumped at the opportunity to pick up a perceived bargain, while others have been paralysed with fears of doing the wrong thing! But for most of us, the current uncertainty has left us wondering what the right course of action is.

Whilst I was tempted to take advantage of the higher returns that investing in shares could offer, without knowing much about individual stocks I wasn’t really sure where to start. I’m also aware that seeking higher returns often means higher risk. So like so many of us, instead of researching the hard questions, I did nothing!

Aware of this conundrum, a friend pointed me in the direction of a new product which allows me to invest in the sharemarket without the hassle, via internet banking. This product, called an Online Investment Account, seemed to be a great opportunity for me to invest in the Australian share market, whilst being surprisingly simple to use - much like a normal online bank account.

However, instead of earning interest, my money is invested across the ASX top 200 companies, allowing me to earn share market returns. What’s especially good for a novice like me is that I don’t need to worry about deciding which shares to pick and choose, as the account spreads my investment across the ASX200 automatically.

Why this particularly suits a cautious investor like me, is that by diversifying my portfolio, it spreads my risk. And whilst the returns may be volatile in the short-term, over the next 5-7 years, the gains are likely to be greater than simply parking my cash in a basic bank account.

I love it, because I can access it in the same way I can all my other banking accounts, online 24/7. Suddenly, the daily finance reports have some relevance to me. When I hear the Aussie market has moved up a few points I know I have a vested interest!

This material does not take into account your personal needs and financial circumstances. You should read and understand the ANZ Online Investment Account Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to ensure that the account is suitable for you. To view the ANZ Online Investment Account PDS, please visit www.anz.com. The performance of the online investment account is not guaranteed and can be volatile, particularly in the short term. Once the money that you have deposited is invested, it is no longer held on deposit by ANZ or subject to any depositor protection under the Banking Act 1959. ANZ does no guarantee your investment in the Online Investment Account or the performance of the product or its investments. You investment in the product is subject to a range of investment risks. They include possible delays in the repayement of withdrawawls from your investment and loss of income and principal invested.

Managing your money effectively

admin — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 05:22:54 +0000

Antonia speaks about proactive money management and achieving your financial goals.

My caffeinated confession

mattf — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 01:35:42 +0000

Most afternoons I walk up to the local shops to meet my kids at the bus stop. We then stop in at the local café for a coffee and milkshake. Depending on how many children I have in tow the cost can vary but usually it’s around the $10 mark. Often I walk my son to school in the morning as well and I’m inclined to grab a coffee for the walk home.

Doing my math if I’m dropping $15 four times a week for a quick coffee here and there that adds up to around $60 a week or $260 per month or $3,120 a year. Now that is a significant amount of cash.

When calculated on a yearly basis it makes abstaining from my coffee and taking the kids a home-made treat for the walk home a much more appealing option. It might not seem like much at the time but when added together it’s always nice to save a few dollars without really noticing. I’m sure there are plenty of other money-saving tips out there, if you have any I’d love to hear about them.