Before we begin, I thought you might like a picture of Tom Sellick.

I have 17 things I want to have completed by the end of 2011 and odds are I will barely do any of them – will strike them out as I do them. I might even grow the list as I go..

By December 31st 2011, I hope to:

1. Switch from a PC to a Macbook pro – Registry error my arse, see you HP.
2. Nail two subjects from my Masters degree – At this rate I should finish by the time I am 75 years old.
3. Increase my share portfolio by 100% – my holding isn’t huge right now, but getting better! (thanks Westpac 9% loans!)
4. Launch a new digital product for sale – perhaps something of a higher value?
5. Landscape my back yard – new grass, plants, tan bark – the lot!
6. Save $20,000 – this isn’t going to happen I can tell but I want a rainy day fund.
7. Get a new iPhone 5 or something snazzy – I was an early adopter of iPhone 3G and paying for it now
8. Get all of media at home networked and easily accessable – perhaps through my PS3?
9. Get a 24″ monitor for my new Macbook Pro – sick of working on tiny screens at home
10. Make a lump sum payment on my mortgage – amazing how much it saves in long run!
11. Chop down a massive tree – Always wanted to, now I have a tree I have my eye on!
12. Buy a Samsung Navibot or similar! – No way Mrs.AJ will let me, says it’s a waste – who agrees they are awesome?
13. Help with a charity – I have an urge to help out somehow, not sure where just yet? Perhaps the MS Society?
14. Redesign a few of my websites – This will be a massive job, scared to get into it honestly
15. Learn what a derivative is and how they function in financial markets – easier said than done!
16. Meet Fuifui Moimoi – have seen him in Parramatta food court once – next time I’m all about the photo opp
17. Lose 25KG – I’m not that huge currently, just need to drop some major weight

Anything that reduces mundane tasks in my newly purchased house gets the A+ ticket of approval from me. Especially when you have a dirt heap of a backyard because grass won’t grow and your border collies run dirt into the house every change they get (breathe!).

I love the idea of constant progress, so the concept of going to work, coming home and finding your house always vacuum perfect is literally the best thing I have heard in ages.

Regardless of it hefty price tag (nearly $900) this has got to be one of the smarter purchases of the year. You could spend just as much on an iPad so you can sit on the couch browsing non flash websites – instead of on your laptop that does the same thing….. OR you could have a robot that does house work. Nuff said!

The Samsung Navibot not only cleans your house, it has special technology that:

• Learns the layout of your house, never missing a spot again
• Knows how to navigate complex furniture
• Has a recharge base that it returns to when done (amazing!)
• Can be scheduled for your out of house hours
• Restricts the Navibot from certain areas of your house, aka where the dogs sit – can’t imagine what my dog would do if it saw a robot.

Gerry Harvey, owner of Hardly Normal Harvey Norman is an ambassador for the project, wanting orders online to be subject to GST no different to any other physical retail outlet. The reason he wants this to happen is in order to level the playing field he says in similar words.

All good Gerry, though there is just one catch – you know nothing about E-Commerce or why we (consumers) are flocking online.

It isn’t about dodging a mere 10% off the purchase price of our products – it is a raft of things and I think you need to understand the full picture to make better decisions on your stances.

Why do we shop online Mr Harvey?

For numerous reasons actually. All of which have nothing to do with GST.

Not to save 10%, but to save nearly 40-50%

I hear that Australian retailers enjoy margins above and beyond most developed countries. After working on a number of major E-Commerce projects in my previous role, I am assured this is not the case by the directors, however I still have my doubts.

Shopping online has nothing to do with GST saving. It has everything to do with the overall reduced price. Why buy a camera for $1000 when I could buy the same model for $400USD instead?

Even if the margins are not as good as people think they are for retailers, it probably indicates that shops need to find ways to streamline costs better to maximise those margins and pass the savings onto consumers.

E-Commerce is convenient, unlike many physical stores

Ever tried to buy a DVD, CD or Blu Ray in the lead up to Christmas at JB Hi-Fi? It is pure and utter chaos to say the least. Why would I spend 1 hour finding a car park to then be put into the bull pen of shoppers in Westfield? Instead I will use my time to do things I want to do, while one click ordering off Amazon with designated delivery dates.

Choice is a major factor

I often get quite excited by a new product purchase. I research it, compare it, hunt for it and often track down the exact specifications of what I need. Major shops tend not to have the choice or variety of products that I am after.

Brand new, dirt cheap and sitting on my doorstep

Shopping online guarantees a brand spanking new product, at a great price, delivered directly to my doorstep. A culmination of the above points all rolled into one.

My hopes for the future of commerce and online commerce

• Product prices are reduced in physical stores
• Australian retailers enter the E-Commerce market properly – no more rubbish attempts
• Retailers stop hiding behind GST and face up to years of money making madness that has finally ended
• I am a part of it. I want to have a retail E-Commerce play in the coming years, so time to get thinking AJ!

For the record I’m not a camping kind of guy – though I am a beer drinking, lighting fires and having a road trip kind of guy. On second thought, saying I like lighting fires doesn’t sound too good so hope you get my point?

What is Warrior Dash?

A 5km extreme obstacle course event held up north in NSW bushland. Basically there are a series of challenges to compete in, ranging from jumping through junk yards, running across fire all the way to crawling through mud while trying to dodge barbed wire – all while wearing a viking hat.

Stupid sounding I know, but the road trip and stupidity of the event will be amazing.

So far we have 5 of us going. All camping the night on the grounds so that we can have ‘after dash’ beers with other viking helmet wearing people.

Why are we doing this?

• Good fitness
• Something different
• Viking hats, nuff said
• We recently became fascinated with Parkour (Google it)

It cost us $50 each to enter and will be a funny day.

I have the intentions to go the blue facepaint like ol’ Mel from Braveheart, a nice bushy moustache and a ‘bring back the biff’ t-shirt.

Visit Warrior Dash for more information. Pictures to follow after Feb 12th 2011, stay tuned!

PS: We are in the 1.30pm heat should you want to join.

Ok so I finally decided to get back into personal blogging, again. This time I feel I have more to share though as I find myself:

• Reading more books
• Watching more interesting programs
• Owning my own house
• Coming up with more disciplined business ideas (online and offline)
• Completing further tertiary education
• Focusing on my fitness and health

And most importantly, looking for a way to live off the net, no longer working the 9-5.

Sort of like Dale Kerrigan in The Castle, I feel like I have dug a digital hole and now don’t know what to do with it. So keep watching this space and I promise to share with you some of the more interesting sides to my life.

To give a quick snap shot of my life currently, see the below:

• In my 20′s.
• First home owner.
• Run a number of successful websites, looking to expand.
• Work for a wealth management arm of a big four bank in Australia.
• People lover. I see the best in people and see no reason to surround myself with people who make life difficult.
• Love E-Commerce, definitely a priority for where I want to expand into.
• Background in online marketing, SEO and blogging.
• Major supporter of the Parramatta eels

OK so let the blogging babble begin!

AJ.