Lisa Tamati draws a number of parallels between the sporting and business worlds and says both require an ability to take calculated risks.

New Plymouth-based Lisa Tamati owns multiple businesses and is an ultra-distance runner.

Caitlin Sykes talks to small business owners John Barley and his wife Suzanne about absenteeism and presenteeism.

Caitlin Sykes talks to small business owner Kirsten Taylor about absenteeism and presenteeism.

House painters are competing with safety law-breaking "cowboys", industry leaders say.

Caitlin Sykes talks to small business owner Phil O'Reilly on absenteeism and presenteeism.

Staff absences can make a big difference in a small business team. What are some things employers can do to reduce absenteeism?

In selling you often need to get your customers to change their thinking before you can make a sale.

The Financial Markets Authority has licensed New Zealand's fourth peer-to-peer lender, Lending Crowd, which plans to offer small-to-medium sized enterprises business loans of up to $200,000.

Amelia Gain is CEO and cofounder of Preno which is developing an online management tool for boutique accommodation providers.

Craig Weise is a managing director at Armillary Private Capital.

Ever noticed how much faster and more effective our life lessons and personal development are when we push, or are pushed by external factors, outside our comfort zone.

Isaac Bullen moved to New Zealand from the UK in December to set up the Asia Pacific office of 3WhiteHats a digital marketing agency specialising in search engine optimisation.

Jonah Merchant is the cofounder and CEO of the BizDojo network of coworking spaces.

Keni-Duke Hetet is the founder of architectural design practice Cube Architecture, which has a team of four based in the Bridge Street Collective coworking space in Nelson.

I had an interesting experience a few days ago. I went to the letterbox to clear the mail and found a colourful postcard addressed to my dog.

I telephoned the Head of Collections for Westpac Bank and asked her ", what do you read for business"?

From silencing your Baywatch theme ringtone to not pouncing on your coworkers' clients, there's a range of good behaviour that's helpful when you're in a coworking space.

Isabel Pasch is an owner of Bread and Butter Bakery and Cafe, which has wholesale operations as well as three retail bakeries and cafes.

This time my contribution isn't really about time management, although the 'takeaway points' apply to all businesses.

Monique Surges is CEO of the New Zealand German Business Association.

I was thinking recently about the various businesses I know that I'm happy to recommend to other people.

Ursula Schwarzenbach and her husband Daniel founded Tasman-based Blackenbrook Vineyards in 2001.

Raglan might seem an unlikely location for a couple of Germans to choose to start a business together. But for Thomas Wessling and Bjorn Ledwig, it made perfect sense.

Chris Sattler is chief executive of Auckland Seaplanes, which began commercial flights from its Wynyard Quarter base in late 2013.

Some workers are packing in their 9-to-5 jobs and taking up freelance work and short-term contracts with flexible hours - part of what is being called the 'gig economy'.

Liora Saad is the business owner of Toodles Noodles, a craft business that specialises in eco-friendly stationary.

Hayley Pearce is the printmaker and founder of The Art Room.

Liz Constable of Book Art Studios is an entrepreneur who creates hand-made books and offers book making classes.

Louise James of The Binding Studio creates hand-made presentations of products.