In the Spotlight: George Mirabelli, Softlogic SolutionsIn the Spotlight: George Mirabelli, Softlogic Solutions

We ask the tough questions of George Mirabelli, Softlogic Solutions

Who, or what is your biggest inspiration?

I am inspired by Cochlear founder, Dr Graeme Clark, because of the innovation and for remaining an Australian company.

When did you know you wanted to start your own business?

When the R&D Tax Incentive started getting a bad rap I began to consider getting out there and promoting it, as I have been using it for 15 years. I developed my 6-Step Framework and jumped into my company when software companies were having to pay back claims. This was not necessary if they had better understood and followed the guidelines. As with Airtasker, it is about bad advice and no process engineering to make sure they were compliant. That’s where I fit in.

What do you do? Who for? And how does it benefit them?

I help business maximise the benefit of the R&D Tax Incentive by providing a 6-Step R&D Tax Compliance Process Framework. I also Rescue Orphaned Software by taking over the support and maintenance of critical software solutions. Both of these are for small to medium businesses and results in risk reduction. Visit their website to find out more about how Softlogic Solutions can help you with R&D Tax Incentive Compliance and Software Maintenance.

What’s the biggest thing you’ve learnt this year?

I have to spend 50% of my time marketing to build a pipeline.

What’s the best bit of feedback you’ve ever had?

I was given feedback that providing my services as fixed price workshops were going to be much more palatable to customers than a consulting approach.

What’s your proudest moment?

Selling my first workshops; it was terrific.

What’s your number one way to wind down?

Some mindfulness at the end of the day before going home.

What’s your favourite film and album?

Favourite film: Shawshank Redemption
Favourite Albulm: AC/DC – Back in Black

What’s the smartest bit of marketing you’ve ever done?

Getting into webinars during COVID-19 and finding that they are an excellent marking opportunity.

What’s the one resource you’d never be without?

My laptop, it is my whole office.

What’s the most obscure business request you’ve ever had?

I was asked to present my workshops for free because the company was a start-up, well I was a start-up then too. But we came to a mutual assistance arrangement.

What or who has the most grounding influence on you?

I like Jordan Peterson and Neil deGrasse Tyson.

What’s the biggest challenge you face at work?

The biggest challenge is splitting time between Marketing and Operations.

What’s the best thing about being a soloist? And the worst thing?

The best thing is the flexibility and the sense of achievement. The worst thing is that the buck always stops we me so if I don’t do it, it does not get done.

What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever been given?

The best business advice has been that sales is a multi-contact process and that contact needs to be made until the customer asks you to stop.

Where and when do you have your best ideas?

During my morning walk.

What would be your advice to aspiring soloists?

Give it a go and get good advice from a mentor or coach.

What website do you visit every day?

What talent do you most wish you possessed?

I wish I had the-gift-of-the-gab as it would make it easier to talk to new prospects.

What would your mum say is your greatest strength? And weakness?

I am sure she would call me shy, but also resilient and forward-looking.

What’s one thing about you few people know?

I hate chicken soup.

What is the one regret you do not want to have in this lifetime?

I don’t want to regret not having a go. I also don’t want to regret having a go.

What inspires you most about your work?

As I highlighted at my presentation at the ACS, I want software development to stay in Australia. So I get inspired by helping local software businesses learn to make the most of the R&D Tax Incentive.

What do you wear to work?

Shirt and jeans.

What do you love most about running your own business?

I like trying my hand at new things and learning new skills. Not always the way I think it is going to turn out. I did a course on LinkedIn Marketing to find out how I should do it and all the techniques involved. Instead, what I learned was that I am not good at it, but I now know what I want to be done.

Where can we find out more about Softlogic Solutions?

Website: softlogicsolutions.com.au
Flying Solo Directory Listing: www.flyingsolo.com.au/profile/softlogic-solutions

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