I have lost my voice and I have not spoken a word since Wednesday!! And contrary to popular belief this is not quite the agony I thought it would be. The children say that the house is ten times quieter. Now that I am quieter they too are lowering their voices. My daughter giggled ‘why am I whispering you are the one with no voice.’ Silence definitely means I cannot dominate the conversation, I cannot add my two cents worth….
Monthly Archives: September 2006
Quirky – Lessons learned
I’ve started writing a lot of what I’ve learned down in a book. Which is a fascinating process for me, to face a blank page and think where to start. I began to reflect of all the schooling (13 years and then a three year BComm.) I think the best value (return on time investment) program I did was to learn to touch type. When I finished university (whilst waiting for my results and just before I headed to New…
Dexter Dog career updated
You may have met Dexter Dog, RedBalloon’s Chief Security Officer. Having been one of the very first employees, Dexter has been with us for three and a half years – in pretty much the same role. He has come to me and requested a career move otherwise he said he will walk! He says he would like a move into a new role, something he can get his teeth stuck into. Dexter tells me that he chose to work at…
Growth Guy comes to Australia
I met Verne Harnish several years ago (author of Mastering the Rockefeller Habits) I have been to several of his events – and every time I go I learn new things. So imagine how chuffed I was to be invited to speak with him on his up coming Australian tour. There is no doubt that Verne’s sessions have given me a framework for growth. My only regret was that I did not take more of my team to more of…
Version Two…
There is a lot of discussion in the media about web 2.0 and the new level of intimacy that we can have with customers, suppliers, affiliates and other communities online. Clearly we use blog internally. But I am a huge fan of Wiki. This is the place where we store all the pieces of information that we need to know. I shared a few months ago about how disastrous RedBalloon Days first website was. But version 2.0 of redballoondays.com.au was…
Simple Things can be very powerful.
I was just given a copy of a little book called ‘The Simple Truths of Service – Inspired by Johnny the Bagger’ by Ken Blanchard and Barbara Glanz. To get a copy What I loved about the book (apart from its bite sized pieces and colourful design) was the very simple clear messages. “Every one can make a difference and create meaningful memories for customers that will motivate them to come back by putting your personal signature on the job….
Why Not?
“Some men see things as they are and say ‘why?’ Others dream things that never were and say, ‘why not?’“ George Bernard Shaw I am definately in the ‘why not’ group. Give it a go, what is the worst that can happen? This appeals to my positive nature. I am often asked ‘Why can’t we….?’ It is a question of phrasing but it makes the world of difference. ‘We could…’ Seeing the world in the light of what can be…
Icing on Mud Pie.
I often say that icing on mud pie does not a cake make. I read this quote recently…if your relationship with your manager is fractured, then no amount of in-chair massaging or company sponsored dog walking will persuade you to stay and perform. It is better to work for a great manager in an old fashioned company than for a terrible manager in a company offering an enlightened, employee-focused culture’ Marcus Buckingham & Curt Coffman ‘First Break All the Rules’….
The power of choice from many great minds
“What lies before us, what lies behind us, is nothing compared to what lies within us.” Ralph Waldo Emerson “We are not creatures of circumstance, we are creators of circumstance.” Benjamin Disraeli “One man has enthusiasm for 30 minutes, another for 30 days, but it is the man who has it for 30 years who makes a success of his life.” Edward B. Butler “The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice.” George Eliot (1819 – 1880) “Certainty is…
Imagine running a business based on fun - that's what I decided to try when I left a very serious corporate career in marketing to set up RedBalloon...
Football fever…
Who wrote the book on success? Imagine if Martians came to earth and saw a game of soccer being played. They have no idea about the rules or why when a net stops a round object and not a human, people cheer really loud and hug each other. It appears to make no sense at all. Then they might know the rules and that there are two competing teams but still it makes absolutely no sense at all because they…