Some of the funnest meetings we have at RedBalloon are when we get to invent new experiences (then we try to find a supplier for them). I was sent this list of potential new experiences – and they made be laugh. Not sure if they will make the RedBalloon website though. Something about political correctness… Medical mis diagnosis ? give a loved one a roller coaster of emotions as they are diagnosed with a serious condition, then told that it…
Monthly Archives: May 2007
Strategy man coming to Australia
For those who have read the ‘Little Red Book of Answers’ or heard me speak you will know that I often quote Ram Charan. I was lucky enough to meet him at the Telstra launch of Next IP. Anyway AIM is bringing him to Australia. He is here on 18 June (Execution of Strategy) and 19 June (Leadership Pipeline) . I like his message. No point having a plan if you don’t execute. This man is a big thinker who…
A new word – transumers.
From the Centre For Future Studies comes this wonderful definition. Social shift analysis For example: ‘Transumers’ They are consumers driven by experiences. They increasingly live a transient lifestyle, freeing themselves from the hassles of permanent ownership and possessions. The fixed is replaced by an obsession with the ‘here and now’, an ever-shorter satisfaction span and a lust to collect as many experiences and stories as possible. Thanks for Julia for the quote.
It’s all about others
This is a great reminder to me that it is not about ‘us’ it is all about ‘them’. In fact there is no ‘us’ and ‘them’ – it is really just ‘we’. We are one humanity. If I think I’ve got too much on my plate there is always someone worse off than me. Life is pretty great really. And it is for living fully. “The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater our own sense of…
Time to celebrate
I was so excited to have my books finally arrive. Well I suppose they are not really my books. They are for Dymocks, many other great book sellers and for sale and online. But ultimately they are for those who want to know ‘what I am on’. I t is very exciting to have the first five years of a fast growing business – warts and all now in print. Fantastic too that it comes at a time when RedBalloon…
Growing Pains.
I have gone silent, I have stopped writing my blogs, and even become almost quiet at work. My book has just arrived from the printers documenting the trials and tribulations of the first five years in a fast growing business. The launch event is next week. I should be on top of the world. The next five years are more daunting than the first. The first were all about “one for all and all for one”. Fast growth is an…
Half Tales and misunderstandings.
For any one who has heard me speak (and I spoke this week at the SME event hosted by ABL) you know I love to share the story of it is up to us as marketers to give customers something worth saying. I tell of when RedBalloon left home (that is when we stopped being a home based business ? I had nine people in the front room and it was time to go) This was in early 2003. (This…
Ten tips on growth.
I am regularly asked what is the ‘answer’, or ‘secret’ to your success. BRW just interviewed me for the launch of its Fast 100 program this year. This is the list I gave them. Now having ‘really hard work’ as the first of ten is probably not going to sell magazines. But here are my top ten ‘rules’ on growth. And by the way you cannot ‘fake it until you make it’. You cannot pretend any of these and think…
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...
Delighted
Surprised, delighted – speechless (well not for more than a second), and humbled is what I experienced this week at the AIIA iAwards. More than two years ago we were discussing amongst the team that many people wanted to use our experiences to do activities themselves ? they were not really looking for a gift. In fact Friday afternoons had become really busy on the phones as people sorted out ‘last minute’ adventures for the weekend. I clearly remember driving…