I’m not one to way into political debate… however what a fascinating social experiment. If the world could vote on global leaders – what a different planet we might live on. We do after all share one planet. This link is worth a look – even if it is just to realise the huge number of people who give a damn – yet can do nothing to influence the outcome. http://www.iftheworldcouldvote.com/
Monthly Archives: October 2008
A piece of string brings focus
I heard a great story this morning that really illustrates the importance of focus if you want to achieve an result. Apparently in the 70s when Kerry Packer was going through his legal battles in London with world series cricket – he was clearly very focused on winning. He asked an emanate British lawyer ‘How many QCs (Queens Councils) do I need to win this thing?’ The response was ‘one maybe two’. Packer responded ‘Engage the top six QCs in…
Booming Businesses
I was having dinner with a friend of mine last night… she runs her own show. She said business has never been busier. In fact most of our conversation was about planning her business growth. Odd you might think with the current financial climate. She is in a business that will feel an upswing in the downturn – she is a clinical physiologist. Another person I know runs a business which gets people back to work after workers compensation claims……
How far is far enough?
"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." T.S. Eliot (1888-1965, Poet and Critic)
Precious Sunday
I have had the book ‘Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom, on my reading list for a very long time. Weekends are so precious to me, but often hectic with young children and many domestic duties to be taken care of. What a treat to sit a read a book on a Sunday. I cannot remember the last time I read a book cover to cover in one sitting. It is a book about life’s lessons – and there is…
84% of people feel stressed by the clutter in their lives.
We have just completed a RedBalloon online survey, and the results are fascinating. Most people are stressed by the clutter in their lives – but they’re not sure what to do with the clutter. 7% use storage facilities, but the Mum’s and Dad’s of Australia provide free storage for 16%… perhaps the kids clutter is causing the parents to be stressed. 74% of respondents said that they feel like their home is cluttered with items and nearly half say…
Do what I say and do what I do leadership style.
I was fortunate to hear Michael Luscombe (CEO Woolworths) speak this week on his approach to leadership. Woolworths would be one of Australia’s largest employers. The shear quantity of people and their diversity represents a major communication challenge. I have blogged previously about ‘employees are the new customers’. Employees are a media in their own right. 100,000 employees all speaking well of their employer speaks powerfully to customers and suppliers and reinforces the marketing message. People like doing business with…
Harnessing Discretionary Effort
Only two months ago an article appeared – “Employers must offer pay rise to retain staff” by Zsa-Zsa Bowie Wilson "A CareerOne.com.au survey of 1168 people revealed that 68.3 per cent of employees expected a salary raise this financial year, despite the fact the Government is encouraging employers to hold back on wage increases in an effort to curb inflation. More disturbingly for employers, a third of those expecting a pay rise said they would "look for another job"…
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...
Brand Building through ‘out of office message’
You know I love speaking about the different ways that businesses can stand out and get people experiencing the brand. And it’s not rocket science. It is just a matter of noticing the detail. My friend Emma Isaacs has in her email footer her preferred coffee – it used to be skim latte – I notice she has changed to peppermint tea. You know her a bit, even if you’ve never met. As she calls it the Seth Godin Purple…