I started a business more than a decade ago based on ‘giving people good-times.’ Since then I have researched and read many books about happiness, well-being and what it is to be human. In essence I have been seeking the answer to the question ‘What is it that drives us?’ And I first wrote about this on LinkedIn I have learned the definitions of pleasure, contentment and joy and in so doing I have discovered that the word pleasure…
One of RedBalloon’s business values is ‘a sense of humour and fun’. I am blessed to come to bound out of bed every day looking forward to my day at work. It strikes me that the basic tenets of encouraging fun and productivity in the workplace, I learnt between the ages of three and five. If we share everything, play, be curious, hold hands and stick together (and we learned to cut and paste – we now use different tools…
This week I am in San Fransisco and there is much to do and many people to meet. Many of tech companies are headquartered here – it is like coming to the heart of technology innovation. All of these businesses are busy inventing the ‘next big thing’ – whilst trying to protect what they have already created. Recently I wrote for LinkedIn a list of office items that are headed for museums. Ironically of course, ‘once upon a time’ the…
It’s the beginning of another year and 2013 is set to be a fulfilling and exciting one… and it has started with a flurry – I’ve been writing this blog for 2571 days (but who’s counting) and in that time I have shared 713 posts… now my writings have been nominated for ‘Business Blog’ of the year… but it is a popularity vote… so if you have a moment and like what you read then could you vote please… So…
[Posted to LinkedIn a few weeks ago - and it came in as #11 the most read posts on LinkedIn in 2012 - some of the 1000 comments are very amusing. Also exciting that I am now close to 50,000 followers of my blog posts] A few months ago I commented on Sheryl Sandberg TED talk in a blog post entitled: Three insights into why we lack women leaders. Which continues to make me ponder. Is there really a glass…
Now before I even start talking about ‘success’ let’s define it. Everyone has a different definition of success. In fact I think success is like the notion of beauty – it is in the eye of the beholder. To some it is wealth to others it is a state of contentment. When I was in my twenties I thought success was being able to buy a pair of shoes without looking at the price tag…. In my thirties success was…
[Originally appeared on LinkedIn] I think back more than a decade to the moment when I thought it was a good idea to start an online business. There are some things I really wish I had known as I set out. Although one mentor said to me years ago, “the greater the loss the bigger the lesson,” there comes a point if the business lessons get too expensive – and, well, then it’s all over! 1) It’s never just the…
[From LinkedIn] I have just read a news report called “Groupon fights for its life as daily deals fade” which did not really surprise me. I know some of our suppliers have from time to time dabbled with discounting their activities and events through such sites and I have not heard a good story about any of them. I understand there are about 40 of these discount coupon sites in Australia – which is a lot for our ‘tiny’ population…
[Originally published on LinkedIn] Capital One CEO Richard Fairback once said, “At most companies, people spend two per cent of their time recruiting and 75 per cent managing their recruiting mistakes.” Now, you may not be in a business where you need to build a team, but I believe this statement is relevant personally as well as in business. As an individual, have you noticed you attract the same sort of person in your life over and over and getting…
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...
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Two lessons on not ‘fitting in’
I’m always open to constructive criticism. I have had many people take it upon themselves to ‘fix me’. I have been accused of being loud, bossy, self centered, egotistical as well as many other things. The people who say these things either to me or others are most welcome to their opinions…. but really life is not perfect – and I never claimed to be perfect either. However, I know who I am, what I do and what I stand…