I think one of the great things about doing what I do is the people I get to meet. On the weekend I was presenting for the Entreprenuer Organization and one of the other speakers was the energetic, enthusiastic, and effervescent Amanda Gore. Amanda must be one of Australia’s most famous speakers – and it is years since I had seen her in action (she has spent much time wooing audiences in the US). What a delight to listen to…
‘Sharing’ is the new business opportunity. People often ask me ‘what is the next big thing?’ Occasionally one get’s an insight into what the world ‘might be like’. Here are some things we know: There is an anti ‘stuff’ movement – not only can we not store everything we own (we live in smaller spaces in cities – and self storage is one of the fastest growing industries) but we are increasingly concerned about the cost to the planet of…
I had the privilege of meeting Professor Fiona Wood (Australian of the year 2005). She shared with the 800 women at the Business Chicks event Melbourne (and the following day in Sydney) her journey, persistence and passions. She is fundamentally curious person with a passion for learning that is addictive. As a child growing up in Yorkshire, she heard her father say when she was just a small girl – ‘Who are we not to dream’ – even though he…
The New Economic Forum tells us that one of the five steps to well being is simply to take notice. To be truly present, to see, smell, experience life around us moment by moment; to truly listen, to really focus and be aware. In essence to smell the roses and appreciated what life presents us. I was sent this email last night – and it made me feel sad (see below). Why would we condition ourselves to not hear or…
I heard Liz Wiseman speak recently (co-author of Multipliers)… on leadership styles. She asked the participants to think of a boss who had made them feel great and as a result how did we ‘perform’ for that boss. Then to think about a boss who made us feel smaller. Liz outlined that leaders who make people feel smarter (multiply) as opposed to leaders who make people feel smaller (diminish) – will get more than double the capability from those people….
Have you ever felt that there are just not enough hours in the day? We all got issued the same number (24) I believe it is… how we choose to use those hours is what makes the difference. I’m regularly asked the question, “How do you do it all?” My response is: “Who said I fit it all in?” My kids probably think I’m a lousy mother, and my dog definitely claims he is neglected! Even if I don’t have…
With natural disasters in every corner of the country – one can’t help but think of the impact to all those 1000s of businesses… Those who toiled for years – building their enterprise – to have it dashed from them… or maybe not completely but impacted none the less. Some years ago RedBalloon invested in a business continuity plan. The leadership team posed the question ‘what if this building was not here – could we still operate?’ We are an…
In the run-up to Christmas one of the free-to-air channels ran a series of station idents with various presenters saying what the festive season meant to them. Being grateful for friends and family featured highly. In November I also caught a radio vox pop asking Americans what Thanksgiving meant. In the US, historically, Thanksgiving began as a tradition of celebrating the harvest of the year. However, listening to the responses, it became clear that the meaning has been lost in…
‘I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks’. William Shakespeare. As I just complete my tenth Christmas at RedBalloon – I experience a sense of overwhelming gratitude. I have been truly humbled to see how RedBalloon has captured the imagination of so very many people. In my wildest dreams ten years ago I never thought that we would make such a profound difference in all sorts of ways. I thank the businesses and organizations that believe in what…
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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Lessons in mega growth from China
To achieve mega growth – you best have a plan… I am in Beijing this week for an educational event. It is great to see first hand what we hear so much about in the media in Australia. The last time I visited Beijing was in 1986, only a decade after the Cultural Revolution, when tourists used a different currency – and there was no hot showers. Where I am now almost unrecognizable as the Beijing I visited 25 years…