I’m no spring chicken, and I was alarmed recently to discover a few aches and pains. Fitness has never been a natural thing for me. I have really had to work very hard to discipline myself to get out and go for a run, turn up to the gym, or do a yoga practice.

Instead of just telling myself ‘to grow old gracefully’, I decided I needed an insight into my overall health; a snapshot of how old my body is – not just how old it feels. I discovered that my body is considered to be six years younger than I actually am. Needless to say I was thrilled. (This snapshot assessment is now a RedBalloon experience – and probably a perfect gift to give that ‘fabulous father’ who keeps telling you how young he is.)

The naturopath gave me a printed report and said with just a few alterations to my lifestyle – I could feel amazing – and keep my body even younger.

So I have taken on drinking much more water. And for a month I am ‘detoxing’ which means: no dairy, wheat, alcohol, sugar; and increasing my fish oil and magnesium. Only a week has passed and I feel like a new woman. And I know it is working because the kids are telling me ‘you are soooo embarrassing’ full of the joys of life.

Worth a try – and I am going to stop referring to myself as ‘the old chook’ and start acting like a spring chicken.

I was at my gym this morning (Vision Drummoyne) and one of the quotes on the wall was... "If you want to make your dreams come true - first you must wake up"... kind of cute.

(I suppose sharing this with everyone - will help hold me to account - my detox is due to finish 21 September - and I am keeping a food diary so I can see what I do eat - which is equally tough.)

Q: Sarah Louise What is the one piece of advice you were given as you were starting out that you would pass onto others?

A: Hi Sarah, the one piece advise - or the one question I ask anybody who is starting out is 'Why?' be really clear about why you do what you do... and no one will be able to slow you down.

Q: Jillian Kingsford Smith How do you manage to fit it all in?" ie life, work, fitness & family?

A: Hi Jillian, Who said we fit it all in... my kids probably think I'm a lousy mother, my dog definitely claims he is neglected... (Janine Allis told us that her husband claimed she was a 'laptop' dancer.) Even if I don't have a lot of time... I do make sure I am focused on what I am doing at the time, and really listening to whoever I am with. There is no point yearning to be somewhere else or playing the guilt game. We too are muddling through the best we can. My personal motto is 'if it is meant to be it is up to me' - so there is no point making the blame game. Work out what is really important, what you are best at, and get help with the rest. (I'd like to outsource fitness quit frankly - but apparently there are some things we do have to do ourselves.)

Q: Toni Bramley After being screwed by 3 different website designers I would ask Naomi what's the 2 most important questions to ask when choosing a design firm

A: Hi Toni, Web development and design can be tricky... I am not much help here. I had a similar frustration with external consultants in my early days. So I had to bring it in house. A web developer was the first hire at RedBalloon. We now have a whole bunch of professionals completely dedicated to design, database, architecture, User Interface, programming and other things I did not even know existed. The RedBalloon website (have you seen the latest version) is so critical to who we are - we wanted to have these very precious people in house. Sorry not much help here really.

Q: Fran Blake What do u believe ur #1 personality trait is that has helped u succeed?

A: Hi Fran, I'd say my #1 trait is persistence, resilience and naivety... (is that one?) I truly believed in what we do, I never ever doubted it, and I had fabulous support. Maybe my best trait is gathering an amazing team.. and aligning them to the vision

Q: Angela Sedran What's the most cost-effective way to get your brand out there?

A: Hi Angela, The best way to get 'it' out there, cost effectively, is to deliver an exceptional customer experience. The cheapest and most authentic marketing is having other people talk about you. And they will in spades if they have something worth talking about.

Quite happy to answer any questions... so do keep them coming

So week commencing 30 August 2010

Monday : Presentation on Employee Engagement for Hudson

Tuesday : Presentation on Leadership for NAB

Wednesday : Business roundtable with Barry O’Farrell Leader of the NSW opposition

Thursday : Travel to Bay of Island NZ

Friday : Presentation on Business Growth for Morgo (A very prestigious New Zealand think tank conference, though it looks like I am the only female speaker – unusual)

Oh and in between times… of course we have many many Fathers day gifts to be delivered.

Recently I wrote about the disgrace of both major parties advertising and promotional campaigns  And clearly I was not alone in my alarm. There has been much commentary this week. In fact there is little else in the press. I have just watched the 4 independents at the National Press Club lunch - all with such varied ideas of what is next - what is the most important focus. I thought greatness came from focus, doing a few things well, and getting everyone aligned to the execution of the plan.

These until recently unknown independents (except for Katter) are now in a position to, not only impact the present leadership of the country but the future of the political system.

So there is a stale mate – policies and leadership in a precarious position. The much needed true tax reform, any mention of workplace relations, a technology and broadband strategy will be hard to formulate.

What does this mean for us out here in small business land, working hard, employing people, and paying our taxes – are we now going to operate in limbo land? We will just keep doing what we do and administrators will run the country.

Did we get what we deserved? The election we had to have? The people have spoken… we want clear leadership, articulated and funded policies. We want to be the great nation that we all work to be.

Out of the ashes clear leadership must rise… our leaders owe it to the people (and the businesses) (PS as I have always said - 'there is no power in hope' - 'hope is not a strategy'... enough of the infighting and faceless power brokers - let's look at the plan )

I am very curious to know your opinion on the impact for business?

Last trimester the whole company got behind a ‘Red Dawn’ theme. Everyone chipped in as we launched the new version of the website. Some wrote copy, others proofread, some tested or took photographs. It was the biggest project we have ever undertaken since our launch. It went smoothly – and we all celebrated.

This year it is all about ‘Growth’. Perhaps not in the obvious way you would consider – this theme will result in continued growth of revenue. (You can be assured that there is a fabulous celebration when we deliver beyond the plan.)
The real beauty of the theme (and what I am so excited about) is the whole theme is premised on the growth and development of each and every RedBallooner. With personal growth the business will grow too.

We have had a training and development budget every year since we have had a formalized employee experience function. Sometimes people are too ‘busy’ to use it.

We have put our peoples personal development at the centre of this year’s theme (and it is a full 12 month theme) with smaller ‘sprints’ at different times also based around the ‘Grow’ theme.

As part of each persons personal plan (the combined personal plans make up the company wide plan) there is dedicated 30 hours per trimester for personal growth. People are banking growth hours by completing many and varied educational activities. From being part of our ‘We Care’ volunteer program to online brain training. Reading from the RedBalloon library to attending lunch and learns. There is a list of 10 possible ways to earn ‘Grow’ hours.

Everyone is playing… and of course the teacher learns most from the students. What fun.

As a result I'm sharing what I am doing for the week. (Of course some weeks are more interesting than others… but even when nothing is on I am still reading, learning or meeting people.)

Well I thought I would give it a go. (Some would say I'm all over the show like a mad woman's breakfast..)

Monday - All Day judging session on the Voiceless Grants Committee

Tuesday – Meet with executives of Big W – to launch the  RedBalloon Father’s Day range in-store

Wednesday – Breakfast with Audette Exel – The most amazing business woman – Founder of Isis and the Isis Foundation

Thursday – Melbourne for a Business Round table meeting

Friday – Lunch with 550 – On a panel at the sold out Business Chicks Luncheon in Melbourne – Fellow speakers, Janine Allis founder of Boost Juice,  and Kristina Karlson founder – Kikki-K – We three retailers all have much in common – all of us also work with our partners.

Not a overly busy week - but plenty of variety....

I was watching ‘Top Gear ‘with my son (12) last night – and at every single ad break we were bombarded with political messages. My son would yell at the TV – ‘GO AWAY’ …. And I have to agree. I’m not an idiot, and to be shovelled bucket loads of scare mongering (by both political parties (and other lobby groups)… is simply atrocious. AND UN-AUSTRALIAN!

I am ashamed.

My last post was about authenticity of message. About being ‘real’ with our customers.

Where is the campaign in this election campaign? It seems like every political advertising execution is different! There is no consistency of creative. I know I am too young to remember ‘It’s Time’ – stickers, posters, radio, TV, flyers – complete blanket. Even ‘Kevin ‘07’ had some consistency.

My son thinks that our political leaders are a waste of space… he learned nothing! This was an opportunity to create a vision, to demonstrate a track record and dare I say it inspire us.

Did Obama use such tactics in his campaign? 

As a customer (ie a voter) I am absolutely appalled at the lack of creativity, lack of integrity, and lack of inspiration.

I want leaders I can believe in…. and authentic marketing would be a good way to get me to believe.

Dexter knows more about authentic communications than this. (Dexter's Twitter Page)

Real cut through comes from the authentic experience someone has of a brand.

At RedBalloon we just figure that rather than making ‘promises’ and ‘ trying to sell’ stuff – we will just let people know what we stand for.

I was very chuffed to read this blog post (well done team)

http://maloneyonmarketing.com/2010/08/10/using-real-australians-in-your-advertising-redballoon-vs-qantas-frequent-flyer/

Really, we are just a bunch of passionate people who are all focused on making sure that we deliver amazing experiential gifts…. We so understand that people have a choice and we are so appreciative when people choose us.

Marketing has come along way from the 1950’s – but the premise is the same – “I want to know that I am dealing with someone real - and what you stand for”

An employer brand is part of the powerful marketing mix in creating customer experience. If we think of company X favourably but then hear how poorly company X treats it’s people we think less of them. (I am not going to buy into the David Jones conversation here.)

I coined the phrase long ago ‘employees are the new customers’. – And this is how RedBalloon continues to operate.

Employees also may well be talking very favorably about their employer. This has fantastic authenticity and is very powerful. Insync and RedBalloon want to discover the impact of these conversations.

Who are the Australian and New Zealand Dream Employers? … Will there be 1000s of small businesses who all get a great mention or will it be the big corporations that get nominated. We are finding out - and I will blog the results.

I encourage you to have your say.. it will take about 3 minutes… and if you want to forward it on. This is a cover note that you could send with it.

Subject: Let the nation know; Are you Australia’s or New Zealand's Dream Employer?

Hi <contact name>

Are you a Dream Employer?

Insync Surveys and RedBalloon are launching a massive survey to over 100,000 people to find out the answer to this question.

As a supporter of your organisation, I wanted to give you a heads-up on this employer branding opportunity. The job market is becoming tougher for employers and this could be a great way to differentiate your oganisation in the marketplace. What’s best, it doesn’t cost you a thing.

Based on a public vote, we’ll find out which organisations are rated as Dream Employers in Australia and what makes them great.

If you’d like to put your organisation in the running, simply fill in the short five minute survey and share the survey link with staff and supporters to get them voting too.

Click here: http://www.dreamemployers.com.au/

Dream big: your organisation just might be crowned the Dream Employer for 2010…

Everyone who completes the survey will get a $30 RedBalloon gift voucher to use when spending over $129.  Also, two lucky people from Australia and New Zealand will win a $500 RedBalloon gift voucher to use on awesome experiences such as skydiving, DJ mixing lessons or spa treatments.

The winning organisations will be announced at a media event - giving national brand exposure and helping them attract and retain outstanding employees.   The winners will also be given a comprehensive promo kit which can be used to further enhance their employer brand.

The survey is open until Sunday 15 August so don’t just dream, get everyone on board today and aim for the winners list.

Good luck

So take a moment to give your organization some kudos... Start Survey