The only thing that is constant in my life is being on the move. I was asked by LinkedIn to share ‘where and how’ I work… Maybe this request was inspired by Marissa Mayers demand for the Yahoo employees to stop telecommuting and come to the office. [I think she may well have been taken a little out of context. I know the importance of feeling a part of the team – and if I am out and about the…
Tag Archives: Business Growth
Coming up this week 21 Jan 2012
I am finally back in the office after a wonderful three weeks enjoying the Australian summer with the family on the Central Coast. Apart from writing a blog or two I completely relaxed- did a crossword, played totem tennis and my 14 year old son completely thrashed me at chess… Now I am ready for a big, bright and happy 2013 at RedBalloon. According to my diary this week: Monday: one on one’s in the office Tuesday & Wednesday: Client…
Eight things that have disappeared at work
I started my career bright-eyed and bushy-tailed – committed to doing my best work – armed with my very precious degree – and now years later, I have been accused of starting a ‘namby pamby’ employment revolution… and I am impatient to influence the ‘happiness at work’ movement to a greater degree. As I reflect on my own quarter of a century (that is only 25 years) in the workforce, I see that already there is much to celebrate in…
The four forgotten elements to a turn around
It is not often that I get to listen to a big business guy talk about his trials and tribulations inside a global business. I know that I often felt frustrated when I worked in big business – I just didn’t think I could make a difference. I found it refreshing to listen to Bill Pulver (now CEO of Appen Butler Hill) but long term career guy with ACNeilsen / Netratings. I wondered what I would do with a business…
10 tips to transform workplaces
More than three-quarters (77 per cent) of employees would consider leaving their organisation if they weren’t recognised for their contribution, and one in four are already actively seeking a new job or intend to in the next three months according to the more than 4000 people who responded to the recent RedBalloon for Corporate survey. Managers receiving the bulk of the criticism, with 44 per cent rated “very poor”, “poor” or just “satisfactory” at delivering praise; three quarters of employees…
The state of eCommerce in Australia
I attended a eBusiness round table this week… below is a list of things that I gleaned from the presentations LoSoMo = the trend towards Local Social and Mobile The internet represents a $50b contribution to GDP in Australia (the same size as iron ore exports. 36.7% of all music sales are now done online The Google campaign with MYOB ‘Getting Aussie Businesses Online’ was considered a success – now about 50% of all Australian small businesses have an internet…
Three Wins for RedBalloon.
RedBalloon has had a wonderful week of celebration by winning three prestigious awards. Whilst there are many businesses far larger than us, doing amazing things – it is such an honor to be on the same stage as those businesses. Could small be the new big? What could large businesses learn from us about absolute commitment to the employee experience – and as a result the customer experience. How wonderful to be recognized in this way. Last night I had…
Six Traits of Champion Entrepreneurs
Jack Cowen started his presentation at the EY Entrepreneurs workshop with a quote “An entrepreneur needs to be a cross between a microbiologist and an astronomer.” He believes that true entrepreneurs are special in that they can be both detailed and visionary. He was a judge in the EY Global Entrepreneur of the year program in Monte Carlo for 2010. It was a delight to have him in the room sharing his insights – not just from his own amazing…
Dancing in the conversation.
I don’t really like the word ‘networking’ – it implies something forced or not easy (I think the term should remain the domain of IT folks). I was recently at the EO conference in Amsterdam and one of my friends asked me if I was going to ‘network’ there – which made me cringe. I know people have said of me that “You’re a great ‘networker’!” I don’t necessarily think that I am, given that you will rarely see me…
Three online branding lessons
It seems that lately I am being approached by many people who are asking a similar question, “How did you do it?”. Obviously I write this blog so that I can share what I have learned which also means that people can dip into what they think is relevant for them whenever they choose. My initial reaction when people ask “how did you do it?” Is that it wasn’t ‘I’ … it was ‘we’. I have been fortunate that I…
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...
