My wee brain has been in overload this week – learning as much as I can… I have an insatiable appetite for knowledge, to learn and discover new things. I find that when I am with people who also have an inquiring mind that conversations get vivid and very interesting. This week I attended the Marcus Evans CMO event in the Gold Coast – and in ‘only GC style’ – they managed to send a stretch limo just for little…
Tag Archives: Business Growth
Five lessons from legendary brands
I’m at the Marcus Evans CMO (chief marketing officer) Summit on the Gold Coast – listening, and learning. Richard Sauerman – told us today he ‘does not want to tell us how to suck eggs’. Marketers speaking to marketers you’d want to stay away from the basics here. We are all looking for something new, interesting or at least entertaining. Richard implored the audience of senior marketers to understand the great human need – people want understanding, connection and empathy….
Three lessons in sustainable success
I had the delight of my colleague Jemma (RedBalloon GM) sharing with me her insights from the former CEO of McDonalds Australia, Peter Ritchie who started back in 1973 as McDonald’s Australia’s first ever employee and the first employee outside of North America. He shared with us is long journey (32 years with the brand) and the lessons he learned along the way. She tells me he had a wonderful and very simple story about the growth of the brand…
Taking a Stand in Marketing
As part of our Grow theme (see previous post) RedBalloon is hosting a series of ‘Lunch and Learns’ internally for our people. Our first speaker for the season was Daniel Gregory (creative director Smart Agency –also known for his regular spot on The ABCs Gruen Transfer). Fabulous to hear about some of the great campaigns he has worked on – to hear about the brief, which creates the advertising seen by all. ‘The workings of a creative mind.’ Dan demonstrated…
Pitch it
Finding the perfect match in the employment dating game is a challenge for both parties. It is made so much easier when you really get to know a candidate – when they take time to woo the potential employer. At RedBalloon we often receive amazing applications. From a balloon in a box, a rubber hand in a box with a note ‘I’d give my right hand to work at RedBalloon’ (a bit macabre), mock up of a CV in html…
Coming up this week.
I am still in the Bay of Islands and thinking about the week just past. Three speaking engagements, I got to speak to HR professionals, Bankers, and Entrepreneurs… it is such a privilege to meet all these new people. At the Morgo think tank, my presentation was to follow a Sean Gourley who spoke on the Mathematics of War. A Rhodes scholar he has dedicated the last seven years to determining the predictability of incursions… (well I think that is…
Questions…
Recently Business Chicks posted on its FaceBook page an open invitation ‘what would you ask an entrepreneur if you had the chance?’ Well that is para phrasing really… but I thought I would tak on answer the questions posed. 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…
Coming up this week.
I had a great time at the Business Chicks lunch this week. The photo is of Janine Allis, myself, Kristina Karlson (Congratulations on her EY Entrepreneur of the Year Southern Region win) and Natalie Bloom – who popped in to support the conversation. One of the questions from the audience was on mentoring – and I mentioned the 3 things that I ask a potential mentoree if I am approached. I invited the audience to contact me to find out…
Grow!
Each trimester at RedBalloon we galvanize the plan by announcing a theme. The theme is always based on what is the most critical thing for the business to achieve right now! 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 –…
Where is Naomi… this week
Speaking with my new RedBalloon colleague Philippa Lowe this week, she has joined the business to support the communications efforts. She asked me the obvious question ”What do you do in a week?” I mentioned what I get up to and she responded “well if I’m interested in what you are doing other people might be curious about your life as a professional speaker and entrepreneur.” As a result I’m sharing what I am doing for the week. (Of course…
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...
