WIth John Bowe (prior to my +200kmh hour laps at Wakefield)

Sometimes I do have to pinch myself – and say ‘wow’ because I do get to experience some absolutely amazing things. The weekend before last I was trialing ‘glamping’ on Cockatoo Island, Tuesday I got to experience the John Bowe V8 racing experience at Wakefield; in the evening I was at the Sydney Dance Theatre and met Rafael Bonachela- Creative Director and also the dancers after the performance of ‘2 One Another’ – which was an absolutely amazing expression of human creativity. I was completely engrossed during the 70-minute performance – it was simply breath taking.

Wednesday I did another one of our experiences in the morning – a photo shoot – in the evening I attended a pre-announcement Ernst & Young cocktail function at the Archibald’s – I was sure I had picked the winner – alas not.

I had several keynotes in Sydney – I particularly had great fun on Friday afternoon at the Australian Teleservices Assoc. lunch. We had a lot of giggles and really enjoyed ourselves… but wait there is more. On the weekend I was researching yet another ‘glamping’ experience – which was my perfect paradise… (I will be handing details to Georgia the RedBalloon category manager – because it is a must for RedBalloon)… and to finish off the week experienced the outdoor spectacular of La Traviata… Sydney harbor a spectacular backdrop to this very special performance – Emma Matthews voice was a show stealer. It really looked like the performers were loving the experience too.

I was asked twice this week in speaking engagements about how I coped with all the ‘work’ at start up phase of RedBalloon. The reality is that it is quite a blur now – but I do believe that if you love what you do – you never have to work another day in your life. (Is Confucius credited with that quote?)

I think last week I supported most aspects of the Sydney arts community – (as well as four RedBalloon experiences – which is part of my job).

This week is school holidays and I am planning to be far more settled – do some writing and planning.

Coming up this week:

Monday: One on one’s
Tuesday: Company meeting – (and daughter going for her learner’s permit – Argh)
Wednesday: Planning
Thursday: Corporate Planning
Friday: Easter – YAY

Reading – Abundance – by Diamandis and Kotler

End of year celebration for Kochie's Business Builders team

Last week at RedBalloon we were full of the joys of Christmas. The IT team hosted our final company meeting of the year and were massively creative with their festive theme ; including beaming in their colleague Dave from Perth to have him appear in a cut out Santa via Facetime – (I guess you had to be there).

As part of the planning process and moving my role to be Founding Director I needed to update my job description in line with our new format. This is the job description I came up with:

• Vision, values, alignment
• Strategy development and direction
• Spokesperson & Brand ambassador
• Mentor & coach, role model and sounding board (for RedBallooners throughout the business) – accessible daily
• Accountable for the brand experience – customer, employee and stakeholders  – accessible daily

I was sad to miss the launch of the book True Leadership by Lisa Rubenstein... the week got a way from me.

Though I did attend the Dell Women’s Entrepreneurship evening on Tuesday as well as attend the wonderful drinks function at the home of the founder of Anywhere Travel in Vaucluse (very special to be in someone’s home for a business event).

Thursday I delighted in sharing lunch at Fratelli Fresh in Bridge Street with many of the regulars of Kochies Business Builders TV program. I really enjoyed the vivid debate on many topics from retailers to interest rates.

And in between all that I was with customers both in email and on phones supporting our customer experience effort at this busy time. (So excited that we added close to 25,000 to our BHAG last week alone… YAY!)

This week

Monday: Lunch with Matha Stewart and Dinner with George Clooney… not quite – but we will see how the day pans out at the Growth Faculty Leadership conference.
Tuesday: Briefings for upcoming speaking engagements
Wednesday: Premier for the Mission Impossible in Melbourne
Thursday: Business Round Table in Melbourned
Friday: Writing, (or Customer experience emails)

Hair raising experience this one.

Okay so it is half way through the week and I’m just getting to my blog. It is Christmas after all and I think I am still recovering from last week.

My week did not go exactly as planned – but it did go to other peoples plan. My colleague had put a ‘speaking engagement at the airport’ in my diary. This was in fact a complete ‘set up’ – the team was playing a trick on me – they got me to the airport and RedBalloon extreme category manager Jay Bardon announces “Surprise we are taking you in a brand new Helicopter on one of our brand new experiences” – Exclusive to RedBalloon Night flight over Sydney (it was not actually night but that is a detail).

So within minutes of leaving the office thinking I will be presenting to a group of aviators – I’m taking the helicopter view of Sydney feeling very loved and very lucky that I have such an amazing team who don’t mind playing a few tricks on me…

In addition to doing my first ever gig as an MC for Voiceless, I was on the stage at the Ultimate Job event talking about the importance or purpose, as well as cheering on the Best Buddy pair of the year at Best Buddies day… Last week I touched or worked with six not for profit organizations in various capacities.

Christmas is in full flight at RedBalloon and as a result any spare moment I had I got in touch with many many customers as part of our ‘All hands on deck” approach to the customer experience. I found it quicker to pick up the phone and respond to a customer query in person. I got some pretty funny reactions when people said ‘is that really you?’ or classic ‘I wouldn’t have been so stroppy in my email if I thought you were really going to answer it.’

I continue to love being on the phone to customers. As did our marketing, IT, corporate and PR people – we enjoyed sharing the experience of being with our customer experience

'Retro' BBQ barefoot bowls bash

execs helping out with our Christmas, which meant by the time we got to the Friday afternoon ‘barefoot and bowls RedBalloon Christmas bash’ – we had plenty of stories to share and delight about. The team had chosen ‘retro’ as the theme.. which somehow transformed into an ‘80s’ theme. Why is it that I thought ‘retro’ was ‘60s’?

This week (in Sydney every day – amazing)

Monday: one on ones and Christmas at RedBalloon
Tuesday: PR Review and Company meeting
Wednesday: Book Launch ‘True Leadership’
Thursday: Lunch with David Koch
Friday: It’s all about the customer experience

Monday: Planning presentations from each team leader, and reviewing of business cases at the board meeting.
Tuesday: Finalising budgets and start the performance review process
Wednesday: Presentation for Aspire Women in Business Network Lunch, then have to dash to Melbourne for a business round table (Then large family dinner to celebrate my nephews 21st)
Thursday: Presentation for NAB women’s program – straight back to Sydney for the Ernst Young Entrepreneur of the Year dinner
Friday: Client review meetings and finalise plan, theme and budgets for the strategy.

(Saturday: the Collingwood vs Swans game at the stadium… )

Instead of writing a blog – requesting that you complete the 2011 Dream Employer Survey (please do though as it will take only 3 minutes); I am reflecting on the past week of fabulous experiences. To take a moment to breath and relive the extraordinary experiences we have available to us in this great country.

I have wanted to swim with Whale Sharks for more than a decade… and finally I got to tick that one off the list. The experience was everything that I imagined it might be. It was truly sublime to be drifting next to the largest fish on earth.  It puts life into perspective as you float in the warm current next to a seven-meter creature. Little is known about where they come from or migrate to. It is a moment to feel how small we really are – and that we are part of a massive eco system that is all inter reliant.

The sun has shone for the whole week – and the wind has blown. But with the wind behind us the three day – 30km kayak / camping trip along the Ningaloo reef was majestic.

All types of marine life came to greet us – turtles, manta-rays, sting rays, sharks, scores of fish, birds and dolphins. The reef was a seething mass of life – literally the ocean would be boiling with fish – the food chain in all its reality.

Camping on the beach, cooking what we caught, sleeping as soon as the sun went down. No contact with the world – I was amazed how quickly the days passed, how calm I felt, how I loved the silence of the bush and ocean (which are actually very noisy). How peaceful it was.

What wonderful RedBalloon experience partners we have.. and great to meet them in person.

I’m truly rested, grateful for being able to go on such a break, and will spend the next few days feeling appreciative of the beauty of an untouched piece of the planet.

Me in Mount Gambier - 1974

I met some wonderful people last week – In the Hunter Valley on Monday, mid week I was at The Entrance on the central coast and then I finished the week in Mount Gambier, South Australia.  I had such fun at each event. Having Friday evening with 150 energetic business people in Mount Gambier was a great night…I met so many authentic, community minded people – it was inspiring.

I spoke off the cuff about the ingredients to a successful business (purpose, persistence, people and passion) – and the audience was so generous, laughing loud in all the right places and sighing deeply at the touching moments. I felt honored to be there but also I felt truly appreciated. I know I made a little difference to the business community there.

A classic comment after the event… A woman came up to me and said ‘I have been watching your company for about 5 years and I really admire it – I was really scared that I would be disappointed with your presentation and you would be a “d—k head” thank goodness you aren’t – you did your business proud tonight.’ Real feedback on the importance of being one’s self and authentic – it resonates so loudly about the organization I represent.

I am concerned though – simply being everywhere for everyone is not sustainable long term. I know I am fortunate to be in the position to contribute to so many people – but I have to be a bit more effective on how I do it.  This week we will be making a few changes at RedBalloon, setting up ready for the execution of the 2012 plan.  My role will change too – as I want to increase the impact that I have on the community that has been so generous to RedBalloon.

This week in addition to attending the Australian Human Resources Industry conference, I will be at a strategy day as part of my role on the board of Best Buddies. We will have a companywide lunch on Tuesday – I will have a regular day of one on one’s on Monday. Mid week I am on holidays for a week in Exmouth – WA. I am going to tick one thing off my bucket list – Swimming with Whale Sharks . Then we will go on a Kayaking trip. I’m unplugging for 7 days. No iPhone or Mac; a great chance to think, contemplate, evaluate, and listen.

Reading: The Thank you Economy by Gary Vaynerchuck

I was reminded this week that more than 50% of women over the age of 45 have less than $8000 superannuation – which means no matter what, they will be dependent in their old age, either to a partner, family or the state. I think we need to consider how we can continue to have women contribute to their superannuation even if they have a career break for a few years while they raise children. Flexible work places spring to mind.

Great to hang out with the team and race on the Harbor on Friday evening in the America’s Cup Yachts (a new experience coming to RedBalloon). So much fun.

This week:

Monday: Goldwell state conference – Sunshine Coast Queensland

Tuesday: RedBallooner newbies breakfast (with buddies) and  a Lunch and Learn  for the team at RedBalloon with Roger Montogomery

Wednesday: RedBalloon board Meeting

Thursday: RedBalloon strategic offsite

Friday: Telstra awards Cardinia Victoria

Reading What makes us tick by Hugh MacKay

So I had a bit of a giggle when I discovered how the Marketing Team had taken this particular value to ‘heart’ (no pun intended) in the  latest Valentine’s Day campaign “WIN a date with our work mate” featuring our head of marketing Kristie and you’ll understand why.

They chose to spare a thought for the eligible bachelors out there this Valentine’s Day who don’t yet have a date and give them the chance to go on a RedBalloon style date with the fabulous Kristie.

The creative really does represent who we are (is this taking employee engagement too far?) oh and gentlemen… start your keyboards!

Here’s the link to the Facebook campaign (and to enter)

Clearly you will want to share this will all those single men that you know enter. It could be fun!

‘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 we do – and believe in their own people and choose to recognize them with a RedBalloon gift.

I thank the experience supply community who every day deliver experiences and fulfill on our promise of providing fabulous things to do.

I thank our other suppliers, like Bluefire, PwC, Westpac, Qantas and Telstra (and many others)– these big businesses who’s services mean that we operate smoothly and efficiently.

I thank the many marketing partners and agencies we work with – who understand our vision and believe in the dream

I thank our retail distribution partners including Australia Post, Coles, Woolworths, Myer, Big W and Target who are trying something different in store

I thank the 300,000 customers who came on-line in 2010 and purchased an experience gift for someone special (and reduced the clutter on the planet in the process.)

I thank those who are dear to me; my family, friends and fellow business leaders who never tire of my enthusiasm and energy.

I thank most deeply my colleagues past and present – who make RedBalloon the vibrant, fun and amazing place that it is to be.

And I thank the RedBalloon leadership team who constantly steer the ship – executing the plan and keeping all aligned – tirelessly.

Together we have created something… The dream of changing gifting in Australia forever is well on track….

Thank you! Thank you for believing moment by moment that it is absolutely possible; that what people want more than anything is special moments with those people who are important to them.

“For your thoughtfulness and generosity, from you I have learned much of life’s philosophy – Thank you sincerely.” – Author Unknown