Some years ago I wrote my first dream catcher list (bucket list) – A place to note all the things I wanted to do, be or even have during my life time. (Each RedBallooner is encouraged to share their dream catcher list with us too). Some of my dreams are more attainable than others (like belly laugh with my kids every day – this is very possible versus trek the Inca Trail – will take far more preparation). One of…
Tag Archives: Gift Experiences
Five Ideas on hearth, home and harmony.
I was interviewed recently for an industry publication about my early days, family and getting ahead…. I thought I’d share my answers. Q1: You say on your website that “life is the sum of our experiences, not our belongings”. So can we have some thoughts on another sort of experience, the experience of buying a home to live and raise a family. What can you tell us about your experience of the first home you purchased? A1: I bought my…
What I wish I knew… about well being
I wrote earlier this week about the findings the New Economic Forum gives us on developing our own well being – and five steps to getting people to ‘flourish’: Connected Be Active Take Notice Keep Learning Give Interesting that I read Marty Wilson blog with interest as he describes the importance of creating ‘space’ for the most important person in your life (your partner).. also how we so often take the person closest to us for granted. But if we…
How to flourish!
Flourish is such a delightful word… it makes me think of growth, vibrancy, and excitement; such a positive word. During the research for my recent TEDx presentation – I listened to the headmaster of my daughters school speak of the work by the New Economic Forum… and of course when I heard him say that one of the ways to improve our own well being is to be a gift giver – I wanted to know more. I discovered for…
Generosity Gene – TEDx 24 March 2010
Some weeks ago I shared my challenges in preparing for a presentation for the TEDx Darling Harbor event. I ended up delivering what was on my mind – what drives my, that is what I want to change. The presentation could be no more than 18 minutes, (which is a challenge in itself) and also needed to be the first time presented (so if you have ever seen me speak – this content you have not seen before). Effectively the…
Super Saver….
My colleague Sarah joined RedBalloon on April Fools Day in 2004 – she is fast approaching her five year anniversary. With any special occasion it gives us a moment to reflect. I’m sure Sarah could share much better than I about the changes she has experienced at RedBalloon…and the ones she has championed. She was the RedBallooner who coined the name ‘Pleasure Relations’ for instance. One thing that has not changed at RedBalloon is our values and how we celebrate…
An Amazing Experience
This is my ninth RedBalloon Christmas… And so far it has been the most exhilarating. The numbers are way up on last year. All the planning, preparation and investment means that things seem to be going smoothly. No chaos. The team has it all in hand. We are so much bigger now that there are people to do all the right things at all the right times. Our retail locations, at Myer, Target, Dymocks and Westfield Bondi and Chatswood are…
Leaving Home.
In the past eight years since founding RedBalloon, we’ve created several businesses along the way and they all have lead to other greater things. One of the businesses that we invented was to solve a particular ‘problem’ that we had at RedBalloon – some 30% of our customers are self purchasers, another words they really like the activities we offer and want to do them themselves. Friday afternoons were frantic as people called our customer experience team wanting to know…
Where does the entrepreneurial drive come from?
Probably one of the questions that I get more than ever is ‘How?’ How did you come up with the idea? How do you do it? How do you stay passionate? The question that drives me though is ‘Why?’ It is the why I do what I do which makes me bound out of bed every day (even in the ninth year). I was interviewed recently for by Andrew Warner from Mixergy who interviews entrepreneurs from all over the planet…
Secret Millionaire Chapter 2
My life as an undercover volunteer Secret Millionaire – Channel Nine 9.30pm 29 Oct 2009 Episode Four: Features Naomi Simson I sit here in my bed in a motel on a GoldCoast highway which seems a million miles from home – I can hear the traffic and my neighbors. It’s not so bad, just different – I wake up the first morning away from my family to that feeling of ‘where am I’ and then the realization -’oh that’s right…
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...
