Goals for women
IF Naomi Simson‘s goal is to get more women on boards, she should start by not denigrating the role of parenting. ?The women’s movement has failed in what should have been a prime goal — to recognise and elevate the role of caring — whether it is for young children, the disabled, or the aged.? We have a highly feminised carer workforce languishing at the bottom of the pay scale, and capable women facing difficulties returning to the workforce after having ‘wasted’ years bringing up children.

Instead of supporting these women, high profile businesswomen such as Simson compound the problems by categorising the role of parents and carers as something that fails to contribute to society. ?I can’t think of a better way to contribute to society than raising healthy and confident children. I can’t think of a better way to hone organisational skills, to understand your own strengths and weaknesses and to learn patience and levelheadedness. ?It is time that powerful women took the lead in elevating the role of parenting, and promoting it as an asset rather than a hindrance to a career.

Brigitte Dwyer, Sandgate, Qld

I was glad to hear from Brigitte, because her letter highlights the emotions around the issue of gender and women’s role in the workplace. I do not denigrate the role of parenting. Nor have I ever said parents or carers fail to contribute to society. Parenting and teaching are one of the greatest contributions we can make, and I concur with Brigitte that the pay scales are not commensurate with the important role all carers play. What my article in The Australian was attempting to highlight was how hard it can be for women to contribute back to society through the workplace once they have had children.

Mixing business and family - sharing the journey with my daughter at the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2011

The point I make is all about choices. The reality is – currently – after the birth of a second child it becomes even more difficult for parents to manage the expense of childcare and maintain a career. Not everyone has the financial freedom to choose not to take paid work once they become a parent. And while parenting teaches you so many valuable lessons about yourself and your organizational skills, it may not give you the outlet to practise the vital medical skills you studied long and hard for when you specialized in oncology because that is a passion you hold outside of your role as a parent. That is the point: many parents want the flexibility of staying connected to their chosen field because they personally feel that connection helps them be better parents, feeds their passions as well as helping financially.

Brigitte – thank you for adding to the debate. There is no easy answer, and each family has their own set of circumstance. What we seek are choices that work financially. One of my most precious roles is that of mother. But I know I can be a great mother experiencing the joy of parenting as well as working – after all, I started my own business so I could do that.

What one event in your past has shaped your present?

I have learned just as much from poor managers as I have from great ones. The reality is that there is gold in every experience we just need to have the clarity of mind and commitment to listen for it. I worked at Ansett during deregulation and the pilots dispute in the late 80s – it was tough times in aviation – but when I watched how senior leaders treated subordinates I was truly abhorred. I could not understand how a General Manager could walk through an airport without even looking at anyone in the eye. Business, after all is about building great relationships. People want to believe that they are part of something bigger than themselves – they need leaders that they can believe in. It was a wonderful lesson early in my career – even though it made me angry and disillusioned at the time – I committed to myself “when I’m running the show it will be different.”

Part of the RedBalloon journey - Version 4

If I knew then what I know now, I’d…

It might have been handy to know a little about the Internet, web development and hosting before I launched a website in 2001. I just went into it completely blindly – believing those technical people both outsourced and later employees – each individual telling me ‘what was right’ for RedBalloon. And I naively believed them. It took many years before I was able to establish a group of ‘IT mentors’ that I could bounce ideas off – to validate what I was being told. It has been a painful and expensive journey to build an enterprise level website, and the team to deliver it.

No pain no gain they say – and now we have had a stable, productive and committed team for some years. The difference is immense.

An early photo of Jemma and I circa 2006...

The ideal scenario is that we start a business that is highly successful, that has a unique place in its market and that continues to innovate to meet changing market needs. Others often regard our success in these terms.

But there is very much a personal side to the building of the business. It obviously takes effort, ideas and persistence. Whether a founder of a business or a manager or team member… at a personal level we all want to contribute to something larger than ourselves. Ideally we want to leave a legacy – to have made the world a better place in some way – it gives us our sense of purpose.

Our job as founders is also to know when to get out of our own way. And for many (including myself) we often cannot see this – which means we rely on strong people around us to hold up the mirror. It is now been four years since Jemma was appointed General Manager – and with every year that has passed I stepped further away from the day to day operations. I was still in the business, leading, mentoring and building external relationships because as I have always said my job is about ‘vision, values and alignment.’

Ultimately however, the business must grow beyond the capabilities and personality of the founder. It must be an entity in it’s own right – not dependent on any one person (even its leader.)

One of the most confronting things to deal with is when is the right time to pass the reins to someone else (how can I trust them – what if they don’t do things how I like them to be done?)

In Built to Last, Jim Collins writes extensively about the ability leaders of great businesses to choose the successor. And organizations that choose a successor from within are likely to be more successful than organizations, which choose from external people.

I find myself personally in a very fortunate position. To have a colleague who is gifted, talented and prepared to take over the CEO title at RedBalloon and really on a day to day level not much will actually change – in fact it is business as usual, but we’ve made Jemma ‘officially’ CEO. What a delightful position to be in – to have worked with someone for more than eight years… this means that I know very well her strengths, talents and aspirations. And of course the shared sense of values makes such a decision easier.

This is the next step in my personal entrepreneurial journey. To have the independence to work on some other things (eg the next book, board roles).. but I get to do what a love for RedBalloon as Founding Director which is building external relationships through my speaking, blogging and other media activities.

The dream is coming true.

I also did a video interview with Robert Gottliebsen for Business Spectator – which I think will appear next year.

The RedBalloon Marketing Team hosted the company meeting – with much Christmas jocularity. (Thanks Kristie (tree) Joel (Santa) – many splendid gifts and of course Joy (the elf)

Coming up this week

It is all about making sure everybody has fabulous experiences ready and under the tree for Christmas Day (I love being a 24/7 business though – even on Christmas Day we will be delivering fabulous gifts via email (for anyone who has that last minute perfect gift requirement).

I will be offsite as I begin to research, structure and start work on the next book…

Planning spaces – rather than places as RedBalloon grows into the bigger part of the campus.

I guess I question if this entrepreneur is reading or learning anything. One thing that Verne Harnish is noted as saying ‘the entrepreneur that learns the most wins’ – as the leader of an organization we simply cannot stay stagnant – or operate in the past.

In the last few weeks I have read three more books that have further inspired me to stay completely committed to the team.

1. People have a choice.

Learning from Dan Pink in his book Drive: that Motivation comes from peoples experience of autonomy, mastery and sense of purpose – that carrot and stick incentives are a thing of the past.

2. It is so not about us.

From Keith McFarland in the Breaktrhough Company I reconfirmed my belief that a leader is there to serve his or her employees – to take roadblocks out of the way, that they are the custodians of something much bigger than themselves.

3. Generosity is the reward in itself…

In The Power of Nice by Kaplan Thaler and Koval., (which I found sad). These New York women are trying to expound the virtues of common courtesy. Unfortunately they say ‘being nice to people and you will get returns’. The idea of doing something nice – not for the sake of being generous, but because it will pay you back. I find this tragic, because ultimately it is still based on greed and betterment. The real meaning of nice is when we do things or say things without any agenda, other than wanting to make a difference to another human being.

Dear friend – I know you are sad because you invested greatly in your role at significant personal hardship. You gave your love to that business – probably more than the owner himself. You lived, learned and this time lost – the question is what would you do differently next time?

It is the same in business, whether we are a team member, or leader…. We need to be able to see what is possible – to learn from others and be inspired by what others have learned and achieved.

If these yoga practitioners’ dismissed me, or looked at me condescendingly (if I was not accepted and included for who I am) then by nature I would not want to participate – and I would either go elsewhere or give up.

Leaders have a responsibility to bring people with them on their journey – to share their ability and their insights – to encourage those setting out in the early stages of their career – or people wanting to grow and develop – no matter their age.

More than anything we need role models in our lives… and no matter what our chosen field is – there is always someone we can give a helping hand to – and others that we can learn from.

Add your story.

This past week was such a rush – crammed so much in, but I would hate to be bored. Coming up this week we will kick off Trimester 2 at RedBalloon. We are into our people reviews, the plan has been signed off, personal promises are being finalised – and the theme is set to be launched. We will wrap up the Dream Employers report and publish the video of the press conference. I’ll be sad to miss the company lunch on Tuesday, but will be back in time for the company lunch and learn on Wednesday.

This Week

Monday: Meetings in Melbourne and a networking lunch with 30 business people

Tuesday: Attending the 150th Melbourne Cup at Flemington Race Course

Wednesday: Lunch and Learn with the team – all about online at the ABC with Michael Ebeid

Thursday: Several Meetings with clients & review the stories people are writing

Friday: Attend the Customer Experience team meeting and then head to Guinganna in Queensland with Georgia from the RedBalloon Product team

Visiting a health retreat will definitely be ‘mixing business with pleasure’.

In the video below you will see many of the team  – but particularly we ask Megan ‘What is our engagement secret?’

Values Session at AFR Leadership Conference

This past week disappeared quickly – I enjoyed attending the AFR leadership conference. I noted one of the other guests commented that the female speakers share stories and let you inside their businesses – whilst the male speakers tell you what to do… quite a vast contrast in the quality of the speakers. I especially enjoyed the session on values by Karynne Courts, Executive Director, Values Connection

I had several meetings at Qantas – one regarding the dream employer survey results which was interesting. In Sydney all week this week.

This week.

Monday: One on One meetings + a fire side chat with Christian von Daniels

Tuesday: Speaking for the CEO Institute and PwC evening event with Rachel Argman from Toga Hospitality

Wednesday: RedBalloon leadership monthly review meeting

Thursday: Zappos all hand conference call, Telstra Business Women’s Alumni lunch

Friday: Leadership training program all day and speaking at the NSW Police Womens Conference.

Christmas is fast approaching…

Email One

‘Hi,

Thanks for the email??.

Loved the little red book!?? My boss is actually a bit of a jackass (pardon my French)….and while reading the book all I was thinking was ”why can’t he do those kind of things for us…it’s so simple!!! “??I’m saving it for when I decide to quit – I’ll leave it on his desk to remind him of all the things he failed to do for his staff

Thanks again!’

Email Two

I got this email in response to my Seth Godin request to attend the 3 day event he is hosting – beautifully written for a reject letter – though not personalized.

‘Hi.

My eyes are red and my fingertips are blurry (or the other way around, I’m not sure).

After painstakingly reviewing 900 applications to pick just about 1% of them, I’m sorry to say that I couldn’t find enough room for everyone I wanted to include in my upcoming seminar.

This is a very clumsy process, and I hope you won’t confuse my quick choices with your odds of success… you guys are rock stars, and I’m sorry I couldn’t pick everyone.

Go, make something happen. And thanks for applying.

Seth’

Email Three

I get quite a lot of email from people looking for guidance as they start out in their own business. Here is just one example…

‘Hi Naomi,

I have been following your blog for some time, along with utilizing your site on occasion!

After re-reading about the path you took to get where you are now, it motivated me to write this small request to you.

I have been having trouble getting NAB to get their heads around the concept of my new business and would really like any assistance, as to what your model is, or which bank you have used etc.

I would love to hear from you soon!

It really is a great story you have, I must get my self a Spoodle!!’

[FYI my brief response -

We were very fortunate that we had a long and preexisting relationship with our bank.... and we have had the one banker for more than 10 years. Much of business is all about good relationships... and the bank being an essential part of that.

I can introduce you to a Westpac business banker via my network if that helps - otherwise you will just have to put your woo hat on.... until you find someone who get's you.]