Years ago – at the very beginning of time (well it feels that long ago), we began to think about what RedBalloon could look like. I took my hard earned $25k and visited a web developer. $25,000 later I had a very average website with no content management system. The site was ‘framed’ and even worse, not hosted. For many entrepreneurs, technology is their Achilles’ heel. And I was no different. What I had was a business idea, and from…
Tag Archives: trust
A 360 degree view of the holistic life
Looking at one’s spirituality and how it impacts each area of one’s life is not necessarily something I think about a lot. But as I launch headlong into inspiring people to thank five people a day …. I am researching and learning more and more about the impact this can have in every area of our lives: personally, family, business and community – perhaps even the planet too. I have just listened to a Dandapani at the Entrepreneurs Organization conference…
What would you pay for better customer service?
The American Express Global Customer Service Barometer found that Australian’s will pay more – in fact up to 12% more if that just got better service. Apparently we are among the unhappiest customers in the world. I find this interesting given that Gallup has been telling us for years that we have the second most disengaged workforce in the world – after the French. And guess what: An international study across 10 countries exploring public attitudes towards customer service has…
Seen yet unknown
As I fast approach the release of my next little book – and as I am putting the finishing touches to the new website to support it – I came across this new ad from Coke. Now as a marketer I admire any business that is able to cut through the clutter of advertising messages. In some ways this is an acknowledgement of all the people that do good deeds that are unnoticed and unknown. Let’s sing their praises and…
143 years to grow a brand – 1 day to destroy
Greg Smith’s open letter of resignation from Goldman Sachs that appeared in the New York Times last week has been devastating on many levels. Only with time will the real impact be revealed, however already billions of dollars have been wiped off its stock price, with clients deserting at a fast pace. It has been a public relations fiasco. The questions I ask are: what about the colleagues and co-workers who remain at Goldman Sachs, and what of its employer brand?…
The ‘success’ quiz.
I am often asked after speaking engagements “what is it like to be successful?” – I answer that ‘success’ is in the eye of the beholder – each person has their own definition, success is a personal notion; for some it is financial security – for others it is the depth of their friendships. I happened upon an old survey that I completed years ago. I’m not sure where it came from (as I had it in a spread sheet)…
Thank-you to all those I can no longer thank
I had the privilege of meeting Professor Fiona Wood (Australian of the year 2005). She shared with the 800 women at the Business Chicks event Melbourne (and the following day in Sydney) her journey, persistence and passions. She is fundamentally curious person with a passion for learning that is addictive. As a child growing up in Yorkshire, she heard her father say when she was just a small girl – ‘Who are we not to dream’ – even though he…
Thank you
‘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…
The 10 point Customer Excellence Checklist
I’ve been reading the book ‘Delivering Happiness’ by Tony Hsieh CEO of Zappos.com. There are a significant number of similarities between RedBalloon and Zappos. As CEOs we both wanted to create a place where we too wanted to work. We both believe in experiences over stuff, we both believe that the key to success of business this century is transparency, vision, values and alignment. And we both believe the company’s culture and the company’s brand are really just two sides…
Thoughts from a RedBalloon veteran
On Friday it was time to farewell an original RedBallooner – Sarah was with us in the very early days – and has seen the business grow from 9 people to its present 50. She has caught the entrepreneurial bug and started her own show a named ‘Lady Bug’ as a fully fledged interior designer. As I listened to Sarah’s farewell words, I felt so very very fortunate, knowing that every person at RedBalloon is what makes our culture. We…
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...
