One of the highlights and most challenging things I did last week was the final round of judging on the RedBalloon 10th birthday photo competition. The winners have been announced but I was in awe at many of the entries. I would have liked to spend the whole week just looking at the entries over and over – but alas I had a few other obligations. On Tuesday I was part of the Dream Employer Webinar (thanks for those people…
Tag Archives: Work life balance
The power of the mini break
Some weeks I am so busy when I fall into bed at night I can barely remember what I did that morning… yet I am no good to anyone if I rush around without making sure that I look after myself. Often I just need a few moments to myself to gather my thoughts during the day, whether it is taking a walk at lunch time – or patting Dexter dog. There is a big difference though between a little…
Coming up this week 5 September 2011
Well last week did not go exactly as planned. I managed to catch a lurgy that flattened me for the week. I know it is at least 10 years since I have had to take to my bed. I did not battle on – I simply cancelled everything. Sorry to all those inconvenienced but I am on the mend now. And it was much better keeping my germs to myself. I did pull myself together Friday and Saturday for two…
Coming up this week 18 July 2011
Last week I had the privilege of speaking for NICTA in Melbourne at their ‘Meet the Founder’ series. I did a podcast for Anthill magazine – and finalized plans and reviews to finish of FY 11. As well as enjoying the last week of school holidays with my every growing teenagers. This week I’m doing a breakfast series for the Optus technology series ‘Connecting your business to the Cloud’ in Sydney and Brisbane. We are having Cameron Herold visit RedBalloon…
Coming Up this week 20 June 2011
After a forced extra 2 days of holiday last week due to the ash cloud – I am finally back at my desk and excited by the days ahead. (It is after all the pointy end of the year.) 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…
Grateful for the noisy sounds of silence
I have found myself a few extra (unplanned) days in Exmouth WA – as all the planes are grounded. It is quite an interesting sensation to be given two extra days of holiday. I was already mentally making note of all the things that need to be done on my return, plans to be reviewed, evaluations to be done, budgets to be approved – it is after all only a few weeks to the end of the financial year. Instead…
Lessons in mega growth from China
To achieve mega growth – you best have a plan… I am in Beijing this week for an educational event. It is great to see first hand what we hear so much about in the media in Australia. The last time I visited Beijing was in 1986, only a decade after the Cultural Revolution, when tourists used a different currency – and there was no hot showers. Where I am now almost unrecognizable as the Beijing I visited 25 years…
Too Cute
As we head off for a five day break with the family I was delighted to receive the photo below from friends who have just welcomed their first child into the world… Truly delighted that young Sam is really ‘into’ his RedBalloon baby experience.
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…
Take note!
The New Economic Forum tells us that one of the five steps to well being is simply to take notice. To be truly present, to see, smell, experience life around us moment by moment; to truly listen, to really focus and be aware. In essence to smell the roses and appreciated what life presents us. I was sent this email last night – and it made me feel sad (see below). Why would we condition ourselves to not hear or…
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...
