You’re rushing to a city meeting. You hate being late. The traffic lining up to enter the freeway this morning is particularly heavy, and cars are inching their way, preserving their position, as you all shuffle forwards. At a traffic light, on red, you all stop. To your left side is a petrol station, from...Read More
Have a look around the world at the less democratic countries, and there you will see a neutered or government-controlled press. I was in a South-East Asian country last year on assignment, and the ruling government managed to put one of the main independent newspapers out of business declaring it had not paid its correct...Read More
Dear reader, before we forge headlong into another new year with all its promises and possibilities, let us extend the space and perspective gifted to us this time of year to ponder an unpleasant fact. Your typical Year 11 and 12 in WA may not take a Maths or a Science subject. Not only that,...Read More
Reverse psychology can be powerful. Be kind when friends stuff up and they’ll be shamed into doing better next time. Tell a family member “I’m fine!” through gritted teeth when clearing up and they’ll be honour bound to help. And so it goes with early stage (seed) capital raisings for startups. The best advice I was...Read More
A few weeks ago, I gave the address at the UWA graduation, 18 years after I had graduated there in the same hall. Here’s my speech… and here’s a link to watch (from the 16 minute mark of the night) Well, what an occasion. For those of you graduating tonight, smile, take selfies in your...Read More
I’ve not posted for a while. In fact, last month was the first time I’d not posted anything since I started this blog over five years ago. There are extenuating circumstances. As some of you will know, I left my CEO job last month, and June was spent finishing off some important tasks as well...Read More
Do facts matter anymore? The person who would go on to win the 2016 US Presidential election made statements that were true (or mostly true) only 15% of the time over the election cycle. His opponent’s statements were true or mostly true 55% of the time. Fake news was shared more than correct news. Last year, the...Read More
The World Wide Web conference, now in its 26th year, hits Perth this week. The last time it visited Australian shores, in 1998 in Brisbane, a certain unknown couple of Stanford PhD students with an odd-sounded company name presented a paper showing how they were going to revolutionise the world of online search. Yes, the Google...Read More
There’s a moment, a fleeting split-second, when you’re tested and everything suddenly seems on the line. It sharpens your focus. It’s now or never. Pressure on! Some people attempt sheer off the cuff bravado, roll the dice and get away with it (or not). Others stumble, nervously panic and whimper a little. Some seem to know what...Read More
I attended the graduation of the first cohort of WA Leaders the other night, and former military man and successful business owner Johnathan Huston (Croissant Express, Tint-a-Car) presented on the 10 most important principals of war. He claimed that these 10 principles were the same for business, and in order of importance are… 1. What is...Read More
