On day one in the new job, a CEO finds 3 letters written by their predecessor on their desk. The first letter is clearly marked “Letter 1 – read this first!”. The CEO opens the first letter… “Dear sir or madam” the letter read, “Many congratulations on your appointment. I wish you all the...Read More
A sleazy chat-up line live on TV from T20 cricketer Chris Gayle to a female sports reporter was all the news this week, but in all the analysis, defensive and offensive, something seemed to be missing: a clear definition of the crime he was committing… Sexism. Sexism is prejudice, stereotyping or discrimination against women, on...Read More
For the past 55 years, every Australia Day, the ‘Australian of the Year’ is announced, usually by the Prime Minister in a ceremony outside Parliament House. It’s become a major occasion, and is televised. The Award was originally designed to bring some deeper meaning and a focal point to Australia Day itself. These days the...Read More
So it’s half time. You are behind by a goal (or a basket, or a stroke …). You take a breather, reassess your situation and fire yourself up for the second half. And what happens? More than likely, you end up winning. Much has been spoken of the emotional half time Churchillian speech from the coach, an inspired...Read More
On Friday I attended an Economic Outlook breakfast, hosted by RSM, with NAB chief economist, Alan Oster. Here are my notes… it’s more positive than you might have guessed (which was the main take away.) The headline is that there will be no recession in Australia in 2016, continuing an amazing 24 year run for our economy. Basically,...Read More
Last week I spoke about catastrophe theory, and the way things can go belly up pretty quickly, from a seemingly impregnable position. It can happen in business (think Kodak, Blockbuster, Australia Post..) and sport (countless examples – including the French golfer who blew up in the last at Carnoustie in 1999). It can happen in...Read More
There’s no doubt that most of business, sport and life generally is played in the mind. What fascinates me are those moments of madness, when what has gone before is seemingly irrelevant, and pressure leads to craziness. Take the incredible implosion of French golfer Jean van de Velde at the last hole of the British...Read More
I get to go to many business awards these days, many functions, and often (let me confess dear reader) they can rather blend into each other. But not the one I attended last Friday, the annual Wanneroo Business Association Awards. It was clear from the outset people were in a celebratory mood. The surrounds, the Bridgeleigh...Read More
For the fourth time, TED has come to town, or rather ‘TEDx’ – the independently organised TED event run by volunteers. As always, it was a sell out. I made it down by tea time to hear the last 3 speakers, and the chat around the Concert Hall was of another terrific day, full of eclectic...Read More
Google “I like lawyers” and the top results are articles such as “Why do people hate lawyers so much?” and “People like lawyers less than you think”. Even Google can’t find a positive result. It might be easy to knock them, but finding a good lawyer or accountant is critical to the success of any business. I...Read More
