Gillian's Blog

"The Pursuit of Happiness" by Retailer Chris Tourgelis

Click on the article below from The Australian Gift Guide to read some wise words by Chris Tourgelis owner of Opus Design in Paddington.

As a successful retailer he is aware of the hard decisions that need to be made in the current market environment. Retail in traditional stores will never be the same again- but there are so many opportunities out there, if people are open, creative and flexible in their thinking. To read more

CLICK ON THE ARTICLE BELOW TO MAKE IT LARGER

The Australian Gift Guide - www.giftguideonline.com.au

Opus Design Oxford Street, Paddington -  www.opusdesign.com.au

Westpac Women’s Markets RUBY- Lunch at Aria in Sydney

Larke & Rachael out did themselves yesterday with their business women’s networking lunch at Aria. Their guest speaker was Kim McKay.

This was a Ruby Connection Initiative. For women in business who want to know more, connect with others and learn, we suggest you look at the Ruby site and join.  http://rubyconnection.com.au/

If you want to be inspired, read more about Kim’s achievements and see how an intelligent, motivated risk taker with passion can make a difference.

About Kim

Kim McKay's international career in media, social marketing and communications spans over 25 years and every continent.  A highly skilled communicator and entrepreneurial marketer, Kim has created and managed many visionary and large scale international projects.

She was recognized by the Australian government for distinguished service to the environment and the community and was awarded an Order of Australia (AO), one of that country's highest civilian honours.  

She is currently a director of Momentum2, a Sydney based social & sustainability marketing consultancy working on local and global projects for National Geographic Society & Qantas among other clients.

Kim has worked consistently in support of the local and global environment for two decades starting when she co-founded Clean Up Australia and then later Clean Up the World with Australian of the Year, Ian Kiernan, AO.  Along with a group of friends, they were on a mission to raise awareness and take positive action in support of their local environment - the message that everyone can make a difference has been the driving theme behind her actions . . . . . . . . . . . .        For much about Kim more click

http://www.ovations.com.au/presenter_detail/kim_mckay/50163/1

SUSAN CAIN on the role of introverts in our culture.

Over Easter I had time to peruse TED.com and pick out talks that were not only relevant to our business - but also thought provoking.

 
The Quiet by Susan Cain

Susan Cain’s talk discussed how in US culture, being social and outgoing are prized above all else. It can be difficult, even shameful, to be an introvert. But, as Susan Cain argues in this passionate talk, introverts bring extraordinary talents and abilities to the world, and should be encouraged and celebrated.

 In creative businesses you are always looking into gaps and cracks to find the new and the different. Introverts very often find and deliver them because they had taken the time to quietly reflect and synthesise ideas and opportunities.

 More about Susan Cain her books and her ideas.

http://www.thepowerofintroverts.com/about-the-author/

 Susan's TED talk on You Tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0KYU2j0TM4

A good read - The Australian Moment by George Megalogenis

We have read, and been interested in George Megalogenis’s latest book. If you are in business it provides an historical perspective on the underpinnings of our government beyond the hype of the mass media. Reflection on the key levers of the past provide understandings that most people fail to think about.

“There's no better place to be during economic turbulence than Australia. Brilliant in a bust, we've learnt to use our brains in a boom. Despite a lingering inability to acknowledge our achievements at home, the rest of the world asks: how did we get it right?

He examines how we developed from a closed economy racked by the oil shocks, toughed it out during the sometimes devastating growing pains of deregulation, and survived the Asian financial crisis, the dotcom tech wreck and the GFC to become the last developed nation standing in the 2000s. As a result, whatever happens next, we're as well positioned as any to survive the ongoing rumblings of the Great Recession.

Drawing on newly declassified documents, fresh interviews with our former prime ministers and a unique ability to bring the numbers to life, Megalogenis describes how, at just the right time, the Australian people became more farsighted than our politicians. We stopped spending before the rest of the world, and at the top of a boom voted out a government that was throwing around the biggest bribes ever offered.

The Australian Moment is packed with original insight, challenging our often partisan selective memories and revealing how our leadership and community have underestimated each other's contribution to the nation's resilience.”

 George Megalogenis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2C4x46F0n0&feature=player_embedded#!

http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/meganomics/index.php

Products you love and use.

Corban & Blair frames being made in New Zealand.

This is a reminder about something we take for granted. We know the products offered on ETSY http://www.etsy.com/ are hand made. BUT many, many other products we consume are also. As an example all Corban & Blair products are made by hand.  

Thought, design and effort have gone into getting our items to you. They are handmade in Australia, China and New Zealand.

Someone in a factory workplace has painstakingly cut, pieced, glued or sewn your item together- for you to consume.

For this reason we should place more value on what we buy and use.  Give thought, to how it has managed to get to you. It is a logistical and personal process- with hard work and long hours.

BUSINESS VALUES FOR A NEW CENTURY - Tom Peters

I was reminded of these business values  (list below) written by Tom Peters in 2006, by a business colleague. They are an excellent bench mark to build exciting and sustainable businesses.

If we were are able to maintain these attitudes in our businesses processes we would be more successful and our people resources more empowered. See his latest book. The Little Big Things.

http://theharperstudio.com/authorsandbooks/tom_peters/the-book/the-little-big-things/

BUSINESS VALUES - A REMINDER WE CAN MAKE WORK A GREAT PLACE TO BE

1. Do fabulous work and be known for our innovativeness

2. Attract exciting people - more than a few of whom are a little offbeat.

3. Raise hell. Constantly question "the way things are done around here" and never, ever rest on our laurels.

4. Make sure those who leave us, voluntarily or involuntarily, can testify to having learned a lot, having had a special experience and having made fast friends, while they were here.

5. Have a collegial, supportive, yeasty, Zany, laughter-filled environment where folks support one another and politics is as absent as it can be in a human (ie:imperfect) enterprise.

6. Ensure that no question or innuendo ever surfaces about our ethics.

7. Dot the I's, cross the t's, answer the phones promptly, send out errorless invoices and in general, never forget that the devil is in the detail.

8. Work with exciting customers (and other partners) who turn us on and stretch us, from whom we can learn and with whom we enjoy associating (and who pay their bills on time, too)

9. Take in substantially more money than we spend (where spending includes above-average compensation and a very high level of investment in the future.)

10. Grow by creating pioneering, top quality service and attracting innovative clients, not via growth for growth's sake

Tom Peters June 2006

A helpful little book called BIFF by Bill Eddy

I was given BIFF by a friend who thought it would be useful in the day to day running of a business – and yes it is. Much of it common sense, but Bill Eddy sets out the steps for having meaningful conversations with difficult individuals in a way that makes sense. He illustrates his ideas with lots of examples.

BIFF stands for BRIEF, INFORMATIVE, FRIENDLY & FIRM follow this as a guideline and you will more than likely get the outcome you require.

“We live in an age of rapid change and instant communication. We also live in a Culture of Blame and Disrespect. Managing your responses to high-conflict emails, texts, letters, and social media meltdowns is imperative.  A BIFF response can be applied in any communication anywhere - on the Internet, in a letter or in person. It can be used at work, earning you respect and success. It can help you get along with difficult family members, friends, neighbours and others anywhere in your life. BIFF was designed to protect you and your reputation by responding quickly and civilly to people who treat you rudely - while being reasonable in return. BIFF stands for Brief, Informative, Friendly and Firm. A BIFF response is easy to remember, but hard to do. It takes practice! This little book gives over 20 examples of BIFF responses for all areas of life - plus additional tips to help you deal with high-conflict people anywhere.  See if you can do a BIFF! Not everyone can!”

Bread Making & Business

Business is not always about products, cash flow and strategy. Some times making things for people and treating them - is also important.

Recently I learned to make No-Knead Bread- which I have to say is easy and tastes great.

Our accountant who is on a weight loss program was very impressed when I made him fresh from the oven, a special wholesmeal loaf to fit his nutrition program. Business people can do anything if it tastes good!!!

Recipe: No-Knead Bread Adapted from Jim Lahey, Sullivan Street Bakery

Forum: Cooking and Recipes

1 ½ cups 00 bread flour, more for dusting

1 ½ cups spelt bread flour, more for dusting
¼ teaspoon instant yeast
1¼ teaspoons salt

1 5/8 cups water

Time: About 1½ hours plus 14 to 20 hours’ rising.

1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 cups water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours - 18 hours

2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Put back in the bowl and cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 2 hours.  When it is ready the dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.

4. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a heavy covered pot or bread tin (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in the oven to heat.

5. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot/tin from oven. Slide the dough into the pot or bread tin, seamside up; it may look like a mess, but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes.

6.Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned.

7.Cool on a rack.   Yield: One 1½-pound loaf.

 

Enjoy- anyone can do this.

True Grit Performance- an event in Brisbane next week

Its always useful to look at new ways to inspire and motivate new ideas and ways to do things.

More information contact info@truegritperformance.com

Mike Walsh- Futurist

I was recently recommended to look at the work Mike Walsh. He is a dynamic and high energy presenter, blending a multimedia feast of video, high impact visuals and mind blowing case studies of innovation from his personal experiences in cutting edge global markets. Whether a conference, strategy offsite or an intimate boardroom discussion. Mike's presentations act as a powerful catalyst for innovation, strategic planning and brand inspiration. He is CEO of the consumer innovation research agency Tomorrow and is a leading authority and keynote speaker on the digital future. Constantly traveling the world for the best ideas – Mike curates the most relevant insights into high impact keynotes that allow audiences to not only understand, but also influence the future direction of their industry.

http://www.mike-walsh.com/