Have you read Stephen Covey, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People? Perhaps the most quoted (and mis-quoted) book title ever. If only it were read half as often as it’s mentioned! The sixth habit is “synergise”. Covey provides his own paraphrase for synergy: creative cooperation. It’s the crowning achievement...
Overcoming Business Isolation: Strategies for Growth & Collaboration
It can be a very lonely gig, being in business for yourself. I know, I’ve been down that rabbit-hole. You can feel your energy and creativity drain away, until you are left with nothing but struggle. It doesn’t have to be like this; in fact, it should not be like...
Pride of Place: Perks of Being a Regional Business Owner
Isn’t it fantastic to be a regional business owner? Sometimes we get bogged down in the challenges and we limit our own horizons. But here’s an invitation: lift up your eyes, and join me in celebrating what we have here! Local Connections. Regional businesses benefit from strong relationships with customers,...
How Does AI Impact Regional Business?
AI. Uh-oh. The looming nemesis of our species? A discovery comparable to harnessing fire, with immense potential to improve our lives? Or just another tech toy – fun, educational, but not world-changing? How are we, regional business owners and leaders, to respond to the most durable headline of the past...
The Importance of Deep Listening
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I was handed a shit sandwich. It was a software project for a government department, central to their mission, and it was months late, over budget, and not yet doing anything useful. The list of problems was getting longer, not...
Rehabilitating the Third Generation
Grant Thornton Australia just released their 2023 family business survey, called Future-Proofing Your Family Business. It’s a very relevant title, because so many of the benefits of the family business model depend on longevity – the ability to take a “patient capital” view of business investments; the ability to create...