Start a happiness drive today. What can you do for a customer right now that will bring a smile to their face? How about a complete stranger? And what can you do for youself today to add to your own happiness? (Example: pay the toll of the driver behind you.) What are some other acts of random happiness you have come across?

Ever wonder where money comes from? This is a fun read: Time Banks and Worm Poo.

On blue days, turn off your phone, shut down your computer, and schedule a one-hour meeting with yourself and three pieces of premium chocolate.

Down at my local supermarket, I have noticed that when the “big” computer that runs the centralised checkout system does not know the price of an item, a tiny little handheld device is often consulted - and it would know the right price for the item. Is there an interesting parallel here between large and small businesses and what they know about the state of the market and …

The Big Moo - Stop trying to be perfect and start being remarkable. The group of 33 edited by Seth Godin. ISBN 1-59184-103-8. Loads of thought provokers in bite-sized chunks. My favourite takeaway is: what if my business had to rely on donations (like a radio station)? How would that change the way I do things?

Jesus CEO - Using ancient wisdom for visionary leadership, by Laurie Beth Jones. ISBN 0-7868-6062-6. This is a curious little book I found in a second hand bookshop. An easy read with great insights into self mastery, relating to and working with people, and taking action.

This article by Nick Usborne, Flywheels, Kinetic Energy, and Friction, beautifully describes the behaviour of customers in the lead up to buying and in the act of buying. It shows what you as the vendor can do to help, or get in the way of your customers.

Whilst Nick’s article focuses on websites, I believe the concepts therein apply equally to all the customer touchpoints in any …

An interesting parallel between organisational behaviour and psychopaths on Stilgherrian’s blog: Corporations as Psychopaths.

I was at Sunnyfield’s brand launch event where social commentator and noted author Hugh Mackay spoke yesterday.

It was great to hear Hugh talk about the intention behind corporate giving. To paraphrase (badly): if a company gives, it has to do so because it is the right and good thing to do. As soon as a giving programme is wrapped in marketing, brand awareness and other bottom-line-centric …

When you are trying to solve a big challenge, nothing helps like getting all levels of management to truly feel the need for change.

Imagine what would happen if we made it a requirement for all CityRail management (and maybe even the minister for transport) to actually rely on the trains to get to and from work everyday!

(Yes I know, pigs will fly … oink!)