Two pointlessly wasteful products designed for a world that is wallowing in excess: a room deodouriser you have to plug in, and another that comes with a battery operated fan.

Physics and common sense both say when you open a bottle of scent, the smell will permeate the whole room over time. Likewise when you track in doggie doo…

So why do we now require electricity, batteries, motors, heating coils …

Have you noticed how ALL of the major Australian supermarket chain brands have a tagline or current advertising campaign that focus on “low prices”?

They check their prices against their competitors. They have been the cheapest for the last however many years. They help you save everyday. Regardless of what other differentiation points they may have (freshness, community focus etc), the trumpeting over their cheapness overwhelms all other messages.

No …

Still very disturbed over the Dragon’s Den. I wonder what it will be like for those participants who have successfully “invited” these dragons into their fledgling businesses?

The dragons come with money, controlling shares, egos - ie power. Their primary goal will be to make money. Bottom line returns. The participants will still be about their ideas, their passions, and doing what they love. How will these relationships pan …

Just managed to catch the first episode of Dragon’s Den. This is a reality TV show (ok, I should’ve known better) where bright sparks who have invested their own blood, sweat and years in a product or service idea gets the privilege of begging for money investment from a panel of dragons. In return, they also get to “sell” significant portions of the controlling interest in their companies …

At the recent Telstra Business Woman of the Year Award Luncheon, the usual dismal stats on the number of women in key government and big business positions were trotted out.

Here’s an alternative take:
What if most women are simply too sensible to WANT jobs in these positions?
What if most women PREFER active contribution to playing the zero-value empire-building and ego games in the hot-air heights of big business and …

Thoughts during an ad break:

All car ads look the same.
All hair dye ads look the same.
The David Jones sale ad is exactly the same as a “cheap” Dodgy Brothers shout-at-the-punters affair. Except they had a woman doing the shouting.

I am now confused, just what is David Jones’ value proposition again?

… genuinely and respectfully integrating the PEOPLE element as part of the system. Technology + Processes + People.

This is not a cursory gesture, feel good, pats on the head thing. This is dead serious because it will cost you big bucks.

If you don’t integrate the human element from day one (ie TALK to and WORK with the “little” people on the floor), you will pay with “change management” …

More gems from Ridderstråle and Nordström’s “Karaoke Capitalism”:

Thou shalt not display your feathers to demonstrate your all round brilliance and beauty.
Thou shalt not walk into the wilderness blindly, but open your eyes and those of others.
Thou shalt not count the pennies at every turn.
Thou shalt value values and live them purely and unequivocally every day.
Thou shalt loveth all and all will love you back.
…

In a session with a client today, I was attempting to put into words their cause, their reason for being in business. As I wrestled with different words and visions, telling and retelling their story in different ways, one of the partners said “Oh … I am going to start crying…”. And I realised I was feeling all funny inside (in a good way) also!

Does your “mission statement” …

Are you serious about excellence? Or is that just another me-too advertising campaign? In their book “Now, Discover Your Strengths”, Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton talk about moments of truth, about how the daily work of your cleaner makes a more direct impact on your customers than your work as the CEO.

To begin work towards excellence, a company need to “define excellence in each and every role …