] unfiltered [ with Richard Sauerman

Brand is a decision system: How brand strategy shapes business decisions

Brand doesn’t just sit in Marketing. It lives everywhere. In Operations, HR, Finance, Sales, Product, and Leadership.

What Is Responsible AI? Why Getting AI Right Is About More Than Technology

What is responsible AI? Getting AI right means more than making it safe. It means deciding what AI should do, who it serves and where the limits lie.

How Do Limiting Beliefs Hold You Back? The Four-Minute Mile Has an Answer

How do limiting beliefs hold you back? Roger Bannister's four-minute mile reveals what can happen when someone redraws the boundary of what's possible.

Does Corporate Reputation Really Matter? The Big Four Suggest It Depends

Does corporate reputation really affect business? The scandals surrounding the Big Four reveal an uncomfortable truth about brand, trust and market power.

Aug 2026

How does product reputation affect brand reputation? The Johnson & Johnson paradox

How does product reputation affect a brand? Johnson’s Baby Powder shows what happens when an iconic brand asset becomes a reputational liability.

Aug 2026

How to Measure Employee Performance: Why Impact Matters More Than Attendance

Most businesses measure attendance, hours and activity. Here's why the real measure of a high-value employee is impact, and what Latrell Mitchell proves about it.

July 2026

Do You Live in a Friendly or Hostile Universe? How Your Worldview Shapes Your Life

Your answer to one question quietly sits underneath how you lead, trust, risk and react. Here's how a friendly or hostile worldview shapes your life.

July 2026

Employee Engagement in Australia & New Zealand 2026: Why 79% Aren't Engaged

Gallup puts employee engagement across Australia and New Zealand at 21%. Here's why four out of five people aren't engaged, and why more values statements won't fix it.

July 2026

Fear of Failure: Why Avoiding Risk Can Make Your Life Smaller

Fear of failure stops people taking the risks that growth, creativity and change require. Here's why avoiding failure quietly removes the best parts of life.

Apr 2026

Brand Strategy vs Content Marketing: Why Content Can't Fix a Weak Brand

Brand strategy decides what you stand for. Content distributes it. Here's why more posts, clicks and impressions will never fix weak positioning.

Apr 2026

Donald Trump’s personal brand: How he turned his name into the product

How did Donald Trump build his personal brand? From property and TV to politics and government, his name eventually became the product itself.

Mar 2026

The line you never cross

We draw lines around ourselves. I’m not creative. I’m too old. I’m not ready. Not facts. Stories repeated until they harden into limits ...

Mar 2026

Company values: the most popular fiction in business

Are your company values showing up in hiring decisions, performance reviews, leadership behaviour, and everyday conversations?

Mar 2026

The voice at the door

“I don’t let the old guy in.” That line stayed with me, as a 65 year old guy, because it has nothing to do with age and everything to do with attitude and identity.

Feb 2026

Global Brand Gurus: ranked #7 for 2026

I am delighted to be listed again in the World's Top 30 Brand Professionals for 2026. This is the 13th year in a row that I have been listed.

'Good enough' branding isn't good enough

Branding is not the garnish, it’s the fuel. And if you don’t invest in it now, you’ll pay for it later, with higher costs and lower loyalty.

My job is to help you see what you don't see

How I uncover hidden truths, feelings, insights, and opportunities for organisations, businesses and brands.

The fisherman from Samoa

An Australian businessman was at the pier of a small coastal Samoan village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna.

Unlock your ocean of potential

If you believe your inner critic, it becomes your reality. If you peel back the curtain, the goldfish bowl cracks, and the ocean of potential opens wide.

Aug 2025

Self-doubt. The invisible virus.

Self-doubt is the silent, invisible virus that infects people at every level of business. People don’t talk about it, but it runs deep.

Don't believe the voice in your head

Most people could write an essay about why they’ll fail, but they can’t even finish a sentence about why they’ll win.

Under the Jaguar hood: bold or busted?!

Jaguar's "We’re here to delete ordinary. To go bold. To copy nothing” feels like an ordinary copy of a whole lot of stuff I’ve seen before.

Why childcare isn't safe

Child abuse happens because 75% of the childcare centres are profit-driven enterprises, not purpose-led services.

Imagine you were on Flight 1549

The story of Ric Elias, who was on Flight 1549 along with 154 other passengers and crew, is such a powerful WAKE UP CALL!

The face in the mirror

When it comes to just you and the mirror, who do you see? Do you like the person looking back? Do you feel good about him/her?

May 2025

Great branding will transform your business!

Three men on a bridge site doing the exact same job, with three very different answers. Great branding creates purpose, and purpose transforms business.

May 2025

Are you trapped inside your worldview?!

The map of the world you grew up with isn't the only view, and neither is the map of your life. Flip your story and see what opens up when you do.

Are you living longer?

ARE YOU LIVING LONGER? Or are you just taking longer to die? Yes, we’re living longer. But not necessarily better.

Tesla: a brand in free fall!

Tesla isn’t just suffering from a PR crisis. It's in the midst of a full-blown reputational implosion, fuelled by CEO, Elon Musk.

Branding is knowing which screws to turn

Branding is built from a delicate balance of strategy, psychology, design, storytelling, and experience. It's not for dummies.

Is it you doing the thinking?!

Your brain thinks, and you experience the thoughts. But are they actually yours? Or do your thoughts come in a pre-set box of thoughts?

Stop being 'professional': Be real instead

Most “professional” branding is painfully boring. It’s stuffed with meaningless buzzwords. When you brand make sure to be real.

What rabbit are you chasing?!

There was a champion greyhound, the fastest racer on the track. He had never lost a race. Then, one day, without warning, he retired. Why?

Feb 2025

My job is to help businesses see what they don't see

My job is to help businesses see what they don’t see. Knowledge is nothing. Awareness is everything ...

Feb 2025

The fear that held me back, and how I let it go!

For many years, fear of judgment kept me small. I second-guessed myself, hesitated to speak up, and stayed silent when I had something to say.

Dec 2024

Car brands: the shift from pedigree to price tag

Affordability, efficiency, features, and new innovations matter more to many of today’s buyers than the car brand history and pedigree.

How real is reality TV?

Imagine if your life was filmed, and you got to do your own, real edit. What would you leave out? What would you be afraid to leave in?

Take more risks!

We need to take more risks, even if it makes us uncomfortable. And MAFS was about as uncomfortable as it gets.

Authenticity is not for the faint hearted

Authenticity (and MAFS) is not for the faint-hearted. When you are being authentic, while you will attract some, you will repel many others.

Dear stress, let's break up!

MAFS one of the most stressful experiences of my life because they place a premium on creating “drama” and situations of heightened stress.

June 2024

There is strength in being vulnerable

Every person who went on MAFS was vulnerable, because they opened themselves up to the experiment, the cameras, and the whole bloody world.

June 2024

The day I stepped out of my comfort zone

I want to share some reflections of the day I stepped out of my comfort zone by agreeing to appear on Married at First Sight.

Jan 2024

Brand value tops US$5 trillion

Brand Value. The latest 2024 report on the world’s most valuable brands has just landed, and here are some interesting observations:

Jan 2024

Unsafe at Daihatsu

Daihatsu lied about the safety of their cars by falsifying crash tests – across 64 models, going back more than three decades.

The power of words

Branding is about creating the future. And the tool we use to create that future is language. Yes, powerful words!

People make things happen!

Companies set out the vision and the aspiration, people make things happen. The question is: do your people want to make it happen?

Being the Real YOU

Here's a tip: If you're heading to a job interview, try not to tell people to go fuck themselves on the way there - they might end up being your interviewer.

"Change" - what does it really mean?

In the past, the knowledge and experience of ‘the old’ was the best instruction for ‘the young’. Today we live with a new set of realities.

Nine-a-lemon: The Porsche that wasn't

Porsche sold Nick Murray a 911. It was a lemon: spent 60 days being serviced. So Nick asked for a replacement, and Porsche said "no".

The brand podcast

Grant McGaugh is a guy who loves brands and branding, and he recently reached out to me for this interview.

What the heck has happened to the Qantas brand?

Phillip Adams wants his slogan back. Customers want their bags back. Qantas wants its reputation back. Time will tell where it will land.

The $35 Nike logo that became a global icon

The Nike logo was designed by graphic designer Carolyn Davidson in 1971 for $35. Phil Knight didn't love it, but it grew on him.

Dali designed the Chupa Chups logo in an hour

Salvador Dali designed the Chupa Chups daisy flower logo in an hour. More than 50 years on it's as relevant and potent as ever.

Beware the voice in your head

Is the voice in your head a champion for who you are, or is it a constant reminder of how inadequate you are?

Why I love being a motivational speaker

I'm a motivational speaker with a massive fear of rejection. I do it to challenge myself by facing my fears.

May 2023

PwC: devoid of an ethical backbone

Leaking confidential Federal Government tax plans to clients for financial gain is pretty a pretty woeful act.

Apr 2023

Purpose-driven power branding

What a purpose-driven power brand strategy is, why it matters, how power brands build value, and how to engage employees through your brand.

Apr 2023

Is your brand a force for a better world?

Your brand is uniquely placed to be the force for a better world by serving humanity and aligning its purpose with human ends and goals.

Apr 2023

Some fcuking great feedback

Sharing some feedback from three of my talks last month; ranging from creativity to branding and a Real YOU motivational kick up the butt.

The power of swearing

Is it worth alienating some people because of my swearing? And the answer to that question is an unequivocal, “Fuck yes!”. And here’s why.

Branding is a leadership issue

Your brand is not something you add to your business, it's the reason your business exists. Branding consultants just don't get this AT ALL.

The Human Potential Movement

In the mid-twentieth century, two remarkable thinkers emerged as pioneering voices in the Human Potential Movement.

Trust: the latest report card is in

Trust - the latest report card is in. From an Australian perspective, these are some of the highlights (or lowlights)

The richest man in the world

The richest man in the world doesn't own a tech, online retail, energy, or a media business. He owns 75 brands.

AI: branding in a new era

AI is powerful technology that's transforming our world, fast. But there are many red flags in the way AI systems are being deployed and used.

Power Branding for pharma

Richard will be delivering a 30-minute Power Branding session in Melbourne, Australia, for Melbourne Pharma Marketers in March.

Light Your Fire!

Richard will be delivering a 2-hour Light Your Fire! session to 150 young NGEN professionals who work in media, marketing, and advertising.

Real YOU

Richard will be delivering a 2-hour Real YOU session in Brisbane, Australia, for CitrusAd’s Global Leadership Team.

You have to jump

You have to jump - to take the leap of faith in yourself. Too many people hang around on the edge of the cliff of life, watching others soaring by.

In a world of change, some things never change

In a world of change, the one constant you can always depend upon is what people want, how people like to be treated, and what you can do to win people over.

Longing for freedom

How can you begin to satisfy your desire for ‘greater freedom’? I think it requires addressing these three challenges.

The top 5 regrets of the dying

Here are the top five regrets of the dying. What’s your biggest regret so far? AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO CHANGE IT!

Wanted alive, not dead

Last week it struck me, as I was sitting in a company meeting on Monday afternoon, how many people in the room were playing dead.

What's for breakfast? What's for life?

Your intentions for the day affect what you do, what you experience, and how you experience it

Branding is the purpose and passion that propels everything your company says and does

Branding is not something you add to your business, it's the purpose and passion that propels everything your company does.

The backstabbing itch you can't ignore

There is that part in us with an itch to let go, to walk the road less travelled, to walk out, to shout out, to throw the dice, to take it to the limit.

Your career: my 5 astounding truths

As 2022 comes to a close, and after a really hectic three years, these are my 5 astounding truths about your career. And they're probably the same five truths I would have written three years ago.

Ageism is alive and well, unfortunately

When it comes to recruiting and employing older people, ageism - the stereotyping and discrimination of people on the basis of their age - is alive and well.

Death is waiting for all of us

Let’s talk about death. Why? Because is the one thing that’s going to happen to each and every one of us, guaranteed.

Who are the people who matter to you?

The people who matter to you aren't rich and famous. Take this quiz and see for yourself.

Nov 2022

Be nice to employees or they will leave

Employees were almost three times more likely to leave a role because of poor leadership, compared to wanting to be paid more.

Oct 2022

Top 10 realities facing brands today

Adapt or die! 10 tips for brands today.

Sept 2022

Manage your time better, change your priorities

Here's a lesson in how to change your priorities and better manage your time that I use in my talks and workshops.

Sept 2022

Never be afraid to bet on yourself

There is no playbook: we’re all just figuring shit out as we go along. And when all’s said and done, what other bets can you make that are going to be as sure a thing as betting on yourself? Answer = None. You are the best bet there is so always bet on yourself.

Sept 2022

A breathtaking brand called Nigel Kennedy

One Friday evening my son Nick and I had the mighty privilege of watching Nigel Kennedy and his band play Jimi Hendrix.

Aug 2022

Step out of your comfort zone!

Stop living your life with the handbrake on and step out of your comfort zone.

Aug 2022

The horrible truth about resumes

Resumes are not a true reflection of who you are and what you can do.

Feb 2022

How to win in 2022

Using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a framework for understanding consumers’ needs, these are some of the how to win waves that brands would do well to ride in 2022 and beyond.

June 2021

Culture is what makes people feel empowered and inspired

The motivation behind this new focus on company culture is share price and risk management. No matter. If this leads to workplaces where people are more engaged and satisfied at work, long may it last.

Dec 2020

Normal died this year

“Normal” died this year as a new reality shaped our lives. Covid_19 took away a lot of what we considered “normal” everyday life.

July 2020

Not all superheroes wear capes

The lady who cleaned our classroom taught me the greatest lesson. Covid proved it: the people who matter most don't wear capes, they mop the floors.

June 2020

The consolation of confinement

This period of confinement is your opportunity to appreciate a great deal of what you generally see without ever properly noticing. Enjoy it.

May 2020

End the lockdown now!

A Covid-19 reality check on Australia's numbers, and why the cost of lockdown is way too high. The economy is smashed and too many people are suffering.

Feb 2020

What's the BIG taboo in our lives?

If sex is no longer the BIG taboo, what is? What would be The Book that parents might slip to their kids, without ever admitting it openly?

Dec 2019

Be present

I’m tired of being obsessed with memories of the past. Try instead to invent a current life worthy of seeing through the lens of my mind.

Aug 2019

What the fuck happened to J&J?

My first job in Australia was on J&J's loved and trusted baby brands. Now Johnson & Johnson has been fined AUS $844 million as an opioid 'kingpin'.

June 2019

Leadership: never have a guy like Bob working for you

Former Yum! Brands CEO David Novak says the secret to great leadership is never having a guy like Bob working for you. And it's the leader's fault.

May 2019

I'm too busy to tell people I'm busy

'Crazy busy' has become a boast disguised as a complaint. Why we're addicted to busyness, what it costs us, and why life is way too short to be busy.

Apr 2019

When time stands still

Weed stretches time, which is how jazz greats like Louis Armstrong found music within music. So why is it still a brand damaged by 100 years of propaganda?

Apr 2019

Is the world getting better or worse? And why does it matter?

It’s easy to think the world is getting worse and worse by the day, when in fact it's better then ever.

Apr 2019

If you were born before 1980 ...

No child-proof lids, no seat belts, no bike helmets, and water straight from the garden hose. If you were born before 1980, count your lucky stars.

Feb 2019

Are you doing a job or changing the world?

There are three kinds of relationships you can have with your work: you either have a job, a career, or a calling.

Feb 2019

Peak performance: what do you bring to the party?

What are the attributes of peak performance? This is a fundamental question, that goes right to the heart of work, talent, and great people.

Jan 2019

The courage to be yourself

Because whenever you think or you believe or you know, you’re a lot of other people: but the moment you feel, you’re nobody-but-yourself.

Dec 2018

It's time for you to play in the realm of making a difference

It's the holiday season. That time of the year when we reach out to others who are less fortunate than ourselves, whoever or wherever they may be, and make a difference in small or big ways to them and their lives.

Nov 2018

a matter of great fucking R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

The number one career regret? Taking the job for the money. What really drives job satisfaction isn't pay, it's respect. How much weight do you give money?

Nov 2018

Stop fear from stopping you

Fear is like a handbrake that holds you back. This is how to get out of your comfort zone and start thriving.

Nov 2018

Play big or go home

Most of us dabble through life, majoring in minor things. At 58, with another whole career in front of me, I'm recommitting to playing BIG.

Oct 2018

Are you living your resume or your eulogy

Nobody's eulogy mentions their sales targets, Porsche or MBA. So why do we spend so much time living our résumé and so little living our eulogy?

Oct 2018

Are you living a life that inspires you?

Myths teach us that anything is possible. So why do we halve ourselves until we're a fraction of our potential? Listen out for your Call To Adventure.

Sept 2018

Popularity is for mediocre people

Real people turn up and say, "This is who I am" - because they don't give a fuck what the group thinks. That's authentic.

Sept 2018

Today is the first day of suicide prevention week

One in four people has a mental illness any day of the week, and I'm one of them. Stephen Fry talks openly about bipolar disorder and the stigma around it.

What sort of briefs are you dishing out?

Five briefs Michelangelo could have been given to paint the Sistine Chapel, and the one he actually got. So what sort of briefs are you dishing out?

The worst boss in the world: that would be YOU

A bad boss is the number one reason people quit their job. But the real boss of you is YOU, and chances are you're the worst boss in the world.

I am your attitude

I control how you feel, be it cheerful or miserable, up or down. I am your attitude.

How to crush a man

How to crush a man - bore him to death at work - by Fyodor Dostoyevsky [he who knows the true meaning of “punishment”]

July 2018

10 reasons why you’ll never do anything amazing with your life

If you can say yes to three or more of these ten reasons, it's time to find a mirror and ask yourself what the fuck you're doing with your life.

July 2018

What's up with our banks? A story in 3 chapters

The banks spend hundreds of millions telling us how great they are, then don't keep their brand promises. How they lost their way, in 3 chapters.

July 2018

Are you trapped inside your worldview?

The greatest obstacle to change in your work and your life is being trapped inside your worldview. It's time to meet some different people.

June 2018

How to create shareholder wealth: build a company people love.

Shareholder wealth is not a business input. Shareholder wealth is an output i.e. it happens "as a result of" doing these four things:

June 2018

The #1 employee benefit that no-one is talking about

People leave managers, not companies. Gallup says managers drive 70% of the variance in engagement. So give your people an amazing manager.

Apr 2018

Don't work for the money. It's never enough.

Salary is never the top driver of employee engagement. So what really motivates you? Money or motivation? Just don't let the money rule your whole life.

Mar 2018

If someone isn't upset by who you are, you aren't pushing hard enough

Great brands have a point of view, and so do great people. Draw a line in the sand, and if nobody's upset by who you are, you aren't pushing hard enough.

Mar 2018

Are your words leading to feeble or powerful outcomes?

Company values stuffed with tired clichés lead to feeble outcomes. Swap them for rich, positive, emotionally charged words that make things happen.

Creativity is about putting yourself on the line

One thing I do know about creative people is that their work is an expression of their ideas, and their ideas only. And it's a hard sell.

The truth is hard to find

In an era of fake news, the truth is hard to find. How The New York Times turned real journalism into pure brand advertising, down to the shutter noise.

The state of TRUST

The 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer makes appalling reading for Australia. Trust is the most valuable currency in the world, and branding is how you earn it.

an autobiography

Portia Nelson's Autobiography in Five Chapters. The same street, the same deep hole, and how long it takes to finally walk down another street.

Jan 2018

Is the voice in your head driving you fucking crazy?

Is the voice in your head a champion for who you are, or a constant reminder of how inadequate you are? You are not that voice. Listen to your heart.

Jan 2018

Is this the H&M Way?

I hope that H&M intends to and can and will keep all of its promises in future - ethically, honestly, and responsibly.

Jan 2018

What the heck happened to Diet Coke?

To think that Diet Coke is now going to be lapped up by millennials just because the packaging is slimmer and it has four new flavours is, in my view, a very big call.

Nov 2017

Always give them an A

Michelangelo saw the statue inside the stone. What if we did the same for every child, and every person, and simply gave them all an A?

Nov 2017

A brand called Docs

I've worn Doc Martens for 33 years. Here's why they're one of my most loved brands: a history of standing for something, and a boot like no other.

Oct 2017

Rule #6

Two Prime Ministers, a string of furious intruders and the secret that calms them all instantly. Rule Number 6: don't take yourself so seriously.

Sept 2017

Death by overwork

In Japan they even have a word for it: karōshi, death by overwork. Four real cases, from 110-hour weeks to 34 hours of continuous duty. Go figure.

Aug 2017

More than a brand, Tesla is on a mission

Tesla nearly died in 2008. Now there's a three-year waiting list. Tesla isn't just a car or a brand, it's the mother of all missions.

Aug 2017

Freedom comes at too high a price

Millennials (Gen Y, born 1980-2000, aged 17-37) aren’t driving motorcycles. And that’s really hurting Harley-Davidson.

July 2017

The world's most expensive perfume

The world's most expensive perfume, Imperial Majesty by Clive Christian is sold at $435,000 for a 16.9oz bottle.

July 2017

Using fashion to get inside his opponent’s head

Conor McGregor turned up to face Floyd Mayweather in a bespoke David August pinstripe suit. Look closer and the pinstripes spelled two very rude words.

June 2017

Shuffling the no sugar cards at Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola is set to remove Coke Zero from Australian shops with the launch of Coca-Cola No Sugar. This is their third sugar-free product.

June 2017

The smell of the place.

Walk through any office for five minutes and you get the smell of the place. Thriving employees come from changing the context, not the people.

May 2017

Old habits die hard

Habit is the enemy of difference, originality and creativity, and nobody even knows it's happening. Rather be an outsider than a trapped goldfish.

May 2017

Money or the Box? How money alienates you from the things that matter, and what to do about it.

The more obsessed we are with money and stuff, the more we stray from the things that matter. So what really motivates you? Money or the box?

Apr 2017

What is YOUR greatness?

Ask people 'What is your greatness?' and they under-sell themselves. Ask their colleagues and the accolades pour in. Everyone has greatness already.

Apr 2017

Does anyone give a shit?

My Global Brand Guru ranking moved from #12 to #3. Does anyone give a shit? Here's why it matters, and why great branding is anything but simple.

Mar 2017

The story of the rabbit that got away

A dog chases a rabbit for fun. The rabbit runs for its life. A fable from Aesop on why your performance depends on your motivation.

Mar 2017

How positive brand affinity drives our choices

Are people less attracted to smoking simply because the packs are devoid of any and all branding?

Mar 2017

How to fuck up your brand in an instant

PwC built its brand on accuracy, then fumbled the Oscar envelopes. How a couple of envelopes became a symbolic hit to everything the firm stands for.

Feb 2017

Two brands not afraid to make a stand

Diesel and Airbnb took a stand against Trump's policies, knowing some would boycott them. Being true to who you are beats being all things to all people.

Feb 2017

Input versus Output. A modern workplace dilemma.

Workplaces obsess over input and hours worked. But thinkers and creators should be paid for the value of their ideas: their output, not their time.

Feb 2017

Work-life. What balance?

Work-life balance: there is no distinction between ‘work’ and ‘life’ if your ‘work’ is as much a part of your ‘life’ as your ‘life’ is.

Jan 2017

The largest drop EVER in TRUST

The 2017 Edelman TRUST Barometer revealed the largest ever drop in trust. Talk is cheap. Companies need to walk their talk and DO things to earn it.

Jan 2017

Impossible is nothing

The bumblebee is not supposed to fly. Its body is too heavy and its wing span is too small. And yet it flies.

Dec 2016

Rational irrationality

Free books, queue jumping, $380 jeans and $4 bottles of water. We like to think we behave rationally, but when it comes to brands we really don't.

Nov 2016

A brand called Rocky

Broke, evicted and sleeping in a bus terminal, Sylvester Stallone refused to sell Rocky unless he played the lead. A dream, a script and a lot of fight.

Oct 2016

Fuck you Monday!

I don’t get the mentality of being head-down sad on a Monday morning. You know those people who live for weekends? They’re wishing their life away.

July 2016

A new operating system: the things that really DO motivate us

Carrots and sticks are the old operating system. Motivation 2.0 runs on autonomy, mastery and purpose: the intrinsic rewards that money can't buy.

July 2016

The grinding banality of sameness

When it comes to branding, sameness is death. Compliance over inspiration; obedience over boldness; being right over being awesome.

June 2016

Do what you love

70% of business leaders said people don't love their job. The top regret of the dying shows why that matters: have the courage to live true to yourself.

May 2016

The unbranded brand

Have you ever heard of an unbranded brand? The brand that’s so independent and self-assured that it doesn’t need to actually brand itself.

Apr 2016

How high are you aiming?

Most of us aim for a safe 7/10. Working with Data61 taught me about the moon shot, but I reckon the new target for your company and your life is Mars.

Apr 2016

The greatest lesson I learnt at school

When I was 11 our class year sat a General Knowledge test. The last question took us all by surprise: The name of the lady who cleans the school?

Mar 2016

The corner storekeeper is alive and well and living in Oregon

Steve Young hangs up this sign outside his small dry cleaning business in Oregon. It helps unemployed people to get a job.

Oct 2015

Back to the future

Back To The Future predicted 21st October 2015 surprisingly well. So what will our world look like thirty years from now? Mars, AI and driverless cars.

Sept 2015

What’s your superpower?

A CEO client asked me, 'My super power is pattern recognition. What's yours?' I didn't have an answer. Now I reckon every single person has one.

Aug 2015

The power of language [or How not to do it]

A mission statement that says "Make A Profit" won't inspire anyone. Language creates the future, so maybe it's time your company found a new narrative.

An Australian Story

The famous Paul Hogan ad that promoted Australia to the world in the 1980s. Dated, sexist and cliched, sure. It's still totally awesome.

The world is an empty space waiting to be filled. By YOU.

Three missionary companies, 2045 looming, and a lesson school got wrong: the world isn't an unsolved puzzle. It's an empty space waiting to be filled.

I’m not playing that game

Like Monopoly, the game of acquisition never ends in enough, and it all goes back in the box. Play it if you must, but know it's only a game.