Stay the course
I love the story of James Podsiadly for one reason. He has broken convention and in doing so, will change peoples perception forever.
For the uninitiated, James managed to break into the AFL ranks for the first time at the age of 28. Playing his first game for Geelong in season 2010. In football terms he’s a senior citizen. In fact, most people start retiring around that vintage. But James wasn’t fortunate enough to get picked to play at AFL level at a young age. Geelong is his third club, and he has been starring this year.
He’s proven that age is relative to development.
He’s proven that age is relative to opportunity.
He’s proven that desire can be translated into results.
He’s proven that great work eventually gets noticed.
He’s proven that sometimes people / companies / clubs get it wrong.
He’s proven that staying the course over a a long period is where results live.
So far in the year 2010, he’s the most inspiring person I’ve come across. Before we make an assessment of someone’s worth, we should think of James. He’s also who we should remember when we think of quitting, or we’re overlooked in whatever we are doing.
Startup Blog says: Thankyou James.
Everyone cares
How to make a Hungry Jacks (Burger King) Whopper:
- Take the top of the bun and swipe mayonnaise across it twice starting in the middle of the bun and swiping out ways
- Sprinkle lettuce onto mayo base just enough so the white of the mayo shows through the lettuce.
- Add two slices of tomato on top of the lettuce at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock.
- Put the meat patty into the base of the bun.
- Spread 4 pickles in a dice configuration while using the squeeze ketchup bottle in opposite hand to spread the pickles.
- Squirt 3.5 circles of ketchup on the beef patty starting at the outside of the circumference.
- Lightly sprinkle onion onto the ketchup at 50% of the thickness of the lettuce.
- Place both thumbs onto the tomatoes of the bun top and flip onto the base.
Serve hot!
The reason I’m sharing this with you is, that I learned how to make a whopper over 20 years ago, at a wage of $3.00 per hour and I still remember exactly how to make it. It was and probably still is, the lowest paid job available in the economy.
And yet a business colleague recently told me his his employees didn’t care about their job or the brand of his company because they were Uni students, and part time workers. What a crock. I took particular pride in making fast, well formed whoppers. Even thought it was a menial wage. At the time I was in year 9 at school and had zero intention of going to University or finishing school for that matter, yet I still cared. I cared because I had good managers, encouragement and there was a culture of doing your best, maybe even a little healthy competition to make the fastest and best burgers. It’s my strong belief that the vast majority of people take pride in what they do, no matter how menial it happens to be. So when I hear people saying their employees don’t care about their job, because it is part time, or low paid, I tell them this story. The story that all people no matter what they do have pride in their job, so long as one ingredient is in place:
They know we value what they do, and we treat all employee efforts with respect, regardless of where they stand in the hierarchy.
Startup Blog says: Employees will respond to how we treat them. We must respect them in the first instance. When we do this and we’ll get results reflective of human nature, not the hourly pay rate.
Startup School – 1 seat left
I’m very excited that Startup School Melbourne is this weekend. We still have a single seat left which is currently being warmed by this guy….
But we’d love to replace him with you. And if you need any more convincing then I’m pretty sure I’ll have done the job once you finish reading this blog entry.
Firstly – here’s a list of topics we’ll be covering in detail:
- Idea Generating
- Creativity in business. Creative thinking
- Raising Capital
- Art of Pitching
- Legal tips, shortcuts and administration
- Successful outsourcing (digital & production)
- Building an international work force
- Cash flow for startups & budgeting
- Simplified project management
- Personal & business branding
- Selling like a guru
- Generating PR and media
- Building a Team
All of which is fully documented in a take home working manual so you’ll leave knowing exactly what to do and how to do it. Like I have.
We are also being joined by Yvonne Adele – Globally renowned Creativity and ideas guru!
You can’t learn this stuff in school, books or at University. And I should know as I teach Marketing at Melbourne University. You also get me as an on going mentor as a Startup School graduate with unlimited help in your start up. Which is incredible value give what most consultants (with less real experience) charge by the hour.
We are holding the event in the groovy boutique Lindrum Hotel. Where the space is great and the food and espresso is awesome. I tested it.
All of which is included in the price. You’ll be one of 10 people in an intimate learning environment. Not in a room full of people.
If that’s not enough , Startup School comes with a money back guarantee to blow your mind. I can say this because I know the 2 days will.
No, it’s not priceless – it’s priced at $998.
It will be the best investment in your entrepreneurship education you’ve ever made. it will make and save you thousands. This event is a one off, there is no next chance. If you want to chat about it – call me on the phone number in the right hand side bar of this blog.
(Seats still available for Sydney 21st & 22nd of November)
See you on the weekend, Steve.
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