Feeling Grateful and Optimistic

There is no doubt - that for many - 2020 has been challenging - filled with stress, uncertainty, disease, fires and storms - some of us have lost loved ones , jobs, businesses, livelihoods and had to cope with “ISO” during lockdowns.

Business models have changed .... and most of us have had to change the way we work (many of us from home....)

We know that these challenges will be with us throughout our lives - and yet despite these challenges - we have remained resilient  - with the spirits of generosity and optimism continuing to shine bright 

So on this day - may your heart be filled with gratitude with what you have.... and may you continue to connect, collaborate and contribute to build on this amazing community that you have ! 

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and  may your new year be filled with health, wealth, happiness and large dollops of optimism! 

(Inspired by the message from our Prime Minister of Autralua  - Scott Morrison ) 

Leadership in TImes of Crisis - with Steve Fearns and the BBG CBD Forum

STEVE FEARN'S KNOWLEDGE SHARE 

INTRODUCTION TO STEVE FEARN'S 

THE 3 HIGH STRESS HURRICANES

CLARTIY,CULTURE AND COACHING  

ENERGY ZONES

UNLEASHING LEADERSHIP

WORKING FROM HOME NEW RULES

REFUELING 

UNPACKING THE THINK TANK 

Odile Faludi 

 

What did Steve say and more importantly how did it make you feel. How did it make you feel internally.

• Rituals 
• the power of pause 
• creating space to allow you to pause
• weekends - more imprtant than ever 
• showing your vulnerability as a leader 
• up half empty half full
• It was all about rituals - practicing them each day and reprating the process

Barbara Whitten 

Rituals and Protocols 

• - someone has coffee with whisky every morning
• decluttering and make a list in morning - allocate time to tit
• Steve - allocate an F - being Fun 
• Movement of Body and Stillness of Mind 
• What people are doing for time out - make sure it is structured - take control and get away from work 
• Its all about the customer - protocols that we are doing - share with team to be on a smilar wave 
• When peoples lives are in crisis - 
• Appreciate what people do 

Kirsty Fox of Spitfire 

Some takeouts in no particular oder:- 

• Leadership - is about nothing more than nothing less 
• Leadership vs Management - diifferent Skill sets
• Rejuvenate - what do you do to Rejuvenate - you need to refill your cup 
• Time management - Protocols are key 
• Write down your todos - write it down on paper 
• Have an idea for your business , have a vision, put things in place, plan, execute, deliver, reward
• Being in this forum - a reminder of what you already know. Cant take care of your staff unless you take care of yourself

Steve Fearns presented a brilliant knowledge share on Self - Leadership

A great session presented at the Sydney CBD forum with Judith Rose Max and leadership guru Steve Fearns 

Steve’s 3 pillars of success ..... Steve Fearns ..... to unleash leadership - on purpose !!!

Clarity of Purpose - can be a tiny purpose to a BHAG purpose 

Personal CULTURE - a mixture of your habits and attitude - do what you say you will do 

COACHING - be accountable - creates massive results 

Great session today at our #bbgforum

The importance of taking time out ....... what is your daily, weekly, monthly ritual? 

How do you celebrate your wins ? 

Love the quadrant of #energy and #attitude 

High energy with positive attitude - is power - your in the zone- the champion 

Low energy with negative attitude - burnout

Low energy with positive attitude - restore, replenish, resilient, refocus - food for the champion 

High energy with negative attitude can be seriously toxic

 #optimism # #reflection #bbgforum thanks Steve Fearns and Judith-Rose Max

The R in CPR

C - Connection 

P - Protocol and Ritual

R - Recharge 

Steve Fearns take is that if you are going to be a leader - you need to start by taking care of yourself! 

He talks about the energy and attitude matrix - where champions have high energy and positive attitude - the key to replenish that energy and staying positive is to #Recharge 

 #mindfitness #energy #bbgforum

Thanks to #BBG for continuing to inspire engage and enthuse us 

6C’s to become a lifelong learner

Life-long learning has been proved to be one of the ways to stay relevant and not get disrupted by machines. 

Acquiring new knowledge is a such an integral part of your life - you need to learn how  to absorb new knowledge and eventually create your own knowledge  - which is key to not only to your advancement.

It is clear that for us to advance an indeed continue to proliferate the  survival of human existence. we will need to learn how to effectively and efficiently learn new skills - over the course of our lives! 

So.... what do we need to to learn how to learn ? 

There is a great article by Erika  Anderson https://hbr.org/amp/2016/03/learning-to-learn

that shares 4 attributes needed to learn how to learn all based around your mindset. 

• aspiration - you truly need to want to learn new skills 
• self-awareness 
• curiosity, 
• and vulnerability. 

Well worth a read 

Below are 6 C’s that will help you to learn how to learn 

(Following the theme of the 5C’s of BBG -coined by Monica Graham - connection, collaboration, contribution, continuity and community) 

Cerebral - Mindset 

A Mindset shift to change your focus from challenges to benefits - self talk is key 

Think about the last time your company adopted a new approach—overhauled a reporting system, developed Referron , replaced a CRM platform, revamped the supply chain. Were you eager to go along? I doubt it. 

Your initial response was probably to justify not learning. (It will take too long. The old way works just fine for me. I bet it’s just a flash in the pan.) 

When confronted with new learning, this is often our first roadblock: We focus on the negative and unconsciously reinforce our lack of aspiration.

When you want to learn something, you focus on what you’ll  gain from learning it—and envision a happy future in which you’re  reaping those rewards. 

That propels you into action. 

Chunk  it 

Focus on the process vs the finished product 

If you are writing a novel, focus on the chapter at hand. If you are writing software focus on the iteration, you are on right now, and everything will eventually connect.

Procrastination is a killer - and I am so good at it! delaying or postponing something that you are very well aware of needs to be done. If this is a problem work our strategies on how to deal with procrastination.

Emails, whatsapp, LinkedIn , Facebook notifications, tiktoks , YouTube and anything else that gets your mind off your task - shut it down so you can chunk that knowledge into your brain.

You have got to know the signals that get you off your attention spree and learn to shut them down for a period. 

You can reward yourself after you have accomplished your goal, by maybe doing some social media!

Learning in short bursts followed by either taking a nap, social media or doing some exercise helps your brain make the necessary neural connections that build long-lasting chunks of knowledge into your long time memory.

Challenge yourself 

Be comfortable being uncomfortable and vulnerable - by testing your knowledge by doing challenges that will force you to remember what you studied.

Continuity is king and Queen 

Practice is key , and going deep into the subject over a period of time - plan your activities 

Collaboration 

It is much easier learning with others - especially if you know like and trust them 

Building long term relationships with people who are interested in like minded things will hold you in good stead 

Coach and having a mentor 

Having a mentor or coach that cares about you is key to your ability to learn and get you to your top game. There is a reason why top athletes and CEOs have coaches! 

How cool would it be for BBG to create a process to enable lifelong learning! 

Meiron Lees - De Stressing and Building Resilience

 

Tapas Strickland - Trends throughout the pandemic

 

The Yarning Circle Foundation Members - Inspiring and contributing to the development of the framework and charter

 Ivan Schwartz and Ivan Kaye - so what is the yarning circle

Ivan anad Shane Yarning about the Lady Northcott Opportunity 

Mark Champley - Yarning about the potential impact of the Yarning Circle and its contribution to Tribal Warrior 

Developing the Foundations and Charter of our BBG DIversity and Inclusion Forum

Priviliged to be part of a forum focussed on "making a difference" - riffing around 2 powerful words DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Edward Zia - How to attract high value leads

 

Brian Sher - Business opportunities with the current times

 

Simon Sinek shares with Richard Branson what makes him optimistic

Simon Sinek shares with Richard Branson why optimism is a critical ingredient in the success of a business. It is one of the most important traits to have in business - especially right now. 

So what is optimism 

Optimism is the undying belief that the future is bright, but it’s not a denial of the current state.”

Its about having a  vision in a time of crisis, when it’s ok to feel your way in the dark because you have a direction and you’re moving forward. 

It’s about identifying a problem that people have - a pain  - and providing a pill 💊 to solve that pain - but that pill needs to be a painkiller - not a vitamin .... 

Never waste a good crisis

This pandemic has identified many painpoints that have emanated from this crisis - and it’s about recognising the opportunities that come from this pandemic.

Richard asks Simon - “If you were starting a business today, what problem would you be trying to solve?”

Sinek identifies a major problem ( pain point ) In business right now, is the lack of empathy, collaboration and fractorial relationships in business.... silos not talking to each other ...... 

How can this be solved? 

Sinek says that  it comes down to honing the skill of empathy....

 “We’re living in a time when we’re more judgemental, we’re bad at listening, things are black and white, when in reality they’re mostly grey, and if I’m right you must be wrong.” 

“We’re missing a lot of human skills such as empathy and the ability to have difficult conversations. It’s time for us to all be little more human and understanding.”

A Solution? 

We make it through crises and out the other side through “ Werksaam” - working Together..... and this is what we are trying to achieve at BBG ...... which is a process of honing our skills of 

Collaborating , Contributing  and Connecting  People - by talking to each other Continuously (regularly) to build a Connected , Collaborative, Community - focussed on a common Purpose and Vision .

https://vimeo.com/464585470

Unpacking the Think Tank from the BBG Finance Forum with Ahmad Imam Sep 2020

 

Ahmad Imam- How to grow your LinkedIn profile

 

John Lees - Knowledge Share at the BBG Sydney Forum

Kirsty Fox - SAS Accounting - unpacking the think tank

5 minutes on Magic - Let’s spread Happiness and Optimism - it’s a good thing!!

Somewhere over the Rainbow on a train to work 

Laughter and happiness Spreads like a Virus - it’s a good thing!

Use this 5-step formula for referrals WITHOUT ASKING

This is from the legendary Bill Cates 

STEP 1 – Share Your Client-Focused Why - Telling your prospects and clients why you believe in your value builds their sense of engagement w/ you. Demonstrating your emotional connection to your value.

STEP 2 – Give Referrals / Make Introductions -It’s important that you see yourself as a connector. You provide value to others by giving referrals – making connections. 

STEP 3 – Promote Introductions - Early on in new relationships and throughout the lifetime of a relationship, you want to let your prospects and clients know that you are never too busy to see if you can be of value to others to whom they might introduce you.

STEP 4 – Get in the Habit of Checking for Value - People will provide unsolicited referrals if they like you and believe in your value. To create a culture of referrals, it must become second nature to check in with your prospects/clients on a regular basis, to clean up minor issues and ensure that they are experiencing all you have to offer.

STEP 5 – Remove the Uncertainty - One of the most effective steps you can take to generate unsolicited referrals is to explain to your prospects and clients how you will proceed if/when they identify someone who should become aware of your important work.

Stories of Giving - Share a snippet of Generosity

One of the 4 pillars of BBG ‘s foundation of business growth is based on “the spirit of generosity” . It’s based on the fundamental  belief in “laws of reciprocity and leverage”

What you give you get back 10X !

During this time of disruptive change and opportunity it’s great to know that your community has your back that goes beyond business. 

Share your story or a picture of giving that has made an impact on you or those around you.

Russel Pillemer of Pengana at our BBG Finance Forum on 25 August - Talking Private Equity and Small Caps

We were thrilled to have Australia’s leading fund manager - Russel Pillemer - talk equities at our virtual breakfast of 25 August - Russel shared his view of the market and gave us a view of "where to from here" - as it relates to investing in small caps.

Below are excerpts of Russel's presentation and some insites from the Think Tank 

Some highlights 

• Stats on Private Equity returns vs Listed Equity returns - staggering 
• High Risk - High Return - good managers look for low risk - high return! 
• Look for 10-20% of capital allocated to PE - with family offices up to 30% 
• What to look for in Private Equity and Small Caps
• Good corporate governance and reporting
• Great leader and teams - the people 
• strong balance sheets
• A solid defined market
• Compelling Valuations - buying well 
• Gapping - and trying to "catch the falling knife"
• Find a great fund manager that takes an active part in growth of investees - strong leaders and teams - 

If you are a finance professional - join us at our finance forum - and let’s explore ways in which we can collaborate

Here’s the link to join us at our next forum https://www.bbg.business/bbg-events/events-australia  

Eric Tjoeng - what makes you optimistic?

"I can get up in the morning  - stand upright  - thank G-d for his blessing and for "what a wonderful world"

Through my experience - I can see light at the end of the tunnel - and for any problem - we will find a  solution.

The importance of onging learning - being surrounded by optimistic people

Optimism makes the world better and good for our lives and our health.

Orhen on Optimism

Surrounding myself with more likemnded optimists

Life and business experience - everything will work out - focus on what I want - and things will work out!

This is what other members takeouts on optimism!

Barbara Whitten - optimism in an industry that is being decimateted by the pandemic!

Hard to remain optimistic in the travel industry which is being decimated and is surrounded by pessimism ... but we will keep optimistic and identify opportunities that will come from these problems

Strategies to remain positive and optimistic -

Change things - excercise - sleep - good food - stay healthy

Happiness is optimism 

Reach out to colleagues and identify ways in which we can help and move beyond this crisis!

How can we get "The Centre of Optimism" and Victor Perton support an industry thtat is decimated to be optimistic!

Lets do it!!

This is what other members takeouts on optimism!

Garry and Yoli Carr on Optimism

Garry and Yoli - use positivity - language - "how are you" - does not invoke the right response

Ask the right questions

Instead of focussing on the problem - focus on the solutions

Dreams - and the reason why keep us optimistic

This is what other members takeouts on optimism!

Craig Saphin on Optimism

Being on the Edge vs being in a comfort zone - being optimistic and challenging - leads to an interesting career and life. Being around like minded people that support give you the ability to fly .

Being an entrepreneur - welcome to club fear

This is what other members takeouts on optimism!

Laurence Adelman - why are you optimistic?

My reason for optimism is History - People solve problems - the Human Race is adaptable - History will show us that the future can be good.

This is what other members takeouts on optimism!

Milind - Optimism is The Silver Lining on The Cloud

During the Pandemic - spending time with his family and teenage children - that never would have happenned - that is a blessing!

This is what other members takeouts on optimism!

Marg Hepworth - What makes you optimistic?

"The Leader is what you see in the Mirror"

You can teach optimism - Marg teaches "Positive Reality"

"When I teach young people and they respond incredibly positively - makes me optimistic"

This is what other members takeouts on optimism!

Marg Hepworth Unpacking the Thinktank on Group 4

Paul PIus on Optimism and takeouts

Our children are "the lucky generation"

I am grateful to be alive - and thank G-d  for being in the lucky country.

The key is to Be Positive - and enjoy the journey .

Paul's son’s business effected by Pandemic - what has learned is an experience! 

What changes  does he need to do for the future - what has he learned from the experience? 

Paul PIus - "what I wish is a  world wthout walls and we should call it Planet Earth"

Story about telling a client who was always complaining  to be Grateful - by looking at what is inside her fridge!

This is what other members takeouts on optimism!

Odile Faludi - Just Being Alive is Bloody Fantastic!! The News is Poison

This is what other members say about being Optimistic

Adam Posner on BBG Forum and takeouts from Victor Perton's BBG Knowledge Share

Victor has one letter short of victory - the Y being looking at You - the leader in the mirror.

Victor Frankl - mans search for meaning - survived unmitigated evil - throough hope and a sense of purpose. Many people in holocast died at Christmas, as they stopped being optimistic about being free.
Realistic and infectious optimistim is key.

Victor Perton

It's the way you look at things. The  prism to world is the News - and the News has gone from balance to apocalyptic

Limit your News intake.... FOcus on what you are grateful for.

Create a Grateful Journal.... think of 3 things you are grateful each day.... and when you wake up in the morning - read your grateful journal!!

• Malaria - halved death rate
• Beaten absolute poverty
• Defeated Polio 
• Chldren dont get measles and small pox
• The world is a  better place

Adam Posner came up with GLAD from VIctor's talk 

G - Be Grateful
L - Language - use it in a positive way
A - Always learning - learn every day
D - Desire to have courage

This is what other members takeouts on optimism!

BBG Testimonials

Victor Perton BBG Forum

Geoff HIrsh BBG Briefing

Packform defying the odds - Phillip Weinman seems to have a 10X formula!

The ongoing debate: to go public with an IPO or stay private with more freedom? 

"I always say to #startups, the longer you can avoid taking external money, the longer you can control your own destiny."

Wise words from our #Packform co-founders Philip Weinman, Peter Williams and Preston Geeting who were recently interviewed by Yolanda Redrup from The Australian Financial Review (Fairfax Media). Read the full article here:

https://lnkd.in/gn-Jdgd

#packaging #entrepreneur

What some people have said about the BBG Forum

What an SME needs to do to mitigate the risk of Cybersecurity

Small Business cyber security Guide

The dangers of Cybercrime is real .... and every business should have strategies in place to mitigate their risk.

Cyber security expert, Paul Pius, CEO of Moonspace and cloud Solutions expert , shared a link of a “Cyber Security Guide” - published by the Australian Government , which is invaluable!

The guide discusses the following 

Cyber Risks such as 

• Malware - malicious software - viruses, spyware, Trojans and Worms
• Scam Emails - Phishing - dodgy emails - asking for money (Nigerian Prince)
• Ransomware - licks your file for ransom

How to mitigate these risks 

• Software updates
• automatic Backup
• Multi factor authentication
• Responsible person focussed on Cybersecurity
• Access Control of system and data
• Passphrases Vs passwords (see example in picture )

Let me know if you would like me to send you the guide and I will send it to you.

Desperation is not referable - “the new best friend”

This is gold from BNI founder, Ivan Misner 

When people demonstrate certain behaviors as part of their networking efforts, it’s a tell-tale sign of desperation.  

There are four types of behaviors that desperate networkers exhibit. “The New Best Friend” is the final of these four “desperate networker behaviors” that he shares 

The New Best Friend

Follow-up with the people you meet at a networking event is important.  But be a professional – not a stalker.

The New Best Friend is the over-eager seller who after you meet at a networking event – calls you, emails you, social media messages you, and tries to become your New Best Friend in the space of just a few days.

Generally, they’re not actually trying to help you – they simply want to sell something to you.  Granted, they may want to sell something to you because in their mind – it’s only to “help you,” but it’s never really about you.  It’s about what they want from you.   

Desperation seeps from their pores.  I’ve experienced this many times over my career.  

The one that stands out the most in my mind happened a couple years ago.  I met a young man (late 20’s) at a networking event and he went right into “New Best Friend” mode – calling several times, emailing every day, messaging me on Facebook etc.  But when he wrote me and said that he thought of himself like my son (yes, seriously – he said that) and he needed my help in his business venture – I had to pull the plug.  I tried to pull it gently by talking about the importance of establishing credibility before pitching something and that the process of developing credibility takes time.  Curiously, my “new son” abandoned me.

networking is more about farming than it is about hunting. 

Building a relationship and becoming a best friend takes time , collaboration, contribution and commitment.

There are no short cuts 

Check out these links to the other three types of “desperate networker behaviors” below:

• The Card Dealer
• The Space Violator
• The Premature Solicitor

The Great Reset Post Covid

Inspired by an article by – Graham Kenny

Regular contributor to the Harvard Business Review

You can connect to or follow him on LinkedIn.

And our BBG Forum with Tony Surtees on the great reset .

There needs to be a new way 

.... how often have you heard this....

 “but my firm is so conservative. They just won’t change. We do what everyone else does in the industry”. 

It’s time to find a step-change in your business’s performance - to help your business reach its competitive potential. And this is a perfect time for you to get this happenning.

Each of our business’s have  agreed to retain consultant(s) , mentor(s) and coach(s) to create a path and develope strategies to grow to 2025.

At our last BBG forum we had Tony Surtees present “the Great Reset” - he suggested that 

this is a perfect time for consultants to be helping businesses who have the opportunity to scaleup and take advantage of opportunities that will present itself post Covid-19.

Scaleups have a perfect opportunity to ask the relevant questions - with a view to plan the next 5 years (which, in my view has massive growth potential for those that are riding the wave of businesses that can grow using the technologies available. )

• What’s your point of difference ?
• Is it your purpose?
• What’s driving your business forward?
• What is your niche?
• What does your business look like in 2025? 
• Do you  want the brightest and the best knocking at the door wanting to work for you?

• What does your competition look like at the moment .... in the professional service field ....

When it comes to the big firms ..... The culture in the industry are 

• process-driven, 
• risk-averse, 
• uncaring when it comes to junior staff, 
• and highly competitive within the firm. 
• It’s a fairly cut-throat culture.

Where are you now?

• how many people in your team ?
• Annual employee turnover?
• How many customers - who are your current customers ?
• Who is your ideal customer ?
• Average revenue per customer ?

• Have you got an advisory board?
• Have you got a coach?
• Have you got people who you can share your ideas with?
• Do you belong to a BBG Forum?

Many businesses I talk to tell me that 2020 is a “write off”. They’re laying off staff, freezing new hires, halting training, and cancelling advertising among many other cost-saving manoeuvres. 

• In this environment - what should you be doing?

• What are the trendsetters doing both inside and outside your industry?

Things will pick up - and quickly - will you be in a position to be the number one or two in your niche?

As Anthony Surtees said at our BBG Forum last week 

“be optimistic and opportunistic - never waste a good crisis”

Unpacking the Great Reset ThinkTank with Tony Surtees

Natalie Sassoon - The emotional connection to change - use mindset and  technologies to propel us forward - both personally and in business.

• The use of  mindset and technology as a combination to propel 

• "If you are feeling under control, you are not going fast enough."

• "Don't waste a good crisis and taking advantage"

• Use this time to look at our environment and find ways to make it more efficient 

• Speed at the way change has happenned from governments to individuals - out of necessity - using substitutes such as zoom and BBG - One tends to adapt to survive 

• A great example of innovation is the way we use  BBG and Zoom - how technology is working together creating productivity and creativity - allowing us to connect and collaborate.

Gotto love coincidences!!!!

The BBG Superforum with Tony Surtees - the great reset

BBG June Super Forum with Tony Surtees

JR introducing the BBG Super Forum with Tony Surtees

Introducing Tony Surtees and Framing the Knowledge Share

This presentation is about the unique opportunities that have resulted from the current crisis.
Specifically Digital Transformation - realigning and reassessing
This is about being Optimistic about the future

Be optimistic - find the opportunity and ride the wave

Change was going to happen - Covid has just accelerated this change 10X

This is just a part of a cycle - and this is an opportunity for you to be at the forefront of what the changes are going to be.


For Companies, Enterprise and Governments to survive they will need to pivot - entrepreneurs are used to this.

SMEs are going to be key to the economic recovery - and limitation of resources will act as a stimulus to inovation.

Be part of the tailwind - ride the wave

 "don't waste a good crisis"

Timing and being ready for Change is key 

Timing is key and change is everywhere and ability to be in right time at right place with right value proposition is significant

Changes have been occuring - exponentially  - Moores Law - Thngs are happenning faster and cheaper (storage, processing, bandwidth, 5G - Ubiquitous Connectivity

IOT - 3D Priniting, VR, Blockchain, Machine Learning

Change post COVID 

People resistance to change - Covid had to find the substitute

• Change in the Covid World
• People had to change - fast
• Substitutes being found - eg zoom - complementary technologies worked
• Substitutes - better than going to work
• Better cheaper faster -
• Remote working - increased productivity

This challenge has been creating opportunities

CANVA story

The Investment Framework - Post COvid-19

Pause - Problems - on pause - retail, restaurants, planes, elective surgery - some will go back to level before - some greater - Local travel - will explode

Accelerated Future - Online shopping; VR tools (properties entertainment, banks ), Decentralised organisations ; Food Security - supply chain and agtech

The New Normal - consulting opportunities - businesses needd to transform - need to have fundamentals right - need to meet needs of customers and stakeholders - what are the market opportunities  -redefine market opportunities

Consultants to engage strategically and operationally - help organisations with a transformational opportunity

CASE STUDY - LAAVA 

Tony Surtees - Close

Tony Surtees Think Tank and Q&A

The think tank process

Natalie - The importance of using technology at hand to make your business more efficient so you can focus on nuts and bolts -
Tony
"just because you have a telephone in your business - are you in the telecommunication business?"
Business success of Afterpay and Zip - are they in the technology business or banking business?
Bridge gap with a commercial model - applying the imagination to a commercial model - and then use the technology to solve the problem"

The capacity to ask questions and listen to advice - solve the problem and then use the technology is the key to success

Milind - VR and AI - not much intake why? 
Tony
 - barrier to entry that you cant leverage the technology in your hand - hardware cliff to be dealt with
Telemedicine and Education - big implications - there will be massive change using these technologies

"Phoria" - make it easy to code VR content

Les - Impact on Covid-19 working from home and Productivity - whats your view?
Tony
- Productivity and government decisionmaking dramatically improved -
- we have had a taste of another type of life - and its been good - remote working - control over working lives - array of technology available at little or no cost - ZOOM -
- Change of productivity - employees happier
- Productivity impact to be examined pre and post

Eric Tjoeng of BGES - Unpacking the Think Tank with Tony Surtees 

Eric , Hendrik, Brendan, Damien and Eddie

• Now is the time to realign and reimagine in a digitised world 
• SME Challenge to come up with the strategy and the action to move forward - how - this is an opportunity for consultants to help
• Hendrik -  barrier of a cultural change - 
• Benny - blended office environment - going to be the new normal - will probably be an improved efficiency 
• Eddie - AI and Robotics - whats going to happen with the people? Future of work? Universal wages? 
• Change was going to happen... just faster 
• Damien - Being Agile - is certainly the new normal - MVP - fail fast - scale up or down - come up with quick solution and then change 

Craig Saphin - Scaling New Heights - Unpacking the Think Tank with Tony Surtees 

Craig, David Hodes,  Martin Collins and Alex Tees

• Matrix - interesting - different industries or business in each quadrant - whats actions for each - consultants - needed in each quadrant - nailing the  purpose is key 
• Process - What is the Questions to ask to get momentum going  -  Tony responded  - " What problem are you trying to solve?" - thats what business is about - solving problems
• Working remotely - Get the process and systems right - mental and psychological support and safety for both staff and clients is important  - How important is face to face - managing people using EQ is key - how to get best productivity out of them. 
• Innovation in legal field  - Martin Collins - land and environment court - digitised and Alex Tees - Docs lodged electronically - no more piles of documents 
• Meeting face to face is still key 

Larry Dorfan - Unpacking the Think Tank with Tony Surtees 

Yen, Guy, Adam, Goerge and Laurence

• Quadrant model - where we are and where we need to be 
• Blockchain is key going forward - will be as important as internet itself - example of validation of product; use of blockchain and IoT - to track products as its moved internationally - laava
• How do you know who you dealing with - more remote - harder it is - still nothing better than face to face 
• Investments - if you can afford to lose money - then you cannot afford not to invest
• Great insite from VC - if you can take a punt - take the infoormed decision - upside massive - VC is a powerful asset class 
• Worthless constraints can be done away with if needed - institutional resistance to change - if you need to change can happen quickly 
• Challenges of working remotely - security of information - use of multiple latform - each has hook for hackers - oy!! what solutions
• Need for helping SMEs - any change - unless we are innovators we have to wait in line for price to decrease - SMEs dont have capacity to become early adoptors of new technology unless you are an innovator 

Natalie Sassoon - The emotional connection to change - use mindset and  technologies to propel us forward - both personally and in business.

• The use of  mindset and technology as a combination to propel 

• "If you are feeling under control, you are not going fast enough."

• "Don't waste a good crisis and taking advantage"

• Use this time to look at our environment and find ways to make it more efficient 

• Speed at the way change has happenned from governments to individuals - out of necessity - using substitutes such as zoom and BBG - One tends to adapt to survive 

• A great example of innovation is the way we use  BBG and Zoom - how technology is working together creating productivity and creativity - allowing us to connect and collaborate.