I am very excited about this issue of Principal as it shares with you some invaluable tips and insights that I believe will help you grow your business. One of the things that I’ve learned in growing my own business is that the learning process never ends. In fact I’m still learning today!
Not too long ago I read about Tim Cook, who was the COO of Apple Computers. He since became CEO after the sad passing of its Founder, Steve Jobs. Tim’s quote gave me an insight into the incredible discipline required to unleash pure creativity and genius within a business.
“We are the most focused company that I know of or have read of or have any knowledge of. We say no to good ideas every day. We say no to great ideas in order to keep the amount of things we focus on very small in number so that we can put enormous energy behind the ones we do choose. The table each of you are sitting at today, you could probably put every product on it that Apple makes, yet Apple’s revenue last year was $40 billion”.
What an insight from arguably the world’s most innovative company! In essence Cook is saying that Apple can be
so creative and deliver such amazing products because
they carefully consider where their energy will go and they channel all their resources where they add most value.
Wow, how can something so simple have such an impact?
You will read in this month’s issue some insights from some extraordinary people who have achieved great success in their respective fields that can also impact you. Such success has come from their commitment, focus and leadership, often in adversity. Anthony Bell, whose Bell Partners is one of the top business accountancy companies in the country and whose determination saw him win the coveted Sydney to Hobart Yacht race (while also raising close to $1 million for Charity); outlines how to build business equity. There’s also some great advice from global business leader and author Troy Hazard, who outlines how making good leadership decisions can help managing you out of a crisis.
And as the world’s economy continues to experience levels of volatility, my advice to my team has always been “Ignore the economy and your competitors and focus on what really matters! Focus on what you can control, not what you can’t control”.
With this in mind, our Principals conference on September 4-6 will have a great leadership exchange of ideas. Hope to see you there!
