Late last week, I joined four other keynote presenters and the GSL Media team at their “Stronger” conference for their Sunshine Coast business owner clients, at the beautiful Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa, Natadola Bay. It was my first ever trip to Fiji and the hospitality of the locals, and the luxurious tropical surroundings, certainly didn’t disappoint.

Back 20 years ago, when I was a partner in a four partner practice, with an office in Sydney and another in Adelaide, Nick Matsis was one of my business partners. I often referred to Nick as the wise, old sage of the business, even though, in reality, he wasn’t that much older than me. It’s just that his ability to sit there and see your issue from a different perspective, helped me to gain clarity at a time when a solution may have seemed well into the distance.

You’re on a path in business and things aren’t quite how you want them to be. You think about it deeply and feel there are changes to make. Some of the changes are subtle, others transformational. However, you’re convinced it’s the right path, not for the short term, but the future. Even though you’re moving away from your comfort zone, it feels right. So, you decide to get going.

If any business owner wants a live study in how to kill a successful product, just take a look at Supercars in Australia right now.

I was having a conversation with a professional recently about their business and, invariably, the discussion came around to hourly rates. It’s the new financial year and, as part of their annual budget process, they’ve just increased the hourly rates their fee earners charge.

I recently spoke at a boutique, one day conference for business leaders in the health industry. It’s always good to stand up in front of a bunch of small and family business owners and talk to them about building a better business for themselves and in the process, building a better life.

Most business owners have this dream of their business taking off like a rocket ship. From idea to riches in no time at all is how people like to think it will evolve. The reality, of course, is significantly different, and for good reason.

Our house has been a construction zone the past month. Following last year’s weather and flooding, we suffered some internal damage that, finally, we were able to book in the repairs for.