‘Data Science’ in marketing is frequently bullshit
I started life as an accountant, and luckily, recognised before anyone else that I would be the world's worst. However, from my trials, I do have respect for numbers, proof, real outcomes tested and validated by the scientific method. As a marketer, I have...
What makes the perfect business?
A while ago after a networking meeting, a few of us went to a pub for a steak, and ended up solving the problems of the world on beer coasters. As you do. Given we all owned and ran small businesses, the main topic of conversation was around the nature of...
The 5 steps to optimise process development
Processes are the means by which we get stuff done, and are therefore an integral part of our personal and professional lives. Mostly we just allow them to evolve, usually in a pretty unthinking manner without much critical analysis. However, this...
The 5 ‘Literacies’ required for superior performance
Over the 23 years of working with medium sized businesses to improve their performance, the activities have all come from 5 common buckets. Financial Literacy Strategic Literacy Operational Literacy Business model Literacy Revenue generation Literacy...
A marketers explanation of Free Cash Flow.
The net flow of cash into and out of a business is to my mind the most vital measure of the success or otherwise of that business, captured in the cash flow statement. The P&L, and Balance sheet, vital as they are as performance measures, can be...
The 7 foundations of a successful enterprise
I was asked the question 'what makes a truly successful enterprise' at a workshop that had strategy development as its purpose. It is a regular question that I get in various forms, and a question that I ask myself from time to time. The easy answer...
Have the Liberals crossed their Rubicon?
In 49 BC Julius Caesar led his legions across the Rubicon river, the line that separated ancient Gaul from Roman controlled Italy. Ever since, the term 'Crossing the Rubicon' has entered the lexicon as describing passing the point of no return. Last week...
21 Lessons from a manufacturing turnaround
I was asked the question 'what did you learn from the turnaround of the GPD' a while ago, and was persuaded to present on it. The GPD was the 'General Products Division' of the Dairy Farmers Co-Operative Ltd. It produced all the dairy products you...
What can our political clowns learn from Jeff Bezos
The current clown-party in Canberra brings tears of frustration one moment, scorn and anger the next, followed by an overwhelming sense of incredulity. This was posted early Friday morning August 24th, and by the time you read it, well, anything could...
Convergence of Governance and Marketing in Financial Services
The shocking revelations from the Royal Commission continue to flow. Last week it was NAB's turn in the hot seat, and they did not fail to add to the building dismay and absolute disgust being felt. The Governance Institute defines governance as:...