Damned if you do
During the nineteenth century, European explorers searched in vain for Australia’s mythical inland sea. They never found it. What they discovered were vast deserts covering 70% of the landmass. To this day, Australia is officially classified as the driest continent...
Would you turn down The Beatles?
On 1 January 1962, The Beatles auditioned for Decca Records in London. Decca turned down The Beatles without offering them a recording contract. The label’s head of Artists and Repertoire (A&R), Dick Rowe, is even reported to have told The...
Sea, sand, and uncertainty
When COVID arrived in early 2020, tourism was one of the hardest-hit economic sectors. Customers disappeared overnight, dramatically impacting trade for thousands of hotels and restaurants. However, just as suddenly, as restrictions eased, many Australian holiday...
Push and pull
Outside of elections, few political events garner as much attention as budget night. The annual federal budget offers up a delicious entrée, main and dessert of speculation, delivery, and reaction. The budget is news because we are all impacted. Will our taxes go up...
Not perfect, just better
Outside of war, spaceflight is one of the most dangerous human endeavours. At take-off, astronauts sit atop rockets loaded with hundreds of tonnes of highly flammable fuel; once outside of earth’s atmosphere, pressurised suits and oxygen are essential for survival;...
False starts
In 1911 Australia’s parliament passed an act creating the Northern Territory. That same act mandated the building of a north-south railway. The line would run thousands of kilometres between Darwin and Adelaide and, in doing so, connect the top and bottom of Australia...
Wasted worry time
During his 1933 inauguration speech, US President Franklin Roosevelt famously said, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” The President was referring to the debilitating effect doubt and fear have upon our ability to move forward. We mistakenly believe it’s...
Pressure to decide
Cricket's DRS highlights the importance of a well-structured decision-making process. Test cricket is undoubtedly a contest of skill and athleticism, but what's less appreciated is the degree to which quality decision-making influences the outcome of games. From team...
Life lessons from art
Learn to crawl before we walk; pause before we react; and, most importantly, think before we speak. These wholesome cliches may seem like obvious markers and guides for getting through life unscathed. But, in reality, we often forget why it matters to slow down. The...
When the luck runs out
The high-risk stakes of decision-making concentrated at the top. The most effective corporate leaders are rightly praised for their track record of rewarding and profitable decisions. Years of experience builds confidence in their ability to gauge the market and make...