Business on the River Torrens

I’ve just returned from a three-day retreat in Adelaide. Every year, my EO (Entrepreneurs Organisation) forum goes away to spend quality time together, learn from guest speakers, and undertake some professional development. Over the last four years, we’ve travelled to Wellington, Hobart and Queenstown. This year, it was South Australia’s turn.

Once again, I was tasked with planning and managing logistics for our retreat. The group decided to make this year’s event an intensive professional development event. As a result, we spent most of our time learning to apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in our day-to-day business and revisiting business fundamentals during an intense session with one of South Australia’s most successful entrepreneurs.

We flew into Adelaide on Wednesday morning and based ourselves for two nights at SkyCity, Adelaide’s new casino and hotel complex overlooking the River Torrens. Before getting down to business, we made the most of the sunny weather and spent an hour walking a circuit along the river. We walked from the Riverbank Precinct Pedestrian Bridge as far as the Albert Bridge and back again.

After a full afternoon of meetings, we went for a drink at SOL rooftop bar, enjoying nighttime views of the River Torrens, Elder Park and the Adelaide Oval. We then walked into town for a superb degustation meal at Fugazzi Bar & Dining Room. The service was impeccable.

Thursday was given over to a full day of intensive AI training. I kicked off my morning with a serene walk along the river before the training began. At 5:00pm, we went to the Malt Shovel Taphouse, a nearby microbrewery, for a meet-and-greet session with members of the EO Adelaide chapter. We then went for dinner at Jolleys Boathouse, a landmark building overlooking the river. Sadly, the meal was nothing special despite the stunning location.

Yesterday, the group relocated to Glenelg, where I’d booked a meeting room overlooking the beach. We spent three hours learning from Richard Turner, a successful entrepreneur who has grown several billion-dollar companies. His presentation was a timely reminder that everything gets easier in business if you can achieve scale and build a team to share the load.

We finished our afternoon with a walk along the Glenelg promenade before making our way back to Adelaide Airport and heading home. It was an intensive three days. However, our location on the banks of the Torrens River was a superb choice. It gave us plenty of green outdoor space to explore between all the academic activities.

Central Adelaide certainly is a beautiful location. Although, we all agreed that it’s a rather sleepy town compared to Sydney or Melbourne. I will say one thing in its favour. The flight path into Adelaide Airport took us directly over the central city. We enjoyed us a superb view of our hotel and the surrounding parklands as we came into land, with the Adelaide Hills providing the perfect backdrop. It’s as good a view as the final approach over Sydney harbour.

Go North Young Man!

2019 is turning into a “stay close to home” year for our vacation plans.  So far this year we’ve spent time in Far North Queensland, NSW South Coast and more recently, spent 10 days driving through the Red Centre.  We’ll then finish the year with a Christmas vacation in Tasmania.

Our drive through the Red Centre covered new ground for Garry and I, as well as revisiting some old haunts we’d not seen for several decades.  Our adventure kicked off in Adelaide.  We collected an Apollo Motorhome mid-afternoon, stopped to provision it and then drove north to spend our first night in Port Augusta.

We decided to hire a camper van after Garry’s research revealed that it would cost less to do so than hiring a regular car.  Everyone we looked at charged a one-way rental fee that dramatically inflated this cost; up to $600 per hire.  However, for an unknown reason, a motorhome didn’t incur the same penalty.  We ultimately decided this presented a superb opportunity to experiment with the concept of becoming “grey nomads” in a few years time. 

We hired a deluxe vehicle with separate sleeping zones, permanent café style dining zone and a bathroom fitted out with a toilet and shower.  However, upon collection, we quickly discovered that deluxe referred more to its size and scale than the quality of its interior or the basic accessories included. A hard-won lesson indeed.

We ended up spending time at K-Mart buying basic luxuries such as a coffee plunger, high ball drinking glasses, serving platters, an electric kettle and serving tongs. Coles also had its free Tupperware container promotion running at the same time so we cashed in our reward points to secure some additional storage containers. 

Our extended shopping trip meant that half of our journey north was completed in darkness.  It was a shame as we’d hoped see the full extent of the famous Flinders Ranges as we drove.  However, all was not lost, as the following morning we took time out to drive through the ranges from Port Augusta to the picturesque country town of Quorn.

Quorn was a real treat.  The town has gone to great lengths to preserve many of its colonial buildings including its railway station.  The town was once a stop on the Old Ghan Railway to Alice Springs.  The original railway roughly paralleled the Oodnadatta Track.  This route traversed several dry lake beds that occasionally flooded and closed the line for weeks at a time.  In 1980 the railway was diverted on to a new line that ran 200km to the west of its original location.

From Quorn, we made our way back to Port Augusta where we spent the afternoon exploring a few of its popular sights.  This includes the Water Town, an unusual lookout built into the water tank of a preserved water tower, and an extended visit to the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden.  The garden overlooks the Flinders River and includes the spectacular Matthew Flinders Red Cliff Lookout.  The view of the Flinders Ranges was spectacular; as were the grounds of the garden’s themselves.

We finished the day with a two-hour drive to Woomera, arriving in time to enjoy a stunning sunset over the increasingly arid outback. Here’s more on our time in Woomera, a town that was once part of a highly restricted Defence zone.

Adelaide for Easter

Back in the heady days when Garry and I were both employed full-time we took advantage of some Qantas discount fares and booked a five-day Easter break in Adelaide. I’ve only been to the South Australian capital once before. The occasion was the funeral of my best mate’s father and as a result, I saw very little of the city itself. Garry has been before but seemed to recall very little. Now that we’re back in Australia, it seems appropriate to begin filling the gaps in our domestic sightseeing repertoire.

We made the most of our trip by hiring a car. This let us get out of the city on a couple of occasions which proved rather prescient as the inner city was almost deserted for much of the weekend. However, the empty streets did have their merit as it meant parking was easy to find. This proved a boon as South Australia has an odd tradition of making city parking free of charge on public holidays. As a result, we avoided hefty valet parking charges at our hotel and always found a parking spot within 50 metres of the front entrance.

We flew into Adelaide mid-morning on Good Friday after enjoying a hearty breakfast in the Qantas Lounge. I think I’ll miss top-tier lounge privileges most of all once I’ve left Text 100. I won’t complain too much as the impact will be a while in coming. By December this year, I’ll have done enough flying to renew my Qantas Platinum status for another year. Then in 2014, I’ll simply revert to lifetime Gold member status, thus retaining some lounge access privileges. That is, until Qantas changes its frequent flyer program, or goes bust.

After checking into our hotel we decided to venture out of the city. Good Friday is one of those rare calendar dates when almost every retail outlet is closed. We headed south towards Victor Harbour with vague plans to visit a few vineyards before ending up at the mouth of the mighty Murray River. However, this plan fell apart once we realized every vineyard was closed for the day. It appears that liquor licensing restrictions on Good Friday cover more than just bars and clubs.

Ultimately, the change of plans did us no harm as we switched focus to finding the most scenic roads to take us between Adelaide and the south coast. Highlights included the quaint homestead of Penny Hill. We currently have a case of this winery's Cracking Black Shiraz cellaring in our pantry. Victor Harbour proved to be a bit of a disappointment. We found many of the beaches layered deep in seaweed deposited by the Southern Ocean’s relentless swell. The seaside cafes were also heaving with visitors who’d clearly decided to make the same excursion we’d planned.

 

We eventually found ourselves on the wharf overlooking Goolwa Channel, a body of water that separates Hindmarsh Island from the mainland. Here you can see the infamous Hindmarsh Bridge curving high over the water. Its construction created a huge controversy in the 1990s. For almost a decade its construction was delayed by claims that its location violated a sacred indigenous site. 

However, those opposing the bridge refused to clarify these claims in what became known as “secret women’s business”. Eventually, a royal commission found that the “secret claims” had been fabricated and the Federal Government went on authorize the bridge’s construction. It finally opened in March 2001 at a cost of $14 million.

We dined on lashings of fresh seafood at Hector’s Café soaking up some glorious sunshine. Afterward, we wandered through weekend produce markets spilling across a nearby park. Needless to say, we didn’t leave empty-handed. We bought a large jar of delicious local honey and a fiery chili paste that the stall owner promised would transform our curries and stir-fries. Three months on, the last of the honey has been eaten, while the chili paste was tested for the first time only last week. Let’s just say it has quite a kick!

Our road trip was completed with a drive across Hindmarsh Bridge and on toward the island’s southeastern corner. Here the road abruptly ends in front of rolling sand dunes. A small lookout on the dunes provides a panoramic view of the Murray Mouth south of the island. Thanks to extensive water diversion further upstream, at this point the river barely flows out to sea. Instead, its mouth is marked by shifting sandbanks, upon which row after row of foaming waves continually break. In 2002 the mouth actually closed over and two dredging barges were brought in to reopen it.

We set aside Easter Saturday to enjoy the inner city. The day kicked off with a late brunch at the Central Markets. These fresh produce markets are a feast for the eyes and ears as much as for the stomach. The rest of the day was spent wandering the banks of the River Torrens and soaking up the sights and sounds of Rundle Mall. I was fascinated to learn that the river is only 85km in length; its source is in the nearby Adelaide Hills.

Easter Sunday was spent driving through the Adelaide Hills, spotting its many vineyards and enjoying its rural attractions. We began our road trip with a brief stop at the Mount Lofty lookout. The viewing area offers views across the Adelaide Plains, the city, and the Gulf St Vincent. We traced the ridgeline as far as the aptly named Corkscrew Road. From here we turned inland winding down into the valley, past Kangaroo Creek reservoir, and on to the village of Woodside.

 

Woodside is famous for Melba’s Chocolate Factory. Inside we watched technicians coat chocolate balls and dress freshly molded chocolate Easter rabbits. Naturally, we didn’t escape its well-stocked store without purchasing several packages of tasty goods. We suffered a similar fate in Cheese Wrights, a local cheesemaker located next door.

Our tour of the Adelaide Hills finished in the incredibly quaint town of Hahndorf. The area was settled by Lutheran migrants from Prussia and so the town is heavily influenced by German culture. After a walk to soak up the local atmosphere and Autumn colours we eventually stopped at the Hahndorf Inn, a Victorian-style pub serving German fare. We both went for the classic Six Weiner Platter. Germans do sausages better than anyone.

Our final day in South Australia saw us make the most of our hire car. We started with a visit to the Botanic Gardens to see its famous Amazon Lilypad House and elegant Tropical Palm House, before heading north to Port Adelaide and then down the coast as far as the seaside suburb of Glenelg. In Glenelg, we found a fish and chip shop selling the perfect seafood. However, the highlight of the day was a dolphin we spotted frolicking in the local marina.

Deja vu: the adventure begins (again)

I'm sure regular readers have noticed it’s been sometime between posts. Why?  Put simply, 14 years of predictable, stable lifestyle are about to radically change.  In July I leave my current employer with no fixed plans for the future. It's a bold decision I made some time ago but have waited until now to act. There are plenty of punters who think I'm crazy to give up a comfortable, well-paying job that's all but set for life.  

However, for several years, the journey with my current employer has felt like a dead end.  I've achieved every goal I set for myself almost 15 years ago, and then some.  Life has become staid and predictable. I feel I have another career path within me.  After much soul-searching I've decided it's time to bring it to fruition.  

As you can imagine this decision has consumed my focus since I set the wheels in motion in late-January.  It’s been more than 21 years since I was last out of work. Understandably the prospect of finding my next pay cheque is proving both daunting and exhilarating.  Since taking this decision I’ve experienced a full spectrum of emotions; from relief and anticipation to utter terror and despair.

What should I do with my career?  As you can imagine I’ve received advice by the truckload.  It’s all been rich, varied, and at times terribly contradictory.  As time passes my options have coalesced into three distinct categories:

1. Take a year off, either to study for an MBA or to consult on a freelance basis until my next step is clearer.
2. Go into business for myself, ideally buying a going concern I believe I can successfully grow and develop for the long-term.
3. Strike out in a new career direction with another employer, leveraging the international business skills I’ve accumulated over the years.

Naturally, each option has merits as well as pitfalls.  With so many choices to explore I’ve decided I need to take a couple of months off and clear my head.  Some might say I’m simply procrastinating.  However, taking a moment to still, or perhaps distract, my mind seems to be the right way forward.  I’ve enjoyed a surprising sense of peace since taking this decision and I'm already seeing new opportunities and connections appear without me forcing the issue.

As a result, I’ve finalized plans for two travel adventures in August and September. First, in August Garry and I take a three-week road trip up the West Coast of the USA from Los Angeles to Seattle.  We then return to Sydney for two weeks before I’ll depart again to take my parents on a vacation through Canada and New York they’ve always dreamt about.  The second trip is a recent development, reflecting in part the success of a ten-day vacation I took with my parents in China last month.  My father coped well with the travel, the food, and the long days of sightseeing.

Dad turned 75 in May. In the midst of his ongoing cancer therapy, there was a time when none of us thought he’d see this day.  Every year has become a precious gift.  Therefore, while reflecting on my own career future I realized that I’d created a unique opportunity to more spend time with him before life settles into a new routine.  It seemed foolish to pass up the chance to take him on a journey listed on his bucket list. 

My parents and I will kick off in Vancouver in mid-September.  Here we’ll catch a train through the Rocky Mountains to Banff; then on to Toronto and Niagara Falls, before taking time to explore New York.  Our journey will finish with a week of driving from Montreal to Toronto via Ottawa enjoying the spectacular autumn foliage.  I then return to Sydney and start making more concrete plans for the future.

Garry’s life is also taking a radical turn.  While researching options for acquiring a company I stumbled across a stationery wholesaler.  Some initial due diligence quickly revealed a host of simple changes, which if undertaken, would dramatically improve the company’s growth potential.  After some agonising internal debate, I ultimately decided it wasn't the business for me.  However, Garry became somewhat passionate about the opportunity and ultimately made an offer.  In July he’ll start life as a small business owner.  Watch as Gazena takes on the world.  It’s somewhat ironic that my current journey of discovery has ended up setting Garry on a new career path.

My next path of exploration proved somewhat more compelling.  By chance I spotted an executive role advertised on LinkedIn, the business networking social media site.  The brief was written in a style that captured my imagination.  On a whim, I drafted a cover letter and submitted my resume.  Weeks later I received a call and was asked to come in for an interview.  To cut a long story short, I was subsequently short-listed on the spot and invited to meet more of the executive team. 

It was both motivating and inspiring to find myself in this position the first time I’d seriously applied for a job.  However, I found myself somewhat conflicted by the prospect of leaping straight from my current employer into another role without a pause.  In the days that followed job applicants were narrowed down to me and one other person. I was not successful. A part of me breathed a sigh of relief. This experience made me realize I needed to take a break and clear my head before truly committing myself to another career path. 

As you can see, it is been quite a journey so far, hence the blogging hiatus.  However, as I finally start to wind down my current employment commitments, I’ve decided to revive the blog.  In the weeks ahead you’ll see me update you on a host of travel adventures, including:

• An Easter weekend in Adelaide.  Garry and I took time out to explore garden city, as well as exploring the southern coast of South Australia and the picturesque Adelaide Hills wine country.

• A series of ANZAC weekend excursions with my brother and sister-in-law during their five-day vacation in Australia.  Garry and I took them on a day trip down the south coast to Wollongong the day they arrived, before heading to Canberra for a picture-perfect weekend of blue skies and sunshine.

• My final business trip to the USA.  I found myself in San Francisco with a weekend to fill.  On the spur of the moment, I booked flights to Southern Utah to take in the dramatically eroded landscape of Canyonlands and Arches National Parks.  The experience proved more memorable than expected and the photos simply speak for themselves. 

• Ten days in China with my parents.  I took on the role of tour guide, escorting my parents through the urban wonderland of Shanghai, the historical realms of Xian, and the cultural highlights of Beijing.
  
  
• A brief excursion en route to Hong Kong airport where I rode the Ngong Ping cable car to Po Lin Monastery. This Lantau Island institution is home to the Tin Tan Buddha, a 34-metre-high bronze statue that sits serenely on a nearby hill. The more hardy visitors climb more than 240 steps to its base to marvel at its colossal size.

• Stories from far North Queensland where Garry and I are traveling this week to witness the marriage of his younger brother to a wonderful, lively lass from Cornwall, England. They currently live in Port Douglas and so family and friends have been invited to join an informal ceremony on a boat anchored along the Great Barrier Reef.

• Highlights of our forthcoming road trip up the West Coast of the USA, followed by a summary of the trip to Canada I’ll be taking with my parents.

A year initially devoid of travel seemed to have morphed into a final hurrah before life truly does change for good.  However, future posts won’t just be about travel.  I’m keen to also share the journey of my new career as its direction begins to unfold.  Let the adventure begin (again)!

UPDATE: JUNE 2015

Garry and I have acquired a fast-growing small business called Artiwood.  We take possession on 12 June.  After several false starts with my new career direction, it's exciting to have finally found the right opportunity. I've looked at dozens of businesses in the last three years. So many of them have been a bitter disappointment and their numbers simply haven't stacked up once I've taken a closer look at the books.  

However, this business is the real deal. Its owner is selling simply because it's become too successful, too demanding, and in desperate need of significant investment to gear it for continued success.  If things play out as we believe we'll double the size of this business within four years; and be well on the way to setting ourselves up for life.