Brands + Business x Christine Moody*

There has been so much discussion here in Australia around Uber and its impact on the traditional taxi service. Without getting into the politics of the matter, what does matter is that these game changing organisations disrupt the status quo.

…disruption is great for business—without it things would stay the same.

The entrepreneurs see a gap in the market—often from their own experiences and pain points with other service and product offerings. They develop innovation around what they want and what they believe other like-minded customers will want as well. The rise of Uber is due to the fact that it was developed to make getting to places easier and cheaper as well as the addition of seamless delivery of the service—easy to book, pay, and get to the destination. What I observed in New York was that the traditional taxi service has had to pick up their game—now easier to book and pay, plus the drivers seem friendlier!

So I believe disruption is great for business—without it things would stay the same.

*Christine Moody is one of Australia’s leading brand strategists and the founder brand management consultancy, Brand Audits. With more than 30 years’ professional experience, Christine has helped a diverse client base of local and international brands, including Gold Coast City Council, Hilton Hotels, and Wrigleys USA, to develop, protect and achieve brand differentiation. Her particular interest is personal brand audits to assist executives realise their full potential.

For more information: chris.moody@brandaudits.com.au or +61 419 888 468.

Brand + Business x Christine Moody*

I wrote a few days ago titled, ‘The power of finishing the last 10 percent’, and have since found many articles on how to complete that big work project that takes you to the next level—professionally or personally. Finishing something gives you the confidence and motivation to go to a whole new different—and exciting—level!

An article by Faisal Hoque in Fast Company, ‘Taming the last 10%: Lessons for finishing meaningful work‘, outlines the importance of completing a project because as hard as it is, this is where the ‘magic’ happens.

…whatever little successes I have had, it has been about putting most of my energies toward the last 10 percent.

Whether it is a book, or a simple two-page report, everything depends on your last 10 percent.

Do you agree? Have you got a story?

*Christine Moody is one of Australia’s leading brand strategists and the founder brand management consultancy, Brand Audits. With more than 30 years’ professional experience, Christine has helped a diverse client base of local and international brands, including Gold Coast City Council, Hilton Hotels, and Wrigleys USA, to develop, protect and achieve brand differentiation. Her particular interest is personal brand audits to assist executives realise their full potential.

For more information: chris.moody@brandaudits.com.au or +61 419 888 468.

Brand + Business x Christine Moody*

I have waited a couple of days for things to settle down in Australian Federal politics before I commented about our new Prime Minister but I can wait no longer. I have some observations on our new leader—Malcolm Turnbull—purely from a brand perspective.

*Christine Moody is one of Australia’s leading brand strategists and the founder brand management consultancy, Brand Audits. With more than 30 years’ professional experience, Christine has helped a diverse client base of local and international brands, including Gold Coast City Council, Hilton Hotels, and Wrigleys USA, to develop, protect and achieve brand differentiation. Her particular interest is personal brand audits to assist executives realise their full potential.

For more information: chris.moody@brandaudits.com.au or +61 419 888 468.

On Sunday, I got out of my comfort zone and participated in Tough Mudder 2015. I have never, ever done anything like this before—not even a fun run! The course was 20km with lots of mud and lots of obstacles to climb over, under, and through. I was really scared but had to face my fears, and push this aside. Rather than be overwhelmed by the enormous task ahead—and of course not dying!—our team decided to think about and approach one obstacle at a time. While I was unable to complete all obstacles I was determined to finish and kept going—and going towards the finish line.

And finish I did!

On reflection—post-hot shower and a clean set of clothes—I have seen so many parallels in what makes successful people and successful brands. Here are four of my observations:

1. How you approach obstacles is how you face life. You have a choice to either give it a go or bypass the obstacle. Even when I was scared and didn’t know how to tackle it, I gave it a go. Sometimes, especially towards the end I had to bypass a couple. But that was okay. Sometimes you have to choose.
2. Surround yourself with like-minded people who have your back. I decided to do the event because I did it with my team mates from my training group. Our team stuck together and helped each other over, through, and under each obstacle. I knew they had my back and they knew I had theirs. And more importantly, I knew they were not going to leave me behind in a mud trench somewhere!
3. No matter what, you need to keep your sense of humour. There were many times during the course (especially the last 10 percent) that I found it really challenging. But as a team, we never lost our sense of humour (mud does that). We were able to find humour in every challenge and laugh at each other and ourselves right to the end. It made it fun and it  motivated me to keep going.
4. Celebrate each achievement, no matter how small. On the second obstacle—climbing over a high wall after coming out of a mud bath—I was finding it difficult and had decided to bypass. But my team encouraged me go back and to give it a go. They knew I wanted to do it. I needed their help and I just had to ask for it. Not only did I get their help, I also got help from others around us. For me, it was more than just getting over the wall—I needed to get over this wall to prove to myself that I could get over any obstacle.  In the bigger picture, it was a small thing but we celebrated each achievement as we made our way around the course. Because the course—like life!—is about getting over small (and large) obstacles and celebrating each achievement along the way.

Overall the biggest thing I realised was that doing Tough Mudder for me was more about my mental strength than my physical strength. My mantra throughout the course was ‘be courageous’. And I proved to myself that I was! I use this mantra in my business every day.

Bring on Tough Mudder 2016!

Thanks to my team—Loretta, Erica, and Alex for getting me over, under, and through the course; and to Integral Fitness for training my body and mind to build my resilience and reframe my ‘why’! 

*Christine Moody is one of Australia’s leading brand strategists and the founder brand management consultancy, Brand Audits. With more than 30 years’ professional experience, Christine has helped a diverse client base of local and international brands, including Gold Coast City Council, Hilton Hotels, and Wrigleys USA, to develop, protect and achieve brand differentiation. Her particular interest is personal brand audits to assist executives realise their full potential.

For more information: chris.moody@brandaudits.com.au or +61 419 888 468.

Brand + Business x Christine Moody*

Last week I started a blog on ‘Books that changed my life’. To recap—I read at least one book per week. I prefer ‘real ones/hard copies’ so I buy them from my local bricks-and-mortar bookstore Folio Books. I choose each book because I have seen the review in a magazine article, blog, or Facebook page. If you missed Part One here is link.

This week’s ‘Top Ten’ books have a common theme—visiting the craft of design in diverse fields—from fashion to food to fabric. These books represent design expertise outside my own. They were chosen to enable me to understand a different perspective on design whether it is the design of a skateboard (Disposable Skateboard Bible), or the design of a postcard or telegram (Letters of Note). Broadening my knowledge and interests inspires me to design outside the box!

I can recommend these books to be part of everyone’s library:

1. 101 Things I Learned in Film School by Neil Landau
2. Art of the Restaurateur by Nicolas Lander
3. Best Designed Flagship Stores by Jons Messedat
4. Disposable Skateboard Bible by Sean Cliver
5. How to Make Books by Esther Smith
6. 100 Unforgettable Dresses by Hal Rubinstein
7. A Field Guide to Fabric Design by Kim Kight
8. Letters of Note by Shaun Usher
9. Amazing Spaces by George Clarke
10. Food Truck Feasts by Erika Budiman

The last few years of researching and writing had come down to just finishing that last god damn 10 percent. Understanding this is what made the difference.

Brand + Business + Women x Christine Moody*

Like many of us, Stahl was getting promotions, winning praise from peers and clients, but still didn’t feel successful. What Stahl found in her role as career coach was that there were so many others like her and struggling in similar circustances. About her clients, she says, “They are working hard and getting everything they thought they wanted, only to find that they still don’t feel ‘successful'”.

They are working hard and getting everything they thought they wanted, only to find that they still don’t feel ‘successful’.

In the course of working with these clients, Stahl identified a few steps to help them find success on their own terms.

Brand + Business + Women x Christine Moody*

In this Fast Company article, Susan Adams explains why more companies don’t have women on their corporate boards. She says: “It’s 2015 and we still don’t have the answer”.

So which “personality” best describes your company’s board? Regardless of where your company lands, immediate steps can and should be taken to make a change.

Smart planning to choose new directors will go a long way to ensuring that over time your board becomes more diverse to better reflect and serve your audiences and better lead your organisation.

Adams says: “The time for change is now. It’s time for leaders to get on board with diversity”.

Brands + Business x Christine Moody*

I read at least one book per week—even more when I was researching for my master’s thesis! I prefer ‘real ones’ so I buy them from my local bricks-and-mortar bookstore Folio Books. I choose each book because I have seen the review in a magazine article, blog, or Facebook page. Seems I am pretty good at choosing books as I hear Folio Books often order additional copies for the bookshelves thanks to my selection.

I love books about successful people and successful business. This week’s ‘Top Ten’ books seem to have a common theme—overcoming diversity on the road to success. It is hard to reduce my list to a ‘top ten’—or ‘top 100!”— so here is part one of some of my favourites. I recommend these books for everyone’s bookshelf:

1. Reinventing You by Dorie Clark
2. Stop Not Till the Goal is Reached by Maha Sinnathamby
3. Peak by Chip Conley
4. Start with Why by Simon Sinek
5. Forty, Fat, and Fired by Nigel Marsh
6. Do Over by Jon Acuff
7. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
   Book by Marie Kondo
8. Leave Your Mark by Aliza Licht
9. Playing Big by Tara Mohr
10. The First Mile by Scott D. Anthony

What are some books that have changed your life?

Next Sunday…part two of ‘top ten books’!

*Christine Moody is one of Australia’s leading brand strategists and the founder brand management consultancy, Brand Audits. With more than 30 years’ professional experience, Christine has helped a diverse client base of local and international brands, including Gold Coast City Council, Hilton Hotels, and Wrigleys USA, to develop, protect and achieve brand differentiation.

For more information: chris.moody@brandaudits.com.au or +61 419 888 468.