I fly about once a week on Qantas, domestic and international. I am a Gold Flyer which I guess is meant to have privileges and have spent some time trying to book a holiday through Qantas Holidays. Here's Qantas looks like from my eyes:

• Their planes are delayed about 50% of the time when I fly.
• I tried to book a flight using points and their website didn't work because it kept telling me that my 6mth old son's birthdate was invalid. I went over this thing about 10 times and still couldn't work it out.
• I then tried to phone and their voice activation system thought I had some strange accent. 1hr later, I was able to make a booking via a real person. Lucky I'm a Gold Freqent Flyer.
• I then tried to book a holiday via Qantas Holidays, probably my worst ever holiday booking experience ever. They have no website where you can book a hotel. Their prices are inflated probably about 25%. Their staff in the call centre are rude and unhelpful and they never get back to you even if they say they will.
• When booking a flight, they have a software called Infotriever which is meant to update Outlook with your flight details. Half the time it puts in a flight time which is out by about 10hrs. I wonder if I missed a flight because of their software problem, would they blame me?
• And then Qantas has its maintainance issues and union problems that really provide a terrible service to its customers. Too often we hear of panels falling off or planes having to turn around.
• The food service and quality has plummetted even further. It's the only thing you look forward to on a flight to break the monotony.
• The new Qantas Frequent Flyer program is terrible. Expensive. Awful. Impossible! It's about 240k points just to fly to London.
• And lastly, I seem to recall Qantas being voted the worst for customer service in the world. In the world!

Geoff Dixon has given the incoming CEO a big hospital pass. He has spent the past few years running down the core of Qantas for the sake of profits. Great that it has close to a $1bn profit in increasing fuel prices, greater expenses and a unionised workforce, but this is all at the expense of customer satisfaction. I am starting to get pretty sick and tired of their "efficiencies" at the sake of my comfort and satisfaction. It doesn't take much to please a customer, but Geoff Dixon was 100% focused on profit because he was leaving and a big payout was tied to the earnings he returned. I pity the new CEO. He will have a challenge of his hands trying to restore the loyalty that they used to have. Geoff has eroded this.

A money hungry corporate who has forgotten that his airline is not the only one in the sky.

Good to see the back of you Geoff.

Who ever can put street maps into China and follow this with GPS will make millions! Last night my driver got lost and we spent 2hrs driving around trying to find my hotel in Shenzhen. We asked directions from many locals but because things pop up so fast here, the hotel was new and no one had heard of it. They didn't even know the highway it was on!

Now that's how you make billions!

I have a problem with my phone when I travel overseas. It doesn't accept incoming calls. Quite a problem. Especially when I am planning on meeting people at my destination.

Right now I am waiting "in queue" for an Optus person to help me out. For those of you unaware, Optus is the #2 telco in Australia. Firstly, when I call up, I have to say in a few words what I am calling for. I say to the computer; "International Calls". "I'm sorry, was that for long distance calls?" says the computer. "No. International Calls" I say. "I'm sorry, was that for long distance calls?" says the computer again. "No, International" I reply. "I'm sorry, I don't have all the information to direct you to the right person. Please be aware that because of this, I will put you through to someone who may have to transfer you again."

YAY! How's that for confidence building? "You'll be passed from person to person to really piss you off and hopefully you'll give up before actually speaking to someone!"

We spend about $5k each month with Optus. So for us, and for that kind of spend, we want action, we want service and we want someone to answer our questions right now!

If you are a telco and can guarantee me service and someone who can show some love, then please contact me on 0402 096 817.

Finally. Just finished. 15.30mins to get through to someone who had the audacity to ask how my day is going! Then 1.30mins later, problem solved. They had put an international call barring on my phone.

Might I add, they suspended all our accounts a couple of months ago because of a "technical error". We had no office phones, no fax and no mobiles for 2days. This international issue is still a continuation from that.

Please can someone help!

,You know, this election is shaping up to be quite a boring one. Election promises, big budget ads and spin doctors in this election are a big waste of time. My guess, well over $100m has been spent in this campaign already.

But to win the election, it is all about selling a message and he who sells better, wins.

The Coalition: Our team has experience

The ALP: I would make the best Prime Minister

If more people think that it is a team that runs this country, than think that it is only about one person, then the Coalition will win. They both have the same policies. They are both Me-Too which every marketing student knows is not the right strategy. However, the only strategy that matters is Team Vs One Man. It will be interesting to see if Australia thinks like Americans or if they still think like Australians.

Enjoy!

Driving unemployment rates lower

Currently our unemployment rates are about 4.2%. The Government has aimed to reduce unemployment levels below 4% and drive towards 3%. This has been welcomed by several groups such as the farmers where unskilled workers are suitable. However, for the rest of the economy, semi-skilled and skilled labour as well as the brainiacs are needed. We have two options;

1. Pay more to current employees to hopefully stop them from switching jobs. This will have a big effect on a whole range of things such as inflation rates, reduced profitability and increasing the likelyhood of exporting sections of companies to lower wage rate regions of the world such as India or even European countries.
2. Allow more people to work in Australia under temporary work visas and make it easier for companies to employ foreign workers. This increases the international experience of our local companies, removes a bit of pressure on interest rates as well as improves the productivity and profitability of Australian companies. Remember, profitable companies pay taxes and foreign workers pay taxes.

It is quite a no brainer of which is best for the country. However, number one is an election winner because that's what people want to hear. We still have this phobia of foreign workers coming in to take our jobs. At 4.2% unemployment, there is enough work for everyone.

Presidents don't belong in Australia!

After a week in China and luckily out of range of federal politics, I am back and not much has changed apart from a dodgey worm that gives the ALP a false sense of security.

This hot tip is for the Coalition: Don't run a presidential style campaign. Run it the way Australian politics is meant to be run; AS A TEAM! John Howard will not win up against Kevin07 dawk personality is put up against geek personality (younger). The Coalition has a team with depth, experience and intelligence who have been there for years and not intending to retire anytime soon. The ALP has a young team, no depth and a team full of ex-Union officials.

A champion team beats a team of champions. An average team beats one with just a leader and nothing else. Just look at the English Rugby team - 1 good player with a good boot and not much else.

I am not like the others!

I was watching the Today Show this morning where they were interviewing our PM, John Howard and he was asked about how similar him and the opposition leader, Kevin Rudd were. This is quite topical at the moment because, well, they are the same. Rudd is a Howard clone. But John Howard, when asked, he stated that they were worlds apart. We are completely different!

I think the best strategy for the Government is to show how similar the ALP is to them and present to people that there is no point in voting for them because what's the point? Same policies, same cronies, why change? It's just expensive and in this election, pointless.

I would like John Howard to come out and say; "You know what? Kevin and I have so much in common. We have the same ideas, would govern Australia in a similar way, we are just so alike."

Would people risk a change? Or would people stick with what they know (for 11years) if the alternative was not that much different?

Now that's a winner!

Make it easier to keep staff - Not create more jobs

We now have unemployment rates at 33year lows at about 4.2%. The Howard government is trying to get this below 4% while we don't really know what Rudd is probably trying to do the same. However, it's not about trying to create more jobs because we haven't got the people to fill the spots. It's about trying to keep the people we currently have in our team, improve productivity and drive economic growth this way. There are hundreds of thousands of employers who would welcome a hand in trying to improve productivity and retain good people. There are millions of employees who would want their employer to work hard to keep them, improve their skills and see a more productive workplace.

Talk to the employer and the employee. It is too easy for politicians to talk about unemployment rates. Let's focus on our productivity rates (maybe $/employee) and drive political speak around this number.

Be different!

Although not a "policy" as such, being different is the only thing that will get Kevin Rudd and the ALP over the line. Although Rudd is still a clear favourite, his story is too similar to that of the current government. It therefore means that there is too little reason for people to change their mind and vote in a new government. People wont risk a new government just because they personally don't like the John Howard, Peter Costello, or whoever. Either the government has to stuff something up which will send people to the ALP, or the ALP have to tell a completely different story that the majority will listen to and side with them. Right now, the government hasn't stuffed up and the ALP is a clone of the government. My tip: The Coalition will win and John Howard will remain as PM.

This is why the Democrats worked way back when by "Keeping the bastards honest". People listened because they had a mantra. They didn't want everyone to vote for them. They weren't for the masses, they were for the passionate few that really wanted to stick it to them. The Democrats lost their way when they tried to appeal to everyone. They tried to have a view on everything. They were no longer about "keeping the bastards honest" but more having a view on everything that they weren't experts on. This is why the Democrats died.

The Greens on the otherhand are extremists. They work because they only stand for one thing - The environment. They don't talk about hospitals, aged care facilities, work place reform or union power, they talk about the environment. That's it. Nothing more. They have been on this case for decades and their story remains the same. And now it is their time - Environment is #1 issue. Who would you vote for if this was now a concern of yours? Someone who has a policy on it? Or someone who spends their life as a fanatic saving the environment?

The Coalition works because the alternative is too similar to them. Coalition wins the House of Representatives. The Greens works because their decades of passion is now the #1 issue for many Australians. The Greens win the balance of power in the Senate.

Tax deductions for health products.

Governments, health funds, etc pretend to be looking after our health, but in actual fact it is mostly a facade. If a government is genuinely interested in helping Australians improve their health, let them make tax deductions on their income tax for health products such as supplements, sports wear, sporting organisations, etc. Naturally a criteria has to be established to ensure that darts isn't considered a sport.

Evidence shows that those healthier people in our community buy supplements, they attend activities such as yoga, aerobics and compete in sporting competitions whether it's bowls or a cycling race. This community are those who are doing their best to save our health system that has been stuffed up by doctors, drug companies and governments. It is very difficult to suggest that we have a healthcare system. It is a sickness system run by the wrong people, people at the core of looking after sick people. Hospitals don't work if people aren't sick. Drug companies don't make money if people aren't sick. The doctors running our healthcare system don't control more money if people aren't sick.

Millions of Australians try and improve their health and wellbeing. Why aren't they being rewarded for their efforts? They place a much less burden on our society that someone who doesn't "give it a go". A doctor is the last person to be telling us how to improve our health, get fit and lose weight. So why do we still let them control our sickness system?

Get rid of the baby bonus - Give a household income tax cut!

Much has been said about our lack of babies but also young single mothers spending their bonus on flat screen TV's. The baby bonus in its current configuration does nothing to encourage working women and professionals to have a baby. The measly amount of about $4,187, although sounding a lot, doesn't go very far these days. And it is a very good reason for professional women to put off having kids, in some cases, when it's too late. We need to get the professional women breeding!

Offer a tax cut on household income. If this were implemented, those with higher household income would gain greater benefit from the tax cuts and provide greater incentives for the professional people in the world (the ones we want breeding) to "give it one for the country".

Tax cuts for the rich? Well, we have to get them breeding somehow. Aren't these the ones we want to breed?

Between now and the Australian Federal Election, each day I will post an election winning idea which could improve our country, establish our future and deliver a win to which ever political party takes onboard what is posted. Although many political "policies" are light on substance, use babble to make them sound clever and important, each of the ideas posted here will be real, relevant and not designed to bow to minorities, corporates or any political view points.

A little about me so that you understand what "basket" I am in. Below are some personal details about me:

• I am 33 years old (scorpio for those wondering)
• I am male
• I am married (9 years and still in love!)
• I have no kids (although my wife is 19weeks pregnant. YAY!)
• I rent an apartment on the Sunshine Coast
• I own a block of land but can't afford to build (but it is covered with a gorgeous rainforest)
• I have a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree (only spent 18mths living as one though)
• I have an MBA majoring in marketing, finance and entrepreneurship
• I study 1week every year at MIT in Boston, USA with 60 other young entrepreneurs from around the world
• I keep fit by cycling 5 or 6 days a week
• I do Bikram yoga (sometimes when I build up the courage)
• I own my business with my parents (been going 9years)
• I employ about 13 people (only one guy)
• I spent 3years at the Australian Defence Force Academy (Army)
• I spent 1year working for the Federal Government dishing out money to companies for R&D
• I travel a fair bit with work interstate and internationally
• I earn more than $50k but less than $75k
• I want to grow our company into an international winner!
• I get thrilled by those who give things ago and frustrated by those who don't
• I grew up believing in mainstream medicine but don't see it as an answer to our future

This is me. There are millions of people like me. You may have just one thing in common, or everything in common. But none the less, everyday you will hear an election winner that is built on common sense.

Feel free to give your comments on all of these ideas and spread them with the rest of Australia. Hopefully someone somewhere will get the idea that we want common sense, not smoke and mirrors.

Enjoy the trail! Who will win?

Sam.

Horse Flu is one of the biggest natural disasters to hit this country - So you would think if you listen to the media. But worse still, our governments are pouring millions into stopping the spread of it (quite unsuccessfully). From what I understand, this flu is similar to the human flu - snotty nose, etc.

But here's the thing, human flu costs this country billions! I know from my own business that when the flu hits, productivity goes down for 2-3months. But what does the government do? Nothing. Why?

What is wrong with a horse getting the flu? They'll get over it won't they? If they are a race horse, temperatures are taken before racing. If they have a temperature, then the don't race. Simple? The governments are very unsuccessful at stopping it, yet millions are still being pour in.

I don't get it.

21 million Chinese-made toys were pulled from the market because of lead paint fears. I read the below article on the weekend. The story was lost on about page 14 of The Sunshine Coast Daily. What had hit the headlines several weeks ago and even lead a company owner to suicide, seems to be Big Company propaganda and lies. What can you do about it? Don't buy Mattel or Fisher-Price toys this Christmas.

Everyday we are flat out (which is a good thing!). But everything that happens, small things, big things, complaints, wins, everything has some form of distraction. It is very hard to keep an eye on the big picture. Where are you going? What are you doing and what do you stand for?

To help us remain focused, everyone in our company knows what our core values are, our purpose and what we are trying to achieve today, this week, this month, this quarter and this year. It is up to the bus driver to ensure that you are headed in the right direction and able to look past the chatty passenger or the kids fighting in the back seat.

And what is the right direction? What is the destination? We call it our BHAG - Big Hairy Audacious Goal! This is where you want to be in 10years time. It is aspirational, bold, adventurous and not easy to attain. It is what will make you the king of your sandpit.

Want to know what our BHAG is?

"By 2016, we want to achieve revenues of $100m with the reputation that Blackmores has today."

Simple, clear, straight to the point and not making sales at the expense of customer loyalty, reputation and just for the sake of an extra dollar.

What's your BHAG?

Last night we were broken into at about 12.45am. The bastards smashed our back door with a crow bar. Obviously they only got as far as my top draw before they were startled by our alarm. The cops set it off as well when they came through. In their words "It scared the S**t out of us! I was almost on the ground having an epileptic fit!"

Two interesting things came from this. Firstly, when our alarm goes off, they call me to tell me so. The security people also suggest I go there to have a look. "Are you kidding me? What if they are still there???" Luckily I didn't answer the phone so the cops were called. Even though they have their own security guys driving around, they arrived after the cops and myself. Is it really best to send the client to investigate a break-in? There is a reason I pay for security!

The second thing is that our door is busted. We got three quotes.
Duce Doors - $1,020 plus installation and 2 month wait. (Are you kidding?)
Spence Doors - Quote tomorrow and at least 2 week wait (it's only a door, how hard can it be?)
Doors Plus - $443 and completed within 3days. (getting better)

Our door was smashed in! It has no locks! It is useless as a secure door! I know on the same night, there were 5 other places hit with the same thing and all are probably trying to get a door to secure their premises.

Business Idea - Same Day Doors. I would pay $1,000 for that!

Just in case you were wondering, we have used metal plates to secure the door and bolt it shut.

One of my joys are movie length documentaries. The ones that really have the time to get into the guts of the issue rather than the ones that just skirt around the subject like you see in a 30min slot on TV. I don't care how unbiased they are, it is always the opinion that the film maker wants to get across. Consider them fanatics. Passionate about what they do and will go to great lengths to tell you about it. Michael Moore is a prime example of a fanatic who can tell a brilliant story. Watch everything he has ever made.

After returning from an exhausting trip to China, I thought it was a DVD day. So I got two docos out. The first was Who Killed the Electric Car and the second was Fast Food Nation. Fast Food Nation was actually a movie based on the non-fictional book of the same name by Eric Schlosser. Read the book, don't watch the movie. The book will open your eyes to a lot of interesting things in the food industry. The movie doesn't have the feel that this stuff really happens. It feels too fictional.

Who Killed the Electric Car was brilliant. I recommend you get this. It has everything from conspiracies, arrests and a storyline which you would think was made up. It is great and gets my tick of approval (if that means anything).

One very interesting fact I got from the DVD was that 100years ago, there were more electric cars on the road than petrol ones.

Enjoy!

I was having a think about cars and how damn heavy they are. Usually they are between 1,500-2,000kg! It takes a lot of energy to start moving a car of this weight.

There is this measure that is commonly used from time-to-time called the Power to Weight Ratio. It basically allows all cars to be compared regardless of engine size or weight. It is more often referred to in relation to performance vehicles. Did you know that the Ariel Atom, a British performance car has a better power-to-weight ratio than a top Porsche? And why? Because it weights less than 500kg compared to a porsche at about 1,500kg. And on a track, an Ariel will be a Porsche GT3 anyday. What's more, it uses less fuel to do it.

So in this age of greenies, why aren't we producing cars less than 1,000kg? Why? Did you know that the Mini weights in at a massive 1,100kg. That's a heavy little sucker. The "fuel efficient" Toyota Prius manages 1,300kg. A Smart Car comes in at less than 700kg but of course there isn't much room for the groceries. But why is there nothing else? Just imagine the offering? Better fuel efficiency, better performance, less environmental impact and something much more sporty.

I believe that it is possible to develop a suitable and economical production car less than 1,000kg that will offer all the creature comforts that we have learned to live with. However, car designers need to make a change in their thinking. The private jet market has currently going through a massive mind shift with the emergence of the Very Light Jet market which will revolutionise private jets.

So when does it hit cars? When small car makers start taking marketshare through innovation and thought. It will be a great day when that happens.

Here's the car company's name: Sub1.

We all know about the Pareto Principle, 80:20 Rule, whichever way you want to call it. If you don't know the idea, basically it states that 80% of the value, errors, money, time, etc comes from 20% of the customers, tasks, work, etc.

In a simple business sense, 80% of the revenue comes from just 20% of the customers. The flip side is 20% of the revenue comes from 80% of the customers. What does this then mean? Without thinking about it, you are probably spending 80% of your time and money servicing 80% of your customers who only product 20% of the revenue.

20% of your marketing produces 80% of the results. 20% of your products produce 80% of the revenue. 20% of your web traffic produces 80% of the value. 20% of the meeting time produces 80% of the outcomes. You could go on forever with this.

Also think about everything else you do in your daily work? How many of the emails you get actually are productive? I believe that probably less than 5% in my case have any real value. 80% of the tasks we perform don't really add much value.

Ask yourself the question; If I didn't do this task, would it make much of a difference at the end of the day?

If we applied this to everything that we did, then we could effectively eliminate 80% of our customers, 80% of our products, 80% of tasks, 80% of everything we do and focus on what what we are best at, makes the money and so we can spend more time living.

9-5 is an antiquated notion. We should be focused on completing tasks, rather than trying to fill the day with tasks that fit in to the 80% of waste.