|
Stephen Lundin and Li Cunxin for Goldwell MBE
[Tue 09/08/2011 12:53:17]
The final day of Goldwell MBE dished up two inspirational speakers who despite facing tragedy and hardship have empowered people the world over through both Hollywood films and international best sellers, discovers Cameron Pine.
Day one at MBE was all about applying business nous and achieving work/life balance for a successful career while the humble Goldwell gang were taken to a paradise of positive mentality for the second full day of thought provoking sessions. Stephen Lundin kicked off the day and is the author of best selling coaching book – Fish! Stephen spoke about what consists of a quality work life and has sold more than 7 million copies of his book globally.
Stephen Lundin
“In my late teens and early 20s I worked at Camp Courage - a summer camp for children with severe physical challenges. As National Marketing Director, Presidential Exchange Fellow, Executive VP of Consulting, and Business School Dean, I visited hundreds of work settings, but Camp Courage remained number one in terms of energy and fun. Some of the places I visited could only be described as toxic energy dumps,” said Stephen.
“I began to wonder if there was something about modern organisations that makes a high-quality work life unattainable. I began searching for an image to help me understand what was possible at work,” and so the Fish! philosophy was born.
Stephen lost his daughter when she was a budding young professional woman – he went into a very dark place and his story details how to find a ladder to move yourself out of such dark places.
“I was filled with so much pain but since she passed I’ve wanted to do the kinds of things she’d be proud of. I was an educator – I hated speaking but I felt I had a strong story that I needed to share - I started speaking because of publishing Fish – I then began looking at life very differently.” he said.
“I am not really into the term ‘work/life balance’ – We spend the majority of our life at a place called work. Work/life balance coaches can miss the point – it’s all life, every little bit of it,” Lundin said.
The Fish! book is underscored by the philosophy ‘catch the energy, unleash the potential’ and Lundin’s 18 easy steps make integrating the Fish approach into your lifestyle simple. The first four are perhaps the most important – ‘Play, Make Their Day, Be There, Design Your Attitude’ are all about creating both a functional and entertaining environment that touches every guest or customer.
“The good times are the customers – they are not the spectators and you are not performers. A lot of businesses make progress on the back of being entertainers, but regardless of how you approach your customers you must celebrate what is right in the world,” said a philosophical Lundin.
“The biggest influence you can have on a customer is to be who you are – that’s the inspirational part – having natural energy and building a place the customer wants to be in. Who are you while you are doing what you’re doing – that question creates all the things that matter,” he said.
Finishing off the barrage of inspirational speakers was Li Cunxin – the man behind the best-selling autobiography, Mao's Last Dancer. Li recounts his determination, perseverance, vision, courage and hard work, and in particular, the sacred family values and integrity that he learned in poverty-stricken China, which has driven him to become one of the best dancers in the world. He tells of how the sixth of seven sons born to peasants in utter poverty grew up worshipping Mao Zedong before defecting to the United States.
Li Cunxin
In extremely difficult times the peasants in his village even ate tree barks to survive. Despite the harsh reality of life, his childhood was full of love - the love his parents gave him to create a better life. Between 1950 and 1965 between 35 and 38 million people in China died of starvation.
“There were times when things got so tough I felt like there was no way forward. I remembered where I came from and how hard I should try to make my life different to my father and grandfather,” Li said.
“Life was so limited with opportunities – most people were born in the same place and died in the same place – there was certainly no music or cultural experiences in our life,” he said.
Li was 11 when he left home to begin a seven-year harsh training regime from 5.30 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week at the Beijing Dance Academy. Once he found his passion, he worked hard and gave his all. He would practise his turns at night by candlelight, and hopped, one-legged, up and down stairs with heavy sandbags tied to his ankles to build his leg strength. He was later thrust into a situation in America where he had to decide between death or going back to China – being held by the Chinese embassy, both were terrifying options for Li.
The conference was closed by none other than the Global CEO of KPSS hair, Anthony Pucciarelli – the king of comfort who has always held relationships with Goldwell salon clients close to his heart.
“The success we’ve experienced at KPSS is because of everyone in this room. I’d like to share with you guys a total global collective of results that nobody outside the company has yet seen,” he said.
Anthony Pucciarelli
And while these figures aren’t out there for everyone to see – positive growth against the common ‘flat’ market is enough reason for Goldwell to celebrate.
“We are hairdresser exclusive and the only way we will grow our business is to grow the business of our salon partners – this is our new vision for the company and I am extremely proud to lead with such a vision,” Anthony said.
A closing gala dinner encouraged guests to dress up in their best for a celebratory feast and live entertainment by one of Australia’s favourite party bands, the Nevilles encouraged MBE enthusiasts to party into the night and for many into renowned spot for the liquored up – Patong. It was the perfect end to a few days that year on year promises salon owners a 100 per cent ‘salon only’ commitment.
www.goldwell.com.au
911
|
Directory
(1).jpg){kind=logo}
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
