40UNDER40 TIPS

Some past winners share their business tips in the lead-up to the close of nominations on December 10 for next year’s 40under40 Awards.

• Margie Baldock (2004) – Conscious Investing Pty Ltd: “Build your business with your ‘exit’ strategy in mind (eg to sell or to list on the stock exchange). This will vastly improve the chances of your building a business that is systematic and be operated without you working ‘in’ it.”

• Kent Lyon (2004) – Kent Lyon Architect: “Compare adjacent alternatives.”

• Liz McComish (2004) – Mission Australia: “In order to be flexible and learn to meet the complex needs of business today, try doing a few different roles to ensure that your vision extends around the whole project and you can strategise and react properly to meet the needs of all parties involved.”

• David Hogan (2002) – Scoop Magazine: “Stay away from the light! Don’t go in to any business or consider growth unless it has a strong value proposition, can make strong profit and be defended in conjunction with a clear and sustainable competitive advantage.”

• John Van Der Wielen (2002) – St Andrew’s Insurance Pty Ltd: “Don’t worry about being under 40, just do your job to the best of your ability at any age and the promotions will look after themselves.”

• Matt Callahan (2002) – QPSX Ltd: “Always strive to work with world-class people and qualify what you are doing based on competitors outside Australia.”