What are the 3 most important items on an entrepreneurs’ desk

by: Bernie Fernandez

With considerable surprise, I receive the email from EO Melbourne. I am being invited to write a blog as a subject matter expert. Painful anxiety mixed with disdain rises as I read the subject “What are the 3 most important items on an entrepreneurs’ desk”. I hate it.

This idea, however, stumbles into my head days later as I hear the quote below from the book, You Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins.

“In a society where mediocrity is too often the standard and too often rewarded, there is intense fascination with those who detest mediocrity, who refuse to define themselves in conventional terms, and who seek to transcend traditionally recognised human capabilities.” – Navy Seal Commander

I do not believe I am the subject matter expert on the topic handed to me. So taking a cue from the seminal business book, Tools of Titan by Tim Ferris, I asked 3 of my ex-clients, each who demonstrated elite leadership and standards throughout their careers, to identify the single most important item on their desks.

CHAPTER 1: GRAEME STRANGE – WHITE SPACE

I hear a lot of people calling 2020 a write-off. With absolute respect to the many people of unfortunate circumstance, I belong to the ‘other’ many that do not see 2020 that way.

In late February, I received the news that two of my Spanish family contracted COVID-19. With the impending situation being broadcast to the world, I naturally made sure I kept constant contact. It seems like a blessing now as my cousin shared advice on how to deal with the inevitable lockdown here. “Go find something you’ve always wanted to do, something you’ve put off because you never had the time and do it. You now have time and space.”

Graeme may not know this, but early on in one of many workplace project meetings, without Graeme in attendance, the term “repressed hunter” was coined to describe the cultural leadership and design direction of the business leader. One morning, I approached Graeme sitting at his desk. Embodying Indiana Jones, the adventurer had swapped the worn leather and fedora for neat business attire. As he sat in plain sight in an open plan with 60+ staff, I had to ask:

“How do you manage to get any work done sitting here?”

The ever calm and compassionate man, with all the time in the world for anyone, replied, “When I’m at work, the door is always open. When I truly need something done, I go home”. That was 2015.

The ensuing conversation stayed with me and now will be expanded upon from a recent conversation to answer the question: What is the most important item on your desk?

The answer – space.

An empty desk reflects an empty mind. Space is required to focus on and solve problems. A leader’s role is to work on solving problems. Space must be allowed to work on Challenges, Staff, Business and Customer Needs. After all, staff are looking after your customers. Your desk is simply a place to work. What is required for productivity is a state of mind and technology.

CHAPTER 2: ANOU KHANIJOU – THE POWER OF THE PENCIL

Passing through Indonesian customs, our group was greeted by an attaché and luggage hands. They led us towards a nice bus just a short walk from the front doors of the airport. In what might have been a humid Kuta minute and two quick words, the “nice” bus disappeared. A shiny new leather-lined, stereo-amplified Mercedes instantly turned the corner. “Now, this is a little more to my standards,” revealed Anou.

Over the following five days, my understanding of a business retreat became redefined forever. What was increasingly obvious was that in her “spare time”, Anou had meticulously hand-curated royalty-level experiences for us, one after the other. Spectacular private adjoining villas. As I come to understand, they were practically impossible to book. Yoga instructors and masseuses were scheduled to arrive every morning. Onsite chefs were to serve us breakfast and lunch by the pool.

I knew enough of Anou’s life to know that as the PR representative to Hollywood in Australia, this afforded her a well-connected network. National theatre level “opera” was simply one of the many performances conducted by Anou at any given time around the world.

About a year later, I visited Anouconcept’s soon-to-be new office space. I admired the décor and the hum of the productive office in full swing and found myself reflecting on this amazing person. So humbly inspiring, so unfathomably busy, yet with so much time for others.

With curiosity, I asked the trailing query and key point to this blog - “What is the single most important item on your desk?” To which, Anou replied, “A pencil.”

I will not lie, during COVID-19, I have struggled for focus and to stay on top. Capturing the many important details and concepts of the creative and delivery process has been tough. Here is someone I look up to, orchestrating similarly complex projects for the likes of Universal Studios, Chris Hemsworth and Justin Bieber!

What I have learnt was that Anou has created and orchestrated these multiple once-in-a-lifetime experiences, crafted incredible stories, and built multiple businesses by learning the simple, yet the very important habit of taking time in writing things down.

She explained, “I always write my ideas and plans – big or small – with a pencil. It’s the most essential tool on my desk juxtaposed with all this technology.”

Artists ensure there is a direct and physical connection between brain, hand, medium and paper. There is pure artistry in Anou’s inquisitive mind. Gentle and empathic, yet also critically honest and transparent. Anou makes time and space for scribing and reflection, later sharing with others and directing these learnings into her daily life.

CHAPTER 3: MINA SHEHATA - TRUE GRIT

True Grit. The movie instantly flashed delicious, memorable images of amazing characters and a wonderful story spun together by the genius of the Coen Brothers. We, the viewers, are swept away by the stellar performances, story, action and incredible scenery. At the end of the film and in that unique twist we all enjoy so well, we realise the protagonist deserving of label “True Grit” is the often sidelined fourteen-year-old girl Mattie Ross. This female lead is astounding, uncompromising and determined to achieve her mission at all costs.

True Grit, as defined, is passion and perseverance for long-term and meaningful goals. It is the ability to persist in something you feel passionate about and persevere when you face obstacles.

Enter this story - Mina Shehata.

“There are 3 types of engineers. One - the technician: socially inept, but detailed and brilliant. Two - the social butterfly: great at sales and people, but hopeless engineers, and three - a bit of both. Mina is a lot of both.” Wes Malek of ECM Building Services Engineers shared this with me over a lockdown telephone interview. “What separates Mina from the typical engineer – it’s his intellect!” Wes Malek leads a team of 30 and has run his business for about 17 years. “ECM practically recommends Mina and Mina’s business, RMS Manufacturing, exclusively on every project.” ECM is not alone.

Wes also told a great story of first meeting Mina on a cruise trip up the Nile over 20 years ago. As the night closed in over the cruise through this magical desert scene, Wes recalled, “this massive guy being dressed in Bedouin headgear, passionately dancing with Sheesha pipe in hand all night long! Mina simply squeezes out every single last drop of life he can.”

Ten years ago, RMS began from absolutely nothing. Led by someone like Mattie Ross, Mina uncompromisingly brought it to become the premier switchboard manufacturer of Victoria. Mina sits on the board as President of NESMA (National Electrical Switchboard Manufacturing Association), while RMS switchboards sit in the basements protecting the biggest and most important government and commercial buildings in Australia.

Recently, I had the pleasure of working with Mina and his growing business to assist in accommodating RMS into a new custom-built 2400-sqm Manufacturing and Office facility in Derrimut. Knowing Mina for his relentless drive — True Grit — and as living evidence of the Law of Attraction, I simply had to ask, “What is the single most important item on your desk?”

“My two screens,” flatly replied Mina. “I’m set up to work from anywhere – this week Queensland, next Dubai.” Knowing that Mina vibrates at this high frequency, his response did not surprise me at all. “Two screens allow me to work as efficiently as I can, anywhere.”

As we all face a return to a “normal” work-life now finally integrated into our sacred homes, any semblance of “work-life balance” should irrefutably be as dead Josh Brolin’s Tom Chaney. Mina’s relentless pursuit of efficiency provides the space to be the best he can be at work, which results in having a clear mind and choices to live a life of freedom which he deserves.

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About the author:

Bernie Fernandez is the Founder of Agero Group and Sustainable Stripout. He is also a member of EO Melbourne.

Anou Khanijou’s concept of self-belief and endless possibilities

“Believe and act as if it were impossible to fail.” This quote from inventor Charles Kettering is the life and business motto of Anouconcept Founder and Owner, Anou Khanijou.

“I believe that nothing is impossible. The word in itself says, 'I'm possible',” the “powerhouse” business owner said. Her entrepreneurial story is one of courage and determination that helped her shape her space in the business world as she started her ventures on her own, regardless of the odds.

Anou’s business journey exhibited a boldness that propelled her forward. It also showed the entrepreneurial spirit she inherited from her parents, who made their living through tailor-making garments. Her father used to sell newspapers on the streets and worked hard to build his empire. Coming from an Indian-Thai ancestry, the family arranged her for marriage at the age of fifteen, something which Anou opposed. Wanting to escape such predicament, Anou ran away from home, came to work in Club Med Cherating Beach when she was only 16 years old and continued working at Club Med across the world.

Despite being a minor, as it was prohibited to hire one, she was still provided with work because she easily proved her impressive value to the company, given her ability to speak fluent English as a great advantage. Among her tasks was to teach people how to do basic computer programming, which was one of her strong suits. Coding was something she enjoyed when she was young, something she learned from the courses she attended in her spare time. Anou quickly learned the ropes of the trade and exhibited her sharp understanding of people and how the fabric of society is put together through her constant interaction and engagement with them.

“In another bold move, I met some wonderful families holidaying from Australia who offered me some great opportunities in their country,” she revealed. She grabbed the chance and decided to go to Australia. As a young girl travelling on her own, without any parents, she went through an intensive interview with the Immigration Department. “I was very lucky that I encountered these great people during my Club Med experience. They vouched for me to the Immigration Department. Through their generosity, I was able to come to Australia,” she added.

Because of her proficiency in various languages – English, Thai, Japanese, French, Hindi – she got a job at the duty-free shops as she could communicate well with various international tourists. “At that time, tourism was booming. And this was going back to 1987. So, I did very well out of that and saved money with the aspiration to start my own business one day,” explained the resolute business owner.

With the help of a close friend who she later married, Anou got the opportunity to start a business of her own. Not knowing what business that would be, he suggested a Thai restaurant so she could share her talent for cooking delicious Thai food. Nearing the age of 18, she opened her business, amidst many feelings of nervousness and fear. “I had no money the day I opened the doors. I had only $49 in my bank account when I opened the restaurant,” Anou shared.

As it turned out, the restaurant was a big hit. On top of that, the stock market crashed in the 1980’s that kept people from travelling, adding a boost to the restaurant’s performance. From what she accumulated from that venture, she opened another business with a group of people that she had met through owning the restaurant. “It was part of Melbourne's very exciting nightclub called The Carousel in Albert Park. I met a lot of people through that again, people in the music and the entertainment industry, and established myself in that space,” Anou recalled.

This venture introduced Anou into the world of entertainment. It led her to her next business, an advertising agency, which she opened when she was about 25 years old. Through that agency, she handled large clients, including energy companies that helped her carve a niche in that sector. One day, while at the advertising agency, a close friend she had made in the nightclub industry approached her, asking her help for a film opening. This opportunity paved the way for the birth of Anouconcept, which is her experiential PR and events agency.

Alongside her creative agency, she also went into the manufacturing trade, providing uniforms for schools and corporations. Anou knew that segment very well from growing up with her family’s business in the garments industry.

While Anou found the entrepreneurial world a comfortable space for her, her journey, however, was not a trouble-free start. When she began her first venture, not having enough capital was a huge risk that got on her nerves. “I was very scared when I was young. But now, I think that with the creative work that I do, money follows. It is not the biggest motivating factor in my life because I love creating businesses and building them well. I work very hard to ensure that we're always innovative and different and ahead of the game,” she disclosed.

The business environment was full of challenges, but Anou felt there were no hurdles too high for her to overcome. “I've never found any difficulty starting a business. I just wanted to do it. I jumped with my two feet in, put the best foot forward, and was able to convert them. So, my difficulty was being scared. It is being scared of not being successful. The fear of not achieving. The fear of not having money. The fear of not getting there. If you believe in what you're doing and have extreme self-belief, it overrides everything. That's the case for me. I truly believe in what I do and am very focused on it. That's been the reason why I’ve always been able to drive myself and whatever business I carry forward,” admitted the serial entrepreneur.

Running several businesses and starting a family was also not easy for Anou. Still, she was able to find a solution to her situation. “When I had children, my biggest thing was that I felt I was disconnected.  To overcome this, I made sure I worked very, very close to home. Currently, my large offices are less than a hundred meters walk from my house, so I can be connected to my two beautiful daughters as well as keep my businesses going,” she quipped.

Nonetheless, her entrepreneurial journey also had heartbreaks. “I went through a very scary patch when I had the advertising agency, and I broke away to do the fabrics,” she intimated. She thought it was a fantastic idea to be doing children’s clothing. However, she lost a lot of money, which scared Anou, yet made her even more determined to change the business into something meaningful. “Business is about passion and understanding the market, then connecting your client’s vision with their customer to create a lasting memory,” Anou imparted.

She also had to contend with the changing landscape of the industries where her businesses belong. Even in the manufacturing sector, she has to be innovative and dynamic because of market shifts. To be ahead of the changes, Anou continues to be responsive when the market is changing or when there are disruptors. For example, they have not only converted their plastics into biodegradable plastics, they have also set up a virtual fitting room for customers and clients.

Anou believes that the learnings never stop and that she will always be a student of life. One of the avenues that helped nurture her capabilities is EO Melbourne. Apart from the interesting people she met in the organisation, the learning events also opened her eyes to different directions. Listening to the inspiring stories of other business owners helped expand her thoughts. From what she has picked from the experiences of others, she then brought them to her businesses and applied the lessons accordingly.

Those lessons also moulded her to become an effective leader. Now, with a large number of people in her employ, Anou has been motivating her team based on their varying needs. For her staff in Asia, she provides language sessions, often inviting celebrity teachers to teach them English. Even her team in Australia, she grows them through continuous learning. There are spaces in their office for children and pets, who are always welcome. She cares for her people and, in turn, for their families, being a wife and mother herself. Anou shared, “Whether it’s a film, an event, a product or a garment, the same care and love since we established Anou Thai still live within our team. We love what we do, and our culture truly embraces our family values.”

When it comes to the drive, the passion, the vision, and the ability to see something and create it, Anou is a role model for the younger entrepreneurs. “If you believe in yourself, the courage comes. If you do the right thing in your business, money comes. It's all a byproduct of your doing. And it all starts with you, as an individual. Always,” she conveyed.

Continuing with her entrepreneurial journey, Anou looks ahead to the future full of positivism, determination and benevolence. “I want my businesses to be meaningful. In the growth sector that we're doing, we'll dominate the space. It's not always about how many millions each business may make. It's about leaving a legacy,” the dynamic businesswoman imparted.

Learn more about Anou Khanijou on her LinkedIn profile. Read http://anouconcept.com/ for more on Anouconcept.