Business Olympics. Can You Win Gold?

Business can be like the Olympics. A very hard race to win.

I'm proud I was personally involved making official Olympic Games Torches. We had to make a huge number, and I was working and sweating through the night in hot conditions, and some double shifts, operating computerised CNC, machinery and hand sanding torch handles.

Most nights for months, I was alone in the factory making torches, literally sleeping on the factory floor an hour here or there while waiting for computerised lathes to finish some process.

Our whole team was stretched, and with unexpected machinery downtime, it was uncomfortably close to the Olympics not 'quite' having the Olympic Torches ready in time for the ceremony, Athens 2004. But teamwork, and strong leadership from Luke, we made it. Just!

At the time, the business was small. Very small. Literally backyard, with the factory 'in' Luke's mum's backyard. Profits slim, despite the prestigious international client. Fortunately the Olympic torch design was extremely complex to manufacture in wood, as CNC for wood is very specialised, unlike metal. Not only specialised, but manufacturing many thousands of torches to high quality was not something many could handle.

How far has Luke and Louise's family business come since then. It’s no longer ‘backyard’. It is BOOMING. With the fanciest clients and most amazing designs, Evostyle is taking wood design to the next level.

I’m proud of my sister and Luke, who worked hard, every day, for many years, for low pay… to finally discover they have actually made it. Olympic gold. A thriving business at the very top end of manufacturing, in a world otherwise dominated by cheap imports. Everything about their business is quality, including their marketing.

They just released an incredible video, showcasing some of their work, and some of the team. I am proud to get a cameo in their Olympic torch picture, and to be part of the team in the early days.

So when you are struggling, for years, for low pay, to build something… remember that struggle means it’s also hard for others. It’s always easy to work for a wage. Business? Not so.

You might want it to be hard, so that when you succeed, the fruits will be sweeter, and the competition less. Few can succeed in truly making it, to get an Olympic Gold Medal in the Business Olympics. But those who do win, have almost always done the hard work, for the longest time.

Well done team EVOstyle, a true Australian success story!

And in writing this post, I was delighted to find a photo I’d forgotten, of myself with my beloved daughter Jet Cooper, holding an Olympic torch. She can’t remember I’m sure, but quite a number of nights, she was fast asleep, happily cuddled next to me at 3yo, in the factory, as the loudest machines whirred nearby making amazing torches. She’s blossoming too, another Australian success story in the making!

Need fancy, top end designer products from wood?

www.evostyle.com.au

They are the best. GOLD!