A Moment With My Thoughts

There’s a song, a very old one, that goes something like this: “Where do you go to my lovely / When you’re alone in your bed / Tell me the thoughts that surround you / I want to look inside your head.” 

And in this crazy world we all inhabit, it’s the things in our head that provide our greatest challenges and opportunities. 

Here are some of the themes underpinning my thoughts over the course of the year – as we approach the time of traditional Christmas celebrations and with a new year pending, I thought I’d share them. 

Nothing lasts forever. 

That’s right. Not the market we enjoyed over the 2020/21 period, with its crazy abundance and astonishing results. Not those never-seen-before interest rates that made us all rush out to purchase more of everything. 

It’s now a different time and a different world. There’s been a switch that’s seen investors settle back into the shadows due to difficult-to-achieve returns and increased funding costs. Homeowners are seeing sharp reductions to their price expectations and buyers are having a bigger say in where the selling ‘sweet spot’ is. 

Travel has re-emerged as a long-awaited option: flights are full, holiday destinations over-subscribed and people are coming back to our own fair shores, bringing a much-needed boost to our economy. 

I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to some incredible cities this year, including Sydney, Paris, London, Buenos Aires and Santiago, and I’ve noticed how hardworking and appreciative people are, especially in service and hospitality industries. 

Nothing is too much. Special touches like complimentary wee canapes to accompany drinks or biscotti at the end of a meal, again complimentary, to say, ‘thanks for coming’. It makes a difference to feel appreciated and even in the simplest of businesses there was always a gesture saying, ‘thank you for your custom’. I know you will probably be thinking ‘I can’t give away my profits’, but the act of giving is often rewarded with loyalty and appreciation. I’ve tried to stay true to this principle in my life, both personally and professionally, and I believe in its ability to be inspire and encourage. 

Our world, our environment, needs help, and we all have a part to play. 

Sustainability is a concept we can’t simply ignore, and I’d like to incorporate a much greater emphasis on this in our business and at home as we move into 2023. 

Less waste, mindful consumption, less paper, more education around the topic … it’s a big list but it’s a powerful one with major benefits for the future and the planet. 

Health is everything. 

Stress, long hours, poor nutrition, no exercise or over-exercise harms us. 

Maybe this Christmas is the right time to rethink your own personal plan, which you can then try to apply incrementally. 

I’ve started mine this year by reading every morning rather than starting the day scrolling on my phone, followed by daily walking at ungodly hours. 

It’s helped, and if I quieten the voice inside my head saying, ‘do more work, do more work’, I know it will keep helping. 

Family first. 

I have been blessed with a close and loving family. 

Although that is not the case for everyone, I hope that you find some time with family or friends this Christmas and may the year ahead bring you the time and space to move forward. 

Finally, thank you for letting me share a little bit more than a perspective based on sales statistics and financial pondering. Just like that song … 

There’s so much more in the thoughts that surround me. 

Happy Christmas and a wonderful 2023!