#2. A yarn with Brent "the Aussie" Bailey

Welcome to the second of a series of interviews called “A Yarn with (First name here)”

The aim is to interview AFQY "characters",  asking them the same set of questions. The questions are based on the language and principles of AFQY, so it's great to get someone else's perspective!
The questions are based on how I explain AFQY when introducing the concept at an AFQY event; if you have attended before, and heard me explain the concept, you'll recognise a few of the questions . So here we go, grab a coffee and I hope you enjoy:

Here was the first with Paula J Smith which went really well, so I had to continue this fun! Brent is more than able to 'handle the jandal', (no pun intended at you Aussies). You'll see why, as it unfolds quicker than you can say 'rattle-snake-up-a-drainpipe".  

I met Brent personally at a Rugby memorabilia auction that my father had flown up (to Auckland) from Dunedin for a few years ago. Ever since we met and spoke there, I thought he was Australian. Listen to how he speaks, he makes life as fun or funny; as those Australian rugby commentators who always have an analogy or an out-of-left-field-but-also-some-how-super-appropriate way of describing the mundane in a way that makes it awesome.

Funnily enough, it was a real Australian who said at an AFQY event very cautiously, "You do know Brent.... is not Australian, don't you?" By  that stage I did, but it was still fun to call him an Austrayan.

I remember a speaker once saying as they took the podium, "A great introduction is really all you need, and that wasn't a great introduction...", and that feels somewhat appropriate to say of my own introduction of Brent, as  really he needs no intro, he does it, like no other, himself:

What's your name?
Brent Bailey

Where are you from? (Country & City) 
Invercargill
Ryan - dare I say that is another country? I'm from Dunedin, so why not as we make up Highlander Country and my banjo is getting restrung ;-)

Which AFQY event have you attended?
I have been to several. I think Andrew Crabb suggested it when you were holding them at the Drake. They seem to be getting bigger.

Tell us about the kids, the cat and the dog?
My two girls are wonderful. My eldest, Jess, is an artist and musician with a passion for folk and Americana. Bianca is still at College and is more academic, is learning to drive and is a drummer. They both write songs and if only they would play them together I would be ecstatic. My dog was called Pot Roast and I miss him.

What do you do? (Not just your title, but a bit about what you do)
I drink coffee and talk on the phone. Basically, business development seems to be about making connections. If I can find out what the problem is I can usually find a solution. More correctly, I bring in the folks that can solve it.
Usually, I have a bag of Swiss-Army-Knife-types that are in low earth orbit that I can drop in on the client to workshop and determine what needs to be done.

More recently I have decided to promote and sell rural broadband into the South Kaipara with a view to kick-starting a bit of economic and community development.

What's your philosophy on doing business?
People is what business is about.

What was the motivation to start your own business? WhatsoWhat's your motivation for what you do? (The Why)
Going to work seems like a tremendous imposition, people should be able to work from where they are. The concept of a commuter refuge (the Hothouse) was born on the North Western Motorway. Better rural broadband is just something we needed to make this work, Helensville, just 2 milliseconds from Auckland!

What's your favourite quote, cliche or similar?
We need to focus on the assets not the deficits. Jim Diers https://www.neighborpower.org/

Can I have a card? Or give me a look at your brand?
I'm on the LinkedIn

What sport or activity do you enjoy? (Watching, playing, supporting)
IPSC pistol and multi-gun shooting.

Where is the most interesting place you've visited and why? (Work or play)
San Francisco during the last America's Cup. We was robbed...

 What’s the most important lesson you've learnt in business and in life? (Can be the same one or one each)
Some things are beyond your capacity to fix, just walk on.

What do you care about and why? (Sunny days is not an answer)
I care about South Kaipara. We are a proud, self-determining community that intends to work to realise the potential of all our people. I am involved in a number of community development projects and we intend to increase the energy and economic activity within the South Kaipara community and to attract new investment and infrastructure into South Kaipara.

Tell me a personal story that works with AFQY?
We all need to be life long learners. The opportunity to mix with interesting and talented people, learn about them and from them is really valuable.  Also I like beer.

"If you had your time again, what would you do differently?" (Old CEO's answer that question, paraphrased to, "I'd be married to my wife not my job and I would know my children, not my work...")

I wish I had spent more time at home and less time in my car.

What's your handle, or nickname? (Can everyone use it? And how did you get it?)
1ZBailey. 
Ross Sutherland tagged me with this when I worked at Paxus in the nineties.

What type of person do you not stand for?
Win/Lose types.

What would you like to share with AFQY and why?
The power of people and communities. If we all work together we can have the community we dream about.

I like beer too, partly why AFQY is an after hours event, a way to get social and build a community - and that, as we say sports fans, is that! Another great yarn with an AFQY character shared with you and I look forward to the feedback, comments and questions. There may be additions, but we both hope this bought a bit of fun to your day, as we should all be enjoying ourselves out there.

Have a great day.

Ryan "The Lion" Ashton
Cheif Yarner
A Few Quiet Yarns.