2120

EVENT EVENT

Ideas gone wildBrazil is a place that incites adventure, wonder, and limitless opportunities, especially if you are one of the Unstoppables.

WORDS DANIEL DI LORETOIMAGES SEAN TULLY

In 2015, 106 of Australia’s most inf luential business minds embarked on a voyage to the icy-cold climes of Antarctica. Amidst this awe-inspiring environment, they participated in the

ultimate ‘think tank’ experience and collectively created new businesses, funded innovative ventures, and worked to help solve the economic, social, and environmental issues facing the world.

For the 2016 think tank, the concept was ramped up a notch, with the Unstoppables exploring the thriving vastness of the Amazon rainforest and taking part in Rio de Janeiro’s electrifying Carnival. Everyone on the journey  was pushed out of their comfort zone  and encouraged to think about radical ideas that could enhance the future of Australian business.

I was one of the 44 adventure-seeking entrepreneurs, investors, and corporate leaders who signed up for the life-altering 2016 Unstoppables tour, appropriately titled ‘Ideas Gone Wild’.

The sense of anticipation was as thick as the humid air when the next wave of Unstoppables arrived at the Tropical Hotel in Manaus, northern Brazil, on 31 January. We were transferred by boat to the f loating Amazon Jungle Palace, which would serve as our business base. From here, we would explore Rio Negro—the largest left-side offshoot of

the  Amazon River, the Meeting of the Waters, and the wonderful biodiversity of the Amazon  rainforest.

Julio De Laffitte —the self-made multimillionaire who founded the Unstoppables movement as a networking opportunity to promote entrepreneurial thinking—welcomed us all to Ideas Gone Wild. He shared his vision for the next 10 days and what he hoped would result from it. He had high expectations—and rightly so, because after the Antarctica voyage, AU$15 million was invested into companies, and more than 25 per cent of participants were successful in gaining investment into their business ideas. Furthermore, over two-thirds of attendees formed a business while on the Unstoppables boat—some, multiple businesses—and more than 98 new ventures and concepts were formed. “One of the crucial facts that arose from our inaugural journey was that 70 per cent of people who sought sponsorship, mentorship, and joint ventures got them,” Julio shared. “That’s incredible.”

After Julio’s introduction, we delved into our very first business session on the concept of ego: what it is and how it fits into the modern business world. Questions were posed about whether it was semantics, or simply a tool used to compensate for people’s insecurities.

Top to bottom John Davies and Graham Ross; Julio De Laffitte and Mia Munro welcome everyone to Unstoppables 2016,  Ideas Gone Wild.

“As I consider what has been created … what I do know is that I now have 45 more people in my life who will hold me to account for playing a bigger game.”- Naomi Simson, founder, RedBalloon

“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who

neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in that gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.”

- Theodore Roosevelt20

As featured in The CEO MagazineFor more info visit theceomagazine.com

PLUS: LIFE-CHANGING TRAVEL IN BOTSWANA • FUN FARE IN OREGON

DECISION-MAKING REDEFINED

CHANGING THE HISTORICAL MINDSET

AMAZON AWAKENINGS

ISSN 2201-876X

9

772201 876005

34

$19.95 incl. GST. Issue 56, April 2016

theceomagazine.com

The 2016 Unstoppables' think tank in Brazil

SILVER CHEF’SALLAN ENGLISH

TRAVELLERS CHOICE’SCHRISTIAN HUNTER

TOGA FAR EAST HOTELS’ RACHEL ARGAMAN

2322

Despite the negative connotations attached to the word, it was agreed that ego could be used as a positive force to drive forward success.

The topic perfectly segued into the ‘superpower exercise’ that followed. We were each given a sheet of paper to fill in, working our way through the different body parts to reveal our strengths. Starting at the head, we considered education and knowledge, before moving to the heart, where we asked ourselves, “What am I passionate about?” and “What gets me out of bed in the morning?” The hands were symbols of our skills and talents, while the legs helped us explore what we could offer others. Finally, the superhero ‘cape’ was a metaphor for what we believed our superpowers to be.

Each day of the Unstoppables itinerary was given a name as a prelude to what was to come. In the morning, we woke up to ‘Disruption Day’, which began with a two-hour walk through the f lourishing Amazon rainforest. Guided by locals, we were split into three groups and braved the overwhelming

heat, humidity, and odd mosquito to see how the region’s indigenous people lived prior to Western intervention. Using handmade weapons for hunting, they would shelter in and among the surrounding trees and bushes. It is believed there are still tribes living this way today, in the jungle, removed from any outside influence.

Upon returning to the hotel, we made our way to the conference room, eyes still wide with awe after experiencing such an incredible place. The scheduled session was on the evolution of the entrepreneur, run by the ever-inspiring brains behind the event—Julio.

He explained the Seven Hierarchy Principle of an entrepreneur:

• Level one (I): He likened this stage to children believing that the whole world revolves around them. It’s always about “I”, he said. This level focuses on survival and basic instincts.

• Level two (we): They commence their approach, but consider external factors, like the family unit. Sharing and helping are developed, and togetherness is a powerful learning tool at this level.

• Level three (I): Is about becoming a selfish leader who has their own needs and agenda. They seek fulfilment independently rather than conforming to a group. This stage needs to evolve carefully.

• Level four (we): Laws were created for everyone to abide by to overrule the hierarchy of level three. These became rigid, and one would cease to expand beyond them, often resulting in the depression of

creativity and individuality. Things became right and wrong, and judgement thrived here, resulting in control and order.

• Level five (I): From here came the birth of the entrepreneur, striving to achieve individuality, wealth, and expression. Using the laws in place to leverage their own business ideas, therefore going back to the ‘I’, they see a problem and they solve it, often working solo to do it their way.

• Level six (we): The level-five entrepreneur sees the need to expand in order to have a successful business with a team, and must learn to trust another, which advances them  to a space of collaboration. The ‘we’ approach forms a highly evolved level.

• Level seven (I): Leverage becomes the natural next stage: the investor. With a heightened sense of trust, ability to collaborate, and see the impact of their business into the future, a level-seven entrepreneur seeks to lead the world in powerful, and positive social change.

It was when Julio explained that we all move in a non-linear fashion, coursing up and down through these levels that we recognised the places in which we thrived and also dived. We  became conscious of our strengths

and realised our capacity to choose where we want to evolve to.

This powerful session led into Julio leaving us to ponder two golden questions:

1. What are you pretending not to know?

2. What is seeking to emerge?

A speed-dating-style networking session ensued, where we shared our results from the ‘superpower exercise’. This was followed by an outside excursion at dusk. We travelled by boat for about an hour as the sun set behind the Amazonian horizon, then boarded motorised canoes to search for wild caimans. Excitement was at a high when the first one was spotted.

Upon returning to the hotel, we enjoyed a casual dinner and then got stuck into our final session for the day. The theme was disruption, and we were tasked with identifying which industries we believed would boom or bust by 2025. Following that, we each came up with a provocative scenario about where we thought

“As Unstoppables, we realise that when entrepreneurs do not succeed, they have not failed. Just as we teach our children resilience, we must encourage business and government to support the many who try, and truly praise the few who succeed.” - Nicholas Adamo, founder, Forensic Data

Clockwise from top left Unstoppables discussing their superpowers; Caroline Pemberton and John Elliott in the Amazon Jungle; Caiman spotting; Unstoppables at Meeting of the Rivers; Julio explaining  the Seven Hierarchy Principles; Nicholas Adamo.

“This is my second year travelling on an Unstoppables adventure. Each time I return, I am invigorated and ready to take on the world. I come back inspired and better equipped to take my business to new heights. What works for me is the balance we achieve as a group—work, friendship, and building a legacy all get equal billing.”- Jeff Downs, CEO, Redback Conferencing

EVENT EVENT

2524

Australia would be in the next decade. Ideas included a lot of movement in the social innovation space, more prominence placed on community development and engagement, and a trend towards alternative energy.

Day three was ‘Light My Fire’ and began with an insightful presentation from Naomi Simson, founder of RedBalloon and investor on Network Ten’s Shark Tank television series. She spoke about empowering the team, and trusting yourself and others. She shared the difficulties she had to overcome in the early days of her entrepreneurial career, and the determination she had to create a business that had the potential to be the best workplace in the country. To achieve that aim, she always made it a priority to create a positive energy, refer to her people as ‘colleagues’ rather than ‘staff ’, align everyone with the same vision, and use positive words to drive positive outcomes. She left the group with an interesting thought: “Everyone in business should have three things,” she said. “A wishbone to dream big; a backbone for strength and resilience; and a funny bone to have a sense of humour and not take everything so seriously all the time.”

Christine Khor, founder of Chorus Executive, took to the stage to talk about her success in the recruitment, coaching, and HR space, as well as the launch of her new book Hire Love. She explained that it’s important to have a clear business vision and mission statement, and to think about your business objectives to  identify which ones are aligned, and which ones are not.

Following lunch, it was all about pitching. A panel of three experienced investors—earlier

speaker Naomi Simson, Forensic Data founder Nicholas Adamo, and Greencross Limited Co-founder John Odlum—shared their insights into what they look for in the perfect pitch. Among all the invaluable tips, it was evident that your pitch should be able to answer three key questions:

1. What is the problem?

2. How do you intend to solve the problem?

3. What is your point of difference compared to everyone else?

Next on the agenda was fishing. For piranhas. After a short boat ride, we hopped onto motorised canoes and soon found ourselves sporting a piece of bamboo with some fishing line, a piece of wire, and a hook attached. Beef  was the bait of choice and it quickly stirred up a feeding frenzy. We soon set our entrepreneurial skills to work, as we formulated a plan to remove the hook from the  piranhas’ notoriously sharp teeth without being bitten.

After enjoying our catch for dinner, we ‘suited  up’ in our costumes for the annual

Unstoppables superhero party. From Wonder Woman and Super Mario, to Wolverine, Mr Incredible, and Gandalf the Grey, it was a party  that further strengthened an already strong Unstoppables bond.

February 3 was ‘Integration Day’, and began with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to swim with pink dolphins—the most endangered species of cetaceans. We made our way upstream to a small platform structure in the middle of the river and, lured by a local armed with a bucket of fish, it wasn’t long before these beautiful creatures made themselves known. Swimming with them for an hour was  something that touched everyone, adding an entirely new level to the appreciation we were already feeling for the world around us. A  thunderstorm rolled in overhead and heavy rain fell as we swam with the beautiful creatures; a truly surreal experience.

The day’s after-lunch business session began with a talk from Redback Conferencing’s Jeff Downs about always having an exit plan. As a young man, Jeff worked in a local grocery store before the owner offered him the chance to purchase the business. Jeff saw a great opportunity, grew the business substantially and attracted a lucrative offer, which he declined. Several years later, the business went down and he lost everything. Since then, he

has built the third-largest conferencing company in Australia and has his sights set on  being Australia’s biggest. It was a profound story of despair turned into triumph.

To kick off day five—‘Legacy Day’—we boarded a boat to the Meeting of the Rivers. This is where the black-hued waters of Rio Negro run alongside the sandy-coloured Amazon River. During the commute there and back, we heard from three Unstoppables members.

First up was Sasha deBretton, the founder of Million Dollar Makeovers, talking about how she entered the heavily male-dominated construction industry and turned it on its head. She explained that a great team and a high degree of organisation is the key.

Next was Graham Ross, the Director of Kusaga Athletic—a textile industry pioneer that has created a special fibre for sportswear which uses less energy and less water during manufacture.

Clockwise from left Naomi Simson and Caroline Pemberton; Piranha fishing; Swimming with pink dolphins; The Unstoppables superhero party; Sasha deBretton addresses the audience.

PITCHING DOS AND DON’TS

• Respect the person you are pitching to

• Be likeable

• Investors look for passion; how passionate are you?

• Persistence—are you in it for the long run?

• Positivity

• Does your idea have a sense of purpose?

• Do your research on the person you’re pitching to

• Try to reverse the pitch—have the investors pitch to you

• The first 30 seconds are crucial—this is what gets investors interested

• Market research and due diligence—do it!

• Never assume

• Know your figures and make them credible

• Speak with passion

• Make it memorable—be creative

• What is your customer acquisition strategy?

• What are your skills and background?

• Make your intention very clear

“I felt very inspired and challenged by the entire experience where the new ideas that I generated as a result of the think tank sessions were then able to be tested, refined, and put into action in a very short time, because of the calibre of the people on team. ”- Dean Landy, Partner, ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects

EVENT EVENT

2726

He kindly supplied all Unstoppables with a T-shirt sporting the statement ‘I make a difference wearing this’.

Lastly, adventure queen and Miss Australia 2007 Caroline Pemberton shared what she does as an ambassador for the Sir David Martin Foundation (SDMF) to help youth in need of rehabilitation programs. She explained the work SDMF does with Triple Care Farm, a rehab facility in New South Wales Southern Highlands for young people who suffer from substance abuse, mental illness, homelessness, and family breakdowns. SDMF also runs a number of initiatives for corporates to get involved in to help raise funds for a great cause.

Following a bite to eat back at base camp, we heard from Dean Landy, founder and Director of One Heart Foundation. In 2007, Dean first travelled to Kenya to scout out how he could establish a charity organisation that would see thousands of underprivileged children’s lives radically transformed through direct intervention. He wanted to create a unique model of social, environmental, and financial sustainability that could be grown, sustained, and then replicated. Seven years later and the foundation has established three homes, two farms, and one school, which cares for 75 orphaned and abandoned children and educates many more in the local tribal community.

Social innovator and entrepreneur Mia Munro later took to the f loor to discuss how leaders could step up to activate real, and sustainable change for the betterment of the world.

Highlighting the reality that charity is a dinosaur model for our future, and that innovation is the way to a sustainable future, we were able to challenge our status quo and giving practices. We expanded our view to consider that every action we took could create a new future rather than solely focusing  on fixing past problems. Mia took us  into the future, to a time when we can all access education online. This would allow everyday entrepreneurs to become socially conscious, resulting in the future removal of  charity, which would be replaced by integrated-giving business practices.

To conclude a very heart-centred day focusing on social change, Julio ran through the stick-man theory—allowing us to see the greater version of ourselves and the game we play as humans in choosing to stay small and not expand to new heights.

The last full day spent in the Amazon city of Manaus was called ‘Game Changer’ and started with an insightful session presented by business and entrepreneurial accountant

Tom  Walsh and lawyer James Graham. Tom spoke about the importance of having a strategy and purpose when starting a new business venture, going into detail about investor terms, asset protection, scalability, and tax. James complemented that with a discussion on setting up the correct structure, shareholder dealings, and supplier agreements.  The rest of the day was put aside  for deal-making with our fellow Unstoppables, and a debriefing.

After bidding our Amazon base farewell, the Unstoppables headed to the vibrant hub of Rio de Janeiro, where we made our way to a traditional Brazilian barbeque restaurant called Fogo de Chão. There, we were fortunate to have a coordinated meet-up with New South Wales Minister for Innovation Victor Dominello, who shared his vision for the future of New South Wales. When the Minister of Innovation from Brazil joined us as well, we knew this was going to be a very pivotal moment in time.

The energy during the lunch was palpable as  each Unstoppables member realised the  impact of the experience and the

difference they could make, not only in Australia, but also in commercial partnerships with Brazil.

And then came the world-famous Carnival—a festival held before Lent each year which sees more than two million people come together every day. Our group had a VIP area with our own bar and food—bearing witness to the spectacle dubbed ‘the biggest party on earth’ was truly a sensory overload. The colours, costumes, floats, choreography, and dancing all blew our minds. Carnival should really be the true definition of  ‘eye candy’.

Other highlights of the Rio de Janeiro stint included a cable-car ride across Sugarloaf Mountain, and a visit to one of the seven modern wonders of the world—Christ the Redeemer.

On 10 February, our life- and business-changing trip came to an end, with everyone geared up to return home and apply some wild and wonderful awakenings. By putting ourselves in this challenging yet awe-inspiring environment, the results for business in Australia and beyond are sure to be eminent, at least if the Antarctic tour of 2015 is anything to go by.

Clockwise from top left Carnival float; Mia Munro and Lennita Madonna; Dean Landy and Anurag Chakradhar; the view from Christ the Redeemer; Christ the Redeemer; Carnival; Daniel Di Loreto holding an anaconda.

“The nature of an entrepreneur is to change and adapt themselves constantly, and this for me is one of the experiences which I use to inspire some of the change and adaption in myself and inherently my companies.”- John Elliott, Director, Elliott Insurance

“The opportunity to form meaningful connections with talented, entrepreneurs was invaluable. Unstoppables 2016 was an unparalleled horizon-broadening experience which has changed the way I think about business and the role of entrepreneurism in Australia.”- James Graham, Principal, Borrello Graham Lawyers

EVENT EVENT