By CASEY NEILL
AUSTRALIAN manufacturing has a huge future – but it has to change the way it treats customers.
This was the message from guest speaker Brad Smith at the South East Business Networks (SEBN) Christmas industry breakfast at Sandown Racecourse in Springvale on Thursday 5 December.
The Braaap Motorcycles founder said manufacturers overseas treated him as a partner, while to those in Australia he was “just an invoice”.
The 26-year-old handed out plenty of wisdom belying his years, urging those in the room to embrace and understand growth.
“Growth has no finish line. Growth happens whether we like it or not,” he said.
“How do we control that growth?
“Hope is not a growth strategy.”
Mr Smith said there were 2.7 million small businesses in Australia.
“We compete with people from all around the world for our customers,” he said.
“Ninety-seven per cent of the 2.7 million never reach $1 million turnover.
“They don’t know the activities that drive the results in their business.”
He said today’s was the most privileged generation in history, but also the most spoilt.
“Comfort wears out. Fulfilment lasts forever,” he said.
“On the other side of challenge is accomplishment.”
And Mr Smith, who grew up in government housing, urged parents to let kids build their own muscle.
“I don’t think money can kill motivation,” he said.
“But parents can.”
Oscar-winning film maker Adam Elliot shared the excitement of finding out about his 2004 Academy Award nomination for short claymation Harvie Krumpet, the awards ceremony process and the David and Goliath win no one saw coming.
“Even my mum said we had no chance,” he said.
“It’s almost 10 years to the day since we first got an inkling that we were in with the chance to get nominated.”
Mr Elliot said the best part of the win was he got to make more films including Mary and Max.
He went from himself and occasional helpers to 120 staff, including Craig Ross who now works at Dandenong disability support service Wallara.
He writes and produces one film every five years, he recently told group of eight year olds.
One replied: “That means you’ve only got four left.”
