There was an interesting Compass program on the ABC recently.
It was titled “Men of Means” and featured successful Australian businessmen John Symonds (Aussie Home Loans), Harold Mitchell (media buyer), John Ilhan (recently deceased founder of Crazy John), Chris Cuffe (former CFS head), John O’Neill (sports powerbroker) and Mike Carlton (radio broadcaster).
Most of the men had big setbacks in their life, where their businesses had failed or were in dire straits, and they had family heartbreak.
It was interesting to hear their stories and how they climbed back to success.
For O’Neill, whose career took him from success at the State Bank to struggle as the CEO of Rugby Australia, the fear of failure was what absolutely drove him on.
Symond said the thing that drove him on after the threat of bankruptcy was the thought of his two kids. Ilhan said it was eventually a chip on his shoulder in the face of difficulty that drove him to succeed.
These men lived through the economic difficulties of the late 1980s when their business acumen was tested.
Today, we have former high-flyers who too have met failure, but whether they will emerge phoenix-like with greater success remains to be seen.
Basis Capital’s wonder boys, Steven Howell and Stuart Fowler, may return.
And we should continue to keep an eye on Allco’s David Coe, ABC’s Eddy Groves, MFS’ Michael King, Centro’s Andrew Scott and Tricom’s Lance Rosenberg.
Those who return are likely to have learned their lessons this time round.
