In episode #79 of the Be Better Off Show, I speak with Peter Ritchie AO, the visionary who brought McDonald’s to Australia and transformed it into a powerhouse. We discuss leadership, overcoming challenges, and the impact of investing in people.

1. The value of risk-taking
   Peter’s journey with McDonald’s Australia started with an unexpected opportunity. Despite initial doubts, he took a leap of faith, setting the foundation for a transformative career.
2. Courage in leadership
   Peter emphasised that true leadership means accepting full responsibility while maintaining consistency, fairness, and justice. Leaders must project energy and foster environments where teams thrive.
3. The importance of training
   Confronted with high labour costs, Peter committed up to 30% of annual profits to training for five years. This strategy turned McDonald’s Australia into a global benchmark for productivity.
4. Building confidence through competence
   Peter stressed that genuine self-confidence in leadership comes from deep competence, cultivated through structured training, feedback, and measurable outcomes.
5. Turning failure into success
   It took McDonald’s Australia seven years to become profitable. Peter’s perseverance, backed by key figures like Fred Turner, enabled the company to overcome challenges and succeed.
6. The power of collaboration
   By involving partners, franchisees, and mentors, Peter ensured McDonald’s was built on strong relationships that fostered shared growth and success.
7. Adaptability and innovation
   Peter attributed McDonald’s success to its willingness to test, learn, and pivot—such as recognising the pivotal role of marketing in the late 1970s.
8. Focus on values
   Peter’s commitment to community and philanthropy is exemplified by his role in establishing Ronald McDonald House Charities in Australia, which continues to support families of sick children.
9. Visionary leadership
   Peter’s forward-thinking approach turned McDonald’s Australia from struggling stores into an industry leader by embracing global best practices and planning for the long term.
10. Lessons in humility
    Despite his extraordinary achievements, Peter remains grounded, acknowledging the contributions of his team and the ongoing lessons he learns from others.
    
    
    

Top 10 highlights:

1. In 1961, David’s mother rejected apartheid, leaving South Africa with four kids under seven—teaching him courage and the value of principles.

2. David chose UNSW over the traditional Sydney Grammar-to-Sydney University route, drawn to its hardworking, innovative “immigrant” culture.

3. Advising billionaires like Frank Lowy and Kerry Packer, David became their honest sounding board—unafraid to challenge or say no.

4. Early as a lawyer, David loved debate but learned that listening to clients, peers, and partners creates better outcomes.

5. As chairman, David sees himself as the conductor—ensuring every voice is heard while the CEO takes centre stage as the soloist.

6. David’s day is planned: he leaves at 7 AM, starts with 40 minutes of quiet preparation, and is home by 7:30 PM for dinner, a commitment he keeps.

7. Three mentors shaped David: Kim Santow taught balance, Fred Street inspired thoughtful giving, and Frank Lowy guided him in strategy.

8. Trusting his children in the family office taught David that giving responsibility builds confidence and capability.

9. Inspired by his father, who worked until 86, David sees work as lifelong—shifting focus to projects that energise and inspire.

10. Despite his success, David remains grounded, valuing hard work, helping others, and community. Humility, he believes, is true leadership.

Top 10 highlights:

1. John Howard’s upbringing in Earlwood, near Canterbury, shaped his early interest in politics. His family encouraged open debates about politics and religion, fostering his curiosity.
   
   

2. Cricket was a defining part of his childhood. Howard played for local teams with his brothers, relishing family connections through sport. His love for the game carried into his adult life, shaping his discipline and focus.
   
   

3. Howard credits his resilience to his upbringing and strong family bonds. Losing his father at 16 deepened his sense of responsibility and determination.
   
   

4. He believes leadership is about making your beliefs clear and staying true to them, even if controversial. “At least I know what he believes in” was a compliment he valued.
   
   

5. Howard cited Winston Churchill as his leadership model—acknowledging mistakes but getting the big decisions right. He admired Churchill’s foresight during the rise of Nazism.
   
   

6. His proudest achievements include gun law reforms, tax reform, and industrial relations changes. He recalls being approached by citizens, even critics, acknowledging the importance of the gun reforms.
   
   

7. Howard values Australia’s democratic system, crediting it for avoiding the pitfalls of U.S. presidential politics, which he sees as flawed.
   
   

8. On multiculturalism, Howard supports diversity but believes in integrating into a shared national identity rather than emphasizing differences.
   
   

9. Homeownership remains a critical issue for Howard. He sees restricted land supply as a root cause and believes younger generations deserve the opportunity for stability through owning property.
   
   

10. Reflecting on his career, Howard attributes his longevity in politics to maintaining strong connections with colleagues, being accessible, and remaining clear in his principles.

Billionaire business entrepreneur and joint managing director of Perich Group, Tony Perich, explains the value of hard work, long-term vision, and adaptability in business. He emphasises the importance of reinvesting for growth, using debt strategically and giving back to the community. In this episode, you will learn: - In business, you can’t let anyone push you around. - Stick to what you believe is right, even if others think you should do it differently. - Success comes from staying true to your own approach and working hard, no matter what challenges come your way. - It’s not just about making decisions; it’s about standing firm in your values and doing the work that needs to be done, every step of the way.

The Federal Treasurer, Dr Jim Chalmers handed down his third Federal Budget at 7:30PM (AEST) on 14 May 2024.

In this episode of the Be Better Off Show, hear from Brett Kelly and the Kelly+Partners Tax team as they unpack the key takeaways from the Federal Budget.

The two biggest drivers this year underpinning the Federal Budget are cost-of-living pressures and inflation. As such, it was never going to be a big-spending budget that handed out significant tax incentives that could over-stimulate the economy.

This Budget has seen the implementation of previously introduced measures, in particular:

• The stage 3 tax cuts; and
• The $20,000 instant asset write-off for small business.

The Budget also continued the government's focus on tax compliance by giving the ATO further funds to continue its existing programs. Non-residents have also been targeted, with measures being announced that affect significant global entities and non-residents making Australian capital gains.

Show notes:

• 0:06 - Introduction
• 0:47 - Initial impressions
• 3:15 - Stage 3 tax cuts
• 5:00 - Medicare levy threshold
• 5:27 - Business finance
• 6:28 - Foreign multinationals
• 9:17 - Instant asset write off
• 10:30 - Foreign residence CGT regime
• 12:57 - What's not in the budget

Dr. Jordan Peterson On Driving Business Performance | Be Better Off Show | Complete Guide To People In Business


The Be Better Off Show brought to you by Kelly+Partners Accountants presents a live, exclusive and unique interview featuring one of the most intelligent individuals on the planet, Dr. Jordan Peterson.


Dr. Jordan Peterson clinical psychologist and author, joined Founder and CEO of Kelly+Partners Accountants Brett Kelly, to talk about never heard before insights on the importance of family, the business of education, personality profiling and hiring techniques to drive business performance.


2:35 - Introduction


3:20 - Why Do We Exist?


11:30 - Golden Rules Of Relationships


18:30 - Why Jordan Wrote His First Book


22:30 - Successful Hiring and Culture Techniques For Business Performance


32:40 - How To Maximise Your Staffs Productivity


41:00 - The Impact Of Low Performing Team Members


53:20 - How Jordan Monetises Social Justice Warriors


59:40 - How Much Money Does Jordan's Business Turnover?


1:05:40 - What's Most Important In The End?

They say curiosity killed the cat, but in some cases it can land you game-changing campaigns…

Andrew “Billy” Baxter wears many hats. Since encountering his passion for Marketing early on in his career, Andrew has gone on to pursue an immensely successful career with multifaceted titles including: Chair & Non Executive Director, Senior Advisor, Professor & Founder. With three decades of experience in the industry, Andrew has acquired tips on how to stay curious and up to date with best practices in an ever-changing Advertising landscape. The secret? It’s not just about adapting to what has happened but about embracing what is happening…

In this episode you will learn:

• The importance of keeping yourself engaged.
• The key to making the complex, simple.
• How to nail the brief.

About Kelly + Partners:

Kelly+Partners began with the idea of helping small businesses that wanted to go somewhere.

Founder and CEO Brett Kelly launched Kelly+Partners from a single office in 2006. Together, we traded our way through the GFC, the team expanding to become the top national accounting firm we are today.

Today, we’re a multi-award-winning financial services firm with a mission to make our clients, our communities, and our people better off. With 19 locations and over 350 team members, we support over 8,500 small business owners, high-net-worth individuals, and families to build and grow great businesses and protect their legacies across generations.

Our close-knit team is driven to help you gain the control you need of your entire financial universe, to overcome any challenge, now and in the future.

https://www.kellypartners.com.au/business-accountants-sydney-melbourne

Are you managing your mental, monetary & physical fitness?

If your answer is no, you are not alone. Tim Hewson is an accomplished banking and finance professional on a mission to improve men’s mental health. Rallying your overworked mates to get involved in an activity is only half the battle, the real challenge comes in knowing how to converse, ask the right questions and lend the necessary support.

In this episode you will learn:

• Discovering a new outlet for channelling workforce pressure
• The value of maintaining social connections in demanding corporate careers
• The importance of admitting weakness and accepting support

About Kelly + Partners:

Kelly+Partners began with the idea of helping small businesses that wanted to go somewhere.

Founder and CEO Brett Kelly launched Kelly+Partners from a single office in 2006. Together, we traded our way through the GFC, the team expanding to become the top national accounting firm we are today.

Today, we’re a multi-award-winning financial services firm with a mission to make our clients, our communities, and our people better off. With 19 locations and over 350 team members, we support over 8,500 small business owners, high-net-worth individuals, and families to build and grow great businesses and protect their legacies across generations.

Our close-knit team is driven to help you gain the control you need of your entire financial universe, to overcome any challenge, now and in the future.

https://www.kellypartners.com.au/business-accountants-sydney-melbourne