Posted by Guy Downes on June 20, 2012 under Illustration | 
Peter Bush: visual notes – page 1
These are my visual notes drawn during a presentation by Peter Bush, formerly CEO of McDonald’s Australia, at the Tamworth Business Chamber lunch in aid of Ronald McDonald House Charities. Peter’s presentation was riveting - full of business ideas, lessons learnt and top tips. Peter talked about his experience in turning around McDonald’s Australia and how he and his team helped propel McDonald’s Australia to be the best performing McDonald’s business globally for five consecutive years. The aim of my visual notes is to help remind me of some of the golden nuggets of advice Peter shared so that in 2 hours, 2 days, 2 months or 2 years time I can think back and remember the “essence” of what he said. Call it my own visual memory tool.
Peter Bush: visual notes – page 2
Peter Bush: visual notes – page 3
Peter Bush: visual notes – page 4
Peter Bush: visual notes – page 5
Posted by Guy Downes on April 19, 2012 under Illustration |
Visual notes #1: Peter Irvine
There’s nothing better than starting the day listening to an inspirational speaker. Today at Tamworth’s Chamber of Commerce business breakfast briefing Peter Irvine, the co-founder of Gloria Jean’s Coffee, provided a double shot of business ideas, energy, insights and advice. As with all good presenters, Peter captivated the audience with real-life stories and experiences. Truly a case of re-living his experiences, not re-telling them. Making a connection, not shovelling out content to the audience. Here are my rough visual notes drawn furiously while listening intently and trying to scoff down the great breakfast at the All Seasons hotel.
Visual notes #2: Peter Irvine
Visual notes #3: Peter Irvine
Posted by Guy Downes on December 23, 2011 under Cartoons |
All year long my keyboard has been subtly trying to remind me of what’s important. Today, I’m taking its advice. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Thanks to everyone who has supported me this year and who follows my work – hope you have a great and relaxing holiday. Until 2012!
Posted by Guy Downes on October 7, 2011 under Illustration |
Creativity
Canon Business Imaging Australia recently released a research report titled: ‘Change or be left behind’. According to Canon, ‘change is something that the majority of Australian businesses strive for yet find difficult to achieve’. The research examined Australian businesses’ approach and attitude towards change in the workplace. I contributed seven cartoons to the report which depicted light-hearted scenarios highlighting the qualities that were needed to help drive change (as identified in the research). If you’re interested in downloading the report and viewing all my cartoons, please visit: http://www.canon.com.au/Business/Change
Knowledge
Vision
Change or be left behind: the report front cover
Posted by Guy Downes on October 6, 2011 under Graphic Recording |
Graham Manvell shares his business insights with the Junior Chamber
There’s nothing better than graphic recording an authentic speaker who speaks from the heart and from experience. I had this opportunity recently at a Tamworth Junior Chamber of Commerce meeting where Graham Manvell, a leading chef, culinary judge and entrepreneur, shared his success stories, major challenges and key insights on how to get the best out of business – and life. Graphic recording Graham’s speech was great fun and I filled a 2.5 metre long graphic recording poster with insights, ideas and images. You can view the full graphic recording poster here. Thanks to Daniel Myers from the Junior Chamber executive committee and NAB Business Banking for getting me involved.
Graham’s speech drew on his experience in hospitality – he founded and runs the sSs BBQ Steakhouses and his business interests extend to nine restaurants, a buffalo farm, a brewery and the latest addition, the Kitty Crawford Estate vineyard. Here are some photos that show my graphic recording poster and a flavour of the evening:
My completed graphic recording poster
My blank graphic recording poster at the start
Listening intently and graphic recording at speed
The venue with my graphic recording poster on the back wall
A section of my graphic recording poster in detail
Posted by Guy Downes on May 31, 2011 under Illustration |
Back in March, I contributed three cartoons to a PR thought leadership report co-ordinated by Craig Pearce and titled: Public relations 2011: issues, insights and ideas. My cartoons supported three of the articles that discussed PR education, PR and CSR and Facebook/social media:
My cartoon for: PR education – getting the theory-practice balance right, by Professor Jim Macnamara, Professor of Public Communication at the University of Technology Sydney
My cartoon for: PR is second rate CSR, by Craig Pearce, an award winning strategic public relations professional (and noted PR blogger)
My cartoon for: Messiah or just socially inept, by Dwight Whitney, Founder, Trinity Communications
The report is a very good read for PR and communication professionals as it features articles by eleven industry leaders from all over the globe and is available free for email subscribers from Craig Pearce’s blog, Public relations and managing reputation. Content in the report will help enhance PR professionals’ practical ability and strategic knowledge, expand their knowledge of the discipline’s power and provide them with ideas and assertions. Thanks to Craig for getting me involved.
Posted by Guy Downes on May 5, 2011 under Cartoons |
No matter where you are, making critical decisions for your business can be tough.
Posted by Guy Downes on May 4, 2011 under Illustration |
The Black Dog also works 9 to 5
Matthew Johnstone is a master storyteller. He speaks from the heart about what ’he’s experienced, learnt and what has worked for him in dealing with depression over the last 20 years’. I was lucky enough to hear him speak at a recent Tamworth Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast about dealing with depression, forms and telltale signs of depression, the increase in pressure in today’s society and his current role with The Black Dog Institute. He is also the author of the wellknown book ‘I had a Black dog’ and ‘Living with a Black Dog’, which he beautifully illustrated.
During his talk, which used his great drawings to illustrate his points, one area he covered really made me stop, listen and think. Depression and mood disorders interfere not only with our ability to function at home, in social settings but also at work. It struck me that depression ‘can also work 9am – 5pm’ – it doesn’t go away when you ‘swipe’ into your building. Matthew shared his thoughts on the critical role HR (as ‘safe havens’), leaders and colleagues can play in helping people who may be experiencing depression.
My cartoon builds on this idea. From my experience of working in fast-paced, results-oriented environments, it could be all too easy not to see or realise that a colleague, a friend or the boss (or even myself) needs help. Regardless whether a company has a mantra to be ‘a fun, engaging and great place to work’, they can still be a very lonely place. If there isn’t the foundation or opportunity for people to seek help or the ethos that talking about issues is ‘OK’, my personal belief is that employees can feel isolated. In the daily hustle and bustle and ‘fog’ of doing business, a cry of “Help Me” could easily go unnoticed.
The Black Dog Institute is a not-for-profit, educational, research, clinical and community-oriented facility offering specialist expertise in depression and bipolar disorder. For more information and to check out their great resource, visit their website.
During Matthew’s talk, I furiously took visual notes, sketching out key words and themes he covered. Here’s a page that shows some of my sketches and scribbles.
A page from my visual notebook
Posted by Guy Downes on May 2, 2011 under Cartoons |
Running my own business has brought many new perspectives and things that I would never have ‘seen’ or appreciated working in a large corporate. One of the many things is how big businesses support employee wages month-in and month-out. I personally think it is an amazing feat of human innovation and discipline that ‘Big Corp’ (businesses with 100′s or 1000′s of staff) operate day-to-day, winning business, servicing clients, paying suppliers and employee wages – and keep people energised. And on top of all that the good ones make a profit and contribute to society. Many people who rock into work everyday may not give it a moment’s thought but I think it’s awe-inspiring.
Posted by Guy Downes on April 28, 2011 under Cartoons |
