Threat from China? Lemming Cycles and Allan on the ropes!

Plus no government can satisfy modern electorates

Accepting Feedback

Just listening again to ‘No rules, rules’ by Reed Hastings, about Netflix.

One of the most striking messages is about the need to give and accept candid feedback, delivered and accepted in the right way.

From this account, Netflix is extraordinarily open in this area.

Made me think about the way we handle things at Jim’s Group.

I regularly solicit and accept feedback from franchisees, and rarely does a week go by when we don’t change something as a result.

This is one of the key reasons I give me email address and phone number to every franchisee at training.

At training, I often give examples of how recent feedback has helped us.

Also, our Advisory Committee process allows any franchisor to put proposals into the agenda, which we always discuss seriously.

However, it strikes me that very few staff ever provide me with negative feedback. Perhaps something to work on.

The Threat from China?

Reading in a recent poll that Australians see China as less of a threat than we used to, a few years back.

This is especially so of people politically on the left.

I don’t have much sympathy for the left in general (out-of-control spending, ever-rising red tape and debt) but in this area I’m with them.

How is China a threat to Australia?

Their biggest difference is that they want Taiwan back, which has been Chinese for centuries.

If China attacks Taiwan, we could provide money and support, but we should not even THINK of supporting America in a war.

The Ukrainians are doing a magnificent job of resisting Russia, but nobody else has boots on the ground to defend them.

China deserves respect as a great power.

They underpin our prosperity, to the extent that stupid government policies do not undermine it.

And they make great stuff at a cheap price. China is no threat to Australia.

No government can satisfy modern electorates

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has gone, only two years after a landslide win.

This is a widespread pattern.

Leaders sweep to power but then quickly lose popularity, with more and more extreme options being sought.

Meanwhile, debt soars, inequality grows, and productivity declines. Same in Australia and the U.S.

This is not about incompetent leaders but an electorate that can never be satisfied by any leader or by any set of policies.

And it’s going to get worse, because the character of our populations is changing.

There is a solution, but it’s not one you’ve ever heard of.

Birth Rate Crisis is coming out in October.

Angus Taylor

Having said this, the new Liberal leader has come out with policies that have some hope of halting the decline, if his Party and the electorate will give him a chance.

Less bureaucracy and debt, for a start, and getting rid of Net Zero which has doubled the cost of electricity and powered inflation.

Now, if only the Liberals would get behind zoning reform, to make houses and rents more affordable!

Limiting negative gearing worked to make houses a bit cheaper, but rents are going up.

Totally predictable.

Negative gearing made it possible for investors to buy overly dear houses and charge limited rents.

Without it, they’ll have to charge higher rents or exit the market.

Lemming Cycles

I’m also working on a new book about lemming cycles.

This is the biological pattern that causes populations of small animals to surge and decline.

It’s also responsible for many changes in human history including the onset of plagues such as the Black Death, the First World War, the rise and fall of Chinese dynasties, and much more.

Coming out 2027

Jimbo

Our new software program for franchisees has been released for general use.

We are working hard to make it smoother and more efficient, getting regular feedback from users.

We’re also setting up separate teams to work on key improvements:

· Direct booking of appointments for franchisees

· Jimbo marketplace for buying and selling regular clients

· Systems to reduce complaints, which should drastically improve lead volume

We’re investing more than a million dollars a year to improve Jimbo, and intend to continue doing so for the foreseeable future.

There’s no better investment than improvements to IT.

Google My Business

Another change we’re working on is to have franchisees get more reviews for Google My Business.

This is a hugely valuable source of leads which costs absolutely nothing, and adds real value to a business if and when sold.

Surprising how few small businesses make full use of this feature.

The world’s first trillionaire (briefly)

Elon Musk does some doubtful things, but he’s reduced the cost of getting into space by 90%.

He could get us to Mars, and he’s passionate about reversing the birth rate decline, even though he doesn’t (yet) know how.

So, overall, a fan.

Jacinta Allen on the ropes

Maybe, but her replacement won’t to do anything to stop Victoria heading to disaster.

Maybe Jess Wilson can do something to turn things around, though no signs the Liberals will relax our appalling Zoning laws to make housing and rents affordable.