Peter Crocker, Sam Leader, Robert Gerrish - Flying Solo

We ask the tough questions

What’s the most obscure business request you’ve ever had?

Peter: To write a website for a high-end brothel.

Sam: Flying Solo received an email asking whether Viagra turns up on a blood test. Err…

Robert: I was once asked to track down the tribal leader of the Algonquian Indians in Nova Scotia and negotiate the purchase of fifty moose hunting horns.

What’s the most enjoyable element of your work? And the least enjoyable?

Peter: The best is hearing the many stories from people who have transformed their lives by finding their true passion. I also love the freedom to work from anywhere and merge work around the rest of my life. One frustration is having so many ideas we want to get going on, without the time and resources to get them all done right now!

Sam: While I love talking to my business partners and contributors, it’s the sense that our work is having a real impact on the lives of soloists that’s the most enjoyable. Not so fun is investigating technical issues – an unfortunate reality for an online business.

Robert: Most enyoyable is kicking around new ideas and concepts and seeing them come to fruition. I also love meeting soloists when I’m out and about and always wonder why I’m not doing more of it. Least enjoyable is hearing or reading anything where someone is struggling in their business, or struggling in any way with ours!

What would be your advice to aspiring soloists?

Peter: There is NEVER an ideal time to pursue your dream of starting your own business. If not now, when? Tomorrow doesn’t always come.

Sam: To extend R&D to beyond your immediate circle. To remember to factor in quiet times when setting your budget and, if possible, learn to live with less.

Robert: Just get on and do it and don’t hesitate to call on the wisdom of the crowd. The level to which others support and assist amazes me each and every day.

What's the biggest thing you've learnt this year?

Peter: Attitude can change almost everything.

Sam: That sometimes it’s sensible not to be sensible.

Robert: That happiness really does lie within, so focus on what you have and nurture the good stuff.

If your office caught fire, what would you grab first? What would you toss into the flames?

Peter: If I encountered smouldering remains, all I'd feel is an odd surge of relief and renewal.

Sam: I’d grab my laptop, my diary and my Jane Gerrish painting. I’d accidentally on purpose leave behind the in-tray with unfiled stuff dating to 2008.

Robert: I’d save my lovely old Eames chair, my paintings by good mate, Oliver Goodfellow, my computer back-up and my scrapbook of family absurdity. I’d let the laptop burn and toss Jane and Jay’s in too. We all deserve new ones.

How did your school report describe you (in three words)?

Peter: Which one’s Peter?

Sam: Diligent, creative, impractical

Robert: Chatty, preoccupied, popular

What is the one regret you do not want to have in this lifetime?

Peter: Being a crap parent.

Sam: I do not want to have a single regret! So far, so good.

Robert: Getting to answer questions after Sam.

What’s your number one stress relief tactic (keep it clean!)?

Robert: Going for a long walk near the waters edge with a decent barista nearby.

Sam: A session of yoga, if it coincides with the kids’ dinner time, that’s even better.

Peter: Cold beer and a remote control.

What’s the smartest bit of marketing you’ve ever done?

Robert: Opening an art gallery in a public toilet. The media loved it.

Sam: I went on Sunrise once which was definitely good for business, but the amount of make up they put on me scared my children.

Peter: Starting search engine optimisation in 2002. Yawn!

If you could improve one thing about your work, what would it be?

Robert: Having a boss who was a bit easier on me would be good!

Sam: It sounds so corny but pretty much nothing right now.

Peter: iPad2

Sam: Oh, alright then, an iPad2

What music are you listening to at the moment?

Robert: I’ve always got streaming radio station, ‘Groove Salad’ from SomaFM beating away in the background.

Sam: BBC Radio - Radio 4 for news, 2 for music

Peter: I just discovered grooveshark.com with all the free music I can eat. And I’m still a sad sucker for gothic Brit music from the 80s and 90s.

And now comes the plug!

What do you do? Who for? And how does it benefit them?

We support those going it alone in business. Expert articles are published daily on topics including starting out, networking, marketing, working smarter and technology and our online forums provide the perfect place to develop relationships, seek answers to burning questions and share ideas and strategies.

Our goal is to create an engaging, supportive community for Australian soloists and microbusiness owners and help them build successful, enjoyable enterprises.

• My website: Flyingsolo.com.au/about
• Facebook: facebook.com/flyingsoloau
• Twitter: twitter.com/flyingsoloau

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