Dick Smith

Today I met Dick Smith and his wife Pip at their homestead Bowylie, which is 45 minutes east from Murrumbateman. They had invited a party of 80 or 90 (mostly elderly) guests and we from Schönegg did the catering for afternoon coffee and refreshments.

Now to give you an idea who Dick Smith is, he is an Australian entrepreneur, and a very successful one. He is the one who founded Dick Smith Electronics, a huge enterprise whose shops are all over the country. He is also a famous aviator (Pilot) who flies planes and helicopters. He also founded Dick Smith Foods, a food brand, and the magazine Australian Geographic, is a patron of Australian Skeptics, and has received highest awards and honours in various other areas. In short, whatever you call him would be an understatement.

In 1995 he purchased Bowylie, a beautiful old homestead (built in 1860) sitting on a huge lot of land, and he expanded it and turned it into one of the most charming places you can imagine. Not only is there a magnificent landscaped garden, but also a runway for his planes and helicopters, and a real steam train (Dampfeisenbahn) for him and his guests to take a ride around the property.

So this was really an Australian VIP meeting. And I, Martin Maurer, was there and shook Dick Smith's hand and told him who I was (and petted his cat Mathilda and even played on his grand piano)! There's no picture or video of that but you can believe me it's true.

To summarize, Dick and Pip Smith are examples of how you can grow to be one of the world's wealthiest and most successful people and still talk on eye level with the catering staff. (See also number 14 and 18 of my list.) Where their success comes from, if you want to condense it into one sentence? To be exceptionally good at everything you do, in all respects, including the art of how to handle (and motivate) people.

An inspirational day.