Exclusive: In this nine.com.au series, we'll be talking to some of Australia's smartest and sharpest entrepreneurs, founders and CEOs to find out what makes them tick - and what advice they'd have for anyone starting out.
As chief executive of wholesale retailer Metcash (the business behind IGA, Mitre 10, and many other independent Australian retailers), Doug Jones has a lot of responsibility.
Under him, Metcash hit $17.3 billion in sales revenue for the last financial year but he told 9news.com.au that he actually doesn't "get to do much work".
"All the teams around me, they do all the work," he said.
These are his secrets to success.
How do you start the day to set yourself up for success?
I like to go for a run or a ride or do some exercise, and then I get stuck into it.
I'm of South African heritage, so I check my WhatsApp from family and friends because the time difference. And sometimes, if it's Monday, I catch up on a little bit of sports news.
But I'm not one for cold plunges and meditations. I like to just get into the day.
What are three daily habits you always stick to?
I write down what I need to do, what my priorities are for the day. That's the first thing I do so I'm very clear about what is it that I want to achieve today.
I make sure that I check in with important people, starting with my wife and kids, and then when I get into the office. It's just making sure that the connection is there, whether it's a quick call on the way in or a visit to someone's office – I prefer face-to-face to email.
And then I make sure that I leave my desk at the end of the day being clear with what I've achieved and what's coming up for the next day. It'll involve a quick scan of the diary to make sure that I don't have anything outstanding.
Lots of Aussies are looking for a career change – what small action can help them get ahead of other candidates?
At the end of the day, you need to do a good job.
I tell my children this all the time; having a job is a privilege, not a right. And I think that delivering 10 times the value of your salary is where you should start.
It's probably boring and old-fashioned advice, but that's the first thing and frankly, that opens up opportunities. Whether you're looking for a career change or a promotion, people around you are looking to work with people that get stuff done, and that do it in a way that's collaborative and pleasant.
So yes, you should do stuff you're interested in, yes, you should do stuff you're good at, but at the end of the day, you should do things where you can add genuine value.
What financial myth do you wish you never bought into?
I was brought up in a fairly strict environment, and my parents were always very smart about teaching me not to live beyond my means, so I think credit should be used appropriately.
Credit is good at the right time, but only if you can pay back that credit.
What do you wish you could tell your 20-year-old self?
Don't be so serious.
The world is a wonderful place and if you approach it with curiosity, integrity, passion and humility, I think that you can have an amazing career and life.
Have you got a story? Contact reporter Maddison Leach at [email protected]
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