I am out there every week speaking to people from all different types of businesses, and most of them ‘just’ want me to motivate and inspire them and their staff, and to leave them some great messages that will guide them in their lives.

I do all this pretty well, as I’m always told.

But there are quite a few people looking for more than that, looking for the secret to business success.

There are thousands of books etc out there telling us what ‘the secret’ is. I have even written a book, Breadwinner: A fresh approach to business success, and at the moment I have a new DVD being produced on the same topic.

There are a lot of people out there looking for answers. And many of them are hoping to discover ‘The Secret’, the magic button that once found and pressed will make it all happen.

I don’t profess to have all the answers and my business is far from perfect, but to be honest I really don’t think there are too many secrets to business success.

I don’t have a magic formula but I do believe it is pretty simple: it’s mostly about people and leadership. Our business is 5% technology and 95% psychology & attitude.

We have to love our customers…happy customers come back. Now that’s pretty profound, isn’t it? Maybe that is one of our secrets!

Another is that if we have happy staff, we will have happy customers. So you need to keep your staff motivated, inspired, well trained & informed.

I also believe that one of the biggest ingredients of success is HARD WORK! Hard work is the price I have had to pay for my success. When I was doing my apprenticeship, I was always prepared to work hard and do more, and by doing that it opened up so many doors for me. The opportunities are definitely there if you are prepared to put in the work.

I also had a dream for a better life. I needed that vision because, as they say, you often get what you expect!

I also needed a plan because I learned years ago that you cannot drift your way to success and a better life. You need to have goals, a plan and a vision.

One of our biggest ‘secrets’ to our business success, I believe, has been that “If you wouldn’t buy it, don’t sell it”. So if we have a product, and a staff member thinks it is a bit dried out or whatever, they don’t sell it. It’s all about being consistent and empowering your people to make a decision.

When I think about it, there are many, many ways to success…but there are no real secrets. Some people have read every book written on success, but still can’t figure how to be successful and maybe never will. Success for me is being able to live the life I choose, and I choose to be a baker in rural Australia. Today I am happy where I am at.

‘The Secret’ is to have an attitude of gratitude.