This is the second article in a series exploring the parallels between military doctrine and the skill sets required for owning and operating a successful small business. In my first article, The Compass, The Anchor, and The Destination , I established the vital importance of defining your values and mission—your anchor and your true north. Now, it is time to look outwards and clearly define your ultimate objective: the customer. If your business is on a professional voyage,

I enjoyed the privilege of leading one of Australia’s premier military ensembles  as the Director of Music of the Royal Australian Navy Band from July 2002 until January 2012. Today, I own and operate a small printing franchise—Minuteman Press Liverpool. When I left the Royal Australian Navy, I found myself navigating a significant sea change. Yet I quickly discovered that the core values of the organisation I had just left were alive and well within the Minuteman Press cultu

The Sea Treaders (In Calm and Storm) by Francis McBeth Life rarely plays in perfect harmony. Just as music needs both major and minor...

The First Note of Spring The first day of spring feels like the opening bars of a new symphony—fresh, vibrant, and full of possibility....

We often talk about finding the perfect pitch and rhythm in our music. But what about finding that same harmony in our lives? A friend...

In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to feel adrift, buffeted by competing currents and the allure of distant shores. Just like a ship...

In pursuit of an accurate maritime chronometer. On a sun-drenched Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011, an auditory beacon sliced through the...

The Royal Australian Navy Band (2009). Commander Phillip Anderson OAM RAN at the helm. Francis McBeth's "The Sea Treaders"  isn't just a...

Commander Phillip Anderson OAM RAN leading a rehearsal of the Royal Australian Navy Band In the vast, often turbulent, ocean of business,...

The Royal Australian Navy Band in concert, 2008, at Angel Place, celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Great White Fleet's visit to...

HMAS Sydney II (Click on the image to listen to the march "The Grey Gladiator') During the process of helping design a new logo for a...

100th Anniversary Concert: A Momentous Occasion Delivering a compelling 10-minute speech, much like compering a band concert, can be...

Navigating life can often feel like steering a ship through a tempest. There are moments when the waves crash, and the winds howl,...

"Music is the universal language of mankind," declared Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, capturing its profound ability to connect us across...

Navy buglers performing 'With Courage and Honour' With Courage and Honour was composed to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Battle...

Members of the public attend a special concert by the Royal Australian Navy Band at Amiens Cathedral in France. Photo: Corporal Nicole...

Commando Damien Thomlinson being congratulated by Commander Phillip Anderson The chill of the pre-dawn air at Dee Why Beach this Anzac...

Photo courtesy Australian War Memorial. Click on the link to listen to my arrangement of the Naval Hymn with the Royal Australian Navy...

We all know music moves us. It's more than just a melody; it's a language of emotion, a teller of tales. But what happens when we weave...

Here's a little playful twist on being your best! "It's true, you're a 'Simply the Best'  – a living, breathing, miraculous, unique...