Tag Archives: Ego

You know, I’ve noticed a trend in the boardrooms and strategy meetings I’ve sat in—too many bright minds getting caught up in their own egos. It’s an easy trap, and heck, we’ve all been there. Let me lay it out: when you’re shaping the strategic direction and mission of your company, it’s not about making it a personal victory. I always say, when you’re getting dressed for work, leave your ego hanging in your wardrobe, right next to your weekend clothes.

“I always say, when you’re getting dressed for work, leave your ego hanging in your wardrobe, right next to your weekend clothes.” John Puttick

Back when I first started dabbling in software, there was this thing called egoless programming. It meant letting your work do the talking, not your personal pride. We applied that old school philosophy across the board. Whether you were tinkering with code or setting the corporate compass, it was about the collective effort, not individual glory.

Here’s where it gets real: everyone’s input is crucial, but no one should steer the ship solo. We need all hands on deck, working in harmony. Think of your enterprise like a finely tuned orchestra where even the slightest off note from a single instrument—someone’s ego, in this case—can throw off the entire performance.

And when it comes to setting goals, boy, do I see teams setting the bar too low because they’re unsure of their capacity. We’ve aimed for modest growth in the past, sure, but why settle? I remember one strategic planning session where we decided to shoot for the stars—aim for 30%, 50% growth, even in tough times. Why not? We’ve been to the moon, for heaven’s sake!

The bottom line is, setting ambitious targets and fostering robust, open dialogues about your trajectory can drastically change your pace. It’s about believing in your collective potential and pushing each other to exceed, not just meet, expectations. So, let’s set those tough goals, let’s overshoot, and let’s find ways to do the impossible. After all, if you aim high and work as one, anything’s possible.

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John Puttick( Industry Professor )

John Puttick significantly shaped Australia’s IT sector by founding GBST Holdings, which processes about half of the Australian Stock Exchange transactions. He pioneered key enterprise system development techniques and project management methods. As an Adjunct Professor at the University of Queensland and Chair of QUT’s Faculty Development Committee, he has influenced academic programs and IT education. His career blends intense business involvement with substantial contributions to community and education

John Puttick has made a distinguished contribution to the field of IT in Australia through pioneering many techniques for the successful development of large scale enterprise systems including rigorous project management. John Puttick established Star Systems, now GBST Holdings, which went on to become a leading provider of ICT solutions to stockbrokers and banks. In the process GBST Holdings helped establish world standard solutions which are used by both global and local companies, and has resulted in the company’s platform processing approximately half of all the transactions on the Australian Stock Exchange.As Adjunct Professor with the University of Queensland John Puttick has provided advice on course and product development helping to guide the University’s Faculty of Engineering, Physical Sciences and Architecture to a premier position in computer science. Australian Computer Society | Hall of Fame | 2017 As Chair of the QUT’s Faculty Development Committee, John Puttick has helped its transition from a department to a school and now a faculty with a first class reputation for providing IT graduates. John Puttick has successfully combined a demanding business career with extensive community involvement and along the way made major contributions to Australian business by harnessing IT to produce realised benefits for enterprises.