EO Melbourne Values Awards: Honouring Excellence and Commitment to Core Values

In a momentous stride towards acknowledging excellence and embodying core values, EO Melbourne has proudly introduced its prestigious Values Awards. This distinguished accolade stands as a chapter-wide celebration, passionately designed to bestow well-deserved recognition and honour upon exceptional members who consistently epitomise and embody the core values of EO.

A Celebration of Values 

The EO Melbourne Values Awards mark a significant occasion, a unique opportunity for the organisation to pay homage and extend heartfelt appreciation to those individuals who not only uphold but passionately demonstrate the very essence of EO's values. As an esteemed organisation, EO Melbourne steadfastly adheres to the following values:

• Together we grow - We are committed to each other’s success and well-being—and we unite to celebrate those differences. We may be from different cultures, religions and have different lived experiences, but EO binds us together across cities and continents.

• Trust and respect - Each of us is unique and equal. This is fundamental to EO. Living this value with an open mind and appreciation for different points of view enables us to create a space where everyone can be their complete, authentic selves.

• Thirst for learning - We have an insatiable curiosity. It is through curiosity that we grow and widen our horizons. Learning is about more than a class or a workshop—it is about asking the right questions, trying new things and having curiosity about other members, their life experiences and their perspectives.

• Think big, be bold - We innovate and take risks to make the world a better place for our teams, our families, our communities, and humankind. We think big, we are bold. We want to make a difference beyond ourselves. We see entrepreneurship as a way to create a better world for all, and we explore new opportunities to make a positive impact with our work.

Honouring Excellence 

The EO Melbourne Values Awards provide a platform to recognise those who passionately embody EO's core values. Members are invited to nominate deserving individuals using the designated nomination form. These nominations should be accompanied by specific examples that showcase how the nominees exemplify EO's values in their actions and interactions.

The nomination process is an ongoing endeavour, spanning throughout the year. Every month, the chapter announces the nominees, shining a spotlight on those who embody EO's values in exceptional ways. As a testament to the collective spirit of EO, nominating a fellow Forum colleague is rewarded with 10 points, while honouring a member from a different Forum is rewarded with an extraordinary 20 points. Through these celebrated nominations, each exceptional member has the potential to accrue up to 40 points per month.

A Community United by Values 

The EO Melbourne Values Awards reflect the essence of EO's tight-knit community, where success is measured not only by individual achievements but also by collective values. As the chapter continues to celebrate and honour those who personify these values, it reinforces the commitment to growth, trust, learning, and bold action that define EO and its exceptional members.

Thus, the EO Melbourne Values Awards stand as a testament to the dedication and commitment of EO members to their core values. This celebration of excellence serves as a reminder that, within the EO community, success is not only measured by personal accomplishments but by the shared values that unite and inspire every member.

Empowering Entrepreneurs: The Coaching Room Becomes EO Melbourne's Strategic Alliance Partner

EO Melbourne, the go-to organisation for entrepreneurs and business leaders, is ecstatic to announce its latest Strategic Alliance Partner (SAP): The Coaching Room. This strategic collaboration brings unparalleled opportunities for EO Melbourne members to supercharge their leadership skills, communication prowess, and overall performance, setting a fresh benchmark for professional growth and development.

The Coaching Room takes the lead in executive training and coaching, specialising in entrepreneurship and executive development. Their unwavering focus on delivering transformative communication and leadership training has cemented their status as a trusted authority in the field. What sets them apart is their innovative integration of artificial intelligence and systems thinking across all their coaching and leadership programs. This cutting-edge approach propels rapid and substantial changes, consistently surpassing clients' expectations and unveiling rewarding discoveries along the way.

As a global coaching and training services provider, The Coaching Room has collaborated with prestigious clients such as Williams Racing Formula One, Fiji Airways, the Department of Defence, Specsavers, and countless small to medium-sized entrepreneurial businesses. Their wealth of expertise and proven track record makes them the ideal partner for EO Melbourne.

Dr James L Murray, Founder and Director at Work Healthy Australia and EO Melbourne Chapter President has availed of The Coaching Room’s services and has this to say, "When I first found out about The Coaching Room in a workshop with Jay Hedley, it all sounded a little too good to be true. We all had that experience where vendors were big on promises and perhaps a little short on delivery. Their promise to support you in unlocking your real potential -- in business, leadership, communication, high-performance sport and in real life -- seems maybe a bit grandiose. However, I can now speak with real experience, and the experience has been great. Currently, four of the most critical people in my life, work and business -- 2 CEOs, a COO and an Executive Manager are being coached by Jay. I will let you know that they are not the cheapest option around, but in my experience, they have been the best that I have used so far in my 23 years in business. I encourage you to find out more about their breakthrough methodology of coaching leaders."

EO Melbourne and The Coaching Room value the importance of building trust between a new SAP and its members. To cultivate this trust and showcase their immense value, The Coaching Room is excited to offer several complimentary introductory benefits to EO Melbourne members and Forums.

Forums can tap into The Coaching Room's expertise through engaging Forum presentations covering diverse topics, including performance, communication, and leadership. These captivating presentations offer valuable insights and strategies to fuel growth and success within each Forum.

In addition, The Coaching Room extends bespoke coaching sessions tailored to elevate Forums to peak performance. Their seasoned coaches provide personalised guidance, actionable strategies, and constructive feedback, empowering Forum members and bolstering their overall effectiveness. These coaching sessions are tailored, honing in on each Forum's unique needs, and furnishing them with a competitive edge in their respective industries.

Acknowledging the challenges faced by business leaders, The Coaching Room ensures a confidential call to address business or leadership hurdles. In a safe and secure environment, members can candidly discuss obstacles, receive expert advice, valuable insights, and result-driven strategies to navigate challenges, make informed decisions, and unlock their full potential as visionary leaders.

But that's not all! The collaboration between EO Melbourne and The Coaching Room ushers in a plethora of additional benefits for members.

Prepare for a deep dive into leadership concepts with a full-day Leadership Workshop, an immersive learning event open to all EO Melbourne members. This comprehensive workshop arms participants with the tools and knowledge needed to excel as leaders in their businesses. Scheduled throughout the financial year, members have ample opportunities to participate and glean valuable insights from this transformative learning experience.

Further strengthening this partnership, exclusive quarterly Leadership Workshops cater to EO Melbourne members in leadership roles, including Moderators. These workshops offer invaluable insights and practical tools to fortify leadership skills within the chapter, facilitating effective organisational leadership. By actively participating in these sessions, members can enhance their leadership acumen and contribute to the continued success of EO Melbourne.

This strategic alliance between EO Melbourne and The Coaching Room represents a potent partnership that strives to unlock the untapped potential of EO Melbourne members. By harnessing The Coaching Room's expertise, members can elevate their leadership skills, refine their communication abilities, and propel their performance to new heights. This collaboration underscores EO Melbourne's steadfast commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial excellence, ensuring the growth and success of its members remain at the forefront.

Read more about this partnership at https://www.eomelbourne.org/the-coaching-room.

EO Melbourne gears up for FY 2023/24

As the Financial Year 2022/23 comes to an end and a new FY is about to begin, EO Melbourne ushers into the coming FY 2023/24 with a line-up of programs and events that will take its members’ entrepreneurial journeys to new heights.

The year starts off with a virtual learning experience in July, featuring Jim Penman, the brilliant mind behind Jim's Group, a globally recognised franchise and one of Australia's most notable and reliable brands. Jim successfully established Jim's Mowing as Australia's largest franchise chain and the most recognised lawn mowing business in the world.

In this special one-hour virtual event, Jim will share his inspiring story, explain his business principles, and discuss his philosophy of prioritising service and people over profits. He will also take us on the journey of how he expanded his empire from limited resources to cover Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Also in July, EO Melbourne Member and Elite Akademy Founder Kusal Goonewardena will take an exclusive deep dive into the cutting-edge science of High Performance. Kusal will talk about the strategies that will empower people to adopt high-performance behaviours and mindsets in all areas of their life. With Kusal's expert guidance, participants will learn how to leverage the latest research in sports physiotherapy, physiology, and neuroscience to unlock their full potential.

Following this event, EO Melbourne will gather a panel of experts specialising in four alternative sources of funding for growth-stage businesses - spanning bank debt, non-bank debt, venture capital, and private equity funding sources.

Facilitated by Jason Ellenport, EO Melbourne Member & Founding Partner at Edison Growth Fund, this event will have the following panel of experts: Kingsley Oldfield, Senior Relationship Manager at ANZ Bank, Hunter Watkin, Venture Capital Investor at Rampersand, Mike Thompson, Head of Private Equity at Edison Growth Fund, and Michael Kurland, Joint MD and Founder at Arrowpoint Capital.

They will share their valuable insights and experiences while engaging attendees in a lively discussion providing a comprehensive understanding of the funding landscape. Those who will attend can expect to gain practical knowledge on how to navigate each funding option to their advantage.

Within the first quarter of FY 2023/24, EO Melbourne will hold the ​​Accelerator/Key Executive Learning Day focusing on Cash, one of the four quarterly full training days built on the principles developed by Verne Harnish from his bestselling book Scaling Up.

Speaking of which, this leads us to one of the biggest events of FY 2023/24 Q1 — Mastering Pricing & Compensation by no less than the man, the myth, and the LEGEND, Verne Harnish – who is returning to Melbourne for this special, not-to-be-missed event.

Verne's award-winning Scaling Up workshops are renowned for their impact and actionable insights. His latest workshop focuses on Pricing and Compensation, as well as how Web 3.0 drives the emerging Org 3.0, using practical EO company examples that incorporate AI, "team of teams," pricing, and compensation strategies.

In this engaging workshop, Verne will reveal various pricing approaches for both B2C and B2B businesses and discuss the 5 key compensation design principles that transform the largest expense into a strategic advantage.

Moreover, EO Melbourne will also have a new intake for its Mentorship Program, one of the benefits of EO Membership. The program spans 12 months and participating EO Members will be paired with a mentor and provided with all the resources, tools, and knowledge they need for their monthly one-hour catch-ups, as well as ongoing support from their Mentorship Chair. The program will help members learn from other business leaders and grow as an entrepreneur.

There is so much in store for the coming FY that EO Melbourne members will enjoy and learn from.

President's Update - December 2022

From the President

WHAT MAKES EO MELBOURNE SO SPECIAL TO ME?

As I reflected on what makes us EOers unique, I considered what makes us glue together so well, and why we consistently and significantly outperform the average Melbourne business person.

In my opinion, the answer lies in a positive growth mindset:

Following two years of disruption, we began 2022 with a lot to look forward to, a year of recovery, and a return to "normalcy". Then reality set in.

Inflation climbed, interest rates rose, a war broke out in Europe, logistics were disrupted to an extreme, an energy crisis hit, and the "big resignation" took place. Every entrepreneur had ample reason to complain, take the victim’s place and even throw the towel, In fact, many had.

But I saw the complete opposite from EO Melbourne members. As others lamented, EOers looked for opportunities, shared ideas and solutions, and worked together as a team to devise innovative ways to make the most of the situation. Collectively, we adapted to our NEW PARADIGM and learned from each other.

We are a tribe of positive thinkers, creative minds, and supportive human beings, with an incredible growth mindset and business ethics. This is why I love our chapter, MY TRIBE.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and a well-deserved break, as well as a great start to the new year!

VIVA EO Melbourne!

Warmest regards, 

EO Melbourne secures Growth CFO as a Strategic Alliance Partner

EO Melbourne is excited to announce its newest Strategic Alliance Partner — introducing Growth CFO! This new partnership will deliver exceptional value to EO Melbourne members by providing access to leading strategic financial advice — with a difference.

Growth CFO is a leading Melbourne-based strategic financial management and accounting firm that assists business owners to achieve transformational growth through accurate financial data enabling plan clarity, learning profitability habits to minimise waste, and developing processes enabling its partners to perform in the top percentile of their industry.

With Growth CFO as an EO Strategic Alliance Partner, they can help EO members evaluate growth options to select the best path for their business, review monthly profit reports and develop a customised financial road map that meets business objectives, develop cash forecasting that matches their business cycle, and establish workflows and accounting platforms that enable scale, among many others.

Companies partnering with Growth CFO can expect to understand where their business stands today and maximise it with clear growth plans for future development and position their business to take bold moves that enable transformational growth.

The strategic alliance partnership of Growth CFO and EO Melbourne also extends to EO members a special free offer where they can obtain their Value Builder Score and report. In addition, Growth CFO offers the use of their select meeting rooms to EO Forums and offers topics for forum presentations.

EO Melbourne has a positive outlook for the year ahead, especially with partnerships established with reputable companies like Growth CFO. Learn more about our partnership at https://www.eomelbourne.org/growth-cfo.

President's Update - June 2022

From the President

LEARNINGS

This is my final newsletter update and it has been an honour to serve as President. It will be 19 months since I stepped into the role, and it has been a truly amazing experience. Many members have asked me what it is like to take on the Presidency. I have been reflecting on this of late and outline my thoughts below.

Firstly, it was not easy leading during the pandemic, as there were many occasions the Board and I had to abort planned events after many hours of preparation. It was certainly frustrating, but I learned that I could be resilient and creative when required. We pivoted to virtual events, but I also learnt that as social creatures, virtual or hybrid events will never fully replace face to face events. The need to greet someone with a friendly hug and just spend time together in the same space is invaluable to creating a community. Having a coffee or a glass of wine with someone is about building a deeper rapport which is difficult to achieve virtually. 

I had to make many decisions around planned events during my term and I learned that having a good team around me to participate in brainstorming was invaluable. I learned to make decisions quicker and listen to my gut the longer the pandemic hovered. In turn, I found myself being able to make quicker decisions in my work and family life which has created surprising benefits. 

The President's role commitment meant that on occasions, I needed to let my leadership team within my own business make decisions without me. I realised that I was empowering my team to make more decisions, and they were thriving, as a result. There were times when my new role also meant having tough conversations, but I learned that by using compassion and being curious, an acceptable outcome could be achieved. 

The President role has also allowed me to travel globally and meet peers from across the globe. The connections I have made and the experiences I have shared with like-minded entrepreneurs will be with me for many years to come. Learnings such as fearless introspection, being adaptable, not needing to be the smartest person in the room and being transparent are behaviours I will continue to develop. Leading peers is a tough role because it is leadership by influence, and since all Board members are business owners, hence, we are all equals. It makes you appreciate the difference between leadership and management as no one on the Board wants to get told what to do as they are highly capable people. 

The Chapter is in a very healthy position and plans are well-developed to ensure that we continue to thrive as a community. I look forward to seeing many of you at our end-of-year gala dinner in a few weeks where I will hand over the Presidency to Damian Blumenkranc, who will take over and continue to deliver life-changing experiences. 

Warmest regards, 

Socrates Capouleas
President 2021/2022, EO Melbourne

President's Update - May 2022

From the President

YOUR THOUGHTS ARE YOUR GREATEST LIMITATION

The international borders are well and truly reopened, and I have just come back from the Global Leadership Conference in Spain where the focus was to help unleash your potential as an individual, an EO member and an entrepreneur. I encourage all of you to look out for opportunities to attend global events to experience personal and professional growth. The connections made with other Chapter members are priceless.

The speakers at GLC were all world-class and the quote that resonated most with me was “your thoughts are your greatest limitation.” Having spent some time pondering this concept, I am convinced that having a dedicated and focused mindset will power you all to achieve your goals. The speaker was presenting their story and the message I was hearing was that we are only limited by our imagination, perseverance, and dedication. I ask all of you to consider the following; how do your achievements to date compare with your potential? I enjoin everyone to attend as many learning events as they can because, after 10 years of attending EO events, I still get so much value out of them.

Our Chapter events team are busy finalising our End-of-Year Gala Dinner and it will be a great night to see out the financial year. I am also looking forward to the workshop being run by Dr Arne Rubenstein who focuses on guiding and inspiring people as they transition from one stage of life to the next. I hope to see you all at these events. Until next time…

Warmest regards, 

Socrates Capouleas
President 2021/2022, EO Melbourne

President's Update - April 2022

From the President

CONNECTIONS

I have just come back from EO Ignite and witnessed firsthand the power of connections. It was great to see our EO Melbourne Chapter members making connections with other Chapters and expanding their outreach. Spending time developing relationships with like-minded entrepreneurs felt like nourishment of the soul. I found myself sharing my darkest moments and walking away with a new perspective on the challenges ahead. As the EO Global community opens up and more event opportunities present themselves, I encourage all of you to build up your connections.

I trust you have all seen our latest comms advising you of our new date and venue for Board Handover and End-of-financial-year Gala Dinner being Saturday, June 18. The W Hotel is effortlessly cool and so EO! The evening is all about celebrating with our members and guests. I recommend booking a hotel room and taking the opportunity to explore the hotel, especially the amazing bar on the lower ground and the pool, both of which are stunningly designed.

As we edge closer to the end of the financial year, it is membership renewals time and you will be receiving your request to renew. The Chapter is in a healthy position and continues to attract amazing new members. The new board is already planning some exciting new events and the new location of the Chapter retreat will delight everyone, so stay tuned for more details as the year unfolds. For those attending our Grand Prix event this weekend, I look forward to seeing you all.

Warmest regards, 

Socrates Capouleas
President 2021/2022, EO Melbourne

President's Update - March 2022

From the President

BE CURIOUS

Firstly, let me say that it is awesome to once again attend events in person. We have had a great start to the year with a great lineup of events, having attended the Australian Open, which was an amazing experience to connect with members whilst enjoying Melbourne at its finest. I have also enjoyed the presentation with Ecopsychologist Mark Mathieson as well as our member dine-around, which have become a new EO Melbourne tradition and a highly popular event of the chapter. I am also thrilled with the members' interest in this year’s Grand Prix. It will be a great day sharing stories and getting to know everyone on a deeper level. One thing EO does better than most organisations is “scale-up trust”. It always amazes me what a safe environment EO is for sharing and diving deep into any topic.

I am writing this newsletter having returned home from an EO presentation by Sarah Owen, who is a trend forecaster. It really got me thinking to be more curious about everything around us and always look into something new. As an entrepreneur, I have always been focused on trying to figure out what new product offering I can introduce, but having listened to Sarah’s presentation, I have adjusted my mindset. I would ask you all to consider spending time looking at future trends and trying to figure out what problems are emerging that you can solve. This, in turn, could result in significant new opportunities for your business. Adopting an open mind and being curious could help you see things in an entirely new way.

EO Melbourne is in robust good health and our member base is growing strongly. We have been listening to our members and will continue to provide you all with opportunities to continue to connect. We have some great events coming up as outlined in this newsletter. We are busy planning our end of financial year gala dinner and have chosen a fabulous venue for celebrating. Look out for this event in future announcements and I hope to see everyone there.

Warmest regards, 

Socrates Capouleas
President 2021/2022, EO Melbourne

President's Update - February 2022

From the President

GROWTH MINDSET

Happy 2022 and I hope you are all well and ready for a great year.

There is no doubt that 2021 helped us build resilience, and the first few weeks of 2022 have reminded us to expect the unexpected.

Building on that, I have decided that my personal theme for 2022 will be to nurture a growth mindset. By the conclusion of the year, I’m hoping that this will help me to develop a ‘sixth sense’ allowing me to identify opportunities where most would only discover obstacles.

I’m excited about developing new techniques and building out innovative processes that will allow me to quickly qualify the validity, of what I feel will be a tidal wave, of new opportunities as our economic recovery continues.

Avoiding the media “click-bait doubling down on learning and growing from past mistakes, gives me a high degree of confidence that great accomplishments will follow.
As we move into the next phase of this pandemic that with some strategic focus, I’m positive that we can all find opportunities to turn the COVID disruption to our advantage.

No matter what 2022 brings, EO Melbourne will continue to deliver support and value to its members.

We are committed to helping all members develop meaningful connections and harness the significant power of this diverse and unique entrepreneurial community of ours.

In 2022, we are excited to be hosting a variety of amazing events, including renowned ecopsychologist Mark Mathieson who’s focusing on execution, futurist Sarah Owen who will blow our minds with insights into emerging trends, and social entrepreneur, Daniel Flynn who will take us on a journey of how to overcome what appears to be insurmountable obstacles to become a success.

We also have some social events locked in including our popular member connect dine-around, as well as 0ur iFly indoor flying family event which is a truly unique experience for everyone to try.

Our Board made the decision in January to post-pone our Chapter Retreat as we were conscious that our members and speakers were concerned about the impact the pandemic was having on their personal and business lives.

The aim of the retreat was to ensure we could gather a significant percentage of our members to create memorable connections, fun and learnings. We will re-set and plan for an even bigger and better event with details to follow in due course.

I would encourage you all to look out for our regular communications regarding upcoming events and make an effort to attend as many as possible.

True transformation comes from the effort you put into continuously improving yourself so please make the most of your involvement in EO. I hope to see you at an event in person soon.

Warmest regards, 

Socrates Capouleas
President 2021/2022, EO Melbourne

President's Update - November 2021

From the President

The festive season is suddenly upon us and it is in full swing. The lead up to the end of the year has kept our Board busy planning and executing events. November kicked off our first face-to-face gathering after a long while with a twilight event at the Prince, which included our AGM. Our guest speaker, Craig Harper, reminded us that high-performers are generally willing to get uncomfortable, so I challenge you all to reflect on whether you are getting out of your comfort zone. Craig also challenged us to reflect on why we do what we do if we haven’t defined what success means to us. It’s quite a philosophical question to grapple with, and for me, the answer typically changes from year to year. I will be attempting to answer this again at the start of the new year.  

For those of you who are not familiar with my namesake, the celebrated Greek philosopher Socrates, he had this famous quote, “know thyself”. His statement meant that we must choose a good life for ourselves through self-reflection and self-awareness. We must process and understand the knowledge we learn through life and from others and then reflect on it. We obtain this knowledge through experience and careful reflection. Hence, knowing one’s self is a lifelong mission.

The Board also organised for one of our past speakers, Joe Pane, to talk about getting back to business and life, in general, after this last lockdown and delved into our emotional fitness. If you did not catch this virtual event, I would encourage you to watch the recording. (Please check out our new Virtual Learning Event Library page.)

I hope you have already booked for our EO Christmas Lunch at the Carousel, which promises to be one of our best events for the year with some special surprises thrown in. It’s a great way to catch up with all our members and share some of your stories of 2021. I have always loved the energy in the room that only EO members can generate, and I am sure this event will not disappoint. I would also encourage you to be on the lookout for our Chapter retreat invitation, which is taking place from the 25th to the 27th of February 2022.

Our Board participated recently in a strategic planning retreat where we focussed on establishing what the next 3 years for our Chapter will look like. We have dived deeply into a number of topics, including sustainable growth, how we can better understand our members’ expectations and reasons for joining EO, and how we can genuinely assist in effecting transformational growth in the lives of our members. We will continue to keep you updated on the development of the 3-year plan. The Board also sought to provide some clarity on our position with respect to the COVID-19 vaccination, which is outlined in this newsletter. If you have any further queries, I encourage you all to either approach one of the Board members directly or raise it with your moderator who can discuss it with the forum Chair. On that note, I wish you all a great month in the lead up to the end of the year, and I look forward to speaking with many of you at our next function.

Warmest regards, 

Socrates Capouleas
President 2021/2022, EO Melbourne

President's Update - October 2021

From the President

What’s Coming Up

As we slowly emerge from lockdown, the Board and our Chapter staff are looking forward to hosting members in person again. 

One of the most significant realisations from my decade-long EO Journey is that the learnings I have acquired from the informal discussions with other members are invaluable. 

Before joining our ranks, I assumed that the majority of my learnings would be gleaned from external experts presenting at events. 

But, more than ten years down the road, I’ve come to realise that some of my most valuable learnings have been through discussions with fellow entrepreneurs. 

As a member of the EO Melbourne Chapter, we all have the privilege to connect with exceptionally talented individuals who share our passion for learning. Many have lots of lived experiences to share.

I would encourage you all to tap into the deep pool of knowledge, experiences, and life lessons that vary from each and every one of our 150+ members and make an effort to meet someone new at our next event.

We have a wide variety of amazing events locked away, and I am confident you’ll be shifting commitments in your calendars to make sure you don’t miss a single one.

One of our most popular events, the AGM, is fast approaching. Locked and loaded for the 11th of November at one of our favourite venues, the Prince in St Kilda, it’s the perfect start to get back into the swing of face-to-face events again.

In addition to catching up with some familiar faces and making new connections, our guest, world-class speaker, Craig Harper, will deliver inspirational guidance to help us take our lives from mediocre to extraordinary at the AGM.

Our events team has been working tirelessly to ensure our annual end-of-year event raises the bar yet again. 

Block out Friday, the 17th of December now and join us at the Carousel for a chance to relax and enjoy each other’s company. We’ve got a few big surprises planned, and I am sure everyone will be blown away with the line-up of quality entertainment.

As the saying goes, there’s no rest for the wicked, and we’re also busy planning our EO Chapter retreat, scheduled for Friday, 25th through to Sunday, 27th of February. 

The Chapter retreat committee is very close to finalising the agenda. As you would expect, we have a once-in-a-lifetime experience planned that is guaranteed to be unforgettable. If I can give you some valuable advice, you won’t want to miss this one! 

Our Chapter is committed to inclusion across all our operations. As the situation evolves, we are aligning our COVID-safe policies and practices in line with Victorian Government public health advice. As a community organisation that is centred around gathering at public venues, we are guided by public health orders and the individual venue requirements. If you have any queries in this regard, please reach out to our Chapter staff for further guidance.

This month, your Board Members will be busier than ever as they develop the Chapter’s three-year strategic plan. Look out for updates as we start to create the focus for the next three years. 

Personally, I am excited to explore how the Chapter can contribute to the transformation growth of our members. The Board welcomes members' ideas as we commence this critical task.  

Warmest regards, 

Socrates Capouleas
President 2021/2022, EO Melbourne

President's Update - August 2021

From the President

As I write this update for our newsletter, Victoria clocks up 205 days of lockdown. “Lockdown” is apparently the word of the year for 2020, according to Collins Dictionary. It’s pretty crazy to think we are going through this again, however, I am supported by the fact that we all belong to a great community of like-minded people where we are ready to lend support to each other.

I think that if we can learn from some of the shortcomings of our current Government, it’s that we need to be transparent in our business dealings and take accountability when things go wrong. Maintaining the trust of those that are closest to you, including family, staff, customers, friends and forum will ensure you remain viable in the long term.

We are being tested as entrepreneurs, business owners and leaders like never before, and I continue to be amazed by the resilience that the EO community continues to show. I have no doubt that all of our companies will be more viable and have better systems and processes when we are on “the other side” of this. I know that when this crisis is over, I am aiming for my business to have transformed rather than default to our original way of operating.

Forums are the backbone of our EO experience and I continue to hear amazing stories around how forums provide a safe place where we can experience share and hear alternative views on business and personal matters that may be challenging us at the moment. Our Chapter has been exploring ways that forum experiences can be taken to the next level so that the value we all get from forum can continue to increase. Our Forum Chair Damian Blumenkranc will be providing you with further details.

Our Chapter is introducing specific leadership training to Board members and new moderators to give back to our volunteer members who contribute significantly to the Chapter by taking on leadership roles. We hope that the leadership training will benefit them both in their EO journey and their own entrepreneurial journey.

I hope everyone got to watch the video recording from our resident psychologist, Katerina. I have been using the “signs of burn-out” she identified to help determine if my staff or I am suffering. It has proven to be a great tool for me. I want to remind all our members are eligible to for to 3 consultations with Katerina, so if you are finding this period challenging, please make a booking. The feedback I have received from members has been great and they have all walked away with great tools to use for dealing with stress and anxiety and the pace with which change is required.

We recently rolled out the “GOAT Year” Survey, spearheaded by our Member Engagement Chair Costa Vasili. GOAT, meaning Greatest of All Time, is our way of knowing what we’re doing well as a Board and how we can still improve on as a chapter. I encourage you to complete the GOAT Year Survey to help us in delivering the type of events or speaker support that you’d like to see in the chapter.

Our Board has been working hard to re-establish our calendar of events. We are planning a number of great online events that blend fireside chats with entrepreneurs and also include masterclasses on things like how to appreciate whiskey possibly a deep dive into the world of cheese making. We propose to continue to look for opportunities to reschedule our flagship major events like our Gala Dinner and end-of-year celebrations, as well as roll out our great speaker line-up in two parts being virtually and then a follow-up face-to-face event.

We have also established a committee to roll out our Chapter retreat which normally occurs every two years in the EO calendar. This retreat will be fully funded by our Chapter and will be held over 3 days (likely to be in February 2022 over a Friday, Saturday and Sunday).  We are planning to introduce a variety of speakers to cover a range of topics focussed on entrepreneurs living and sustaining their best life. It is our hope that we can bring some powerful experiences to this retreat that provide our members with the type of value that they expect from our organisation.

I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to lead this Chapter and confirm the Boards commitment to continuing to contribute to everyone living their best entrepreneurial life.

Warmest regards, 

Socrates Capouleas
President 2021/2022, EO Melbourne

President's Update - July 2021

From the President

Welcome, EO family! I hope this Chapter Update finds you and your family well.

Throughout last year, we all had to shift our focus and adapt to the changes happening around us. Shifting gears, constantly making changes to our well-meaning to-do list, and not necessarily meeting our goals are no fault of our own. Yes, the pandemic has challenged us in many ways, so I encourage you all to embrace getting out of your comfort zone, as it will make you better leaders and entrepreneurs.

Likewise, our Board has had to keep on their toes and continue to pivot with re-scheduling events and new ideas. I am preparing this update directly after an awesome strategy day with the Board coming up with a great plan to bring transformational growth to your upcoming year with EO.

I am pleased to announce that our membership renewal rate was the highest our chapter has ever had and the highest in the APAC region at 94%. We are tracking towards 150 members over the next few months and will be onboarding some awesome new members shortly. We plan to continue to run small intimate events whereby you can all continue to build life-changing connections with fellow EOers.

I was hoping that at this stage of our calendar we would have had our End-of-Financial-Year Gala Dinner whereby we would have thanked our outgoing President Sherryl and I would have introduced our theme for this year. Our events team is re-scheduling the gala dinner, so stay tuned as it will be an amazing event.

Without delaying any further, our theme for the year is Thriving Through Life-Long Learning; Taking our business and personal lives from merely surviving to thriving. You have joined a Chapter where, as individuals and as members, we are invested in one another’s growth and success. It is our goal that you experience business and personal growth through peer-to-peer learning, support and global connections and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. The Board and I, as President, are the custodians of the Chapter and we are focused on executing our theme for the year.

I look forward to seeing you all at a face-to-face event shortly.

Warmest regards, 

Socrates Capouleas
President 2021/2022, EO Melbourne

Entrepreneurs' Information Night

Join us in our Entrepreneurs’ Information Night: Startup to Scaling Up as we have a lineup of exceptional entrepreneurs that have found their passion in crafting a business that has made a mark, not only in Melbourne but also around Australia. Joining our panel are Hannah Vasicek of Francesca Collections, Kate Save of Be Fit Food, and Sam Saltis of Core DNA. Learn insights from these entrepreneurs on how you can scale up your business and launch it forward at an accelerated rate.

This event is proudly supported and organised by Entrepreneurs’ Organization.

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The Entrepreneurs’ Information Night: Startup to Scaling Up will be on:

DATE: Tuesday, 31 August 2021

TIME: 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

VENUE: The Botanical, Archer Room, 169 Domain Road, South Yarra

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Kindly fill out your expression of interest to attend the event through the button below or email help@eomelbourne.org.

If you are interested to be part of EO Melbourne, please check out this page on how to join the chapter.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

President's Update - June 2021

From the President

Dear EO Melbourne,

Work-Life-Changing Your Habits

Hello, EO family. I hope you have survived this financial year and is focusing on thriving. I am using the end of the financial year to re-set my mindset and throw out some of my old habits to achieve my goals. The pandemic has provided me with an opportunity to transform my daily routines. I have cut back my actual working day by about 90 minutes, and I can tell you that I am reaching higher levels of performance and achievement due to being able to focus more, for shorter periods of time. I feel more energised with a shorter workday as I have more time to pursue other activities, such as exercise and family time. There are certain things I will never go back to post-pandemic like working a 12-hour day every day, travelling interstate for a 1-hour meeting, measuring the headcount in my office instead of profits, stop meeting with B and C grade clients, never be physically out of shape again (well hopefully not!), and skipping my mum's Sunday lunch feast.

New habits I am going to hold on to are checking in more regularly with my team, appreciating nature and a good walk with friends and family, riding my bike, practising kindness and gratitude, and connecting more with our community. I feel all of these changes are allowing me to think more positively about the future and what we all have to look forward to. I encourage you all to undertake a stocktake of your daily habits and take this opportunity to consciously modify your routines to succeed in 2021.

Before we enter the new FY, we are closing the current one with 35 events that garnered a 9.20 ​overall average rating. ​And as we move towards FY 2021/22, our Board continues to work hard behind the scenes to ensure we provide our members with rich learning experiences. We have an exciting range of speakers coming up and I invite all of you not to miss our upcoming speaker, Mark Mathieson, who is an organisational psychologist who will unlock the secrets to getting sh*t done. I know I am personally guilty of being addicted to tackling the urgent stuff rather than focusing on the high-impact activities that will help me achieve my strategic goals. But that is precisely why EO is here, which is to aid all of us in our entrepreneurial growth, so be sure to check our upcoming activities for the learning events lined up in the coming months and take the opportunity to use them as tools to your journey.

Warmest regards, 

Socrates Capouleas, Finance Chair and Forum Chair, 2020/2021
President 2021/2022

President's Update - May 2021

From the President

Dear EO Melbourne,

The end of the financial year is nearly upon us, and I can't help but be proud of all of the achievements of our EO Melbourne Chapter members. Every year at this time, I reflect on how the financial year has gone, what accomplishments I have achieved, what worked well and what I could have done better. I have also reflected on our EO Chapter.

Reading over some of the stories posted by our own in-house EO Communications team with guidance from our Comms Chair Damian Blumenkranc, I feel motivated and better prepared for the year ahead. After reading stories of how the EO Mentorship Program has impacted our members, I encourage you all to consider participating in the program as part of your EO journey. I have heard firsthand the powerful impact it has had. Also, I have enjoyed reading other EO member stories around topics, such as how our members have used cryptocurrency in innovative ways in their business, how members have motivated their employees through challenging times and how members started their business. Now is the best opportunity to take time out to reflect on the past financial year so you can move forward with the insights needed to achieve your future goals.

The EO Melbourne Board has just come back from a Regional leadership conference held over 3 days in Hobart, focused on preparing your Board for the next 12 months of delivering memorable experiences on your entrepreneurial journey. The event created opportunities to learn and grow on our path to leadership, and I highly encourage current members to consider a role on the board in future years. The value we all received will help prepare us for both our own company and EO Chapter leadership ship roles. The Board is busy preparing for our Annual Strategic Planning and look forward to presenting our way forward next month.

Finally, I look forward to seeing you all at our End of Financial Year Gala Dinner to introduce the theme for next year. We have an exciting calendar ahead, and we are busy filling up the calendar with a variety of events to help our members 10x the achievement of their goals.

Warmest regards, 

Socrates Capouleas, Finance Chair and Forum Chair, 2020/2021
President 2021/2022

President's Update - April 2021

From the President

Dear EO Melbourne,

I am writing this President Update having just chaired the bi-monthly Moderators meeting where I was listening to stories of how well forums are running and the amazing peer-to-peer support occurring to help each other move forward together. It is great to hear about forums planning their retreats in locations like Queenstown in New Zealand (yes the travel bubble has arrived!) and the Northern Territory, focused on meeting forum members' personal and business development goals. The general discussion was around how connected everyone was feeling within their forums.

Brené Brown is a research professor in the US who writes and speaks on courage, vulnerability shame and empathy. One of her quotes that really resonated with me is: “I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgement; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.” My hope is that you are all experiencing this level of connectedness within your forums, and as a Chapter, we will continue to champion this with events like the upcoming “Member Connect Night Out” which is all about fostering Chapter-wide connections.

I am looking forward to taking over officially as EO Melbourne Chapter President at the June hand-over Gala celebration. In the meantime, I will continue to see out the theme for our year being "Lead With Hope". I look forward to introducing our new theme at our Gala celebration. It gives me immense pleasure and a sense of pride to be leading this awesome chapter. I am excited about working with a talented board that are sacrificing their time to ensure we advance the chapter and grow together. We have so many exciting experiences being planned for the Chapter. On that note, I refer you to these links regarding renewal details (Membership Renewals | Accelerator Renewals) and encourage you all to continue this EO journey in what will be an exciting year you will not want to miss.

Warmest regards, 

Socrates Capouleas, Finance Chair and Forum Chair, 2020/2021
President 2021/2022

President's Update - March 2021

Source https://www.markmathews.com/

From the President

Dear EO Melbourne,

“The only way through fear is experience.” - Mark Mathews

Rewind to a few weeks ago, we held an event that many described as “one of the best EO events I’ve ever been to”. No exaggeration...well, it could be that we’ve been deeply deprived of live in-person action but nevertheless, it was an experience that we, at EO, would describe as once-in-a-lifetime.

It was only at the eleventh hour that news broke that QLD borders were opening up and so the team worked some magic to have one of the world’s best Big Wave Surfer fly over and keynote this OILE.

As Mark Mathews delivered a heartfelt and impeccable talk that had us on the edge of our seat and blinking back tears of emotion - there was a big message here he wanted to hit home.

Fear is inevitable. Everyone experiences it.

Courage is not the absence of fear; instead, it is the ability to keep going in spite of it.

As entrepreneurs, we face fear daily. Some fears we are able to push through easily, other times, we procrastinate and tiptoe around what we know we should be doing.

We revel in being the person at the top because we don’t have anyone to tell us what to do and hold us accountable. Yet, when it comes to our goals and aspirations, we seek accountability especially when we’re not too sharp at doing that ourselves.

For me, EO and forum have been key to pushing through that fear to grow — from being inspired by other members to being called out in my forum if there’s a reoccurring 5 percenter in my monthly update. The self-fulfilment ultimately comes from the work I keep avoiding.

On that note, I’ll be signing off for the last time as Chapter President as I embark on my next life-changing chapter - motherhood. 

I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the entire EO Melbourne Chapter Board for working tirelessly and selflessly, during a challenging year, to bring our members together and make them feel supported in every way possible.

With Socrates Capouleas taking over the Chapter President role, you’re all in great hands.

Hopefully, I’ll get to see you all at the Board Handover and End-of-Year Gala Dinner on 18 June, Friday. 

Warmest regards, 

Sheryl Thai 
President 2020/2021

President's Update - February 2021

From the President

Dear EO Melbourne,

“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities.
In the expert’s mind, there are few.”
- Shunryu Suzuki

My journey into EO started in 2015 when I was ready to revert back to the beginner’s mind.

At that stage, I had only been in business for 5 years but already felt like it was a lifetime after living and breathing it each day.

The “fake it till you make it” mentality that helped me launch the business in the early days was starting to wreak havoc on the entire business and life. I experienced what I call a “bakedown”, which made me realise that pretending to know all the answers was causing me great damage.

So, I emptied my mind of what I thought I knew in order to download more.

Since my EO journey began, the forum has been a core pillar of growth in my life. One particular memorable moment stands out to me -- it was when one of my forum members shared this gem with us...

“In 12 months' time, I want to look back at the person I am today and be embarrassed. If I’m not embarrassed by who I was a year ago, I’m not learning enough.”

Looking back to when I stepped into my first forum, I am proud to say I’m completely embarrassed by the person I was back then. What a gift of a perspective to have.

Warmest regards, 

Sheryl Thai 
President 2020/2021