Kevin Riley

04/06/2026

Tourism Queensland didn’t advertise a job.

They advertised an adventure.

That is why “The Best Job in the World” campaign worked.

Most businesses still write job ads like a shopping list.

Job title. Duties. Hours. Requirements.

Recruitment is marketing.

If you want better people, stop just listing tasks and start showing them the future they can be part of.

01/06/2026

Would you apply for your own job advert?

That is usually a fairly uncomfortable question.

A lot of businesses say they want A players, but the advert they put out is dull, vague and written like a legal notice.

Then they wonder why the best people are not queuing up.

If you want strong candidates, the role has to sound like something worth considering.

That does not mean overselling it.

It means being clear about why the work matters, what sort of business they are joining, what standards they will be part of, and why someone good should choose you over somewhere else.

Recruitment is marketing.

And if your advert would bore you, it will probably bore the people you want too.

29/05/2026

Harry’s back from university in Belfast.

There’s something lovely about your children going away, growing up, becoming more independent, and then coming home still pleased to be home.

Last year there were a lot more questions. Flights, packing, storage, all the little things that come with moving between home and university.

This time he sorted it. Flights booked, things packed up, everything into storage. No fuss or ‘help me’ queries.

Then he gets home and asks, “Any jobs going?”

Music to my ears.

We’ve got furniture to build and about 150 plants that need planting. So his timing is excellent.

More than anything, it’s just been a real pleasure having him around.

Proper conversations. Pool and darts in the games room, Golf and training together for a triathlon and all four of us being in the same house again.

You only really notice what someone brings to a home when they’ve been away from it for a while.

He should be very proud of the independence.

Even more pleased he still wants to come back.

18/05/2026

players aren’t just high performers.

They’re people who perform well and fit the values of the business.

That distinction matters.

You can often develop someone who has the right values but needs better skills, clearer expectations or more support.

But someone who is highly productive and a poor values fit is a different problem.

Some business owners tolerate it because they get results.

I wouldn’t.

Eventually, you fall out around values. And until then, the rest of the team can see the standard you’re allowing.

17/05/2026

If you want a £5 million business, start acting like the owner of one before you get there.

That means better decisions, better delegation, clearer standards, and growing your team’s capability before the business outgrows them.

Some people will grow with the business. Some won’t.

That’s not always a bad thing.

But pretending nothing has changed is where the problems start.

15/05/2026

👍

Growth doesn’t come from holding onto what’s no longer working.

It comes from redirecting your energy:
• Into better systems
• Smarter decisions
• New opportunities

Stop fixing what’s outdated. Start building what’s next.

👉 What are you ready to move on from in your business?

15/05/2026

People can handle pressure but chaos drains them.

As a leader, get structured

13/05/2026

Just because they don’t want her to be right doesn’t mean she isn’t.

We’re past early adoption, the interesting bit now is who adapts and who boos from the crowd.

04/05/2026

Employing friends and family.

More often than not, it’s doesn’t end well

30/04/2026

In leadership, most people and team issues can be solved by fixing the root cause.

Your recruitment process