About

Why We Started This Movement

The world is full of possibilities and opportunities

however, we’ve become frustrated and rather annoyed at the constant bombardment of negative media news cycles, the over emphasis on Risk & Cost Management in business, and the stalling of progress through fear and uncertainty taking the lead in our daily lives, so we decided to take decisive action. Especially when there are so many good news stories, great opportunities, ideas and initiatives out there that often go unrecognised. Which is why we have a saying, ‘Watch who you let near your mind’ because if we are not careful we can shut down and close ourselves off to opportunity which can lead to the ‘Dark Ages’, and who wants to go back there?

We know that humans naturally tend towards risk aversion; however, if we create the space to ask ‘What’s possible?’, ‘What if?’, ‘Why not?’ and explore possibilities and opportunities, go beyond our traditional boundaries and look at what we CAN DO, good things happen. When we band together around Purposeful Optimism, we can move forward with positive momentum and create more opportunities. It’s all about looking at different perspectives and being adaptive.

As Charles Darwin said “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable, that lives within its means available and works cooperatively against common threats.”

So, we have put together a team of specialist professionals who are committed and dedicated to bringing Purposeful Optimism as way of life to individuals, organisations, communities and societies.

What is Purposeful Optimism?

A purposefully optimistic approach to doing business, leading communities and living our lives. It is derived from strategy and built on substance through exploring possibilities and opportunity. It is a practical philosophy and process that opens minds and helps create healthy dialogue around innovation, optimism, possibilities and opportunity. It’s an approach that creates a dynamic culture of opportunity and focused can-do optimism within organisations, and with clients, stakeholders and communities. Purposeful Optimism is designed to create organisational and community prosperity and success now and over the long term.

The Purposeful Optimism Movement is underpinned by a philosophy of optimism and opportunity leading to mutual prosperity. We believe Purposeful Optimism is ignited and thrives when real opportunities for growth and prosperity become visible.

What We Do

We are committed to helping individuals, teams, leaders and organisations create and cultivate dynamic cultures of real opportunity, innovation, purposeful optimism and mutual prosperity.

Teach

Purposeful optimism is an approach to doing business. It is derived from strategy and built on substance. Which is why we need effective sales strategies with clear purpose and intent that are underpinned by well-resourced people who are enabled to pursue opportunity and do meaningful work with others.

Seed

Opportunity & Optimism

It all starts with opportunity. Opportunity makes it possible to do good things. Optimism is ignited when real opportunities for growth and prosperity become clear to us.

Optimism keeps the light of opportunity glowing even when the world seems dark.

Thesarus

Optimism hopefulness and confidence about the future or the success of something.

Opportunity a time or set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something.

How People Benefit

By choosing Purposeful Optimism you will be able to:

create a climate and culture of opportunity and optimism that allows people to flourish and bring their best selves and ideas to work and community
drive more innovation, better customer experiences and better sales outcomes by cultivating a can-do culture and finding hidden opportunities previously missed
embed a clear sense of purpose and agency that enables your people to pursue opportunity and build a purposefully optimistic, sustainable and prosperous future

People

Sue Barrett – MD

Founder and CEO of Barrett, a business consulting and education firm specialising in sales, the online sales education platform www.salesessentials.com, and the Selling Better Movement, Sue is the architect of the world class Selling Better Operating System & Philosophy designed to create functional, sustainable and highly successful sales and customer centric teams and cultures. Sue and her team have educated more than 30,000 people on a better, ethical, human-centred approach to selling since 1995. Sue has published over 600 sales articles in the mainstream press, written 21 e-books on sales, got selling its first ever university qualification and produces the ‘must read’ Annual 12 Sales Trends Report. Sue was inducted into the Business Women’s Hall of Fame 2000, a Finalist in 1998 & 2001 Telstra Business Woman of the Year Award and 1997 Winner of Telstra & Victorian Government Small Business Award. Sue lives by the philosophy that selling is everybody’s business and everybody lives by selling something.

Victor Perton – Facilitator

Author of the “The Case for Optimism: The Optimists’ Voices”, founder of The Australian Leadership Project. Victor is a barrister, public speaker, compère, moderator and round-table facilitator. He connects excellent people and great ideas. Victor’s experience includes stints as Commissioner to the Americas, 18 years a parliamentarian, practice as a barrister, mediator, arbitrator and board service. He was Senior Engagement Adviser in the Australian G20 presidency supporting Australian leadership of the G20 Finance Ministers & Central Bank Governors & in the Brisbane G20 Leaders’ Summit described by the Prime Minister as “the most important gathering Australia has ever hosted.”

Jobst Schmalenbach – Geek

You attach a power cable to it, I look after it.

Good with computers, better with Servers

System Administrator extraordinaire.

I write code, too, good code.

I also create websites – this one, too.

Speak to us about your needs.

Talk to us, our advisory team, and we’ll be able to advise you on the best solution for your business.

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Barrett Sales Blog

Sales Trend 7 – Facts AND Stories: This is Trend 7 from Barrett’s 12 Business and Sales Trends for 2024. You can download the full report here. In 30 seconds In successful sales, facts and stories are complementary. Facts build trust,...