Naomi Simson
Hall of Fame Alumni
RedBalloon
- Founding Director
About Me - My Biography
Naomi has a 20 year background in corporate marketing with companies such as IBM, Ansett and Apple Computer, but she started her own show more than 10 year ago – Naomi is particularly passionate about pleasure. Given that the average life has only 27,610 days – she wonders how many are truly amazing. Naomi is the 2008 winner of the National Telstra Business Womens Award – Innovation.
RedBalloon is changing gifting in Australia & New Zealand forever, so that people get given gifts that make them feel great. “We just want people to have a good time. Simply we package pleasure.”
The RedBalloon (amazing gifts for amazing people) was created as a hobby in 2001, yet has been recognised from 2003 – 2008 in the BRW Fast 100 lists RedBalloon was named in the top 10 Best Places to work in Australia in May 2009.
RedBalloon Days has been motivating corporate clients across Australia and New Zealand with more than 750 exciting activities ranging from having a personal chef cook for a dinner party of eight at home to learning how to fly a helicopter.
She is also the author of I Want What She is Having which chronicles the building of a fast growing business.
Her Story
With a little more than a few thousand dollars and a second-hand computer, Naomi Simson founded RedBalloon in 2001. Today, the company is on track to become a $100 million business in the not too distant future, marking a twelve-year journey towards a happiness revolution.
With a burning desire to change the face of gifting in Australia, Naomi left a long corporate career with organisations such as IBM and Apple to pursue her vision. Her decision not only gave her the flexibility to spend more time with her family, but has also given her the opportunity to create millions of memorable experiences with her clients over the years.
From birthdays to anniversaries, Christmases to other special occasions, Naomi’s business gives her a fleeting glimpse into the lives of her customers. She has been privy to a number of personal stories – from proposals and dying wishes, to sweet sixteens.
“More than anything, people need more good times with the people they love – and connection creates happiness.”
Naomi also believes that generosity and integrity have a place in the corporate world, working to help organisations succeed and increase productivity, all while having fun.
For Naomi, the key to success is finding something you are truly passionate about. “A good entrepreneur goes into business because they see a problem and they want to change it, and it’s something they’re completely passionate about. If you don’t have that single-minded passion, it becomes work.”
Strategies for Success
Naomi’s Top 5 Strategies for Success:
- Be nimble, courageous and face your fears. Stand up for yourself, take risks and be heard. All the preparation, planning, discussion and debate, finally comes down to backing yourself and trusting your ability and those around you.
- Get enough sleep. It may sound mundane, but when I’m tired, the wheels fall off. My usual happy disposition takes a back seat. I start to sweat the small stuff. Fear comes from my fatigue. So if you look after your wellness and get enough sleep, you will find it a lot easier to deal with fears and anxieties. You need to be fit in every sense of the word to be a successful entrepreneur.
- Be happy. Happiness goes hand in hand with well-being, and one of the components of well-being is being truly present and ‘enjoying the moment’. Be grateful for exactly what you do have, experience and share – rather than always looking for the next thing.
- Take responsibility. If it’s meant to be, it’s up to me. I’m a firm believer in having control of your own destiny and not waiting for someone else to determine your destiny.
- Believe in yourself and your ideas. Always act with integrity and don’t be afraid to seek out and ask for advice when you need it. And you will need it.
