Luke Maiden – just a designer and a ‘guy who likes to draw pictures!’

(Some of) The main points for listeners: 

• Building a business in a relatively new country where heritage is key. 
• Why some business owners prefer to stick to the title of ‘what they actually do’ rather than call themselves an entrepreneur. (even though Luke really is an entrepreneur!) 
• How designers manage the conflict between protecting the past and envisioning the future – how can this apply to your business (the difference between building in the middle of a ‘blank’ desert and integrating with existing concepts) 
• “I just hoped on a plane with a back pack and no job with the intention of creating something” - Luke’s journey from Melbourne to Abu Dhabi… 
• “we are all about this place” – the value of understanding the environment 
• It wasn’t about money – the reasons behind each person’s reasons for starting a new business 
• What differentiates your business? “Big when you’re small and small when you’re big” 
• How ‘fighting’ for what you do helps clients get what they want… 
• Designing the business to enable you to achieve what you want 
• Understanding the context before you start (how’s the useful to you?) 
• Sometimes we need to help clients understand what they want – (because they might not really know!) 
• How story telling helps with understanding and can be used with helping people envision the future when you create a link to the feeling in that future 
• Only working with people you enjoy working with – and how that impacts energy 
• Design at the core – how to build an ‘organisational’ chart that focusses on what you bring to the world 
• How Luke drives design success by NOT measuring time but by doing what’s needed 
• Purpose in business for Luke - about creating something… and about getting paid well for what we do 
• How being more selective about the projects the business took on drove an increase in revenue (positioning) 
• Managing remote teams – in the Philippines – and how that drives an even more successful business 
• How to get the right people ‘on the bus’ – it’s all about relationship 
• How taking a ‘risk’ may just be about maximising an opportunity – it’s all about your perspective! 
• Working and managing a business in Abu Dhabi – and how the Emirate’s approach to growth has helped Luke build his business 
• The change in vision as a business grows – you never can actually ‘fully’ plan what the future will look like 
• …but what does the future look like… in 10 years… and beyond… 
• The fisherman’s story… what do you want in the future 
• More Money, More Money, Less Stress, More Fun – which would you ask for? 
• Advice for the younger self… don’t sweat the small stuff… remember it’s often about the long game… 

Learn More: visit the Ignium https://www.igniumconsult.com 

Subscribe for more exclusive content in the Ignium Spark Tank https://www.igniumconsult.com/the-spark-tank 

Listen to the show: https://sparksbyignium.transistor.fm/episodes 

More about Luke Maiden and Aperture Design Studio 

http://www.aperturedesignstudio.com 

[46:59] END 

------------ The End ------------ 
 

Sign Up to the Ignium Bi Monthly Newsletter https://sparksbyignium.transistor.fm/subscribe
 
Connect on LinkedIn Phil Rose https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachphilrose/
Kerry Jarred https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-jarred-jarredconsulting/
 
Join The Building Better Business Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/coachedbyphil
 
Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/malabarman