Toughen Up by Michael Hill

Toughen Up by Michael Hill. Published by Random House New Zealand Ltd, $39.99

Michael Hill agrees times are tough, but says rather than panicking as the global economy crunches, now is the time to reassess your business by asking: - What are we doing well? What could we do better? What sort of business could we become?

Today with 250 jewellery stores worldwide and the intention of growing this to 1,000 by 2022, Hill tells us, “There’s no secret to my success. All I needed was to find out what I really wanted from life”.

When Hill’s dream of being a professional violin player was dashed, the sixteen year old joined his Uncle Arthur’s jewellery shop as a watchmaker.

Hill explains it took his home going up in flames twenty-three years later, to jolt him out of his complacency and clarify exactly what that vision was. He suggests, however, a jolt can be as simple as picking up this book and realising now is the time to start acting on the dreams you’ve always had.

Covering reaching a goal of seven jewellery shops in seven years, to a disastrous foray into shoe selling, Toughen up delivers the sixteen ingredients that make up Michael Hill’s philosophy, in words, photos and cute cartoons he has penned himself. In addition, there are twenty-four Michael Hill staff stories, a possum stew recipe and reflecting a fanaticism about fitness and eating well, a formula for a healthy life.

Illustrating that business and family don’t mix, Hill explains how he sold his wife Christine’s engagement ring more than once (he did replace it with better ones), while his daughter Emma had to apply for jobs within the company like anybody else and was turned down more than once.

Hill says the experience of struggle and difficulty are far more valuable than the experience of success and explains the importance and power of visualisation and presenting yourself and your workplace perfectly.

There are tips on being a good salesperson, suggestions regarding assessing your own strengths and weaknesses and then finding people to do the things you can’t; being where your staff are, not sitting behind a desk; not making the mistake of regretting mistakes, just not making them again and finding something you enjoy and doing it, not just as a hobby, but making it your life.

There’s plenty to be learnt from this New Zealand success story.
8.5/10

Appeared NZ Business August '09
© L Donald
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