How I Succeeded is a regular series on Lifehacker where we ask business leaders for the secrets and tactics behind their success. Today: Daryll Walk from Redback Technologies.
Current gig: General manager of finance at Redback Technologies
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Current mobile device: Apple iPhone 6
Current computer: Dell laptop
One word that best describes how you work: Efficiently
What apps/software/tools can’t you live without?
I can’t live without Outlook, both on my laptop and my phone. It’s critical for me to be able to receive updates on-the-go and be able to respond to my colleagues instantaneously, and in turn help the business run like a well-oiled machine. Excel is also a lifesaver; I love a good spreadsheet to keep things organised. [related title=”More Stories on How I Succeeded” tag=”how i succeeded” items=”3″]
What social network do you find the most useful?
LinkedIn. Working at a start-up means we are always on the lookout to extend our networks, find opportunities and recruit talent. I also like to keep my finger on the pulse with finance and renewable energy industry news and current affairs with content tailored to me.
What were the most important lessons you learned while growing your business?
It is important to have a plan, a strategy to achieve it and a regular review to ensure that it is still valid.
What has been the most surprising part of your business journey?
The renewables sector is growing hugely in Australia and overseas. I’ve been fortunate to have travelled to some fantastic places and met some amazing people in the field as well as for fintech and travel companies. It’s also been eye-opening to see how quickly society is moving forward based on peoples’ passion for a cleaner earth.
What everyday thing are you better at than anyone else?
I’m very organised which pays off well, being in finance (pun intended).
What’s your sleep routine like?
I’m an early riser so try to get to bed reasonably early and some exercise at some stage throughout the day. Redback is very flexible which is great if I feel like going for a run during the day.
What advice would you offer to other businesses on how to succeed?
In a small business like Redback where there are few people but many moving parts, it is so important to have a clear mission statement to make sure everyone understands the direction of the company as well as incentives so employees benefit from the business’ success. Also, It sounds like a cliché but I believe it is important to build your business with the best people that are enthusiastic and aren’t afraid to step out of their comfort zone. Redback is made up of a group of very passionate and like-minded people which means collaboration is rife and everyone is driven to get the best result.
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