The Comfy Sofa Show – Naomi Simson

Today I am happy to interview a very special guest on the Comfy Sofa: Australia´s most successful female entrepreneur and inspiring businesswoman, Naomi Simson.

Her company RedBalloon offers unique and extraordinary services for folks down under and in New Zealand. More than a stone´s throw away from where I am right now. Together with her team she can find anything ot thrill nearly everyone on the planet.

But it´s not only her interesting business and her entrepreneurial spirit which caught my attention when I first met her almost a year ago in Dubai. Naomi also has an inspiring philosophy on life and she´s a mother-of-two as well.

Naomi, you are passionate about pleasure and making other people happy, which makes you happy. What was your earliest memory of being happy?

Being at kindergarten painting pictures – the delight
of my parents and teachers at what I had produced (a blob on a page) it was
really quite easy. Simply show people you cared….by painting them something gifting and they were touched.

Do you still remember how it felt?
I felt important

Benjamin Franklin said, “I haven’t failed, I’ve had 10,000 ideas that didn’t work.”
Could that fit for you too?
This is only my second business venture – though I did want to be an artist and I never started that career. I meet many people with many fabulous ideas…it is the implementation/application that makes the difference. The best idea does not always win.

What was it like to know you had made it?
I could walk into a shoe store and buy any pair without thinking of the
price…not that I do it often. But I know I could. There is a feeling of calm,
and now wanting to give back.

How would you describe your life’s ultimate purpose?
To give pleasure – to make things available to people that they might not have access to. To fulfill dreams, delight people or inspire greatness. Just remember my life is only half done…there still could be a greater calling but at the moment my pleasure is their pleasure.

Who was the hero of your childhood?
I loved Walt Disney…but I could not understand how he fit inside the TV…nor how he could be on TV when he was dead (I was pretty young maybe 4 or 5) but even as I got older I was fascinated with Disney’s mix of creativity and business.

What would you do today if internet didn’t exist?
Go on holiday

For you the most inspiring person on earth is…

Steve Jobs

What is the next big thing?
Going Global

Naomi, thanks for the chat.