hist

I was born in New Guinea after World War II. There was great love and passion from both my parents. I also had a deep bonding with our family servants; who where able to teach me many things, and gave me the ability to see things differently through their eyes. Truly this alone was a great gift; I even learnt to think in the “black”. I loved my life style and I was born free of restrictions, which even today has made be a maverick, and eccentric. Trust me this was a handicap at times but we are all stuck with our own Karma.

I was educated at a private college as a border from overseas so I made friends with the country boys, who for all practical purposes came from overseas too. I hated boarding school the masters where very ordinary and education thou basic was very primitive. As you come out clueless about life; it’s advance toilet training. It actually has got worst; today, what they now teach is even simpler.
Back then you needed Maths I & II ; English ; Chemistry; Physics; just to get into a Science Degree; at Uni
I remember when got to senior school as a boarder I couldn’t speak very good English grammar and we had to choose one of these languages, it was compulsory to do so Latin, Greek or French. The school French you learnt you could not speak it anywhere, it was next to useless yes I failed in French. What a waste of time.

Missing out on “Co ed”, really pissed me off; thou I made up for it when I got to Sydney Uni.
I really enjoyed the freedom of being allowed to be an adult and Uni life was great fun. Made lots of friends

When I was at boarding school, I was always off home every 4 months on holiday; so it was like I never left New Guinea. So I learnt the business from an early age I drove trucks at 13 years, ran a coffee plantation and trade merchant store.

I was made to go around the world for 2 years to learn all about the coffee industry & write reports
This included living in major centers like New York, Hamburg, London, Paris, Milan, Barcelona, Los Angels Liquoring Coffee. Growing centers Nairobi, Ethiopia, Bogotá, Rio de Janeiro, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Hawaii. Travel is a great educator. I have since traveled all over the world concentrating on geographical areas for holidays. The average Aussie, just does not know how fantastic Australia really is; that’s why everyone wants to come and live here. We are over populated right; now God help our children.

I was forced to leave New Guinea, I had 4 choices Germany USA Argentina and Australia so I came home to Sydney. The best choice as it offers the best life style now. The joke was I had to re adapt to living in Australia. Which was quite hard working for other people; as I was always in a consultanting managerial role all my professional life. So I decided it was to late to become a lawyer or barrister; I would have been really good one. Or a design engineer, it would have been interesting but you make no money.
My degree was in Agriculture ( B.Sc ) I had no interest in going broke on the land. They where leaving in droves back in the 1960’s ! Nearly everyone of the Grazer’s son that I knew well (they always had more than one always a good idea lots of sons) became city professionals with life style.

Getting a job was hell I was not square or round not even a triangle; yes I was to young or to old, over educated the one I hated most the most was I was aggressive and I spoke my mind. I just could not win.

I worked 2 jobs and my lady worked 2 jobs and we bought a apartment in under 3 years.

Started my own company Battle , which later became Zanda Executive Search, I just trade as Graham Downs these days. It has been 33 years since the 13th of March 1972 I have employed up to15 people in Australia Square. I even employed the GM of Drake International, who told me he could not get me a job but in the end he worked for me. He never made me any real money; but he was a joke to have around. Rosy Tuckwell worked for me for about 5 plus years; we made lots of money together like loved Rosy; she married Larry Ward and they started Tuckwell’s. I was heavily into Merchant Banking at the time with a AAA rating. The hunting was very good prior to 1986. The Merchants Banks scenario collapsed for head hunting, in 1989. It has come back about 30% again but it is too hard to break back in without intelligent's

So I came back to Global Freight Logistics, offering invitees in every state and New Zealand. I have done a few assignments in USA PNG and Hong Kong.

I was the first Consultant to offer quality staff in Global Freight Logistics; I am responsible for Customs Agents having Cars then Car allowances; I do not advertise any more as it legally is too restrictive under the ACT. I rely on my intelligent network to find me the quality staff my customers are looking for; it works as I have placed over 5000 people with my associates help. But in the old days we did; and the principles hated it as it jacked up the salary packages.

I call the people I head hunt invitees as they are only showing an expression of interest in the opportunity

So they are invited to look at their possibilities with the new company; nearly always employed

The company has to excite the invitee into taking the new position with their company

Most Decision Makers think in terms of applicants who have read their advertisement

This really stuff think up mentally for everyone; I have to explain you only get one shot at my invitees

Applicants read ads in newspapers and are desperate for employment; they even go on line to do it now

Some Decision Makers then to stand over invitees treating them like applicants by doing them a favor; of offering them a job at some reduced salary package which is lower than the one they are on now !

Well not every time; but it does happen which blows away any future possibilities down the track

I work strictly to these 10 points principles while helping my invitees it is common sense really

1. Never introduce a good invitee to a dud company.
2. Always maximumize’s the invitees career prospects.
3. Never con or rort a invite into taking a dud job in a dud company; or a great company with a dud boss.
4. I work with the invitee and help solve his career needs; even if it means staying with the devil you know,
than taking a confused new position in a unknown company. Waiting for a better one; to come along.
5. I frankly tell a invitee if I can not place them in a company.
6. I do not false advertise positions; or tell companies that their staff are looking for new positions.

( Both those Acts are illegal )
7. I always get the permission of the invitee before introducing him to a company; so there is no confusion.
8. Every act is done with extreme sensitivity and confidentiality for the invitee; as most invitee have jobs.
9. I need the invitees trust and future confidence; for the rest of his professional life.
10.I use my intelligent reports for the initial referrals on the invitees I had head hunted.

I have the maturity to gauge the personalities of the employers who hire my invitees; I am extremely careful not to mix the wrong personalities as this leads to professional disaster for everyone.

As the say the end game is the customers are happy the invitee has a future career, and I have just made 2 good professional contacts. Yes I keep it Honest and Simple. Funny thing is people do business with you because they like you. I got some great old friends along with some new ones, running some top companies.

I even have placed father mothers and their sons and daughters; supplied all the staff to previous invitees who now have their own freight companies now; thanks to a little motivational help.

So talk to me firstly , I do have creditability and little fire power

I do not charge for advice I like helping everyone up to a point anyway. Ciao