John Wood
Elder
Dimension 4 Consulting Pty Ltd
Level 41 Bank West Tower
108 St George's Terrace
Perth WA 6000
Australia
Work office:61 8 9463 2477
Home office: 61 8 9252 0426

JOHN WOOD
DIMENSION 4 CONSULTING PTY LTD
http://www.dimension4.com.au

BIOGRAPHY
From the start, there is evidence of John Wood's business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit. At the age of 6 he was collecting flowers from nearby vacant land, putting them in vegemite jars and selling them for threepence, sixpence or a shilling, depending on the jar size. At 12, he ran a comic exchange: 2 comics for 1, or 1 for 1 plus a penny - big business indeed!

John left school at fifteen. He intended to be a successful businessman, and it never occurred to him that the lack of tertiary education would prevent that. For a time, he was an office boy, then clerk, for an Insurance company. As a young employee, John possessed qualities we might now label 'work ethic'. Whatever label we choose, the hours he put in, his abundant enthusiasm, his diligence and sheer drive were quite remarkable. And the entrepreneurial streak was again in evidence: purchasing fire or water-damaged salvage from the company and on-selling it to willing buyers.

At 19, backed by his father, he created the best Delicatessen in the Perth Metropolitan Area. We should note that the five previous owners of this business had failed - a fact he was much reminded of! In the space of 12 months, turnover went from £184 (most of which was credit) to £1060 cash a week; a lot of money 45 years ago. It was an amazing year of hard work - long, unrelenting days and tough decisions; but by then this young man was ready for his first serious business…

THE BIRTH OF FLEETWOOD
After a year at the helm of this first small retail venture and a stint travelling (taking anything on offer from swinging a shovel, shelling prawns to carpenter's assistant) he was soon back. In typical contrast to the norm, John decided to advertise himself for hire. He received several responses, one from a caravan hire and sales firm in Perth who hadn’t made a sale in 3 months. Within 4 months, John had sold 44 caravans. But the writing was on the wall… this company was going nowhere, and (so he learnt) had only intended to employ him for the seasonal shows. Needless to say, they kept him on.

With £1000 saved, his car paid for and 4 44 months experience in the industry, John and his father bought the first caravan for £100. John renovated it in the driveway of their family home, selling it for £225 (at an hourly rate, that labour amounted to two and sixpence per hour - very little even in 1964). But Fleetwood Caravans was born, becoming Fleetwood Group of Companies; then Fleetwood Corporation Ltd.

Dept. for Local Government & Regional Development - Adviser to the Minister
Dept. of Sport and Recreation - Adviser to the Minister
National Parks and Nature Conservation Authority - Board Member
Caravan Parks and Trades Association Inc - President

Did John simply see the potential and go for it, while others saw barriers and hesitated? As CEO of Fleetwood one thing is for certain, he had joined the ranks of organisation builders and entrepreneurs for which Western Australia was to become both famous and infamous - creative risk-takers, who were to set themselves apart from their contemporaries and provide thousands with employment.

Biographer's Note:
Today, 42 years on, Fleetwood typifies longevity and stability in a volatile marketplace: remaining the largest and most successful group of its type in Australia. It has grown way beyond its founder. Though at the time of writing, we see his legacy: Succession in action - both Managing Directors were employed by John.

SETTING INDUSTRY BENCHMARKS
Hard working, determined, uncompromising on quality and integrity; John pioneered a horizontal and vertically integrated organisation. Starting with the importation and wholesale distribution of raw materials and parts, it included manufacturing, retailing, building and operating caravan and camping grounds. John founded industry marketing concepts: full dealerships with parts & accessories together with traditional camping equipment, servicing & repair facilities, multiple company owned outlets and state-wide franchised centres. He created an industry-specific insurance broking company that became the benchmark Australia wide - the driving force behind the first Caravan, Camping and Park Home Show in 1975.

THE SEARCH FOR EXCELLENCE
John's many-faceted interests continued for 26 years… a search for excellence which marked virtually everything he touched. He drove the development of legislation to raise and set new standards for the Caravan and Camping industry. He was both pioneer and architect for a totally new design concept: Park Homes, and the Lifestyle Villages that would accommodate them (a mission that involved extensive appraisal of comparable models worldwide, consuming personal time/ financial resources for many years). In 1972 he founded the Sir David Brand Awards for Excellence in Tourism (later becoming Australia’s National Tourism Awards system).

Biographer's Note:
The development of legislation which so profoundly affected the tourism industry did not come about without considerable resistance. Determined, certainly - and a man who gave his time and personal resources willingly. He was also a man who saw need, where it existed, and met it head on - the morning after Cyclone Tracey struck Darwin's community, John sent tents.

In 2000, John was nominated for the Eric Hayman Award for Excellence, in an industry he had left 10 years earlier.

A SUCCESSFUL LIFE?
John did what worked, with apparent success. He had 'arrived', by hard work, flair and determination, at a place where most of us would assume 'life was good'. For most people, that would have been the point, the goal; the end game. But like many leaders, John was a driven man, a visionary who was lost in a perpetual series of ideas, decisions and actions. There was a spiritual 'emptiness' - an untapped, unrealised, but very real, inner world that eluded him. In parallel with his business he was on a continuous spiritual journey, seeking a deeper connection with life. It seemed that what really mattered in life was inner peace. He had sought it since he was 15 years old; travelling to many corners of the world, becoming involved in various disciplines and approaches. Christianity. A Hindu Guru in India. Exploring Buddhism and a wide spectrum of philosophical, psychological and spiritual practices. Supremely confident in a business and material sense, he had a longing for spiritual self-discovery that eventually (and quite accidentally) led him to a simple but profound understanding…

A SIMPLE BUT PROFOUND UNDERSTANDING
In 1987, he chanced on a ground-breaking approach. It coalesced all that he had explored before, illuminating the reasons why so many people feel dispirited and unhappy. Why personal relationships fail to fulfil us. Why business and career success, regardless of how well we plan; so often eludes us. And why, even when we are successful, there is emptiness inside for many of us 'Is this all there is?' Why, as we navigate 'the game of living', we fail to nurture either ourselves or others; fail to connect deeply with 'Life'.

It was that contact with 'Life' which touched and inspired him personally and professionally. In 1990 he retired from Fleetwood, sold his interests and retired all his other positions; embarking on frequent international trips and 5 years rigorous training. He was away from home for extended periods, but eventually became the first Certified Philosophy of Living Practitioner outside of North America. He continued to travel, meeting, talking and training with many of the extraordinary people who were teaching and challenging long-held beliefs about the nature of the human experience; the often elusive duo: 'success and satisfaction'. It was clear to John that this approach was more than rhetoric, the latest management, psychological, philosophical, sociological or 'spiritual' fad. He now saw that Philosophy/Spirituality and Corporate Life were inextricably connected. The Philosophical/Spiritual underpinnings to the 'game of living' we play (including the 'game of business') was the missing dimension. He knew it to be critical.

TRANSFORMATION IN ACTION
Although it was practically unheard of outside of North America, the approach was achieving remarkable results. Organisations were being transformed, personal lives recreated. From boardroom to first-line employee. In project-housing developments like *Modello (one of the worst crime and poverty environments imaginable) in the US. It was inspiring people from all walks of life to understand the nature of, and transcend; their own fears.

LEADING FROM THE INSIDE OUT
In 1993, John founded the Philosophy of Living Centre, the first coaching, counselling and training organisation of its kind in Australia. As Executive Director, John oversaw programs which challenged long-held beliefs and entrenched opinions about how businesses and organisations are created - and how authentic, truly sustainable change occurs. John coached and mentored CEOs, Corporate Leaders, Managers, Business Owners and Individuals worldwide. Impassioned, determined, empathic, John lived what he talked and taught with integrity – a quality eagerly sought in private and public enterprise.

John's vision was (and still is) a loving and understanding society that exists beyond the limited concepts of tolerance and acceptance and as a natural consequence, truly embraces all. In this society, economics and environment sustainability go hand in hand. High-performance, low-maintenance organisations are created from the 'inside out'. We care for the disabled and disadvantaged. It is a society in which individuals, families, organisations and communities are all they can be.

TAKING STOCK
In 2005, John again took stock, moving into a new phase of his life. He wanted time to be with his family - his wife Ronnie, 5 children and their partners; 10 grandchildren - and close friends.

In tandem, a fresh approach for his corporate and business involvements: a re-shaping of his role as executive director into that of 'Elder'… guiding and teaching others, developing programs for an increasingly aware corporate clientele and importantly, writing on the 'inside-out' nature of life and business.

For countless Philosophy of Living Centre clients who have shared the journey, there have been deep and profound discoveries. Insights into a richly rewarding way of living - in every sense. In December 2005, the company he founded was acquired by a client and rebadged Dimension 4 Consulting. So Dimension 4 Consulting begins its own journey. And as its Elder, John's wisdom, experience and authenticity will be pivotal to its mission: the creation of healthier, more productive, more satisfying lives - from boardroom to new employee.

BEYOND THE TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE
As we write, this chapter also brings the opportunity to work more closely with colleagues and friends from all over the world. With their help, he hopes to create a prosperous world for all: a world of love and understanding… a world at peace. As Mark Twain once said 'The secret of success is honesty and fair dealing', adding that 'If you can fake these, you've got it made'. It is John's aim that the corporate community cease 'faking it' (knowingly or innocently) and leverage their considerable influence with shareholders, customers, suppliers, heads of government and the media - to make a difference. To go beyond the Triple Bottom Line. Attend to and nurture the *Fourth Dimension: the state of mind that ushers in prosperity and peace, locally and globally. And as John knows from experience, the state of mind that accompanies a permanent shift often has a catalyst, a tipping point.

Even in the current labyrinthine social and political climate, such a shift is not only possible, it is inherent. When we recognise our impoverished relationships, our fearful manoeuvrings, our cynicism and certainty - we see a much broader capability. Perhaps for the first time, we see beyond the defensive ramparts of our own making… our own thinking. The corporate world cannot be divided easily into 'good or bad guys' - dysfunctional families writ large. Mistakes, sometimes whoppers, are built into life, including the life of corporations. The measure of a company's shift is not how loudly it beats its breast, or even whether it blunders, but its respect for and responsiveness to - life.

There is much to do. Once again, it is time for beginnings…

Biographer's Note:
The fostering of world peace and prosperity, the eradication of all that polarises us symbolises that which John lives and teaches. Thus the strengthening of that effort marks not so much a new beginning, but a continuance of a spiritual journey.

January 2006

footnotes
Modello is a remarkable story - a story of what can happen when people realise their innate resilience; and the power they possess to transform and change lives. Ultimately, Modello demonstrates that social change (at any level) is an inside-out process. It starts with each of our hearts and minds, with our thoughts about ourselves and others.

Modello: the Story of Hope for the Inner City and Beyond
Publisher: NEHRI Publications (1998)
ISBN: 0-9659057-1-3
Author: Jack Pransky

Fourth Dimension (2002) illustrates the four elements or dimensions to business. Three, which are visible and essential to the development and growth of the organisation (and thus are the focus of attention and resources). The fourth, unseen but critical…
Author: John Wood
The Fourth Dimension: Thought

Biographer
Chris Lees
www.preparedmind.com.au

ARTICLES

NEW: a 5 part series of articles written as letters to Michael - an open account of John's journey of discovery into what really works and really matters; in business and in life. September 2006 - July 2007
What Really Works & Really Matters (in Business & in Life), Part 1
How Do I Know When, Part 2
Awakening to 'What Really Works & Really Matters', Part 3
Does the End Justify the Means? Or is the Means the End, Part 4
Creating A Sustainable Life, Organisation, World - Manifesting In Our Own Life What Really Works And Really Matters, Part 5

• The Trap Of Believing Our Story
• Possibility: a Primer for a Creative Life
• Unconditional Love: A Fresh Start
• Closed or Open! Which are you? Or are You Deceptively Receptive?
• Conscious Leadership
• Education
• Transformation: Learning and Coaching Through Reflection and Insight
• It’s An Inside-Out, Not An Outside-In World
• Being In Service: A Philosophical Perspective
• Ready or Not? That Is The Question
• Being Right. Being Happy: can they co-exist?
• “Dimension 4” A New Paradigm: Business Creation Though Understanding
• ‘Life’ And ‘The Game Of Living’
• Psychological Freedom…
• The Primrose Path Of The Idealist
• Team Building Or Team Manipulation? A Question For All Leaders To Reflect On!
• Upset Or Happy At Work? Consciousness Alone Makes It So
• ‘Presence’… The State Of Mind For Simultaneous Success And Wellbeing!