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The last word; my final blog post for SolarBusinessServices

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Since founding SolarBusinessServices almost seven years ago, I have learned a hell of a lot.

One thing I have learned is that change is not only inevitable, it’s absolutely necessary. Businesses can’t stand still or they get stale in fast moving markets. As humans, we adapt or perish and emotionally we need to constantly learn new skills too. Whilst I loved what I was doing with SolarBusinessServices, a sequence of fast moving events recently opened up a new opportunity for me and whilst a little terrifying, I have embraced the change.

Today I announced my departure from SolarBusinessServices and the imminent sale of the company to a new owner, so that I can take up a new role as Chief Executive Officer of a solar retail company.

Over seven years, I have worked with solar installers, retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, investors and financiers; pretty much everyone who’s anyone across the entire solar value chain.

I spent time in board rooms, lounge rooms, showrooms expo halls and conference halls.

We helped build sales strategies for companies, guided many through tough times, helped celebrate good times and sometimes, was just there for people to talk to. We helped launch new products and companies, some of whom survived the solar coaster and some who sadly didn’t.

I have watched and offered commentary on the bewildering shift in Government attitude towards renewable energy that has wreaked such damage. We can only speculate about the real reasoning behind the sustained attack; it could be malicious, it could be ignorant or it could simply be that some of our leaders are blind to what appears so obvious to the rest of humanity.

I understand that the Government’s job is to manage the economy and they have massive, often conflicting tension between what needs to be done and what the public will accept.  However, there is one thing I don’t understand and it’s this; when faced with hugely compelling evidence of our impact on climate change leaders have choices. You can choose to hope it’s not going to happen and ignore it or you can choose to take precautionary measures and learn to adapt; to innovate, to re-invent and to move forward.

I do not understand why our current Government is apparently determined to ignore the risks and to rely on technologies of the past. I do not believe they are smarter than everyone else and we are missing the point, because I have met plenty of senior Government officials who desperately, and for many years, have wanted more action.

I also do not believe that there was “simply no alternative” to the systematic unravelling of climate and renewable policy such as we have seen. There were and are a myriad of alternative choices that could have been made that need not have needlessly, wantonly caused such destruction. These actions were deliberate, considered and vindictive towards renewable energy in particular. It seemed that every time I thought it couldn’t possibly get worse, it did.

Somehow, somewhere our political system had become broken to the extent that short term political gains that satisfy an apparently minority view can overwhelm inspiring, forward thinking and visionary global leadership.

What really irks me is how we ended up with a leadership team who don’t seem to think that that’s what great leadership is.

Over time, our blog became a huge focus. Often late at night and incensed by the issue of the day, I became obsessive about unravelling political issues that affected us and forcing transparency and disclosure on the energy revolution. These things had to be debated and whilst far from alone on writing on these issues, being free from editorial control, language filters or even a spell checker, I just wrote and wrote and wrote.

We reported on shonk’s, quality, and challenges and were hacked more than a few times for our efforts. We showcased new technologies, road tested products ourselves and interviewed people from the solar world. We tried to represent the Australian solar worker, to be a “solar correspondent from the trenches” focusing on issues that affected tens of thousands living and breathing it every day. Our op-eds have been republished around the world and we’ve created literally millions of words of content.

We took the show on the road too, conducting educational classes, training sessions, community forums and shared stories with everyone from school kids to the elderly. We visited both State and Federal Parliament on many occasions to speak to policy makers. We have conducted dozens of radio interviews, TV interviews and are regularly quoted in the mainstream press. Hell, we even took to the streets with a megaphone and a convoy on a few occasions.

We also offered free advice and support to many consumers of both household and business solar systems. Some just needed a bit of guidance on what to buy or who to choose. Others needed problems solved or help negotiating deals that had gone wrong and we even joined some advisory panels on industry conduct. Working for the industry in this way and building those lessons into our businesses development work was a joy.

Two highlights stand out for me in seven years. When we started this business, the idea was pretty straightforward – to give a little bit back to the industry and make a living along the way. In 2011 we were given an award for our Industry Advocacy work that blew my mind and not long afterwards we were a finalist in a Media Award too. This public recognition of our efforts was humbling and inspired us to keep going.

Creating a business from scratch, helping solar businesses and surviving seven years has been a dream come true, a battle at times and an utter privilege. As we finalise the sale of the company, I am adamant that what we started must somehow continue. The website, services, support and determination to service solar businesses might change a little, but isn’t going anywhere so do stay tuned.

I owe a debt of gratitude to so many for the generosity, support and patience I was gifted over this time. I am tempted to name those who most helped and mentored me but I know I’ll miss someone, so I’ve already started calling then to personally thank them instead.

One of the things I will always remember however is being bailed up by readers of our blog and told “I really enjoy what you write, occasionally get a chuckle and it’s valuable. You cut to the chase, call a spade a spade and keep me motivated. Please don’t stop!”.

Try and stop me.

 

Thanks and adieu.


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