In Episode 99 of the No Limitations podcast “Character Is Everything”, Blenheim Partners’ Gregory Robinson speaks to Jim Penman, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Jim’s Group, Australia’s largest franchising family with over 4,800 franchisees across over 52 divisions.
In a forthright and revealing conversation, Jim shares with us his remarkable story of entrepreneurship and fanatical drive in never accepting the status quo with focus on continuous improvement and raising the bar across all facets of life – accountability for oneself, the need for greater community engagement and the advancement of society. He discusses his personal ambitions, the best advice he received for business, the state of the economy and puts forward some candid observations regarding political leadership, digital currencies and what we could be looking forward to in the future, particularly the way we live and how long.
Jim initially launched a full-time mowing business in 1982. In 1989, he franchised his business, and since then Jim’s Group has become the largest franchise chain in Australia, which includes well-known lawn mowing business Jim’s Mowing. As a student of history, he is also an author and social theorist who explores the physiological underpinnings of social change and its probable effects on civilisations. His books include ‘Biohistory’, ‘Epigenetics and Character’, and ‘Every Customer a Fan’.