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Ever noticed how Australia—a country with a population smaller than Texas—has managed to produce an outsized share of Hollywood’s biggest stars? Chris Hemsworth. Margot Robbie. Hugh Jackman. It’s an impressive list, but the magic isn’t just in their talent. It’s in their culture.
CBS’s 60 Minutes recently ran a piece titled Aussiewood, exploring this phenomenon. Beyond the glitz of Hollywood exports, the story unearthed something deeper: a mindset that should resonate far beyond the silver screen.
Here’s the big takeaway: the Aussiewood community doesn’t wait for permission. They don’t ask the gatekeepers for a nod to be relevant. They are taught to show up, take risks, and let their work speak for itself.
This permissionless culture is a game-changer—not just for actors, but for all of us.
Why Asking for Permission is Asking for Denial
Let’s face it: asking for permission is often just an invitation for someone to say no. No one builds anything extraordinary by waiting for a stamp of approval.
If you have a bold idea, waiting for the world to validate it is a waste of time. It’s not about recklessness; it’s about recognizing when the status quo isn’t equipped to see the vision you do. Yes, check the boxes where regulators and laws matter—FINRA, SEC, DOL. But don’t let them box you in.
Instead of asking for permission, seek support. Invite others to advocate for the idea. Give them a reason to believe in what you’re building.
The Power of Community
There’s another core element to Aussiewood’s success: community. Australia’s film ecosystem isn’t just about individuals hustling alone—it’s a collective effort. Actors train together, support each other, and succeed together.
In a post-COVID world, many of us have lost that sense of togetherness. We’ve scattered. Teams are distributed, offices have thinned out, and the buzz of a shared workspace is often missing.
I’ve seen what a strong hub can do. During my 18 years in Omaha, Nebraska—a city not exactly synonymous with glamour—I witnessed the financial industry thrive because it had a tight-knit ecosystem. It wasn’t about any single person’s ambition. It was about collective progress. The community generally cared more about moving the industry forward than individual accolades.
When you focus on the success of the whole, you create a multiplier effect. That’s the magic of Aussiewood, and it’s a principle we can all embrace.
Build Your Own Epicenter
Where’s your Aussiewood?
Maybe it’s your company, your team, or an emerging initiative like my friend Jamie Hopkins’ FinServ Foundation. Jamie didn’t wait for permission to address the talent gap in wealth management. He built a community—one that now includes over 610 students from universities across the country.
These students aren’t just filling seats; they’re the next generation of leaders. They’ve found their epicenter, and the industry will be better for it.
Maybe you want to transform your office into a hub for creativity and strategic thinking.
Maybe you see an opportunity to host monthly gatherings with industry peers to spark collaboration.
Maybe it’s time to adopt modern tools like Slack to streamline your business, leaving legacy systems behind.
Maybe it’s about supporting the existing communities around you that could thrive with just a little budget and attention.
This is the kind of action we need to take. Instead of waiting for someone else to create the next big thing, we need to build our own hubs, our own movements, and our own collectives.
The Challenge
So here’s the question: where are you asking for permission when you should be pushing forward? What community do you need to build to make your vision a reality?
Don’t wait for approval. Take a page from Aussiewood. Create something so compelling, so undeniably impactful, that the gatekeepers have no choice but to get on board.
It’s not about you. It’s about the movement you’re building. And when you stop asking for permission and start building together, incredible things happen.
Let’s get to work.