#53 - He's an ideas man

“Google it, mate.”

That was Greens leader Adam Bandt hitting back at a journo who asked for an esoteric number, some percentage value related to the economy.

Now ‘esoteric’ doesn’t mean ‘boring’ or ‘unimportant’. It means only a small number of people will understand.

Bandt followed up his comment: ‘politics should be about ideas’.

The election now caught my attention. It's been uninspiring to watch 2 oldish grey-haired white men bickering with each other like 2 drunk dads fighting over who should man the Australia Day barbecue.

Each one has a few policies – but the lead messages are "look at the job I’m doing” from the Prime Minister, “look at the job he’s doing, I reckon I can do it better” from the Opposition Leader.

It’s not just boring and uninspiring. It’s bad leadership and salesmanship.

If you haven't seen the famous Golden Circle TedTalk from Simon Sinek, go watch it now. He proves that people "don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it."

He speaks a lot about Apple Computers. Imagine Apple sold computers like this:

We make great computers. They're user-friendly, beautifully designed, and easy to use.

Want to buy one?

Meh. Sounds like any perfectly functional HP laptop on the market. But what if instead, they go with this?

"Everything we do is to challenge the status quo. To think differently. Our products are user-friendly, sleek, and easy to use. We just happen to make great computers.

Want to buy one?"

Suddenly I'm in line outside the Apple store. Not just to buy a computer, but because I'm buying into Apple's beliefs and values. I want in on this revolution.

Esoteric numbers and 4-point plans are those HP laptops. But stating a why and a vision and a dream for Australia is that Apple computer that either major party needs to lean into for votes.

There's a lot of commentary on smaller parties, independents, and Greens reaching more voters than ever before. I think it's clear why.

They challenge the status quo. They have a vision for a healthier climate, for quality of life for young families, for financial freedom. And they shout these from the rooftops (or sometimes, from giant yellow billboards on the rooftops).

Voters buy into visions, dreams - and yes, ideas - over figures and policies.

Next week: Safety First