Paul Dunn from Buy1Give1 - B1G1

Paul Dunn from Buy1Give1 - B1G1He began his career in Australia at Hewlett Packard where he was one of just ten people in the Australian start up of the company. In 1974 Paul wrote some innovative software that became the basis for one of Australia’s early technological successes — Hartley Computer. Until 1980 Paul was the marketing genius behind the company growing globally to a $23 Million enterprise. In 1992 Paul formed Results Accountants’ Systems (RAS) to focus again on Accountants in Public Practice — teaching them how to leverage their skills to create far better businesses for their clients.

By 1994 the company had offices in Europe and, most significantly, the USA.  By the year 2000, it was serving over 3500 practices and their clients worldwide.  Amongst many other innovations, Paul developed the Results Accountants’ Network — it became the largest network of leading-edge Accountants.
In 2000 he ‘retired’ and sold all his business interests only to discover the transformational power of giving in 2006 by funding an orphanage for Tsunami-affected children in India. That led to his co-discovery of B1G1 in 2007.
Paul is also leading the corporate and ambassador programs in B1G1 team.

 

Please tell us a bit of your earlier years – 20 to 35

I was born and ‘grew up’ (if indeed I did grow up) in Dover, then in London. And at 20, I was working in the Antennae Research Group at Belling and Lee.

At 21, the General Manager of the Company’s Australian operations named (seriously) Jim Snitch visited the lab. In a wonderfully broad Australian accent, he announced he wanted a Chief Engineer for Australia. Up went my hand. And I can’t remember if mine was the only hand that did go up, but I got the job.
So off to Australia I went (for $10 on a Comet believe it or not). In Australia we were using Hewlett Packard test gear and the man who became GM of HPs Australian venture, Malcolm Kerr, head-hunted me. That was a great time — just 10 of us doing great things.
I did pretty well and got sent to Brisbane to open up the Queensland marketplace. That became the top HP office in the country and it was there that I met David Hartley. He was using HP computers to do extraordinary things but going broke doing it.
I went back into a management position at HP’s head office in Melbourne and through a string of weird circumstances became the first person to sell HP gear into the Accounting profession. It took writing some new software I then literally gave to David and in 1974 Hartley Computer was launched — serving exclusively the Public Accounting marketplace.
We grew at an amazing rate and by 1980 were hitting 23 billion in revenues. And in December 1980 I went to my first ever real Seminar — an evening in Brisbane with James Rohn. I remember it well — sitting next to my friend Sarina Russo who went on to become an icon in the Employment Agency business in Australia.
That night was one of those critical moments. In Jim Rohn I saw what I wanted to do — speak and train people to run extraordinary businesses.
So on April 1 1981 I formed Paul Dunn Training, landing some huge contracts with people like Ray White, QANTAS and so on. Then, in partnership with Direct marketing guru, Chris Newton, we turned that into The Results Corporation which by 1992 was turning over $23 million too.
Oops, I’ve gone a few years passed 35! So let me go to your second question …

 

Please share any rude awakenings or revelations around your midpoint of life

If you mean 40, no major ones that I can remember other than looking back I wish I’d spent more quality time with my kids.

 

What did you change in your life around this ‘midpoint of life’?

Very little. Still speaking around the world; forming new businesses.

 

Any lessons learnt during this time?

For me it became really important to differentiate through creating fun experiences. I realized it was not about giving awesome service but about creating wonderful experiences for customers. Also biggest error was NOT to define exit clauses.

 

Have you seen other guys making your errors that you’d love to talk to them about

I wouldn’t call them ‘errors’ — we all have our own personal learning experiences

 

How is your personal life different now than to what it was on your 20s?

Well, funnily enough it feels the same (with the only difference being I’m not singing in a band to pay for my studies!

 

What are you most active in now?

Well, I’ve got the whole ‘philanthropy/giving back’ thing as much as you ever ‘get’ it. I run a whole lot more now than I did then (and I don’t smoke now either)

 

Which part/s of your life is different now than when in your 20’s?

Well, I was married then but am not now although I am in a relationship. Physically I’m fitter. And I think I have a greater understanding of how life works — hopefully I’m more tolerant and less judgmental and more understanding of the ONEness of things.

 

How is your business and/or professional life different now than to what it was on your 20s?

Same values now as then.

 

What are 2-3 life experiences you would love to share today?

Following your passion (or what I now know as ‘finding your WHY’) plus total respect for other ‘positions’ is it, I think. That’s true in all areas so that you play this ‘game’ full out. And perhaps most importantly, learning that in everything there is a gift if only we look hard enough. And that gets us into living a life full of gratitude.

Interview With Paul Dunn 1

Enjoying newly found freedoms in South-East Asia, Martin is a down to earth, honest, quirky humor, compassionate and upfront kinda guy. Easy going and love to laugh. Into good food, wine and great company. I’ll talk and try to help anyone.
Drop me a message and let’s start there, OK?

Martin Cooney – who has written posts on GeekandJock.


8 thoughts on “Interview With Paul Dunn”
  1. Learned lots more about your career. Truly believe you were destined never to retire.Way too much energy and knowledge to share

    1. Thank you Michael.

      That's really kind of you. Two things I'd love you to see:

      AND (even though it's too long at 5 minutes 33 seconds) this surprising gift: http://bit.ly/bdkTnz

      Looking forward to your feedback, Michael.

      And thank you again!

  2. Great interview, Paul.
    I've started reading through your B1G1 website and what you're doing looks to be quite exciting.
    I'm also excited by what Geek and Jock hve started here and was wondering what you thought of the site, their mission in 'transforming' the lives of guys over 40 and how you can help them in spreading the word?
    From what I see, this site and yours can/could work quite well in helping in each other in memberhip / readers / visitors (sorry, I'm unsure what the right terms are, being a little slow in computers). I love what both sites are doing ad that's all about helping.

    1. Hi Gary:

      And thank you for your comment — I really appreciate you getting involved.

      Geek and Jock (both great personal friends of mine in real life!) are doing some great stuff here — their focus is on the likes of you and I and then, because of what they do, some funds flow to great causes.

      So yes, there's great synergy and we work on that in lots of ways. And of course, you can help do that by spreading the word on both sites — on the GandJ site through Facebook (soon on B1G1) and on B1G1 by simply using the 'invite your friends' tab.

      In the B1G1 case, our focus is simply giving so that we create a world full of giving and, as a result, a much happier world. And yes, Gary, we'd love to have you share in that with us too.

      Make this week great and be sure to keep on doing …..

      ….. things that amaze you (and us).


      Paul Dunn
      Come join me at http://www.b1g1.com
      Giving your business the power to change our lives
      Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pauldunn
      Email me at: [email protected]

  3. Never heard of Paul Dunn over here in the US. Interesting sounding guy from the interview and even more an interesting business he's into now.
    He should be doing more to promote it in the States as there is a growing movement in 'giving back' – one of the reasons I joined your site so early on in it's development. As Adam said above, it's a great site with where it's heading and I certainly wish more guys over 40 get onboard, join up and we can all share our own wealth with each other.

    1. Hi Mitch:

      Great to see your comment on B1G1. And thank you for the feedback too.

      Most of my work I the US stopped in 2000 when I "retired" — and ALL of that work prior to 2000 was with Accountants in Public Practice, teaching them NOT to be reporters of history but CREATORS of History with and for their selected clients.

      B1G1 will be launched in the US later this year — in fact, two of my very good friends in the US, Ron Baker (see and Michelle Golden (see will be playing a part in that through a series of Web Events in about 2 month's time.

      Mim note sure if you've looked yet at http://www.b1g1.com — please do Mitch and let us have your feedback. And do please let me know more about you, particularly if you resonate with what we're doing with B1G1.

      Make this a great week ahead. And be sure to keep on doing …..

      ….. things that amaze you.

      Paul


      Paul Dunn
      Come join me at http://www.b1g1.com
      Positively impacting our world, one transaction at a time
      Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pauldunn
      Email me at: [email protected]

  4. Like the nature of this site and where it's heading (although I do not fit the demographic – yet). Paul is very inspirational and completely agree with the 'follow your passion' approach.

    1. Thanks for the comment, Adam.

      Paul is a good mate who I've known for 5 years or so. He's doing some powerful stuff in his life at the moment at http://www.b1g1.com and is an inspiration to many guys.

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