Read time: 2 mins
Aussie Christmases are famous for backyard barbecues.
It’s ‘prawns on the barbie’/(seafood), sunshine and cricket with people you love.
And because Christmas here feels so upside down to our Canadian brains, we decided to turn it into something fun for our newsletter this year.
Christmas in Flip-Flops is our holiday series where we share surprising end-of-year lessons for business owners inspired by the quirks of an Australian Christmas.
‘Thongs’ (flip-flops) mixed with Christmas… it’s weird, but it makes for some unexpectedly useful business reminders.
Which brings us to one of the most predictable things that happens at an Aussie BBQ:
Someone starts cooking the ‘snags’ (sausages).
Then, someone else wanders over with an opinion about how they should be cooked.
Then a 3rd person appears with their own “secret method.”
Before you know it, 5 people are hovering around the grill offering unsolicited advice.
None of them are actually doing the cooking.
But everyone has an opinion.
And of course, this is exactly what running a business can feel like too.
Because the BBQ Effect is real.
The moment you start doing something, people appear with advice.
Some of it good.
Most of it unsolicited and distracting.
And that brings us to lesson #2 in our Christmas in Flip-Flops series:
THE BBQ EFFECT: EVERYONE HAS ON OPINION. NOT EVERONE SHOULD SHAPE YOUR STRATEGY
In business, just like at the barbecue, you’re likely to get bombarded with opinions.
People will tell you what they think you should do, what you should change, what they did, what their cousin did, what someone on the internet said you should try.
Great leaders know how to filter the noise without losing their focus.
Here’s what we mean:
1- Not all advice is created equal
At a barbecue, everyone thinks they know the right way to cook the steak, prawns, snags, whatever.
It does not mean they do.
Some people give advice based on assumptions.
Some give advice based on fear.
Some give advice based on their own preferences.
And some simply love giving advice.
A lot of it has nothing to do with what is right for you.
If you take everyone’s feedback on board, you end up cooking the steak ten different ways and burning it every time.
Choose your sources carefully.
2- Curate the right voices
When you take on every opinion that comes your way, it becomes harder to think clearly.
You start second-guessing yourself, you lose momentum, and you drift away from the direction you originally intended.
Not every voice deserves the same level of influence.
Some people add noise.
Some add doubt.
And a few will genuinely help you make better decisions.
Great leaders learn to curate the voices they let in.
That might mean:
- A coach who helps you zoom out and see the bigger picture
- Trusted team members who can debate and provide feedback on ideas
- Advisors or peers who understand your context and can help pressure-test decisions
Because just like at the barbecue, you don’t ask the entire crowd how to cook the sausages.
You ask the one person who knows what they’re doing and will genuinely help.
3- The cook makes the call
At the barbecue, the cook is the one standing over the heat, making sure nothing burns.
And when it’s time to eat, they’re responsible for the result.
In your business, that person is you.
You know your goals, your customers, your constraints, your team, and what you’re building toward.
You’re the one who carries the responsibility, not everyone else.
So you need to be the one making the call.
Take feedback when it helps.
Ask for input from the right people.
Listen to those who genuinely add value.
But the final decision needs to sit with the person who’s accountable.
Bottom line
In business and at barbecues, everyone has an opinion.
Your job is to choose the voices that help, ignore the ones that distract, and stay confident in your direction.
Protect your clarity, trust your judgement, and remember that the person doing the cooking gets to make the call.
Enjoy the sun and enjoy the sausages.
Speak soon,
Lynne and Steve
TLDR
- The BBQ Effect is real, but not every opinion is helpful
- Curate the voices that genuinely support your direction
- You’re responsible for the result, so you need to make the call
- Protect your clarity and trust your own instincts
Want more Christmas in Flip-Flops?
This is lesson #2 in our holiday series. If you missed the others or want to catch up, you can read the full series here:
Read the Christmas in Flip-Flops series: here
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