We have often said that your team is your greatest asset. The more you invest in them the greater the return. What is most valuable for the interns and young pharmacists is the guidance and mentorship that the owners can provide. The impact they have on careers at this early stage can be immense. Owners have a key role in the development of their team. Invest in them, train them, develop them and set them up for a rewarding career.

Someone asked me the other day, what are the basic things a pharmacy business needs to do to always see improvement. If I lean on the brains trust at Peak and reflect on the successful pharmacies that I know, and the effective owners that I admire, there are some simple things that you can do. It is all about getting the basics right and doing them well.

It’s been over a year since COVID-19 dramatically entered into our lives and it continues to disrupt the lives of the Australian community and all countries worldwide. What has been recognised amongst this chaos is the integral part that community pharmacy plays in the lives of the everyday person. So, before we get into the juicy details of the Budget, I just wanted to acknowledge the pharmacy industry and what an incredible job they have done in keeping our community safe and healthy over this difficult period.

Partnership are like marriage. When they work, they are beautiful, when they don’t it’s a disaster. In pharmacy land there has been some seriously impressive partnerships that have been formed and gone on to huge success. There have also been some bitter and ugly “divorces”. Partnerships are certainly not for everyone. Some owners I know work well on their own, but not very well in a partnership.

Last night I went outside and stood there for a while. I looked out the darkness of the bushland across the road. I watched the full moon rise over the hills. Aside from frogs croaking, and an owl hooting, it was very quiet. It was peaceful. My family had just finished dinner, kids were in their bedrooms and I have just finished cleaning up. That peacefulness and calmness was in stark contrast to the year the Peak family just experienced.

How do I reflect on this year? Where do you start with this year? It has honestly been the hardest year we have ever had to face at Peak. Frankly it was bloody tough. But this year has enabled us to be very thankful that we do what we do. We have a good business that helps a lot of pharmacy owners around Australia. We have kept the Peak family employed and in a safe and secure business. We have provided jobs to 4 additional people this year. There is a lot to be thankful for.