Toughen Up: What I’ve Learned About Surviving Tough Times

Michael Hill has had just about every possible experience in business: from lie- awake-at-night nerves to the joy of unexpected success. He's reshaped the landscape under his feet and he has ventured into new territory. Once, he was an outsider in his industry; the cheeky start-up who nobody expected to succeed. The established players had no reason to view him as a threat.

Now, his business continues to innovate and pioneer new markets. Michael Hill Jewellery has more than 250 outlets across New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United States of America, and the company is renowned as a world leader in efficient and innovative business.

Toughen Up: what I've learned about surviving tough times encapsulates the ingredients of Michael's philosophy. He's watched tycoons rise and fall, competitors enter and leave the market, staff grow and develop. He has made big mistakes, been ripped off, misjudged situations and he has learned from it all. And all those lessons have distilled into a strong philosophy of business and life.