I try to challenge and disprove my own beliefs in order to ensure my actions are based on accurate principles that are likely to lead to successful outcomes.
An internationally renowned economist, Andrew Charlton is the co-founder and director of AlphaBeta Strategy & Economics, a strategy advisory company committed to assisting clients develop a plan for prosperity by identifying and leveraging a variety of market forces. Charlton, previously the senior economic advisor to Australia’s Prime Minister, has published countless essays that have accurately predicted rates of economic development in a number of international markets.
Charlton has also published quite a few highly regarded works on his area of expertise, including Ozonomics and Fair Trade for All, which he co-authored with Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz. A graduate of Oxford University, Charlton earned his master’s degree and doctorate in economics while attending the school as a Rhodes Scholar. He has since delivered on the promise that earned him such a prestigious honor, as Charlton has enjoyed a professional career that includes experience in both the public and private sectors.
With AlphaBeta Strategy & Economics, Charlton has assembled an impressive team of professional advisors with experience in the public, private and non-profit sectors and have specific expertise in developing business plans that take all relevant market factors into account to ensure a prosperous and secure future for clients.
Where did the idea for AlphaBeta Strategy & Economics come from?
Part of the success of a business is due to the strategy of the management team, but another part is due to the economic forces shaping the market in which the business operates. AlphaBeta combines expertise in economics and strategy to help organisations prosper in dynamic markets.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I’m an early riser who is often most productive before the sun comes up, so I usually start my day by arriving at the office quite early in the morning. I have a lot of support from team members who make sure I am able to use my time as efficiently as possible, and, in turn, I try to return the favor whenever possible.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I am a firm believer that thorough research and analysis is the key to success in almost any circumstance, and my best ideas often come to me when I am hard at work and conducting economic research.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
The global climate debate seems to have really shifted of late, and it seems that more of the world’s leaders are taking a more nuanced look at the manner in which climate change will have an effect on the world economy.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
I understand the benefit of collaboration, and I am fortunate that this venture is a collaborative effort involving some exceptional professionals.
What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
I held a few positions before attending Oxford that offered some important life lessons, but I think the most valuable takeaway for me was the value of leading with an open mind. When leaders fail to listen to those they are charged with leading, there is going to be a very undesirable outcome that will soon follow.
If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
I would like to have taken a more aggressive approach right from the start. Our leadership team is made up of a group of confident professionals, so I think we were all concerned that our confidence might turn to hubris if we did not exercise some initial restraint. It is a minor quibble at best since we are all quite pleased with the way things have turned out thus far.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
I try to challenge and disprove my own beliefs in order to ensure my actions are based on accurate principles that are likely to lead to successful outcomes.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.
The results we have been able to achieve are mostly responsible for our growth, but I also believe our team’s commitment to quality has been a contributing factor as well.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
We have a lot of ideas that seem good, but don’t survive the test of time. I believe in letting lots of flower bloom and seeing which ones are worth tending.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Given the changing perception on the need to address climate change on a global scale, I would suggest that entrepreneurs consider industries involved in creating viable alternative energy sources.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I took my parents out to dinner just to let them know that I appreciate everything they have done for me over the years.
What software and web services do you use? What do you love about them?
We use Stata, R, Matlab along with a few other programs developed by myself or members of our team at AlphaBeta.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
I would suggest “The Price of Inequality,” by Joseph Stiglitz.
What people have influenced your thinking and might be of interest to others?
Certainly Joseph Stiglitz and John Keynes.
Connect:
Andrew Charlton on LinkedIn:
Andrew Charlton on Twitter: @charlton_ab
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.