Success often starts with small, daily habits. Along Australia’s waterfront each morning, one business leader pauses his “gratitude walk” to jot down three things he’s grateful for – from his son’s smile to the simple ability to exercise. This ritual, born from hard-learned lessons about appreciating life’s simple moments, has shaped not just his personal outlook but the culture of his seven thriving companies. For Chris Allchin, transforming from working 80-hour weeks in a single venture to building multiple successful businesses began with changing how he starts each day.
Embracing Cold Therapy and Connection
Following his waterfront walk, Chris plunges into a 4-degree ice bath for 5 minutes before having breakfast with his family. By the time he reaches his office, he’s ready for morning meetings with his management team, where he spreads the practice of gratitude throughout his companies. “I ask them what they’re grateful for today,” he explains, describing how these check-ins feel more like coaching sessions than traditional meetings.
Hiring Top Talent Differently
After learning the hard way about building teams, Chris developed a different approach to hiring. Rather than using job boards, he looks for top performers within other organizations. “The ones that are on the unemployment list, they’re probably not the best ones,” he notes frankly. His leadership style has evolved significantly from his early days. “I came from a really authoritarian style leadership,” he reflects. “You want people to help you on your journey. They can’t just be pawns in your game.” For Chris, this means going beyond competitive pay to create genuine connections with his team. 
“Not just Sally at the front desk – know that Sally has three kids,” he explains. “Make little notes of these things. When you talk to Sally next, you ask her about the kids. Maybe you buy a little present for the kids knowing what they like.” These personal touches help create a culture where people feel valued beyond their paycheck.
Learning from a Transformative Mentor
Three weeks after a major life setback, Chris discovered a mentorship program led by Aaron Sansoni, who owns about 85 businesses. “He’s worth maybe quarter of a million dollars, but more than that, he’s got a beautiful family and a really rounded life,” Chris says. The program focused on wealth, life, and leadership – but the biggest lesson came from Sansoni’s view on business ownership. “Having one business is risky,” Chris recalls his mentor saying. This shifted his mindset from working 80-hour weeks in a single venture to building multiple businesses with strong teams. Today, he owns seven companies and credits this success to finding experts in each field. “I don’t try and do it all alone,” he emphasizes.
Chris is candid about the challenges of running multiple businesses while having a young family. “Work-life balance is an interesting concept,” he muses. “I think there needs to be some acceptance that it’s more of a work-life blend. I think a balance is probably a myth if you’re talking 50/50.” He protects his weekends for family time and schedules his personal activities early in the morning to avoid cutting into family moments. Communication with his fiancée remains key: “If my wife needs me for something, I need to remember she’s the most important thing in my life.”
Learning from Life’s Champions
Success takes guidance, according to Chris. “Every person should have a mentor,” he insists. “My mentor’s mentor is Richard Branson. So you’re never too good to have a mentor. Everybody on planet Earth should have a mentor.” For those facing their own challenges, Chris shares a mantra that helped him: “The one constant in life is change – change is always constant. This too shall pass.” He now applies this wisdom differently, using it as a reminder to appreciate good moments. “When I’m sitting with my son and my phone is ringing for business, turn it off because this beautiful moment you’ve got with your boy, it’ll pass too.”
Through his seven businesses, Chris continues spreading his message about gratitude, authentic leadership, and recognizing life’s opportunities. His morning gratitude walks have grown into a philosophy that shapes not just his companies, but the lives of those around him. To learn more about Chris Allchin and his approach, check out his LinkedIn profile.
