This has been another week where the press is covered in stories about companies putting staff off.

So, it was refreshing to attend a breakfast briefing this morning put on by Matthews Steer, Chartered accountants and hear a successful private business owner tell his story. This family business, is in high-tech engineering and surface coatings.

They survived the impact of the last four years without having to put one person off and, in fact, employed some new staff. They had a typical successful family business attitude that their staff come before higher profits. The family believes that persistance is the key ingredient to their success and decided to just work harder to get through tougher times.

They understand the value of innovation, partnering with institutions such as universities and the CSIRO and seeking outside assistance where they have identified a weakness.

Finally, judging by the presentation I heard this morning, they understand the vital leadership attribute of humility.