The Uncommon Collective Manifesto
Our Core Belief
Success in business and in life cannot be built on transactions alone. It must be built on trust, genuine connection, and the courage to be vulnerable enough to ask for help when we need it most.
Too many capable people are suffering in isolation, believing they must carry the weight of their responsibilities alone, when what they need is a community of peers who understand their journey and are committed to their complete success.
Success in business and in life cannot be built on transactions alone.
Our Principles
Trust Takes Time, But It’s Worth Everything
We reject the speed-dating approach to business and relationships. Approaches to networking are transactional, shallow, and focused on immediate gain. We choose to be uncommon by taking the longer path—building real relationships, having deeper conversations, and creating genuine value for each other. Real trust develops over years, not minutes. We invest in long-term relationships because we know that when trust exists, everything else becomes possible—better decisions, stronger partnerships, and the confidence to take bigger risks knowing others have your back.
You Are More Than What You Do
Your job title, your revenue, and your assets don’t define you. We look past the business cards and LinkedIn profiles to discover who you really are – your values, your struggles, your dreams. We steer away from the obvious conversation starters – work, sport, or career – because these topics let us hide behind other people’s achievements instead of sharing our authentic selves.
Abundance Multiplies When Shared
We attract givers, not takers. Our members look after each other as much as they look after themselves, creating a protective environment where vulnerability is safe and generosity is the norm. When surrounded by abundant people, you don’t need to be defensive – you can focus on contributing and growing.
Collaboration Beats Competition
Australia ranks lowest among developed countries for collaboration, and we’re determined to change that. We believe that when the right people work together with trust and shared purpose, they can achieve far more than they ever could alone. We’re building the foundation for partnerships, investments, and ventures that benefit everyone involved.
Being Uncommon Means Changing What’s Broken
Common approaches to networking are transactional, shallow, and focused on immediate gain. We choose to be uncommon by taking the longer path—building authentic relationships, having deeper conversations, and creating genuine value for each other. We’re willing to be different because different is what works.
Uncommon Diversity Matters
Traditional networking organisations attract like-for-like. We seek to attract the unlike. Rather than members from the same backgrounds, schools and lives, we embrace the different to enhance all Uncommoners. And their relationships with each other.
Our Vision
We envision a Collective where the most capable business leaders are connected, supported, and working together to solve meaningful problems. A place where trust is the foundation of every relationship, where asking for help is seen as strength, and where collaboration creates opportunities that benefit entire communities.
We see our members as part of something larger – interconnected both personally and professionally, excited to see each other succeed, and committed to leaving a better world for the next generation. Success isn’t just about individual achievement; it’s about lifting others as you rise. We want wildly different engagement with people who are successful because of adversity.
How This Guides Us
Every decision we make is filtered through one question: Does this build or break trust?
We turn away people who aren’t ready to give first and receive second. We invest time in relationships before we discuss business opportunities. We create experiences that allow authentic connection rather than surface-level networking.
We are patient because we know that the right relationships, built the right way, will create opportunities we cannot yet imagine. We are selective because we know that one person who doesn’t share our values can damage the trust we’ve spent years building.
This manifesto is our promise to each member: we will protect the environment we’ve created together, we will continue to choose depth over breadth, and we will never compromise on the principles that make us uncommon.
We want to build wildly different relationships with a diverse group of individuals with varying backgrounds and perspectives. Working with people in ways that suit them, not conforming to a style that lessens their brilliance but enhances us all.
The world doesn’t need another networking group. It requires a community where trust comes first, relationships matter more than transactions, humour, common sense and success is measured by how well we take care of each other.