Brett Kelly - Plan to Win
Western Suburbs District Cricket Club Sydney | January 31, 2023
Brett Kelly is the proud owner of Western Suburbs District Cricket Club first grade cap number 561.
He is also the proud Founder, Executive Chairman and CEO of ASX Listed Chartered Accountancy Group Kelly+Partners.
BK: “Cricket is a wonderful metaphor for life and preparation for doing whatever you choose to do well. It requires you to play as part of a team, be long term in terms of your thinking by planning ahead, deliver a personal performance and most particularly take responsibility for your actions”
Born in 1974 Brett was one of 8 boys and his two eldest brothers were 15 years older.
BK: “I can never remember a time when someone wasn’t bowling at my head. We always played with a hard cricket ball and no pad. If you didn’t accept it when you were out you ended up in the pool fully clothed.”
As a junior Brett played for St Patrick’s at Strathfield, Ramsgate RSL, Green Shield for Wests and made the NSW Metropolitan representative team from players across the Green Shield competition.
He started playing grade cricket for Wests when he was 16 and after 4 games he was promoted to second grade and on the 20 October 1995, he made his first grade debut against Randwick.
His best figures in first grade was 4 for 45 but his career was cut short at the age of 22 due to recurring stress fractures in the back.
BK: “I never played any cricket until a decade later with some mates in a Church team in synthetic and then SCG XI. The last game I played was at Windsor Castle.”
Growing up with Ian Botham and Malcolm Marshall as childhood heroes’ retirement was a bitter pill but the game had taught him something about determination, resilience and accountability.
Whilst he played tennis, golf, athletics (long jump specifically) loss of soccer and did swimming and horse riding it was cricket that planted the seed.
BK: “It takes a long time to do anything worthwhile and it doesn’t always go your way. You must play your part as part of a team and compete. I just loved from a very young age making a cricket ball swing. I thought it was just the greatest thing to be able to and make it do all sorts of things at some pace and I just loved the competition of the game.
He might have retired early but there are not many teenagers that can say they were a net bowler at the SCG bowling to international test cricketers such as Brian Lara, Ian Botham, Javed Miandad, Imran Khan and Kepler Wessels.
BK: “I was bowling at the SCG to Brian Lara the day before and on the morning of his massive 277 against Australia. He was just unbelievable to be anywhere near and I bowled to him in the nets for some two hours. Inconsequential to him but it allowed me to test myself against someone I consider a legend.”
So where did Brett’s love of cricket come from?
BK: “My Dad was an Englishman who just absolutely loved cricket. He never missed a single game of cricket I played virtually until he died. After he died I got married, we had three children and I started our business. I just didn’t play cricket anymore as it seemed something was missing and until recently I didn’t realise it was because Dad wasn’t around anymore.”
What’s the best win of his career?
BK: “In the Under 14A’s we beat the team who was supposed to win the competition. Our two star bowlers had left the team during the season because of conflict with the coach. In the grand final, I had to open the bowling and took 6 wickets which included the best young batsman going around Sydney at that time and went on to have a great career.”
Richie Benaud was his favourite commentator and now it’s Michael Holding.
BK: “Roger Federer is my sporting hero whom I have had the pleasure to meet.”
Today apart from managing Kelly + Partners Brett keeps fit through weight training and running. He collects art and loves to travel to places of historical significance and study the history of their world. His most recent trip was to Scotland in 2019.
Brett had worked in Chartered Accounting firms since the age of 18. In 1998 at the age of 24, he had his first book published, Collective Wisdom. He raised the funds himself to self-publish
It was a book in which Brett interviewed 34 notable Australians including former prime ministers Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke and John Gorton, magistrate Pat O'Shane, singer Peter Garret, Premier of Victoria, Jeff Kennett, artist Ken Done, entrepreneur Lindsay Fox, journalist Peter Fitzsimmons, advertising agency director Siimon Reynolds and author /psychologist Hugh MacKay.
For someone so young it’s an impressive guest. You can’t do what Brett did in terms of who he interviewed and publishing the book by not being proactive, assertive and being to be different.
He has since written and had 4 more books published. Universal Wisdom, Business owner Wisdom, Investment Wisdom and Your Money, Your Choice – click to find out more
BK: “My interviews have included PMs, Heads of States, Generals, senior religious leaders. I have met the Queen, two Popes, and I have pursued these interactions so I can learn what it takes to be your best and be able to achieve your goals.”
Using a cricket reference
BK: “When you get out in cricket especially in Grade Cricket it can be weeks before you get another chance. Its no one else’s fault and you can’t simply press start again like in a computer game. You have to live in the moment and be the best you can be.”
Brett is ambitious and has a desire to help people achieve a better outcome.
BK: “In 2006 after working in chartered accounting firms since I was 18 (I was then 29) another boss failed to deliver on his promise so my wife encouraged me to start my own firm and test my ideas. I love the mental challenge of sport and life. In business, I wanted to test my ideas as I thought you could do better in business by treating your people and clients better. The old ways in our industry were where you scraped your way over other people to get what you wanted. I believed if you helped your people and clients achieve their goals you would do better. So we started Kelly+ Partners Chartered Accountants.”
Starting in a small office in North Sydney Kelly+ partner sought to do things differently. They created a unique ownership structure where owners of other accounting firms can join the one brand and continue to serve their clients using the centralised back office.
Kelly+ Partners can now be found in North Sydney, Central Coast, Penrith, Campbeltown, Wollongong, Bowra, Northern Beaches, Inner West, Hong Kong, Melbourne and will continue to expand and grow.
Cricket has also been kind to Brett in being able to grow his accounting group across Sydney and in regional areas.
BK: As I had played cricket all over the place for so many years. When I would want to buy a firm in an area or start one the locals couldn’t believe I knew the area and that was from my cricketing years and years. You never know where who you meet, where you go or what you learn becomes helpful!
What are the lessons Brett has learned along the journey
BK: Here are my big three observations:
1. You know the best by how generous they are with their knowledge. The average thinks they’re too good for you, the best know they are great and therefore they’re gracious.
Warren Buffett, for example, wrote me a letter and signed a book for me!
2. Learning leads to earning.
Whatever you want to do, someone has already done something similar. What it takes can 80% be learned and duplicated by the intensity of commitment to mission, values, vision and behaviour.
3. Long term unrelenting focus is the master key to achievement in life.
All of us win when we take a longer-term view of our actions and just do the thing we have decided to do single-minded and without distraction
And the best advice
BK: “Above all things, seek wisdom. Deep understanding and whatever you do, do it with more drive than anyone has before!
Brett’s passion and love of cricket has not waned. He is however not involved but he’d like to be.
BK: “I have found cricket to be quite closed in its opportunities to contribute.”
If the opportunities did arise what would his advice be to Cricket NSW
BK:
1. Tell parent who hopes their kids don’t play cricket because it takes up time all the great stories of how cricket brings people together and can make them better people..
2. Ensure there is cricket played on Thursday afternoons at schools and keep cricket in schools.
3. Pay two first grade cricketers from each club $30k per year to coach in their local areas and within schools. Effectively making them development officers for the game and bring the clubs closer to the schools.
