It’s July and it is hot, hot, hot. I hope that you enjoy the heat and so are reveling in all this. I hate it and am pleased that I invested in some air conditioning. So enough said about July which makes this a shorter thought!
What am I thinking about?
Well it started with some interesting quotes. I heard somewhere “Do you want to be the last of the old or the first of the new”. It made me think about what it takes for any of us to choose to pivot. For Bedfordshire businesses this is particularly important as we look at all the opportunities Universal Studios might bring and how we position ourselves to help them establish themselves in the county.
Then I was reminded of Dag Hammarskjold’s famous quote “For all that has been, thanks. For all that is to come, yes!”. This is such an encouraging, positive, supportive thought at times of change. I have heard it applied to all sorts of important occasions: marriage, retirement, moving areas and houses, new jobs….It can be used anywhere there is major change, excitement and lots of challenge – so Bedfordshire again!.
Then I saw another quote “If you are more fortunate than others, build a longer table, not a taller fence”. This is about building communities and sharing support, not being selfish. How often do we see people who have made it pulling up the ladder after them instead of helping those who come behind?
So why I am I talking about these issues this month?
Partly because of Universal Studios and the exciting times it brings but also I care about my local business community; I care about new jobs; I care about business collaboration. My clients are always at turning points. Sometimes they recognise the need to leave the past behind them and move on. Sometimes they don’t. We can work with that. Maybe the most awkward place is to know there is a need to change but then struggle to do it. Change is frightening and mostly takes substantial effort. Old habits are comfortable; tested methods of what to do and how, are easy. People may need help to get through a painful time.
Doing this alone is just that, you on your own and possibly lonely. Now this is well known. This is why people join Slimming World or look for a Facebook support group. It is why I have a gym buddy. So you look for someone with a big enough table for you to sit at to watch, listen and grow.
Now there are all sorts of tables available. Do you know that fabulous track “The Table” from The Beautiful South? Have a listen to all the things that can happen around and to a table. Some are very unhealthy. One of my least favourite business tables is the one at an awards ceremony. These occasions are big and glitzy and bring in considerable revenue for those that organise them. I am far less sure about those that enter – they spend valuable time in putting together that application. Then there are those awards organisations that tell you that you have been nominated and oh by the way it means you must be at the ceremony – table cost and merchandise are eye watering money. What do you do? Inevitably there is huge disappointment for some and does that award bring lots of rewards for the winners? I am not convinced.
If any of you follow me on LinkedIn you may know I am running a series of “Get to know me better” recordings. It is hard and very strange reflecting on my career path. However it a good for me to remember and celebrate the people who have helped me along the way. Generous people who let me sit at their tables able to absorb what they were doing and talk about why and how. I learnt because they shared their experience, their wisdom of what went right but most of all what could have been done better or why things went horribly wrong. This demanded huge honesty and trust – the beginning of all wisdom. As well as everything else I learnt to celebrate success as well as recognise mistakes, take responsibility and how to learn from both.
The right table can be of huge value.
Now I am opening up some space at my table. Maybe I should talk about the sort of things that happen when people sit down with me. A couple of examples are the person who went from a service business startup to a substantial six figure revenue in four years; or the guy in a bigger business who had not looked at their processes during rapid growth so they were run off their feet; we created business practices that took the stress out of the business and allowed it to go on growing. If you want a place to talk and be listened to; to explore the array of opportunities you have; where you can look for alliances or partnerships that will help you move forward; where it is safe to be honest and build on mistakes or near misses; where you can share your fear or the dilemma which seems to have no solution; and share your success with someone who will celebrate with you; then let’s meet for a sense check and see if we like each other.
We can find ways of developing your skills; of using that amazing asset you have: you. I love speaking with people, off the meter, to help them explore possibilities and whether/how to take them forward. I hope you will be one of them.
Other tables are available but mine is the best fun!