REDUCING THE ODDS IN LIFE

When people ask me how to improve their chances of getting on I, in common with most sensible people, list things like skill sets, communication skills, performance, enthusiasm, follow-through, strategic acumen and so on.

 

Yet as I yawned my way (it was rather long) through Thursday’s leadership debate between as it were Celtic – Gordon Brown - and Chelsea – David Cameron- there was Brighton and Hove Albion – Nick Clegg - popping up, parading ball skills alongside the two seasoned giants who both seemed as though they couldn’t really be arsed to play.

 

Just by being there with better than average brightness and body language Nick Clegg became their equal.

 

They tried ignoring him, metaphorically pushing him into the corner or talking over his head but he kept on interrupting and “setting them straight”.

 

He was like the toy called Weebles that wobble but they don’t fall down…he wouldn’t go away, was better looking and better company than they were. Mr. Grumpy and Mr. Dour seethed inwardly as he stood alongside them very much as one of them.

 

So here’s my advice in life:-

 

• Spend your time close to the most important people
• Learn how to speak with them and disagree with them
• Be seen by others as a player not just a spectator

 

It isn’t how powerful you are it’s how powerful you seem to be by the company you keep that marks you out as a coming person.

 

Standing next to the powerful is like name dropping but much, much more effective…because people perceive that you are in the big league.