HOW MUCH DO YOU REALLY WANT IT?

Last week I talked to a number of successful and remarkably talented people. They had a few things in common. They were all incredibly busy and were enjoying themselves.  More interestingly all of them were going through a non-stop process of self-examination regarding their strategy for sustaining their success.

Whilst I like the philosophy of Dr Steve Peters the renowned sports coach - “life’s unfair; they keep moving the goalposts; all you can do is try your absolute best” - I’ve always been a sceptic about using sport as a way of counselling people in business. Winning a gold medal, or winning a test match are not the same as succeeding in business. For one thing the measurement of success is more complex. As one of my superstar successes confided to me “business is all about psychology…you are as successful as people think you are.”

Here are four strategies to help achieve that:-

Be different. When Alan Bennett won a scholarship to Oxford he played the game of being a contrarian brilliantly. If you ever saw the History Boys you’ll understand. Be noticed for being radical. The same applies to all success. Being the same as everyone else is a poor strategy.

Be patient. Sam Walton who created Walmart took time to get going, opening his first store in 1945. Not until 1962 did the steamroller that we know today really power forwards. By then he’d made a lot of mistakes and learnt even more. Patience in Sam’s case was a virtue. Something we see little of today.

Know your part. When success happens despite oneself it’s time to throw away the management guide books. Peter O’Toole, a legendary drinker, got plastered and awoke at 530 pm appalled to have missed his matinee performance. He rushed to the theatre abjectly and apologised. They looked puzzled. “But Peter you played the part and were splendid then you shot off saying you felt a bit tired.” Can that really be true? I hope so.

Be like Jack Welch. The legendary powerhouse from GE whom they called “Neutron Jack” for his ruthlessness in eliminating workforces whilst leaving the buildings that had housed them intact. He put it like this. “I want my executives to demonstrate simplicity, speed and self-confidence.”

Keep on asking yourselves hard questions. In a fast-moving and intense world of work do not rely on yesterday’s formula for success. Be prepared to try new approaches and whatever you do keep on introducing new products and ideas; because if you can’t create news you should be prepared to become history.

And there’s one other thing - be shameless about enjoying yourself. If you hate what you do you won’t do it very well. As someone put it so vividly “getting in early and opening the shop is such fun.”

Maybe that sense of opening up your shop is the first step towards having a really positive open mind.