I took some time over the Easter break to spend a few days on west coast. Luckily the weather improved & I was able to stand on Europes’ most westerly coast & take in the amazing scenery. In midst of taking all this in it reminded me of how insignificant we can be & how quickly we can perish in the face of such power & energy, unless we are properly equipped. It was for me both a humbling & invigorating experience .
Invigorating as it lead me to think about all of those enterprising people who are trying to tame the wind & waves, using it to produce energy, leading one of our greatest natural resources into the future.
In the face of our customers or potential customers, isn’t this what we should be doing also. Leading our customers , not just responding to their needs. By showing our customers that you will go 200% for them & more, they will come back for more. Customers don’t just want a standard product or service anymore they want to know how you can help them drive their business forward, save costs, take them to new markets, help them to be a leader to their customers.
Oren Harari discusses widely this concept of entrepreneurship in his book “Break from the Pack”. If you can get your hands on a copy its very interesting reading.
To enjoy the western seaboard at Easter be prepared. Bring your wetsuit, fleece, wet gear, gloves & most importantly a hat! To enjoy your customers be prepared with how you can help them to achieve what you want to achieve – success & survival into the distant future.
Dale Carnegie: How to Win Friends and Influence People
Eckhart Tolle: The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
Oren Harari: Break from the Pack
Ken Robinson, Lou Aronica: The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything
2 Comments
Jo,
I think the images of nature are particularly apt when considering the entrepreneurial mindset. What is most impressive about nature is its relentless renewal and re-birth. And this is a massive challenge for any business leader – how can I reinvent and re-model the business to stay ahead of the competition and remain relevant to my customers.
I’m a massive fan of Oren Harari’s book. In fact, I run a very popular learning programme where people challenge themselves against Oren’s concept of ‘calculated reinvention’. I would recommend this book for any entrepreneur or business leader (I must have given out over 100 copies in the last year!).
You can’t stand facing the ocean and expect to remain unaffected. Same with business. Contact with the world must stimulate you to constantly evolve your offering into something that makes your customers say ‘Wow!’.
So, where are you heading for your next break?!
Aodan
Aodan,
thanks for the comment & couldn’t agree with you more. I have read Oren’s book & it certainly is alot of food for thought & inspiring. He gives great, upto date examples that span all industries.
Stimulation from contact with our customers , business world colleagues, nature whatever it may be, is necessary as you say. The challenge for all of us is the recognition , the maintainence of it & how we invest that stimulation.
Next break? abroad to warmer climates, Italy. I am looking forward to its inspiration. Jo.