I thought it was a good idea to to start a business blog to supplement the journal articles I write on change management.
(PDF Articles) I trust that some of the issues raised here may be of interest to you to pursue away from this blog of ideas and thoughts. The blogs run in date order with the most recent at the top of this page.
Lewis Hamilton Wins Again - The Power of Decisions
Lewis Hamilton wins the American Grand Prix just a week after Monaco. Surely he is the new potential to be World Champion. I'll be watching this guy very closely as well as his philosophy on winning which I find very empowering.
Dr W. Edwards Deming: Profound Knowledge
Moving swiftly from Motor racing to the famed quality and business expert Dr W. Edwards Deming. I have to focus on his idea of "profound knowledge" and apply it to hamilton's attitude and generally success in life.
To me, "profound knowledge" is any skill, belief or knowledge that, the minute we understand it, we can apply it successfully to make increases in the quality of our lives.
As I identified in my 12 June Blog, Lewis Hailton has acquired this "profound knowledge" at this young ageand it is evident in what he speaks and in his language patterns.
Control of His Destiny
Hamilton is in control and is in the process of shaping his destiny. To shape a firm and focused destiny and direction, we have to address three simple decisions that we all can make and they are:
1. Your decisions about what you focus on
2. Your decisions about what things mean to you
3. Your decisions about what to do to create the results you desire
Its not what is happening to you now or in your past that determines who you become. Rather, it is the decisions about what to focus - what things mean to you and what action you will take that will determine your destiny. Know that if anyone is enjoying greater success than you in any aspect of life, they are making these three decisions differently from you in some situation or context.
"It is in your moment of decision that your destiny is shaped"
"Goal Setting, Lewis Hamilton & the Canadian Grand Prix"
Can you set your goals too high? No! The danger of course is setting your goals and your targets at such a low level that you may not be motivated to go for them because they are too easy. I believe really streching targets are what motivate.
I am a bit of a Formula One racing fan and watched the Canada Grand Prix over the weekend. I had been following Lewis Hamilton's rapid rise to power. The week previous he had achieved second place in The Monaco GP.
Watching Sky News - I saw the interview when Lewis Hamilton confidently stated........." I knew I’d win!”
This is how the newspapers recorded his important prediction and the reality of winning this event at the age of 22.
Lewis Hamilton toasted an incredible first Formula One win shouting< i> “I always knew it was going to happen”.
It's not surprsing he is tipped to win the world title. We are surely witnessing a new star in his ascendancy - another Schumacher.
He further continued “I am on a different planet. I’m having a fantastic day. This is history. The next dream is to win the F1 World Championship.”
Interestingly, Mark Blundell in Tuesday's Daily Telegraph states that Lewis Hamilton has seven key traits that give him the edge and they are:
Positive Energy
Mind Management
Driving Ability
Technical Understanding
Judgement
Intelligence
Fitness
Compare these 7 traits to the characteristics we need to succeed in life. The only difference is driving ability. We all need the other six traits to operate successfully in any context and any field.
Consider this about Lewis Hamilton's outlook...........
How high is he aiming?
Is he setting challenging goals?
Does he hold the belief that he can achieve the goals?
Does he create the mindset to go for the big goals?
Now consider these questions in your own professional and family life. There is much that can be learned from Lewis's achievement and his attitude. His approach is directly relevent to making organisations and people even more effective.
8 Steps to Goal Setting: No Danger in over Achieving
No. I really want to test this idea. I think I'll experiment. I was working with a great group of people yesterday - I wish I'd met them all 20 years ago. This new company is composed of various types of 'over-achiever' and when we get together the synergies and possibilities are difficult to contain. There are so many opportunities out there in the marketplace. The group to which I refer are my co directors in a new consulting business - its called Woburn Consulting
Although we have a steady and a good flow of business we are always planning to attract new interest in all of our ventures and these things do not come out of 'thin air' - they are rigorously planned. In recent months, our business has really developed some momentum. We had diligently created a new website, attended and presented at conferences, developed PR material, written and published articles, developed some great new products, met and presented to new clients completed several RFP's, and we are still hungry and ambitious to attract attention from the big players.
Goal Setting is the first step to Achievement
This is where goal setting comes in. We have set some challenging targets to measure our progress which involves mostly meeting with key decision-makers and building new networks. Motivation is high and there is nothing quite like winning a new deal and transacting new business.
Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail
Thinking for ourselves and our focus is not always shared by others. We also note that other businesses could really commit to the process of goal setting and benefit their bottom line. We note in our consulting work that far too many people in business just let things drift by. This is not confined to their business lives - it often bleeds into their private lives.
It's sad but true that people invest more time in planning the purchase of a used car than they do planning their life and their career. But its also true to say most people don't really plan for much at all. Okay, they may plan for holidays but for too many people 'today' is very much the same as 'yesterday' and probably will be very much like 'tomorrow'.
Its easy to get into a rut and to me a rut, looks very much like a grave! So let's keep away from 'getting into a rut'
To break that cycle or rut, its important to set some goals looking at what one wants in life, assessing how things are currently and then planning how to leap the gap between "now" and the "future".
Goal Setting & Driving
I spent my time last night revisiting goal setting. Milton Keynes to Edinburgh is about a six hour journey and I love it because in the confines of my car with a CD playing I can make all sorts of plans. But thinking through those ideas this morning - have I been too ambitious? On reflection I'd prefer being over-ambitious to under-achieving.
So what sort of over achiever are you?
I think its very simple. Most people excel at things when they love what they are doing. I have got to admit I love the buzz of working with people, developing and implementing strategies to resolve difficult problems. My buzz comes from seeing a new business or new culture take shape. I experience real pride when the new ways of working generate results and when they impact business performance - well, that's the adrenalin rush for me.
What motivates you?
So I am lucky I know what motivates me and I can turn it on. If you are not sure of what motivates you, one way of helping you get started is to think through the 8 key steps in goal setting. Going through this process forces you to think of how things can be different and that is a great motivator in itself. So here are the top eight steps or principles of goal setting.
Eight Steps to Effective Goal Setting
Step 1. You will achieve a Goal if it is truly desired, not just a vague wish. Write down all the benefits you will personally experience from achieving this goal. If you can think of only one or two advantages then this goal may not be that important to you. If you identify possible benefits to achieving your goal - you are more likely to achieve it.
Step 2. Most people don't ever write down their goals. Time devoted to goal writing in different aspects of your life are critical. When goals are written down they take on a tangibility. They are no longer vague dreams or wishes, they appear more concrete. Goals that are stated can be measured so you can compare where you are in terms of achieving them as each day passess.
Step 3. Set specific stretching goals that push you just outside your comfort zone. There is no point setting goals which you know you can achieve easily - you should be organising yourself to stretch your capabilities, not limit them.
Step 4. Determine what knowledge you need in order to achieve the goal. If you don't currently have the knowledge, then list possible sources where it can be attained. Identify key people who have already mastered that knowledge and replicate their behaviour.
Step 5. Seek out those who will develop you. Everyone needs a mentor or coach. Others must have achieved what you aspire towards. Seek them out. Examine how they overcame difficulties.
Step 6. Identify barriers to achievement. List them now. You will probably find that they are mostly 'self imposed'.
Step 7. Have a clear image of achieving the goal. Visualise yourself achieving the goal. Use the 'back to the future' image. Imagine that you have achieved all your goals. Think of what it will be like in the future. Looking back at today, list your successes and how you overcame barriers. This technique plants you firmly in the future and enables you to think of the actions you took, making the possibility of achieving these goals realistic.
Step 8. Write and constantly review, the detailed plan that takes you closer to your goal.
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