Resolute Resolutions: Keeping Clear Orientations of Outcomes

2 January 2011, Sunday.

Day 2 of this brand-new year; I slept in a little and missed my personal start-off time for my first bike ride of the year. I, eventually, rode easy (with many others who may be working off the post-New Year feasting guilt) for about two hours; head-winds were committed to motivate me to work harder than I intended though. Yesterday morning, I did a swim-run brick session with friends from Triathlon Family and that I enjoyed that. Tomorrow, I take the plunge into an area of weakness and immerse myself in new discovery and adventure.

Mel, finally, worked out the kinks in our home wireless system. We got a new modem-router and configured/reconfigured (took many attempts) before we got lift-off. I am, now, happily uploading applications for my iPad – my new tool for business presentations. It is high time I fully integrated and applied my working knowledge of Social Media 2.0.

2011 will be a year of business expansion, active collaboration, and purposeful charity work. I will spend most of this week meeting existing business associates, new project partners, and interns (a form of mentoring for new entrants to the working world). For my personal development, I will be focused on enhancing my business acumen, active networking, developing my market niche and personal mastery. My three key orientations, that focuses on IQ, EQ and AQ will be:

1)    Head (learn and lead with purpose; develop skills of distinction and signature moves)

2)    Heart (be more people-orientated; fully engage and be engaged with others; really connect on a physical and emotional level)

3)    Hands (develop a stronger sense of charity and altruism; learn new skills using my hands)

What will be your mental orientations? What will you be doing to develop your sense of purpose? How will you connect with your colleagues, business partners, customers and family?

Leaders and Storytelling

‘Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there lived a…and they lived happily ever after!’ The end.

That opening statement and closing statement of a fairy-tale is the formula for a trance-like journey into the child’s imagination. The world of myth, fantasy or make-believe is critical to our human thinking and its faculties. To be creative, we need to imagine possibilities and make connections to what is with what could be.

The diversity of blogs featured on this site reflects on the relevance of their stories. Without stories, our lives would be different and, perhaps, hollow. Stories give us an opportunity to shift mental and emotional gears. When we hear a story, we respond to it in ways that are certainly not ingrained in routine, the mundane, and mental tunnel vision. Consider the popularity of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

Even lunch-hour chatter can be healthy. Having lunch and tea are rituals; we have to eat and drink. Having your nutrition on the ride and run is crucial to your success in completing the endurance race or training session. Post-training session with runners, cyclists and swimmers include food, and stories about races and racing experiences. Everybody has a story to tell. Listen to them. It warrants your attention and may yield insights. It also melds minds with its subtle influence. Think of how you help convert novice runners into more serious, and even elite runners; short-distance triathletes into long-distance triathletes.

Build a library of war stories. As a coach, compile stories of what went well, and went things went wrong. Collect stories about the history of your company. Recognise the founders and the pioneers. Nike was built about the stories about Coach Bill Bowerman and Steve Prefontaine. Sir Richard Branson’s exploits with BA paved the way for Virgin Airlines.

If you are keen to explore corporate stories, you can read more about Anecdote.

These guys [L-R: Aristol, me, Mervyn, Reeves & Roger] have - between them - numerous war stories on being corporate leaders, and participants in international long-distance races. You are welcome to shoot the breeze with us and find out how to embark on YOUR JOURNEY!