Ignite Business Solutions

One of my favourite quotes comes the movie the Martian. At the end of the movie, Mark Watney played by Matt Damon is lecturing at NASA and is asked by one of his students - how did you get back to earth after being stranded on Mars?

He answered “You just begin. You do the math. You solve one problem... and you solve the next one... and then the next. And If you solve enough problems, you get to come home. All right, questions?”

Take away - Have a goal, it determines direction and start by taking action, there will be problems, solve them, solve enough problems and you will reach you goal.

I started this year with the feeling that the “great squeeze” is over and that I can live a little bolder and look a little further ahead than just one month!

Navigating the last two COVID years has placed a tremendous burden on all of us. Plans were put on hold as we went into damage control and survival mode. Our lives closed in and collectively we held our breath!

We cannot ignore that fact the two years have passed on by and this is not about a minor course correction like setting New Year’s Resolutions, rather it’s time to set new directions and (with thanks to Captain Kirk) to boldly go where we have not gone before.

This is easier said than done, however the picture of what I want my post COVID life to look like is forming in my mind and I have committed to daily course corrections to achieve my end goal.

Eight years ago, today I left Volkswagen Group South Africa and embarked on a new journey. It was a journey that I had played with in my mind for many years but could never really start.

It was in May 2005 that I decided to take the first step when I left the comforts of IT and moved into Sales and Marketing. I count the period 2005 – 2012 as my “MBA years” as I was immersed in the wholesale and retail business of the Motor Industry.

In 2005 when I crossed the tarmac road that separated IT and Sales & Marketing, I knew then my next step would be out the door. That day was June 29th, 2012.

It is the Inner Game that is most important.

I used my “MBA years” to change my perception of myself. I used to fly Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg most weeks of the year and so my last stop on my return journey would be the Exclusive Books store at OR Tambo and so on my first trip the re-wiring began.

I was not ready for the new journey in May 2005, but I was prepared as I would ever be in June 2012.

If you want an indication of the direction of your Inner Game, cast your eye over the books you have read, the webinars you have attended and the podcasts you have listened to in 2020. They are you compass and your guide.

Be intentional about your next step and change your Inner Game.

https://www.strategy-business.com/article/Four-ways-to-reflect-that-help-boost-performance?gko=ca6fa

Four ways to reflect that help boost performance Powerful modes of reflection are crucial for leaders and their teams, especially when dealing with a crisis.

https://hbr-org.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/hbr.org/amp/2018/10/the-art-of-the-elevator-pitch

The Art of the Elevator Pitch Can you explain your idea in one sentence?

Ease of business?

How easy is it for your customers to engage with you?

Are the interactions engaging with minimal friction or are they hard work and your customers take a deep breath when they see you coming?

A very good leadership model from Doug Conant

ConantLeadership Flywheel - ConantLeadership   Choose a SectionOverviewInspire Trust1. Clarify Higher Purpose2. Create Direction3. Drive Alignment4. Build Vitality5. Execute with Excellence6. Produce Extraordinary Results   Overview The key to Leadership That Works is found in the 7 connected practice areas of the ConantLeadership Flywheel. ...

5 QUESTIONS TO BRING YOUR GOALS TO LIFE I invited several top leaders, authors, and bloggers to share their wisdom with Leadership Freak readers. Thanks to Douglas R. Conant for contributing this insightful post on bringing goals to life…

https://leadershipfreak.blog/2016/07/27/5-questions-to-bring-your-goals-to-life/

5 QUESTIONS TO BRING YOUR GOALS TO LIFE I invited several top leaders, authors, and bloggers to share their wisdom with Leadership Freak readers. Thanks to Douglas R. Conant for contributing this insightful post on bringing goals to life…

“Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.” – Paul J. Meyer