Success
213 posts
On Failure
I don’t know, are three of the hardest words for fallible human beings to say. We avoid them at all costs and at every turn. Because in our eyes, giving the wrong answer is worse than having none at all. But mistakes are not failings, they are data we can learn from. Every failure inches…
Building A Reputation
When you and I were at school, many students had a reputation. We can recall the smart and funny ones. The artistic or athletic ones. The introverts and the extroverts. Those reputations were not bestowed—they were built. People’s opinions about you are based not just on what you say, but on what yo
The Way To Lead
A few years back, my son was leaving the train station in Perth when someone asked him for directions. He began to explain the route but stopped halfway. ‘I’m going that direction, why don’t I take you there,’ he said, leading the way. One of the best definitions of leadership I’ve read, explains th
The Unremarkable
Lately, we have come to recognise the remarkable contribution of the people many considered unremarkable. The people who stack our food on the supermarket shelves through the night. The truck drivers who get behind the wheel every day ensuring deliveries reach us. Those who wake early to clean our h
On Helping
We like to be helpful. We’re physiologically wired for it. The *science shows that helping others helps us to help ourselves. Helping makes us happy. So when people ask for advice or an opinion, we gladly offer it. But before we can help, there’s a question we need to answer. How exactly am I helpin
Ideas Worth Keeping
Sometimes our best ideas come to us when we’re working with constraints. We’ve all seen hundreds of brilliant ideas and initiatives come into being as a result of communities being in isolation around the globe. Local councils in London are calling at-risk elderly to ask if they need groceries or me
One Way Or Another
When I got my first job, I cycled to work and back every day. On a fine summer day in Dublin, cycling is a joy, it’s a different story in winter. The worst part was always that last hill on the way home. I’d try to stay on the bike for as long as possible,…
In Answer To Your Question
We like to ask for advice. It’s human to investigate all the angles—to seek the opinions of others. And yet in doing so, we can forget to reflect on our insights and assumptions. We often forget to check in with our beliefs before considering what someone else thinks. What if before sought advice, w
If I Were You
If I were you. Four words it’s tempting to use when someone shares a problem. Four words I’m trying to avoid using—because I am not you. I don’t know what it’s like to sit with what you’re experiencing or feeling at this moment. You have the wisdom of past experiences to draw on. Ideas you…
Balancing Wants And Needs
On a normal day, our local supermarket stocks fifty different kinds of pasta. Right now they’re stocking two. On a normal day, customers would complain bitterly about the lack of choice. Today they’re grateful to leave the shop with two boxes of a brand of penne they’ve never tried. What we’re witne
What Can You Do Now?
Julie has been running her local florist business for five years. She’s built up a reputation with the people in her suburb, who regularly pop in when they’re walking past to buy flowers and plants that brighten their homes and their lives. While new single bunch, online flower delivery services blo
On Resourcefulness
When things don’t go according to plan. Remember this isn’t the first time you’ve had to change course. Make a list of all the other times you pushed through. Remind yourself of the skills and strengths you previously called on in challenging times. Tell yourself those stories today. They will stand
Don’t Be Right, Be Early
Seven years ago, a member of the Zoom video conferencing sales team worked hard to demonstrate the value of their service to me. She emailed, she Zoomed, she answered questions. And I didn’t sign up. ‘I will one day,’ I promised. ‘Just not now. It’s just too early for me.’ Which was true. Few of…
Build a Reputation
My friend Anna has been going to the same hairdresser for ten years. She’s never trusted anyone else to cut her hair in all that time. Now though, she has no option because her stylist just had a baby, and she’s on maternity leave. When Anna sat in the new stylist’s chair, she was so…
What Separates This From That?
When we’re not simply driven by price how do we choose what to buy? We tell ourselves a story about quality, design, durability, or provenance. But often as we rationalise about the advantages of one product or service over another, the differentiator we perceive is the degree of love and care that’
Influence Vs. Impact
In a world where attention has become both currency and commodity, it’s tempting to believe there’s a direct correlation between influence and impact. The modern definition of an influencer is someone who can persuade people with their recommendations. But it turns out, the people who have the great
What Does Being Successful Mean To You?
This question about success is one that members of the Right Company have been reflecting on this past week. It seems like a question that should have a straightforward answer. After all, if success is something we aspire to, we must know what our ambitions are. If we don’t know where we want to go,
Promises Worth Keeping
While I was out walking this weekend I came across a sign on a shop door detailing the opening times. It read: MONDAYS—probably TUESDAYS-probably WEDNESDAYS—probably not sure Not SURE! THURSDAYS—OPEN FRIDAYS—OPEN SATURDAYS—OPEN SUNDAYS—OPEN MAY BE LATER FOR OPENING (SORRY! LIFELONG HABIT) BUT TRYING
The Sliding Scale Of Ambition
There are many ways Leanne could leverage the success of her popular hair salon. She could extend her opening hours or enter national competitions. She could hire more stylists and open more branches. She could create a line of hair products or franchise her business process and ideas. But Leanne ch
On Strengths
If a friend or colleague asked you to list their strengths, I’m guessing you’d have no trouble coming up several of their attributes. But if they asked you to share a list of your strengths you’d likely hesitate. Why is that? We don’t spend a lot of time reflecting on our skills and talents, because
