This Blog is called ‘Dan’ because, well, Dan is Dan.

I had the pleasure of working with Dan this week at a Workshop.
He oozes that wonderful ability to make complicated seem simple.

We were talking about the market, the mood and the tempest.
Dan had seen it all before.

Here is what he said (with poetic license naturally).

“In a recession more people simply say ‘no’ rather than ‘yes’.
Nothing has changed.
It’s just that the ‘yes’ answers are a little harder to find.
No big deal, they are there, you just have to cut through the ‘nos’ to get to the ‘yes’”

What a wonderful way to inspire a mission.
Then again, we meet wonderful people every day.

Like Dan, you just have to give them a stage.

Some people know the cost of everything and the value of nothing.

In a world obsessed with money, recession and cutbacks its worth thinking about value versus cutbacks.

Of course it is sensible to cut excess.
Sensible too to cut what was lazy.
Perfect sense to be prudent rather than mean.
Natural to analyze and try to buy better.

But beware.
If you cut too deep you might hit bone.
If you cut too deep you may just change what you are, what you do and who you are.
If you cut too deep you cannot be all that brought you this far.
If you cut too deep you may just cut the one thing that carried you to here.
Your customers and your suppliers.

Knives can be dangerous.
Be careful.

As we journey through life we meet thousands of people.
Few will leave a lasting footprint.
Few will create an impact.
You know who they are.

The few who do have already stood out from the crowd.
Their presence in your life made a difference.
That action, that impact, deserved and earned your respect.

What was that quality?
What did they say?
What did they do?
Why did they inspire you?
Why did you listen?
What was it about them?

Next time you meet someone lost, at a crossroads or needing guidance.
Think about those who got your respect.

Now follow in their footsteps.

Everywhere you go really bad marketers label their product “unique”.
It’s so often used that it has morphed into “common”.
Unique is a little like magic, if it is everywhere, it’s hardly unique and definitely not magic.

Unique is an easy, lazy, unsubstantiated opt out.
It’s a meaningless tag that rarely bears relevance.
It’s existence is everywhere in everything.
It rarely describes the truth.

‘Unique’ means “being the only one of its kind; unequaled, unparalleled or unmatched”.

Next time you are about to write ‘unique’ – pause and think.
Then ask – “Is it really?”

A business plan is just like a parachute jump.
Strange but true!

Every freefall jump starts with an idea.
Every jump has the easy initial excitement. Nice idea, daring but no risk.

The idea becomes more real.
The aircraft takes off, the butterflies twitch.

12,000 high and the risks are obvious. It’s no longer just an idea.

The defining moment comes along. A test that will try your nerves.

The jump begins and everything seems blurred, distant and far off.
Worse still, the destination looks tiny, unobtainable and a long way away.

The wind howls and gusts do their best to throw you off course.
The scenery tempts but will consume your focus.

More winds fight with a big open chute.
The tiny destination seems impossible from a sky so high.

The goal is survival and the mission is simply to hit that landing spot.
Anything else is a crash and with crashes comes injury and broken limbs.
Flying again will be a dream alone.

Total focus, no distractions, a few big battles and the spot looms large.
Success is a dead centre landing on a once far off dream.

Next time you decide to take a risk (or jump from 12,000 feet).
Make sure you know your destination.
Make sure nothing blows you off course.

The world is full of post recession litigation.
Legal Eagles are busy defending and prosecuting.

A new ethical norm has arise.
It’s called “Getting away with it”.
Versus “what’s right”.

There is a difference.

Getting away with it means “I didn’t get caught”.
Getting caught is not the judge of morally right.

Doing the right thing will always be- well – the right thing.
Inevitably, it will be the more difficult route.

‘Getting away with it’ is thin dangerous ice.
It confuses right from wrong.

In the end, those who ‘get away with it’ miss the point.
It’s not about fooling the Judge, The Court or even the Prosecution.
It’s far worse.

It’s about fooling yourself.

Have you ever worked with a Manager who was simply amazing with customers?
Ever seen that Salesman softly guide a tricky deal into the net only to be adored by his client?
Have you ever seen that wonderful woman who was incredibly concerned by the stories of her guests.

Did you ever feel a little cynical about it?

Was that Manager really a tyrant behind the scenes?
Was the Salesman a man of different values after he got the sale?
Was the kindly woman really different to her Staff?

Really successful people don’t change.
Really good managers are always calm, consistent and considerate.
Really good leaders have one face and one standard.

If your Boss is scathing behind your back.
Or, nasty about their guests.
Or two faced with two attitudes.
You already know that – Right?

Guess what? You won’t be alone for long.
It’s not just staff and employees who have highly tuned radars.

Be sure about who you are.
Better still, have one face, one voice and a consistent approach.

If you have two, don’t be surprised if they begin to call you something else.
Perhaps Dr.Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?

A flat calm sea is a perfect on board picnic time.
No wind, no fuss, no rush.

A storm might just change all that.
Windy wet decks and tumbling flasks of tea.

Wise sailors pack up, adjust and sail.
Inexperience panics and panic can capsize.

Clever Captains assess the sea.
They look at storms and plan their defense.

Panicked Captains flaff and fail.
They also risk their crew.

A gale force wind can be your enemy.
It can also be your friend.

You can’t change the wind.
You can change your direction.

Change to go with the wind and your haven will appear faster.
Challenge the wind and see who wins?

The meeting was half way through.
The leader was listening and remained patient and calm.

The talker was holding court in his usual agitated way.
People were beginning to fade.

Meeting over it was time to enjoy a drink.
Nobody rushed.
This was always the best part.

Leader quietly went to leave the room.
People noticed.
A few followed, curious about their leader.

“Where are you going?” they asked.

“Oh, just to fix my flat tyre” he replied.

They cheerfully offered to help.

“That would be great. Thank you” he said

A month later, another meeting.
The talker looked cranky and glum.
Meeting over he halted their departure.

“Now then Ladies & Gentlemen, you are not going anywhere just yet”

A subtle sigh filled the air.

“I have a flat tyre and need 3 volunteers to help me fix it”

Heads went down, people disappeared, nobody volunteered.

Talker left the room.
Nobody came to help

Spot the difference?

Were you ever hauled in to the office of the big boss?
Kind of scary but exciting too.

Big Boss sits in his big chair cutting a powerful figure.
Little you sits in the little chair awaiting his word.

Still exciting, still scary.

He gazes out the window, begins to speak and expresses his opinion.
Your mind races. You rush to assess, assimilate and process.
“Please God, don’t let me sound like a complete fool?”

He finishes his message.
He swivels slowly and fixes his eyes on yours.

“Well, what do you think?”

Mind races again. Choices, choices, choices.

You have 3.
Number 1 starts with “I agree”.
Number 2 with “I don’t agree”.
I’ll come back to Number 3.

If you answer 1 but really mean 2, what does that say? What will he really think now?
If you answer 2 but really mean 1 because you are trying to be cool, what does that say? What will he really think now?

Or, if you play games, prepare to lose now and again.

1 and 2 are absolutely fine if it really is your view.
If it’s not, don’t play games.

Back to Number 3. By far the best. By far the most honest. By far the one he wants. By far the one that will earn most respect.

Start Number 3 always like this;

“In my opinion …… “

He may like it, he may not.
He asked, you gave.
The word ‘opinion’ allows you to say anything you want.

And before you say “I’m not entitled to have an opinion” Remember this;

You are.

That’s why it’s called ‘an opinion’.