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Another post from my blog.....visit www.hgrei.com for more postings like this!
Early in October I had this great sense of privilege. I have worked hard and I have made a lot of good decisions but mostly I have surrounded myself with people that push me. It isn`t always easy that is for sure to be around these types of people but that is what I have always aspired to. During that first week of October I felt privileged to be surrounded by so many great people and meeting Richard Branson was definitely one of the highlights of my professional life.
I thought I would share a breakdown of some of the things I learned or had re-enforced by Richard during the Engage Today 2009 Event.
A) break the rules
This one was easy for me to relate to! Having never been one to follow the rules, I was always looking for ways around "the system" if they didn`t make sense to me. Richard is very much the same way. When he started into his first venture Student magazine he was just a young boy but he never let that stop him. He never let people tell him that he couldn`t do something that he really wanted to do. I think that this is a great lesson! How many things are out there that are possible but we don`t even try because someone told us that it was impossible! Too many in my opinion. Break the mould a take a risk on something impossible in your daily life! What is really holding you back?
B) have fun
This is another one that was quite easy for me to relate to. Why are you doing something if you don`t enjoy it in some way! If it isn`t enriching your life get rid of it! When you go into work tomorrow are you going because you have to or because you want to? Too many people go because they have to. You only get one shot at this thing so make each day count. Your life should be enjoyable not a series of suffering (My Alpine climbing friends might disagree with this as it doesn`t have to be fun to be fun right guys) Ask yourself if the task I am doing right now is enjoyable? If not, close this web page and get out into the world and find something to put a smile on your face!
C) take calculated risks
I have always thought that mountain climbing was the great metaphor for business. Climbing is all about risk acknowledgment, risk acceptance and risk mitigation. I know about the risk, I accept the risk and here is what I am doing about it. When it comes to business what more can you really do?
There is no courage in doing stupid things that can only do harm with no upside. But it does take courage to take risks that will bring you closer to your goals. It does take effort and personal reflection to push yourself through the fear but the rewards can be substantial!
D) Planning is no substitute for action
"Screw it, Let`s do it!" is the title of one of Richard`s books and I couldn`t agree more! So many people get caught up in the planning stages. Planning is important but nothing comes out of a plan unless you DO SOMETHING! I think a lot of people mistake planning for action. Look at this great plan that I thought up. Isn`t it great! Well quite frankly, no it isn`t great....it is just an idea and until that idea has something concrete behind it is nothing at all. The world is full of great ideas. How many "ideas" do you have locked up in your brain? There are almost no risks in an idea. And the fact of the matter is that man plans and God laughs. Even the best laid plans will not be how reality sets forth.
Action is really where the rubber hits the road. Where you actually take some risk. It is also where the rewards are hidden. When you actually do something is when all that was intended to be great proves (or disproves) itself! Don`t get caught up in the little details of how things will play out. Move, shake, go forward and create that great idea!
Ask yourself, what one thing am I doing today to move me closer to my goals and making this world better than when you first got here?
E) push your limits
This might sound strange but I always feel uncomfortable when I am comfortable. The fact of the matter is this, comfort breeds conformity and there is no growth in conformity. As a guy who strives for personal and professional growth daily I always feel the need to push my own limits and usually this is uncomfortable in some way as it should be!
In his book Rickard talks about challenges and his drive behind those challenges. He describes learning to swim as a boy. He takes a bet from his aunt that he will learn to swim by the end of the vacation. He tries and tries and tries but to no success. He feels as if he is about to fail. As the family is driving home from the vacation he spots a small river and asks his dad to stop the car. His dad knows exactly why and stops. Richard gets out and with all his might swims for the first time! Was this an uncomfortable and scary experience...probably! But how did he feel after? Was it worth the fear?
Do one thing today that scares you!
Bonus F) Contribute to a better world
Richard is very focused on contribution. Each of his Virgin business units (there are many of them) is designed to make this world better than it was before. It might be offsetting the effects of climate change or creating art or flying people around the world or ending poverty but in every aspect he is looking to make his contribution.
I have given this a lot of thought lately and recently experienced the great joy of helping a complete stranger. I can tell you that there is no better feeling! Making a positive impact on yourself, your neighbour, your community and the world will help complete the circle. I have had many successes in my life but in the end I was always left thinking what next? Where do I go from here? When you do something selflessly for someone else for some reason there is none of that! Seeing your efforts have a profound impact on the outcome of a stranger`s life is completely rewarding in itself.
What are you doing to make this world better? Is it personal growth, a community service or simply recycling that pop can you would have normally thrown away?
Your thoughts?
Early in October I had this great sense of privilege. I have worked hard and I have made a lot of good decisions but mostly I have surrounded myself with people that push me. It isn`t always easy that is for sure to be around these types of people but that is what I have always aspired to. During that first week of October I felt privileged to be surrounded by so many great people and meeting Richard Branson was definitely one of the highlights of my professional life.
I thought I would share a breakdown of some of the things I learned or had re-enforced by Richard during the Engage Today 2009 Event.
A) break the rules
This one was easy for me to relate to! Having never been one to follow the rules, I was always looking for ways around "the system" if they didn`t make sense to me. Richard is very much the same way. When he started into his first venture Student magazine he was just a young boy but he never let that stop him. He never let people tell him that he couldn`t do something that he really wanted to do. I think that this is a great lesson! How many things are out there that are possible but we don`t even try because someone told us that it was impossible! Too many in my opinion. Break the mould a take a risk on something impossible in your daily life! What is really holding you back?
B) have fun
This is another one that was quite easy for me to relate to. Why are you doing something if you don`t enjoy it in some way! If it isn`t enriching your life get rid of it! When you go into work tomorrow are you going because you have to or because you want to? Too many people go because they have to. You only get one shot at this thing so make each day count. Your life should be enjoyable not a series of suffering (My Alpine climbing friends might disagree with this as it doesn`t have to be fun to be fun right guys) Ask yourself if the task I am doing right now is enjoyable? If not, close this web page and get out into the world and find something to put a smile on your face!
C) take calculated risks
I have always thought that mountain climbing was the great metaphor for business. Climbing is all about risk acknowledgment, risk acceptance and risk mitigation. I know about the risk, I accept the risk and here is what I am doing about it. When it comes to business what more can you really do?
There is no courage in doing stupid things that can only do harm with no upside. But it does take courage to take risks that will bring you closer to your goals. It does take effort and personal reflection to push yourself through the fear but the rewards can be substantial!
D) Planning is no substitute for action
"Screw it, Let`s do it!" is the title of one of Richard`s books and I couldn`t agree more! So many people get caught up in the planning stages. Planning is important but nothing comes out of a plan unless you DO SOMETHING! I think a lot of people mistake planning for action. Look at this great plan that I thought up. Isn`t it great! Well quite frankly, no it isn`t great....it is just an idea and until that idea has something concrete behind it is nothing at all. The world is full of great ideas. How many "ideas" do you have locked up in your brain? There are almost no risks in an idea. And the fact of the matter is that man plans and God laughs. Even the best laid plans will not be how reality sets forth.
Action is really where the rubber hits the road. Where you actually take some risk. It is also where the rewards are hidden. When you actually do something is when all that was intended to be great proves (or disproves) itself! Don`t get caught up in the little details of how things will play out. Move, shake, go forward and create that great idea!
Ask yourself, what one thing am I doing today to move me closer to my goals and making this world better than when you first got here?
E) push your limits
This might sound strange but I always feel uncomfortable when I am comfortable. The fact of the matter is this, comfort breeds conformity and there is no growth in conformity. As a guy who strives for personal and professional growth daily I always feel the need to push my own limits and usually this is uncomfortable in some way as it should be!
In his book Rickard talks about challenges and his drive behind those challenges. He describes learning to swim as a boy. He takes a bet from his aunt that he will learn to swim by the end of the vacation. He tries and tries and tries but to no success. He feels as if he is about to fail. As the family is driving home from the vacation he spots a small river and asks his dad to stop the car. His dad knows exactly why and stops. Richard gets out and with all his might swims for the first time! Was this an uncomfortable and scary experience...probably! But how did he feel after? Was it worth the fear?
Do one thing today that scares you!
Bonus F) Contribute to a better world
Richard is very focused on contribution. Each of his Virgin business units (there are many of them) is designed to make this world better than it was before. It might be offsetting the effects of climate change or creating art or flying people around the world or ending poverty but in every aspect he is looking to make his contribution.
I have given this a lot of thought lately and recently experienced the great joy of helping a complete stranger. I can tell you that there is no better feeling! Making a positive impact on yourself, your neighbour, your community and the world will help complete the circle. I have had many successes in my life but in the end I was always left thinking what next? Where do I go from here? When you do something selflessly for someone else for some reason there is none of that! Seeing your efforts have a profound impact on the outcome of a stranger`s life is completely rewarding in itself.
What are you doing to make this world better? Is it personal growth, a community service or simply recycling that pop can you would have normally thrown away?
Your thoughts?
