What is REALLY important?

Last night I went to a meeting of 14 local people who have formed a committee and they are trying to raise money to take a young man with a terminal illness to Lourdes before his final demise.

It made me think very seriously about

• business
• management
• leadership
• simplicity
  

Real life is not about high flying business executives, management jargon and complex language invented to preserve the reputation of the people who designed the language.

Real life is about well meaning and dedicated people who give up their own precious time to do something to help another human being at times of need.

This committee worked hard as a team for a couple of hours, planning their fund raising event and I was proud to listen and admire the commitment and determination of these people.

Business as a whole; Managers; and Leaders can learn an awful lot from attending such meetings.

If they did - maybe, just maybe, some meetings in business settings will finally use language that is understood by everyone in the room rather than the elite few who seem to glory in confusing others with crazy ineligible words.

Phew ....I really enjoyed that rant!!! - Give me Simplicity every time

Embrace 'Eccentric' People

'Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.' - Bertrand Russell

I like this quote from Mr Russell - a wise man.

How many of us have been told in our career? - 'That won't work - we tried it before and it failed'

That is a sure fire way to put someone down in my book!

People always come at problems and issues with a different pair of eyes than mine - a fresh pair of eyes and a new mindset toward an old problem.

I must not have the audacity to 'judge' someone for that!

Never, ever, discourage someone who wants to sort something in their own way; don't question their methods; providing, of course, the methods are legal!

Forgive the self-indulgence but I thought it would be good to share this with you. Annie and I competed today in our first charity run.

This was for the 'British Lung Foundation' and it was only 5 Km, which is not an earth-shattering event but as a couple of 'old' ex-smokers, we were both well pleased.

Setting achievable targets is a good management technique and our next target is to run 7 marathons in 7 continents in 7 days in 7 days time!

I'm jesting of course - a 10Km race is our next objective!

Difference is good but you might lose your bike!

On Tom Peters blog today is an interesting question

Did you take a freak out to lunch today?

The point being made is that people who challenge your thinking are likely to make things happen in your organisation.

Nothing radical about that and it reminded me of a story so I posted this story on Tom Peters Blog in reponse .

I recall Dave a colleague manager I worked with in healthcare here in the UK 15 years ago who was a keen cyclist and proud owner of an expensive racing bike.

In his first week with us he chained his bike to a radiator in the corridor outside the office of the Chief Executive where we were all gathered for a meeting.

He came into the meeting in his track suit, trainers and sweat band and was carrying a 'Tesco' supermarket bag that contained his paperwork for the meeting.

The rest of us in our smart but boring corporate black suits and ties and immaculate brief cases looked on with interest as you can imagine.

He created quite an impression and stayed with us two years or so till he got fed up with 'stuffiness and rules' and not surprisingly he left.

In those two years however he changed things dramatically and made a real impression. Always challenging the status quo - he made work an intreresting palce to be. The staff generally loved his 'eccentricity' as they called it - to me it was simply 'pushing the edges.'

I liked Dave - sadly I lost track of him and I sometimes wonder where he is now - probably back packing at 60 years of age across Australia or simething similarly interesting whilst most of the 'black suits' are still 'enjoying' writing their boring reports and still towing the corporate line.

By the way ... the Chief Executive was not amused and got the hospital porter to cut the chain and remove the bike .... SAD DON'T YOU THINK?