The old way is not delivering.

It is no longer sustainable.

It cannot be done the same way any longer.

Big changes are required.

A new direction.

The vision is grand.

The focus is clear.

A huge commitment is essential.

It’s time to burn the boats.

There is no going back.

Build and embrace the new.

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Socrates

“Burn the boats as you enter the island and you will take the island.” – Napoleon Hill

Challenge the status quo.

Change the default.

Question the rules.

Check your assumptions.

Break the system.

Redesign the process.

Critique the standards.

Develop alternatives.

Contest the norms.

No, it does not need to always be done that way.

Have you questioned the pre-selected settings?

Of the organisation?

Of the team?

What about your own settings?

“Either you defend the status quo, or you invent the future.” – Seth Godin

“Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.” – Dalai Lama

It might be uncomfortable.

It may feel scary.

It will definitely be challenging.

Put yourself out there anyway.

You’re not going to hurt anyone.

You won’t die.

You will learn something.

About yourself.

About what’s actually “out there”.

(Which is usually not as bad as it seemed).

“Out there”, you might fail.

You might be talked about.

You might be thought weird.

You will feel vulnerable.

That’s normal.

Do it anyway.

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” – Nelson Mandela

“Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection.” – Brené Brown

If the strategy is not fully developed, then it cannot be fully deployed.

If there is no alignment around the strategy, then there will be no alignment of effort.

If the strategy is unclear, then it cannot be communicated with clarity.

If the destination is uncertain, then any direction will get you there.

Debate and iterate until it is clear.

Getting clear on the strategy enables everything else to become clearer.

“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” – Sun Tzu

“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” – Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

You win some, you lose some.

And you learn some.

Sure, you can gain insight from triumph.

The winning proposal.

The closed deal.

The successful presentation.

You’ll likely learn more from the misses.

What didn’t go so well?

What was the feedback?

What would you do differently next time?

So, the review, the hotwash, the debrief, the evaluation.

Whatever you call it … ensure you do it.

It is the learnings that are invaluable.

“If you don’t look back on yourself and think, ‘Wow how stupid I was a year ago,’ then you must not have learned much in the last year.” – Ray Dalio, author of “Principles”.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill

You could help if they wanted to be helped.

You could make an impact if they would only let you.

You can make the time if they would give it.

You would jump at the opportunity if they offered it.

You could lead if …

… wait!

“They” don’t need to give you permission to lead.

Start where you are now and lead from there.

“True leadership always begins with the inner person.” – John c. Maxwell

“Leadership is not a position or title, it is action and example.” – Robin Sharma

You will need to do the work.

The good parts … and the bad.

Not all the work will be important and challenging.

You will need to apply yourself to the modest and mundane too.

Doing great work, no matter the work, demonstrates a work ethic.

You can’t simply turn it on, only when the good stuff comes along.

Whatever the work requires, do it well.

That way you will be ready to do great work … anytime.

“Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble.” – Sir Henry Royce

“Do the work. Everyone wants to be successful, but nobody wants to do the work.” – Gary Vaynerchuk

You have a network.

But your network is not about you.

It’s about them.

You must give before you receive.

So how can you strengthen your network?

Understand the needs of the network.

Provide benefit and deliver value.

Be accessible and approachable.

Connect and introduce others.

Follow up and stay in touch.

Get active and be proactive.

Provide referrals.

Share opportunities.

Reciprocate.

Be genuine and sincere.

Sure, you will need to call on the network.

But you will only get out what you put in.

“It’s not called net-sitting or net-eating.  It’s called networking.  You have to work at it.” – Ivan Misner

Searching for the boundaries.

Are there any boundaries?

Finding the boundaries.

Where are the boundaries?

Testing the boundaries

Can we question the boundaries?

Stretching the boundaries.

Are the boundaries flexible?

Pushing the boundaries.

Do the boundaries extend any further?

Stepping over the boundaries.

What’s beyond the boundaries?

Moving the boundaries.

How permanent are the boundaries?

Breakthrough the boundaries.

Are the boundaries limiting?

“If you do not push the boundaries, you will never know where they are.” – T. S. Eliot

Collaboration …

… draws on the strengths of the team.

… generates solutions.

… encourages new ideas.

… produces greater value.

… enhances contribution.

… leverages expertise.

… leads to innovation.

… produces efficiencies.

… lifts the team to the next level.

… compels communication.

… expands the skillset.

… motivates.

… builds competencies

… embraces differences.

… accelerates progress.

… divides and conquers.

… provides opportunities.

“Collaboration is multiplication.” – John C. Maxwell