What was your greatest failure? What happened and what have your learned from it?
Here are the headlines:
- Jonathan Nichols | Taking the Learnings from Career Transitions from Marketing to Sales.
- Declan Armour | Overcoming Limitations to Pursue Success.
- Andrew Rimmington | Politeness and Honesty as Business Cornerstones.
- Bryan Chung | The Power of Visualisation in Personal and Business Growth.
- Drai Douglas | Striking the Balance Between Perfectionism and Efficiency.
- Louise Evans | Making Tough Decisions for Business Success
- Jonathan Bradley | Leading with Trust and Empowerment in Business.
Jonathan Nichols shared two significant pieces of advice that had a great impact on his life and career during the meeting:
Diversifying Experience: Early in his career, when he was working in marketing, Jonathan received advice from his marketing manager, Kay. She told him that if he wanted to excel in marketing, he should gain some sales experience, and if he wanted to be good at sales, he should also gain marketing experience. He took this advice to heart and transitioned between marketing and sales roles. Ultimately, this advice helped him discover his passion for working in sales, even though he initially had a degree in marketing. Jonathan believes that if it hadn’t been for Kay’s advice, he might have stayed on a predetermined career path without exploring other opportunities.
Working Yourself Out of a Job: Jonathan mentioned that he received advice, which he can’t recall the source of, about having a mindset of working himself out of a job. This approach involves being efficient and flexible in one’s work, with the goal of making oneself dispensable in a role. He adopted this mindset, always trying to find ways to make tasks and processes function without his direct involvement. He believes that by doing this, he not only improved his own efficiency but also created opportunities for others to contribute and innovate. This approach, in his view, shifted the focus from individual career advancement to adding value to the organization and fostering teamwork.
Both pieces of advice have shaped Jonathan’s career and perspective, encouraging him to embrace flexibility and continually seek ways to add value to his work and the broader team.
Declan Armour shared his perspective on the concept of limitations and how it has influenced his approach to life and work:
Declan’s understanding of limitations isn’t derived from a single piece of advice but has been reinforced through reading materials and podcasts. He highlights that many limitations people face are rooted in their own mindset and the influence of their social circle, including friends, family, and colleagues. Sometimes, what’s truly best for an individual may be at odds with the expectations of those around them. For example, someone might want to start a business, but their friends and family might question why they would take that risk when they’re already content with their current situation. This conflict between personal aspirations and external expectations can hinder progress.
Declan emphasises the significance of recognising how one’s environment and the people they surround themselves with can act as constraints. He references the notion that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with, and he extends this idea to include one’s physical environment and industry norms in business.
In the business context, Declan observes that industries often conform to established norms, and people can be reluctant to deviate from them due to fear or a desire to avoid taking risks. He suggests that once individuals understand these limitations, they can break free from conformity and explore beyond what is considered normal. This willingness to challenge the status quo is where innovative and valuable opportunities often lie.
Declan’s current approach involves actively seeking out limitations and constraints in his work and then addressing them head-on. For instance, he looks for ways to overcome mindset limitations and is unafraid to challenge industry norms if it means achieving better results. He believes that growth and progress are most likely to occur when individuals are willing to push the boundaries of what is perceived as possible.
Declan’s perspective underscores the importance of self-awareness and a willingness to question and challenge limitations to achieve personal and professional growth.
Andrew Rimmington shared his perspective on the importance of basic manners and honesty in both personal and professional interactions:
The Power of Politeness: Andrew’s advice harks back to the fundamental principles he learned in childhood – saying “please,” “thank you,” and “sorry” to people. He emphasises that these simple acts of politeness carry significant weight, even in the professional world. He recalls a particular incident early in his career when a senior partner of the company retired, and another senior partner wrote an article in the company magazine. In the article, the partner lamented the fact that people often neglect to express basic courtesy and gratitude. This experience left a lasting impression on Andrew, highlighting the importance of these small gestures, especially in an industry like construction.
Honesty and Owning Mistakes: Andrew also underscores the value of honesty in business relationships. He acknowledges that everyone makes mistakes, and in the construction industry, errors can occur. However, he firmly believes that owning up to these mistakes and being transparent with clients can lead to stronger and more enduring relationships. Andrew’s approach is to take responsibility for any errors and commit to rectifying them. He acknowledges that while this approach has been successful in most cases, there have been instances where it didn’t work. Nevertheless, he remains committed to the principle of honesty as a cornerstone for building long-term relationships.
Andrew’s advice serves as a reminder that basic manners, such as saying “please,” “thank you,” and “sorry,” are not only essential in personal interactions but also in professional settings. Additionally, his commitment to honesty and accountability underscores the value of transparency in business relationships, even when mistakes are made.
Bryan Chung shared valuable insights about the practice of visualisation and its significance in various aspects of life, including personal development and business success:
Visualisation for Personal Growth: Bryan received advice about the power of visualization. He stressed that visualisation isn’t just about having a vision; it’s about actively imagining and creating a mental picture of what you want in life. This practice applies to personal life, helping individuals identify their desires and goals to find happiness. Bryan discussed visualizing elements such as the type of house he wants to live in or where he envisions himself living. He believes that spending time on such visualisation exercises is crucial for personal fulfilment and self-discovery. It’s an exercise in solitude that allows individuals to focus and train their minds.
Visualisation in Business: Bryan also emphasised the importance of visualization in the context of business. He believes that visualisation is a key factor that can lead to success in business. He mentioned that he would consider hiring people who possess strong visualisation skills to work on his business. Bryan intends to improve his own visualisation skills gradually by dedicating time to this practice regularly.
Practical Application: Bryan shared a practical example from his experience when organizing a music concert for his students. He used visualisation techniques to anticipate potential issues, such as forgetting guitar stands and tuners, and address them effectively. He likened this practice to a form of meditation, which he referred to as “fake meditation.” While true meditation involves clearing one’s mind of thoughts, Bryan sees visualisation as a productive variation of this concept, where you focus your mind on specific goals and scenarios.
Bryan’s insights highlight the transformative potential of visualisation in personal growth and business success. He encourages the development of this skill as a means to shape one’s future and effectively address challenges and opportunities.
Drai Douglas shared a valuable piece of advice that has had a significant impact on their approach to work and creativity:
“Don’t Let Perfect Get in the Way of Good Enough”: Drai’s advice centres around the idea of not striving for perfection to the extent that it hinders progress or consumes excessive time. They acknowledged that this advice may not apply universally, but it resonates with their work style, especially in graphic design and audio production. Drai tends to be meticulous and focused on achieving perfection in their work, whether it’s creating graphics or audio content. However, they realised that they could spend an excessive amount of time fine-tuning details that, in the grand scheme of things, may not significantly impact the final result or the satisfaction of clients or end-users.
Drai emphasises the importance of dedicating effort and time to ensuring the quality of their craft represents them well. Still, they also recognise the need to strike a balance and avoid overdoing it. They mentioned that spending too much time perfecting something could be counterproductive, as it might prevent them from moving on to other tasks and opportunities.
This advice has stayed with Drai since they first heard it, likely in their school years, and it continues to shape their approach to work. While they admit to occasionally forgetting their own advice due to their meticulous nature, the principle of not letting perfectionism hinder progress remains essential in their work ethic. It encourages efficiency and the ability to allocate time and effort effectively to various tasks.
Louise Evans shared a crucial piece of advice related to her work in sales, particularly in the healthcare industry, where pricing and distributor partnerships play a significant role:
Know When to Walk Away: Louise’s advice revolves around the importance of being willing to walk away from a partnership or business deal when it’s not the right fit. In her line of work, which involves selling amniotic membrane products to hospitals through distributors, pricing and reimbursement are critical factors. Sometimes, distributors may insist on a particular pricing strategy that Louise believes doesn’t optimally leverage the healthcare system’s reimbursement structure. While it may be tempting to go along with their demands to secure business, Louise emphasises the need to stand firm and walk away when a partnership doesn’t align with the company’s values or business strategy.
Seeking Flexibility: Louise shares a specific example of working with a French distributor who was fixated on a specific pricing approach that Louise disagreed with. Instead of simply accepting their terms, she demonstrates flexibility by proactively seeking a solution. She arranges meetings with French doctors to gather reimbursement information directly, with the aim of finding a more suitable pricing strategy. Louise acknowledges that such negotiations can be challenging but recognises the importance of being open to alternative solutions.
Understanding the Healthcare System: Louise’s advice is rooted in her deep understanding of the healthcare system and how it impacts product pricing and reimbursement. She points out the intricacies of healthcare reimbursement in France, where citizens often have private insurance to complement the system. This understanding allows her to identify potential opportunities for a more flexible pricing approach that benefits both the healthcare providers and patients.
Overall, Louise’s advice underscores the significance of maintaining alignment with core principles and business strategies when entering distributor partnerships, even if it means walking away from a deal that doesn’t fit. Her willingness to seek alternative solutions and understand the nuances of the healthcare system demonstrates her commitment to achieving mutually beneficial outcomes for all stakeholders involved.
Jonathan Bradley provided valuable insights into two pieces of advice that have significantly impacted his professional journey:
“Take Everybody With You”: Jonathan shares a valuable lesson he learned from a mentor who emphasised the importance of people in leadership. His mentor’s mantra was “take everybody with you,” stressing that leaders must convince themselves first that they can bring their team along on the journey to success. Doubt can be detrimental, and leaders need to back their team members wholeheartedly, allowing them to prove their abilities. Jonathan highlights that this advice led to a cultural shift in his approach to leadership. He focused on creating an environment where individuals felt comfortable taking risks and were not afraid of failure, knowing it wasn’t the end of their journey. This cultural impact has shaped his leadership style and his ability to build trust with his teams.
Jonathan’s insights emphasise the critical role of people in business success. His experience showcases how nurturing a culture of trust and support can have a significant and lasting impact on both the organisation and its team members. The advice also serves as a reminder of the importance of selecting the right individuals who align with the vision of the business.