It’s been a weird year. While it’s been catastrophic for many. For us, it’s been a gift. A chance to slow down--reflect, re-tool and re-invent.
As the founder of a brand and innovation consultancy, we keep talking about brand purpose with founders and CMOs. But what about our own purpose?
I thought I'd share three lessons on what I've learned this year instead of a standard Christmas and new year greeting.
- Grow your network: All through my career, I've found the whole idea of 'networking' repellant. I preferred to keep my head down and do the work. The truth is, relationships matter. I'm not talking about it in a transactional sense of 'meet people because they can do something for you'. It's about being good to those around you and being someone people want to work with. This business gets a bad rap for being cutthroat, but it actually can be quite the opposite. You'd be surprised how many people will have your back when you need them.
- Keep learning: Change is scary. But it's also incredibly motivating. It's amazing how when you step back to take a broader view of what's happening, you begin to see new connections, patterns and opportunities emerge. Reading about new tools, frameworks and strategies have helped sharpen our methodologies and expand our thinking.
- Time is precious: This year may have felt like one massive time-out with lives and livelihoods on pause. Yet it has been a lesson in focus. Time is the most powerful factor in any decision we make and the difference between boredom and success. The difference between creating something that really matters and just doing the dance.
Building a start-up isn't easy. It's never just business. It's personal. It's a promise to every customer, founder, investor or believer. But mostly to yourself. It's the reason you started it all in the first place.
But once you’ve chosen, put the blinkers on. Because when you are driving on your own steam there will be a thousand other reasons to not do your thing. Do it anyway.
As the year draws to a close, I hope in between the chaos and uncertainty, you were able to draw your own lessons from it.
Merry Christmas and best wishes for the new year!
