Your why

March 29th, 2012

In business, we all know what we do and we all know how we do it.

The IT joint down the road sells computers by offering low prices and offering a decent level of expertise.

The real estate office next door sells property for clients because they have more bus stop advertisements than anyone else in the area.

The law firm across the road represents hundreds of clients by offering to waive fees in unsuccessful cases.

But why are any of them doing what they are doing in the first place? Purely to make money? Because it makes them feel like a rock star running their own business? Because they thought it sounded like a laugh to risk everything and work 60+ hour weeks trying to make a living?

99bikes’ why is to promote cycling as a cost effective, healthy, environmentally friendly mode of transport for anyone of any age through hands-on expertise.

BCU’s why is to bring banking and finance back to a human being level rather than intimidating the hell out of everyone.

And 3Play Networks why is to look beyond traditional means of communication and connectivity and just find better ways.

We smash ourselves revising our what and how and quite often forget why we are doing it to begin with. You have great products, or great services but so does the next guy. Why should I transact with you?

If your why is compelling enough, if your why is a genuine belief in your business, and if your why can be felt by those inside your business and out, your what and how will take care of themselves.

Passion or logic

October 6th, 2011

Put two cell phones side by side – CP1 and CP2. CP1 is better than CP2 – higher quality camera, faster processor, lighter, longer battery life, greater functionality. Both have access to the same apps (or near enough) and both can be synchronized and backed up in an easy, convenient manner. Size is similar, as is price, as is appearance and structure.

The decision is easy right? You choose the iPhone, regardless of if the iPhone is CP1 or CP2.

Of 100 colleagues, 65 of them said they would choose the iPhone because it is ‘better’. When asked to elaborate on what ‘better’ meant, the majority of those 65 respondents replied with a round-about-way of saying ‘just is’.

They were saying Passion. Logic is out the window and the same passion that drives the love for Manchester United FC, the New York Yankees or Collingwood AFC drives the love for iDevices.

There are two ways you can own followers – be the sole provider of a product or service giving the end user no choice, or, derive such passion that by simply adding another lens to a smart phone camera the world stands and applauds.

I have read some stupid articles about how iFollowers display characteristics of cult followers. There is no trickery, no false hope, no manipulation or mind washing (well, no more than any other consumer brand). It is… love. It is love for success, it is love for sex appeal, it is love for functionality, it is love for simplicity, it is love for reliability. It is love for loyalty.

On May five when the world was advised of Steve Jobs’ passing, the dank mood that is usually reserved for the passing of highly respected world leaders, philanthropists and entertainers settled upon the greater populous. You could argue that he was each of these even if he was in its barest form, merely the brains behind an electronic manufacturer.

He became a stakeholder in our lives. He brought the world a better way to go about our daily grind.

If I had time

September 9th, 2011

You get the same weekly allocation as everyone else. Twenty four hours, seven days.

Unless your medical practioner advises you otherwise, life may as well be endless – you might be the record breaking individual to live to 175. Beyond. Maybe you won’t.

Anthony Robbins was in Sydney recently. He raised the issue of blaming time for not achieving the things you want to. It’s just another story, like the reason why you didn’t do your homework or why you don’t go to the gym any more or why you don’t call your mother. It’s a tale that masks the real reason – that there are things you’d just rather be doing instead.

A friend and I came to an argument about this recently. She is smarter than I’ll ever be, much better looking, and a pioneer in her industry.

She was blaming time for not actioning something which she suggested was important to her. I suggested that she had 24 hours worth of other things that she’d rather be doing.

Have you ever heard somebody say that they didn’t have time to prepare and consume a bowl of cookie-dough ice cream? Or that they didn’t have time to buy themselves that killer new 3D tele? But somehow, cleaning up the garage and washing the car fell by the wayside.

Maybe you are unmotivated. Maybe you have a hectic schedule. Maybe both.

But time is probably not the concern.