Nicholas Bate

2011 Personal Protocol, Director's Cut

So here's the backdrop for 2011. Plenty of challenge and plenty of opportunities. How do we minimise the former and maximise the latter? Adopt a personal protocol i.e. an agreed way of working to which we make a personal commitment. Perhaps something such as this. Here's the director's cut:

1.  I will do an outstanding job, whatever.  We do this for ourselves. The client gets the benefit. Our employer gets the benefit but above all we are repeatedly 'wiring-in' a way of thinking which gets us the greatest rewards, whatever they might be for us. Excellence is our minimum standard.
2. I will stay super-well. When I get tired and/or stressed I start to hate my job, the world and myself. I will take time out to stop 'reptile brain' taking over from 'higher brain'. I will stop and smell the roses. I will never, ever say 'I don't have time'.
3. I will be selective and constantly ask: who do I really want to work with? When we start our business, when we start out on our career we have fewer choices. But it must be an early goal to work and/or serve only those who value our work and are therefore willing to pay our prices, spread good word and come back for more.
4. I will accept no cr*p from clients. At all. Ever. It's a partnership. That's the only way great business can be created. So: let's talk, let's agree and let's act. Together.
5. I will write to develop my thinking. Books, particularly published books are a happy accidental by-product. Because my thinking is my greatest asset. Period.
6. I will be determined to get into the top 10% of my niche, then top 1% then top 0.1%. If I am not special, I am a commodity. If I am a commodity I am vulnerable to price attacks, loss of market share and lack of loyalty from my clients and customers. My business will die.
7. I will price my services and solutions and products to allow continuous investment in them. If I am not getting better I am getting worse. And who wants to buy a degrading product?

 The Process Details: tomorrow.

 

Prospects (Today)+Protocol/Director's Cut (31st)+Process(1st...)

2011 Prospects

1. No surprises: it'll get tougher. Economies will slowly improve but the continued effects of globalisation, the huge cost of managing a person in a business and advances in technology will mean it will not be easy being an employee looking for a long-term, sustainable, enjoyable career.
2. That's why having got smarter in 2010 you will get wiser in 2011. 2011 will be the year of colossal investment in your greatest of assets: your thinking. Creative, analytical, critical, lateral, empathetic. Thinking.
3. 93% of businesses will continue to behave in a disastrously stupid manner. They will assume that what worked in 1978 or 1989 or 2004 or even last week will continue to work for them in 2011. They will try and sell on price. They will treat their people as a commodity (human resources) and they will blame anybody and anything for their dilemmas.
4. That's why whether you work for yourself or for a large corporation or somewhere in between you now know that you are on your own, you run your own business. And whether you have an apartment in Paris or Dallas or a terrace in Leeds, it is frontier time again and will be for the foreseeable future. You will have a plan, some goals, a 'can do' resourceful mindset and will reduce your dependencies on CEOs who are out of their depth and raiding what is left of the pension funds, politicians who will say anything for a vote and sheer undiluted 'hope it will get better' thinking.
5. But the opportunities to meet the fundamentals of human needs whether they need education or entertainment or fresh water or consulting or great music or a meal out for two will remain. And the ways of providing for the those needs are more diverse and easily accessible than ever before. A start up nowadays simply requires you to er..start up.
6. But you have got to be fast, lean, responsive and supremely agile. And the last twenty years of business and the last fifteen years of school/college has not been conducive to that kind of thinking.
7. Now go put on Heroes by David Bowie. Play it loud. And start thinking, planning and acting.

Protocol 2011/Director's Cut tomorrow.

HowToMakeYourLifeEvenEasierAndEvenMoreFunIn2011Dozen

1. Plan things. However you like: paper, iPad or whiteboard. But with a plan you get SO MUCH more happening.
2. Read Execupundit. This is an extraordinarily useful blog. All the thoughts, hint, tips and links you need. Start by investing in Michael's new books.
3. Articulate your 2011 big picture. A white board or poster is ideal for this. This is super high level: just one or two points at most. What is 2011 about for you? Paint it large. Paint it red. Say it loud.
   
4. Read eclecticity. This blog will stop you getting dull. It'll surprise you. Perhaps shock you. Certainly introduce you to some decent music.
5. Sort out some systems. Systems save you time, handle the dull stuff and ensure you don't need to use your brain for routine stuff.  Systems made and make great people greater. Good systems are for filing, for prompting/nudging and routines for ensuring you are at your best. The great cultural offering has been doing a study of routines and studies. Check him out for the latest. This is one of 149 reasons why you should be reading him daily.
6. Raise your standards. The great thing is there is not much difference in effort levels between very good and excellent. But the returns are staggeringly different. There's a lot more information in in this free download.
7. Minimise your needs. Whether it is paper or money or refills for the dishwasher, if you need less you can earn less and if you can earn less you are beholden to fewer. And that's a nice position to be in. With less clutter you know exactly what needs to be done; that makes it easier to do it; that makes you feel good. That too is a nice poistion to be in. Check out Paul Schwend in this area and find out how he is changing the planet for the better one tweet at a time.
8. I'll keep prodding you until I see it in print. Get that book written. It ain't for the money. It's to clarify your thinking, to put your stake in the ground and because it is there. See if you can keep up with Michael Sampson. I reckon it's that beautiful NZ air.
9. Be friendly, be supportive. Thanks, Nelson Biagio!
10. Keep Thinking. Read lots and take notes. Act upon those notes. Notice what works. Adapt. Become healthy, wealthy and wise. The Thinking Man's blog will guide you. Daily.
11. Invest in you. Spend more on your brain than you do on your car. Then double that amount.
12. Believe in yourself. Start now. You don't need the 31st for a new goal. You need now.
    

HowToSolveAnyProblem1: A Couple Of Frames...

HowToSolveAnyProblem2: A Couple Of Frames...

HowToSolveAnyProblem3: The Complete List

the rest is here.

Mmmm

Real-time Update Of British Citizen Activity Twenty, Boxing Day 2010

1. Wondering what day it is 0.2%
2. Sipping very strong coffee 2.3%
3. Thinking about starting a serious detox 0.4%
4. Using their brand new iPad 7%
5. Talking about their brand new iPad 20.2%
6. Sadly still stuck at an airport 0.8%
7. Talking about tales of heroism whilst stuck at an airport 5.4%
8. Trying to stop eating chocolate 2.3%
9. Eating chocolate 4.5%
10. Queuing at a boxing day sale 5.6%
11. Writing a 'thank you' note 1%
12. Staring inside the fridge and hoping for something interesting 2.9%
13. Clearing up wrapping paper from around the apartment 4%
14. Walking the dog 1.2%
15. Being walked by the dog 7.8%
16. Getting a tattoo done 0.1%
17. Surfing the net 10%
18. Wondering what life is about? 7%
19. Striding across snowy hills looking for that 'nice country pub' 3%
20. All other activities 14.3%

Mmmm

Mmmm