Nicholas Bate

The Tools of Excellence for a Brave New World, 6: The Swiss Army Knife

Man is a generalist. No harm in that: he/she is remarkable at adapting and to enhance this process has created a batch of tools which allows him/her to perform to the highest levels. In a Brave New World where planet Earth undergoes several adjustments in the way we act and think, ensure such tools are all easily accessible in your portfolio.

6: The Swiss Army Knife

Of course it had to be on the list. Who hasn't been delighted at the versatility of the well made device and its ability to keep the party going (open cans and bottles), patch the tent leak (cut and sew) or remove snakes from restaurants (private correspondence with blog reader).

So many of us used to carry one with us at all times. In the days after 9/11 there were greater and heavier concerns but it was the end of the accessible knife in your bag; mine disappeared with so many others into crates of knives, fluids and miscellaneous helpful items.

But you can still have one on your desk, hiking back-pack or kitchen drawer.

Get the tools to be brilliant in a Brave New World.

Bonus: How to Be Brilliant, the protocol.

The Tools so far:

1: The French Press

2: The Play-list

3: Notebook and pen.

4: The Egg-timer.

5: The Skipping Rope.

Brave New World 34

By definition-for many people-they do not wish their home to contain an office.

Monday Melange 14

1. How to Escape the Bunker.
2. Stay STRONG
3. Just say NO to PPT
4. Who are the rogues?
5. Post Covid Business Essentials.
6. Redundancy
7. Covid-19, 101
8. Hunter-Gatherer 21C
9. Manage that career
10. Be Bold 101
11. Lock-down goals.
12. You still haven’t read You, Only Better
13. Things They Don’t Teach at Business School
14. Tools of Excellence  for a Brave New World

Start-Up Rule 5 of 7: Scale for Profit not for Ego

In a post-Covid world, maybe the time has come to go out on your own. Keep it simple initially: just you, no start-up capital and a desire to be beholden to nobody. Except you, of course.

Rule 5: Scale for Profit, not for Ego

There’ll come a time when you’ll consider getting bigger. You’ll have a great idea for diversification, you’ll meet someone who would be a great addition to the team. Bigger allows flexibility, makes vacations easier, creates economy of scale. Overall it should allow you to become more profitable. Do it for that reason. Feeding the ego has damaged many a business.

Plus of course:

Rule 1,

Rule 2.

Rule 3.

Rule 4.

TBC.

The Tools of Excellence for a Brave New World: 5, The Jump Rope

Man is a generalist. No harm in that: he/she is remarkable at adapting and to enhance this process has created a batch of tools which allows him/her to perform to the highest levels. In a Brave New World where planet Earth undergoes several adjustments in the way we act and think, ensure such tools are all easily accessible in your portfolio.

5: The Skipping Rope.

It's perfect. Instant CV work-out. Heart rate raised, challenged and calmed in the briefest of workouts. But the necessary demands made of muscles and bones, too: arms, legs, back. 

It's perfect: light, small and easily transported. It can alway be in your travel bag.

Choose carefully for your height, start with the classic school play-ground 'single under' and then speed up those wrists and achieve some boxer's 'double-unders'.

It's a tool for excellence for staying fit, strong and agile.

Get the tools to be brilliant in a Brave New World.

Bonus: How to Be Brilliant, the protocol.

The Tools so far:

1: The French Press

2: The Play-list

3: Notebook and pen.

4: The Egg-timer.

Music from DJ Kurt Harden

Will definitely help. Play long and generally loud.

Patrick Rhone

Has several books which will help. 

Don’t Ever Forget

Shop local.

Start-Up Rule 4 of 7: No Excuses; Pay Yourself from Day 1.

In a post-Covid world, maybe the time has come to go out on your own. Keep it simple initially: just you, no start-up capital and a desire to be beholden to nobody. Except you, of course.

Rule 4: No Excuses; Pay Yourself from Day 1.

When planning your new simple start-up:

1. Pay yourself from day 1. To be able to do so is proof you have a viable business.
2. Price your product to build a business not just win today’s sale.
3. Price to be able to (1) pay yourself (2) invest in your future (3) save for a rainy day.
4. Outsource/automate all that you can e.g. book-keeping.
5. Each day work ON your business to improve it, don’t just get sucked into it.
6. When you do work and you have delighted the customer, ask for as many references as they can think of.
7. Keep clients updated. They will need you again. 

Resources

1. Selling without Tears, free PDF.
2. Instant MBA, Amazon.
3. The Rules of Life, free PDF
4. Be Bold, Amazon.
5. JFDI, free book.  Choose your version LHS of blog.
6. Brilliant at the Basics of Business, Amazon.
7. 22 Things They Don’t Teach at Business School, free

Plus of course:

Rule 1,

Rule 2.

Rule 3.

TBC.

 

Start Up Rule 3 of 7: Don’t Force ‘Your Brand’; Let It Grow

In a post-Covid world, maybe the time has come to go out on your own. Keep it simple initially: just you, no start-up capital and a desire to be beholden to nobody. Except you, of course.

Rule 3: Don’t Force ‘Your Brand’; Let It Grow

Don’t waste time and energy ‘building’ a brand. You do not need logos, Pantone colour decisions or a style book. Use that money to pay you to delight the customer. Do not create deep PPT decks ‘explaining’ yourself to the client. Your business is simple. Just wow the customer.

You need to find, serve and consistently please your chosen customers. Be brilliant. Word of mouth will do the rest and organically create a wonderful brand. Which maybe-just maybe-in a year or two will be worth articulating. As now it will be real. 

Resources

1. Selling without Tears, free PDF.
2. Instant MBA, Amazon.
3. The Rules of Life, free PDF
4. Be Bold, Amazon.
5. JFDI, free book.  Choose your version LHS of blog.
6. Brilliant at the Basics of Business, Amazon.
7. 22 Things They Don’t Teach at Business School, free

Plus of course:

Rule 1,

Rule 2.

TBC.