It’s a phrase that has long elicited feelings of power, triumph over disaster and success. Rising to the challenge conjures pictures of a bloodied and battered Terry Butcher, an exhausted Roger Bannister and a triumphant Edmund Hillary amongst others. These were people who have triumphed when the odds seemed against them, when they mustered every ounce of courage and what little energy was left and rose to top.
So to use the phrase to describe the goings on the latest Apprentice challenge is purely on for ‘punning’ reasons. Although, when Lord Sugar uttered the phrase at the start of the programme he was probably hoping to see Dr Shibby standing aloft a large pile of cash with his one remaining muffin shining like a beacon in triumph. Sadly, and very predictably it was less a case of the teams rising to the challenge, more the premature opening of the oven door on a soufflé.
Classic Apprentice in every respect, from the pitch through production and even final sales day, it was a challenge littered with ‘how not too’s...’ even down to the conduct of the project managers. Melissa and Shibby were the two project managers in the firing line, with Melissa’s team claiming the win in-spite of her.
The task for Shibby (sorry, Dr Shibby) fell down on two major aspects, over promising at the front end, and a production process that was badly managed. With communication between the departments the key to the whole debacle, or rather lack of communication. With clearer communication it was still feasible that the mistakes made at the front end could’ve been turned round and a win achieved. However, the lack of communication between the sub-teams and even between the members of the sub-teams was staggering.
In many ways saying ‘Yes’ to orders that will stretch your business is not a bad thing. As the old saying goes ‘if you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten’, so stretching things isn’t inherently wrong. Under-promising and over-delivering is always better than over-promising, but the key to whatever approach you choose to take is ensuring that the communication lines within your business are such that all the key parts are aware of their roles in pulling off this mammoth task.
I was certainly left wondering what would’ve happened if Christopher had been running Dr Shibby’s production line. It is fair to say that Melissa only really succeeded through the qualities Christopher and his military background brought to the cake production. And the more I think about it, the more I’m convinced Christopher could’ve rescued Dr Shibby’s hotel order and ensured that it was Melissa and her Jenny Eclair style that faced Lord Sugar Cakes.
What it did go to show is how crucial communication is to winning. The best teams, be they business teams, football teams or military teams succeed where clear communication exists and is encouraged.
Friday, 22 October 2010
Friday, 15 October 2010
Friends, Lancastrians...here me now!! Apprentice 2010 Episode 2
Sound. We all make it, some more than others. And it’s the same in business, and never has there been a better time to be heard. Though let me qualify this, there is a distinction between sheer volume and the distinct sounds of passionate and enthusiastic believers.
The enthusiasm with which the candidates have attacked the first few tasks is admirable. Enthusiasm, especially around the creative table, is an essential element; a fired up, high-energy session creates its own momentum of ideas. Enthusiasm and energy can get you a long way, particularly when the going gets tough.
What has been seriously less admirable is the usual Big Brother mix of ego’s, super-ego’s and demi-gods, focused solely on making, well noise quite frankly, and lots of it.
As expected a dose of Stella tempered the boys’ stag-rut (in complete contrast to real life). However, the screaming match continued on the girl’s team, with the all-seeing eyes of the classy Karen and Nick less than impressed.
The uncontrollable noise from the girls meetings reflects a similarity within many industries these days. The markets out there are often crowded, noisy places, not easy places for your customers to hear your voice. Sometimes it’s just hard to get heard.
It’s your marketing that gets you heard, and the very best marketing will do this in such a way that you’ll get heard over the din created by everyone else.
Many desperately join in to the cacophony of sound; hoping brash volume will turn heads, Joanna being a prime example. Others sit back, aghast at the wall of sound in front of them, unable or unwilling to get involved. Some crack it with expert advice. And others put up their hands and hope for the best just like Joy.
A hand in the air, will get attention initially but as the old saying goes, sometimes you can’t see the wood for the trees. And after seeing that hand wafting in the breeze for a few minutes, it no longer registers as relevant.
It is as true with your marketing. Truly uncontested spaces are difficult to find, and it is important that you are able to get noticed, and then create such an impression that it’s your voice that is the one others turn to.
Get heard, make some noise but ensure you can back it up. As Karren Brady put so succinctly, it’s about finding those moments where your words will make the most impact. Don’t think putting your hand in the air is enough. Joy did, and the impact was lost. And even more criminal, when she was given the platform in the boardroom to put her view over, she flunked it.
Throw your enthusiasm and energy into your messages, and find innovative and most importantly, relevant ways for your message to be heard. Pick your moments and strike with impact, understanding and relevance.
Then the next time you get vocal, you’ll see the room quietening a whole lot quicker, with no hands required.
The enthusiasm with which the candidates have attacked the first few tasks is admirable. Enthusiasm, especially around the creative table, is an essential element; a fired up, high-energy session creates its own momentum of ideas. Enthusiasm and energy can get you a long way, particularly when the going gets tough.
What has been seriously less admirable is the usual Big Brother mix of ego’s, super-ego’s and demi-gods, focused solely on making, well noise quite frankly, and lots of it.
As expected a dose of Stella tempered the boys’ stag-rut (in complete contrast to real life). However, the screaming match continued on the girl’s team, with the all-seeing eyes of the classy Karen and Nick less than impressed.
The uncontrollable noise from the girls meetings reflects a similarity within many industries these days. The markets out there are often crowded, noisy places, not easy places for your customers to hear your voice. Sometimes it’s just hard to get heard.
It’s your marketing that gets you heard, and the very best marketing will do this in such a way that you’ll get heard over the din created by everyone else.
Many desperately join in to the cacophony of sound; hoping brash volume will turn heads, Joanna being a prime example. Others sit back, aghast at the wall of sound in front of them, unable or unwilling to get involved. Some crack it with expert advice. And others put up their hands and hope for the best just like Joy.
A hand in the air, will get attention initially but as the old saying goes, sometimes you can’t see the wood for the trees. And after seeing that hand wafting in the breeze for a few minutes, it no longer registers as relevant.
It is as true with your marketing. Truly uncontested spaces are difficult to find, and it is important that you are able to get noticed, and then create such an impression that it’s your voice that is the one others turn to.
Get heard, make some noise but ensure you can back it up. As Karren Brady put so succinctly, it’s about finding those moments where your words will make the most impact. Don’t think putting your hand in the air is enough. Joy did, and the impact was lost. And even more criminal, when she was given the platform in the boardroom to put her view over, she flunked it.
Throw your enthusiasm and energy into your messages, and find innovative and most importantly, relevant ways for your message to be heard. Pick your moments and strike with impact, understanding and relevance.
Then the next time you get vocal, you’ll see the room quietening a whole lot quicker, with no hands required.
Friday, 8 October 2010
The Apprentice is Back (-'s Up!)
The Apprentice well and truly sizzled back onto our TV screens this week with the usual mix of ego’s, attention seekers and potential stars. That wasn’t entirely unpredictable, and neither in many ways was the result once the boys appointed Dan Harris to be their first project manager.
It was an episode filled with lessons in ‘how not too’, but let’s not forget in the furore that followed the result, both teams achieved profit. That was about as good as it got, as neither team overly impressed, though it is fair to say that that isn’t unusual in week one.
Watching the episode with a group of seven women was an interesting place to be, especially as the boys team held their kick-off meeting...or should that have been stag rut. Things didn’t get any better once the sausage challenge kicked off, with the views in the room going from mild annoyance to outright disgust.
From the moment Dan was appointed project manager, Desperate Dan appeared. Indeed he may have been better eating his cow pies lovingly prepared by Aunt Aggie. The bumbling fool of The Dandy fame was there, however somewhere along the line, it may have been the kitchen fumes, he morphed into Gordon Ramsey, or certainly his vocabulary did.
Under the pressure of the challenge and the testosterone filled frenzy, Dan ignored almost all the rules of good people management and proceeded to shout, swear and bully his way to a profitable loss. His team were on edge from the first moment, automatically taking their lead from the project manager. His body language, demeanour and conduct did nothing to calm, reassure and control his charges. In fact, it’s fair to say we will probably see several of them less macho as the series proceeds, with a different project manager around.
There will be different body language and communication experts that will be able to explain what went on far better than I can, but you certainly didn’t need to be an expert to understand just how wrong the boys and Dan in particular got it.
Respect was for me the biggest lesson. Even the girls team got it wrong a couple of times, almost in a more spectacular way when they left a customer wanting to do a big deal, whilst they proceeded to have an argument over who would close the sale. Showing no respect to the customer, they were lucky he stayed around; he may not have come back. Equally, the boys may have made a profit, but just who from the team has any respect for Dan? After all he showed none to them, and even more astonishingly, none to Lord Sugar in the boardroom.
Disagreements are acceptable in business. Dictatorial leaders/managers are arguably needed in certain situations. What makes it possible to move on and create lasting relationships with staff, suppliers and customers is having an underlying respect for each and everyone. Be they Lord or sausage maker.
It was an episode filled with lessons in ‘how not too’, but let’s not forget in the furore that followed the result, both teams achieved profit. That was about as good as it got, as neither team overly impressed, though it is fair to say that that isn’t unusual in week one.
Watching the episode with a group of seven women was an interesting place to be, especially as the boys team held their kick-off meeting...or should that have been stag rut. Things didn’t get any better once the sausage challenge kicked off, with the views in the room going from mild annoyance to outright disgust.
From the moment Dan was appointed project manager, Desperate Dan appeared. Indeed he may have been better eating his cow pies lovingly prepared by Aunt Aggie. The bumbling fool of The Dandy fame was there, however somewhere along the line, it may have been the kitchen fumes, he morphed into Gordon Ramsey, or certainly his vocabulary did.
Under the pressure of the challenge and the testosterone filled frenzy, Dan ignored almost all the rules of good people management and proceeded to shout, swear and bully his way to a profitable loss. His team were on edge from the first moment, automatically taking their lead from the project manager. His body language, demeanour and conduct did nothing to calm, reassure and control his charges. In fact, it’s fair to say we will probably see several of them less macho as the series proceeds, with a different project manager around.
There will be different body language and communication experts that will be able to explain what went on far better than I can, but you certainly didn’t need to be an expert to understand just how wrong the boys and Dan in particular got it.
Respect was for me the biggest lesson. Even the girls team got it wrong a couple of times, almost in a more spectacular way when they left a customer wanting to do a big deal, whilst they proceeded to have an argument over who would close the sale. Showing no respect to the customer, they were lucky he stayed around; he may not have come back. Equally, the boys may have made a profit, but just who from the team has any respect for Dan? After all he showed none to them, and even more astonishingly, none to Lord Sugar in the boardroom.
Disagreements are acceptable in business. Dictatorial leaders/managers are arguably needed in certain situations. What makes it possible to move on and create lasting relationships with staff, suppliers and customers is having an underlying respect for each and everyone. Be they Lord or sausage maker.
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
Finding a Way
I applied for a job.
It isn't a recoil in horror moment, I promise. Working on my businesses is still the best decision I've ever made and I'm still doing that, but this is different.
It was for a senior marketing role with my 2nd love Oldham Athletic. A job I make no qualms about admiting was my 'dream' job 5 years ago. I even went so far then as applying my cheekyness to arranging a meeting with the then Director of Marketing, Sean Jarvis to discover more from him about how he had made such a position, and how I could get into football marketing. In a way I wasn't interested in general football marketing, I just had a burning ambition to be involved in my club.
Similarly, I don't mind admiting that my ambitions have changed on that front. Certainly one of my dream goals is not just to have a marketing job with my club, but own it! Ok, I'll rephrase that (I'm not that stupid), have a piece of it. It may seem a silly goal, but for me it frames lots of smaller goals into a very exciting an tangible conclusion.
So why go for this job? Well one thing I've realised over the past few years is that there are certain key things any business needs whether it is serving customers, providing a service, selling a box or playing football. These are:
And that is where I can see so many possibilities. As you all know I'm definately in the 'glass half full camp' and although you can't suddenly fill a stadium with clever marketing ideas (we are a cynical bunch us football fans when it comes to our own club), you can put the structure in place so that when the day comes when the on-field product flourishes, you are ready to maximise the off-field opportunities. After all the success or failure on the pitch is fundamentally they key to any off-field successes.
Oh how I'd love to get into the club and just seeing what could be achieved. After all for anyone out there willing to give it some investment the picture in many ways is quite an interesting one. Certainly in terms of divisions the club could go lower. But in terms of crowds in my opinion we're now pretty close to the bottom. As the economy still struggles to recover, outside of the Premier Greed there is an increasing supply of out of work footballers, which will make lower wages a reality in the lower divisions eventually. This again brings costs down. Financially the club is fairly stable and certainly in no danger having cut its cloth accordingly over the past few years. In Paul Dickov, Oldham Athletic have a young, ambitious manager keen to mould a squad of young, hungry and talented individuals into a winning team. A new stadium could be on the way, and there is an owner who wants to sell. All these add up to a tasty looking investment for someone with deeper pockets than me.
So I applied to get in through that class door, it wasn't to go back to working life, it was to try and inject a little of the entrepreneurial spirit into a business that means so much to me. A business that I want to see thriving even if that doesn't always translate to trophys and promotions. A business that I want others to feel the way I do now 100 years in the future.
I didn't get it! But that's ok, because the way I see it, it could be me making that decision in a few years time.
It isn't a recoil in horror moment, I promise. Working on my businesses is still the best decision I've ever made and I'm still doing that, but this is different.
It was for a senior marketing role with my 2nd love Oldham Athletic. A job I make no qualms about admiting was my 'dream' job 5 years ago. I even went so far then as applying my cheekyness to arranging a meeting with the then Director of Marketing, Sean Jarvis to discover more from him about how he had made such a position, and how I could get into football marketing. In a way I wasn't interested in general football marketing, I just had a burning ambition to be involved in my club.
Similarly, I don't mind admiting that my ambitions have changed on that front. Certainly one of my dream goals is not just to have a marketing job with my club, but own it! Ok, I'll rephrase that (I'm not that stupid), have a piece of it. It may seem a silly goal, but for me it frames lots of smaller goals into a very exciting an tangible conclusion.
So why go for this job? Well one thing I've realised over the past few years is that there are certain key things any business needs whether it is serving customers, providing a service, selling a box or playing football. These are:
- A clear vision filled with positivity
- Clear effective communication with customers and staff (placing their needs at the heart of decision making)
- Innovative thinking
- Persistence
And that is where I can see so many possibilities. As you all know I'm definately in the 'glass half full camp' and although you can't suddenly fill a stadium with clever marketing ideas (we are a cynical bunch us football fans when it comes to our own club), you can put the structure in place so that when the day comes when the on-field product flourishes, you are ready to maximise the off-field opportunities. After all the success or failure on the pitch is fundamentally they key to any off-field successes.
Oh how I'd love to get into the club and just seeing what could be achieved. After all for anyone out there willing to give it some investment the picture in many ways is quite an interesting one. Certainly in terms of divisions the club could go lower. But in terms of crowds in my opinion we're now pretty close to the bottom. As the economy still struggles to recover, outside of the Premier Greed there is an increasing supply of out of work footballers, which will make lower wages a reality in the lower divisions eventually. This again brings costs down. Financially the club is fairly stable and certainly in no danger having cut its cloth accordingly over the past few years. In Paul Dickov, Oldham Athletic have a young, ambitious manager keen to mould a squad of young, hungry and talented individuals into a winning team. A new stadium could be on the way, and there is an owner who wants to sell. All these add up to a tasty looking investment for someone with deeper pockets than me.
So I applied to get in through that class door, it wasn't to go back to working life, it was to try and inject a little of the entrepreneurial spirit into a business that means so much to me. A business that I want to see thriving even if that doesn't always translate to trophys and promotions. A business that I want others to feel the way I do now 100 years in the future.
I didn't get it! But that's ok, because the way I see it, it could be me making that decision in a few years time.
Monday, 2 August 2010
What a lucky shot: football and business opportunities
It's nearly football season time again. The time when every football fan in the country experiences a massive high of expectations in that last 10mins before kickoff. A feeling only a relative handful will continue to feel for the remaining 9 months of the season.
For those of you who are not followers of our national sport you will be quite justified in dismissing the upcoming months as yet another year of pointless running around with a pigs bladder. But there is no getting away from the fact that football as a sport, way of life and increasingly a business, is a key strand of our local and national pysche.
Take Burnley, many non-football fans in the town (of which there are very few) will point to the glorious industrial past, ringing singing tree and the beautiful pennines as major selling points. But few will be able to argue that the town has been put back on the map of England in a major way by the promotion and season in the Premiership that filled the past year. Even those businesses that didn't benefit directly from the increase in the football club's spending in the local economy will have seen the benefit that having a team in the Premier League with the eyes of the world focused upon it brings.
It is certainly a benefit that Blackpool will feel this coming season as they emulate Burnley by taking their turn in the 'big league'. Without doubt it is an opportunity that must be taken, as an Oldham fan I can vouch for that. Our town saw our Premier League opportunity come too early (before the big money really arrived) and despite 3 seasons in the top division our team now prepares to embark on it's 13th consecutive season in League One (or division 3 in old money). As a club and a town Oldham didn't take the opportunity to maximise the chance they had, and that is really where a business lesson lies...maximising opportunities however big or small they may be.
Luck plays a part with all opportunities, and rather than declaring that luck has nothing to do with business I like to look on it another way. Luck or LUCK really is all about maximising opportunities and how do you do that? Well through LUCK:
L - Location, getting yourself out there and speaking to as many people as possible, mentioning your aims, your goals and your challenges and where you're looking for help. Be on the field.
U - Understanding, know your chosen field as well as you can, who are the players, where are the opportunities
C - Contacts, speak to people, network (both in real-life and on social networking sites), draw up a list of the people you would really like to speak to and mention them to everyone you know...you've played the Kevin Bacon game right??
K - Knowledge, know your subject, be an expert, you don't need to be working in an industry for years to know about it, do your research.
Or to bring it back to football, Rooney worked hard on his skills and that enabled him to score 36 goals in total last season. But he also used a big slice of LUCK...he knew where he would score most goals and got himself there. He worked in training on where the opportunities best arrived for him. He had some excellent teammates, and he knew exactly how he needed to strike the ball each and everytime in order to take advantage of the opportunities that came his way. (World Cup aside of course!!!).
So increase your chances of scoring by using your own slice of luck, and take a leaf from Burnley and maximise the opportunities when they arrive. And any time you get that feeling of complete optimisim in the 10 mins before kick off hold on to it...it will get you through those cold winter Tuesday nights at home to Gillingham.
For those of you who are not followers of our national sport you will be quite justified in dismissing the upcoming months as yet another year of pointless running around with a pigs bladder. But there is no getting away from the fact that football as a sport, way of life and increasingly a business, is a key strand of our local and national pysche.
Take Burnley, many non-football fans in the town (of which there are very few) will point to the glorious industrial past, ringing singing tree and the beautiful pennines as major selling points. But few will be able to argue that the town has been put back on the map of England in a major way by the promotion and season in the Premiership that filled the past year. Even those businesses that didn't benefit directly from the increase in the football club's spending in the local economy will have seen the benefit that having a team in the Premier League with the eyes of the world focused upon it brings.
It is certainly a benefit that Blackpool will feel this coming season as they emulate Burnley by taking their turn in the 'big league'. Without doubt it is an opportunity that must be taken, as an Oldham fan I can vouch for that. Our town saw our Premier League opportunity come too early (before the big money really arrived) and despite 3 seasons in the top division our team now prepares to embark on it's 13th consecutive season in League One (or division 3 in old money). As a club and a town Oldham didn't take the opportunity to maximise the chance they had, and that is really where a business lesson lies...maximising opportunities however big or small they may be.
Luck plays a part with all opportunities, and rather than declaring that luck has nothing to do with business I like to look on it another way. Luck or LUCK really is all about maximising opportunities and how do you do that? Well through LUCK:
L - Location, getting yourself out there and speaking to as many people as possible, mentioning your aims, your goals and your challenges and where you're looking for help. Be on the field.
U - Understanding, know your chosen field as well as you can, who are the players, where are the opportunities
C - Contacts, speak to people, network (both in real-life and on social networking sites), draw up a list of the people you would really like to speak to and mention them to everyone you know...you've played the Kevin Bacon game right??
K - Knowledge, know your subject, be an expert, you don't need to be working in an industry for years to know about it, do your research.
Or to bring it back to football, Rooney worked hard on his skills and that enabled him to score 36 goals in total last season. But he also used a big slice of LUCK...he knew where he would score most goals and got himself there. He worked in training on where the opportunities best arrived for him. He had some excellent teammates, and he knew exactly how he needed to strike the ball each and everytime in order to take advantage of the opportunities that came his way. (World Cup aside of course!!!).
So increase your chances of scoring by using your own slice of luck, and take a leaf from Burnley and maximise the opportunities when they arrive. And any time you get that feeling of complete optimisim in the 10 mins before kick off hold on to it...it will get you through those cold winter Tuesday nights at home to Gillingham.
Thursday, 15 July 2010
Dragons Den; Inspirational business show or Takeshi's Castle in suits?
The new series of Dragon's Den flew back onto our screens and brought the usual mix of the wierd, the misguided and the tearful. But how do we view Dragon's Den? Is it an inspirational business show or is it just another ritual humiliation show in sharp suits (in most cases without the crash helmets...most cases!).
Dragon's Den actually originated in Japan, the land of Takeshi's Castle, a show who's format set the bar for more recent shows such as Wipeout. It was first broadcast there in 2001 under the name Money Tigers, but first broacast in the UK in January 2005. It is the UK format that has spread across the rest of the world.
But now entering it's 8th series, has the Dragon's Den programme changed, not in format or style, but in the minds of those viewing the programme? Now we know the likes of Peter Jones, Duncan Bannatyne and Theo Paphitis, not just on screen but by the plethora of books, sites, blogs and programmes has the 'inspirational' story gone. There were times in the last series when each of the characters lived up to their charactures...brilliantly spoofed by Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse.
There was a time when the Peter, Duncan, Theo, Deborah and James (et al) by their mere prescence and associated backstory would generate the kind of inspirational feelings that made the dream of running a successful business a reality. Even those entering the den sparked the 'I could do that' feel, yet there were times in the first episode of the new series that you got the impression that 'good for TV' had taken over. It almost lifted a veil.
The dragons, because of what they've achieved will alway be an inspiration as individuals, that isn't in question. What is though is this, does the format create inspirational feelings to go out and start a business? Sadly as a long time fan of the show I fear not.
What we are left with is ritual humiliation on a par with watching Japanese gameshow contestants being pummelled by massive padded swings. Sometimes it is eye-wateringly hilarious, and other times a strong feeling of pity just pervades everything. A few forgotten numbers here or there and that's all that is required for the humiliation to begin. Big Brother is ending because we've tired of watching people putting themselves up for similar humiliation, so is it time for a change in format or even putting the dragons back in their respective castles?
There was an exception to this general feeling that has been gathering momentum over the last few episodes. Kirsty Henshaw gave a great demonstration on just how to inspire anyone to start a business. Taking 2 (and a half) jobs to pursue her dream, fantastic. A real inspiration, especially to women of all ages, much more so than any WAG or TV star. But, Kirsty's fantastic success was slightly tinged with a fear for me, that we are about to embark on a Dragons Den series with more 'journey's' and weepy stories than inspirational stories. Kirsty and her story was the perfect balance, and perhaps began to restore some of the balance between inspiration and humiliation!
Dragon's Den actually originated in Japan, the land of Takeshi's Castle, a show who's format set the bar for more recent shows such as Wipeout. It was first broadcast there in 2001 under the name Money Tigers, but first broacast in the UK in January 2005. It is the UK format that has spread across the rest of the world.
But now entering it's 8th series, has the Dragon's Den programme changed, not in format or style, but in the minds of those viewing the programme? Now we know the likes of Peter Jones, Duncan Bannatyne and Theo Paphitis, not just on screen but by the plethora of books, sites, blogs and programmes has the 'inspirational' story gone. There were times in the last series when each of the characters lived up to their charactures...brilliantly spoofed by Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse.
There was a time when the Peter, Duncan, Theo, Deborah and James (et al) by their mere prescence and associated backstory would generate the kind of inspirational feelings that made the dream of running a successful business a reality. Even those entering the den sparked the 'I could do that' feel, yet there were times in the first episode of the new series that you got the impression that 'good for TV' had taken over. It almost lifted a veil.
The dragons, because of what they've achieved will alway be an inspiration as individuals, that isn't in question. What is though is this, does the format create inspirational feelings to go out and start a business? Sadly as a long time fan of the show I fear not.
What we are left with is ritual humiliation on a par with watching Japanese gameshow contestants being pummelled by massive padded swings. Sometimes it is eye-wateringly hilarious, and other times a strong feeling of pity just pervades everything. A few forgotten numbers here or there and that's all that is required for the humiliation to begin. Big Brother is ending because we've tired of watching people putting themselves up for similar humiliation, so is it time for a change in format or even putting the dragons back in their respective castles?
There was an exception to this general feeling that has been gathering momentum over the last few episodes. Kirsty Henshaw gave a great demonstration on just how to inspire anyone to start a business. Taking 2 (and a half) jobs to pursue her dream, fantastic. A real inspiration, especially to women of all ages, much more so than any WAG or TV star. But, Kirsty's fantastic success was slightly tinged with a fear for me, that we are about to embark on a Dragons Den series with more 'journey's' and weepy stories than inspirational stories. Kirsty and her story was the perfect balance, and perhaps began to restore some of the balance between inspiration and humiliation!
Thursday, 24 June 2010
So what did we learn from Young Apprentice?
With the dust still settling on the winning task on Junior Apprentice I’ve been delighted, but not surprised by the candidates performances. The show did much to showcase some fantastic young business people, all offering different levels of maturity and skill, but bags and bags of enthusiasm.
And it was no coincidence that the teams managed to pull in some record breaking Apprentice sales records. Stripped of mature ego’s (something I sure we’ll see lots of in the Apprentice show proper) the youngsters often identified the key points quickly and, without a sense of fear, threw themselves into the tasks. So many times in the show proper mature ego’s not mature people, have let their desire to be seen override the basic key points related to the task.
The show produced a worthy, if slightly surprising winner in 17 year old Arjun Rajyagor who scooped a prize purse worth £25000 for his future business career. Surprising only due to the fact he didn’t leap out as a winner in the early tasks, but came flying to the front in the last couple, just pipping Tim Ankers to the final decision.
It was the correct decision for me, certainly out of the final four of Arjun, Tim, Zoe Plummer and Kirsty Cleaver.
Tim showed a level of maturity unsurpassed by many of the others, but a definite role on future episodes of Countryfile look assured for the sheep-shearer turned sharp suited TV natural.
Kirsty lived up to her name, cutting straight through so much nonsense and was never a shrinking violet, despite her lack of inches.
Zoe was an intriguing character, her of the Human League bob and rolling eyes. Despite annoying almost every viewer I’ve spoken to and most of the other contestants, she displayed a ruthless sales instinct. She would quite probably be able to sell ice to the Eskimos.
The Twitter-sphere was alight with running commentary on the tasks, and it was clear that all the contestants have good futures ahead of them, whatever their chosen field.
So what have we learned? Well as many of us know already, there are a fantastic group of young people working their ways through the education system who aren’t out to jump on any bystander with a knife. The bad rap that many youngsters get was dispelled in huge quantities by driven and hungry young people looking already at their futures. Yes, there was more than a touch of toe-curling regurgitation of classic Apprentice lines “I’ve been working for this all my life” said one 16 year old – an interesting concept!
There was for me one salient lesson for all of us whatever your chosen path.
Discover that childlike enthusiasm for business; go jump in a few puddles, bump down the stairs on your bottom and run as fast as you can down the road. And once you’ve found that inner child take a look again at your biggest challenges and tackle them with all that youthful energy.
And it was no coincidence that the teams managed to pull in some record breaking Apprentice sales records. Stripped of mature ego’s (something I sure we’ll see lots of in the Apprentice show proper) the youngsters often identified the key points quickly and, without a sense of fear, threw themselves into the tasks. So many times in the show proper mature ego’s not mature people, have let their desire to be seen override the basic key points related to the task.
The show produced a worthy, if slightly surprising winner in 17 year old Arjun Rajyagor who scooped a prize purse worth £25000 for his future business career. Surprising only due to the fact he didn’t leap out as a winner in the early tasks, but came flying to the front in the last couple, just pipping Tim Ankers to the final decision.
It was the correct decision for me, certainly out of the final four of Arjun, Tim, Zoe Plummer and Kirsty Cleaver.
Tim showed a level of maturity unsurpassed by many of the others, but a definite role on future episodes of Countryfile look assured for the sheep-shearer turned sharp suited TV natural.
Kirsty lived up to her name, cutting straight through so much nonsense and was never a shrinking violet, despite her lack of inches.
Zoe was an intriguing character, her of the Human League bob and rolling eyes. Despite annoying almost every viewer I’ve spoken to and most of the other contestants, she displayed a ruthless sales instinct. She would quite probably be able to sell ice to the Eskimos.
The Twitter-sphere was alight with running commentary on the tasks, and it was clear that all the contestants have good futures ahead of them, whatever their chosen field.
So what have we learned? Well as many of us know already, there are a fantastic group of young people working their ways through the education system who aren’t out to jump on any bystander with a knife. The bad rap that many youngsters get was dispelled in huge quantities by driven and hungry young people looking already at their futures. Yes, there was more than a touch of toe-curling regurgitation of classic Apprentice lines “I’ve been working for this all my life” said one 16 year old – an interesting concept!
There was for me one salient lesson for all of us whatever your chosen path.
Discover that childlike enthusiasm for business; go jump in a few puddles, bump down the stairs on your bottom and run as fast as you can down the road. And once you’ve found that inner child take a look again at your biggest challenges and tackle them with all that youthful energy.
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Where have all the mentors gone?
Us entrepreneurs are interesting beasts. Full of our own ideas and thrust to put things into action, but for many of us there is a bit of a hole that needs filling.
As many a Sir David Attenborough programme will tell you, so many other species in this world learn from those that have done it before, nearly always a parent, but occassionally a wily ally or two. How to swim, how to fly, how to dig yourself a den, how to defend it, and how to live to fight another day.
And so it's also the case with entrepreneurs, there are so many places and people to go to for advice and help. So much so that it can rapidly become white noise. Particularly over the past few years as the government and authorities have understood that enterprise is central to the prospects of our great town/region and country. Certainly I myself have benefitted from advice when I was starting up, much of it though, I have to say, pitched at such a low level that I left never to return. Indeed, one advisor sat and listened to me outline my plans, produce marketing plans and other strategies and could do nothing except to ask why I had even asked to see them. Such was level of detail I had already been involved in. But I would wholly defend these types of agencies and the work they do in dispensing advice and helping each and every person looking to start a business.
But what about those of us who are looking for a mentor? Someone who really has been there and done it, someone who you can approach with an idea or a query relating to your business. Someone who sits outside of these local advisors and isn't restrained by targets to increase jobs/businesses in the local area. What about those mentors who really have taken a start up business and taken it national, or understand the 'think big' mentality, but also know the very practical pitfalls. Those that have thought big and made it happen, where are they? I guess I'm talking about someone you can pick the phone up to and ask for advice.
And how does someone like me get to speak to them, meet them and be mentored by them?
I confess I don't know the answer to that. Perhaps it is different for everyone. But I am one of those people who likes to learn from others, and likes to bounce ideas off.
As someone pointed out to me, the ideal mentor is someone that you respect in business and someone you can create a clear structure of support with. I agree with that, There has to be both of those things in order to really benefit both parties. As someone who has done a little mentoring myself I know that I as the mentor feel more fulfilled when I'm learning as well.
After all when the tiger cub is taught how to run, catch and eat it isn't kept close. It is sent out into the big wide world to fend for itself - but always with some valuable lessons and advice.
As many a Sir David Attenborough programme will tell you, so many other species in this world learn from those that have done it before, nearly always a parent, but occassionally a wily ally or two. How to swim, how to fly, how to dig yourself a den, how to defend it, and how to live to fight another day.
And so it's also the case with entrepreneurs, there are so many places and people to go to for advice and help. So much so that it can rapidly become white noise. Particularly over the past few years as the government and authorities have understood that enterprise is central to the prospects of our great town/region and country. Certainly I myself have benefitted from advice when I was starting up, much of it though, I have to say, pitched at such a low level that I left never to return. Indeed, one advisor sat and listened to me outline my plans, produce marketing plans and other strategies and could do nothing except to ask why I had even asked to see them. Such was level of detail I had already been involved in. But I would wholly defend these types of agencies and the work they do in dispensing advice and helping each and every person looking to start a business.
But what about those of us who are looking for a mentor? Someone who really has been there and done it, someone who you can approach with an idea or a query relating to your business. Someone who sits outside of these local advisors and isn't restrained by targets to increase jobs/businesses in the local area. What about those mentors who really have taken a start up business and taken it national, or understand the 'think big' mentality, but also know the very practical pitfalls. Those that have thought big and made it happen, where are they? I guess I'm talking about someone you can pick the phone up to and ask for advice.
And how does someone like me get to speak to them, meet them and be mentored by them?
I confess I don't know the answer to that. Perhaps it is different for everyone. But I am one of those people who likes to learn from others, and likes to bounce ideas off.
As someone pointed out to me, the ideal mentor is someone that you respect in business and someone you can create a clear structure of support with. I agree with that, There has to be both of those things in order to really benefit both parties. As someone who has done a little mentoring myself I know that I as the mentor feel more fulfilled when I'm learning as well.
After all when the tiger cub is taught how to run, catch and eat it isn't kept close. It is sent out into the big wide world to fend for itself - but always with some valuable lessons and advice.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)