The first one through the wall...

I heard this said in a movie* once.

"The first one through the wall always gets bloody..."

This refers to the simple fact that when you are the first one to try something, run counter to what is currently accepted, or simply want to try to do something different, it can sometimes feel like you are attempting to crash through a wall. And when you have finally broken through that wall, you tend to be left exhausted, beaten up, and more often than not a little "bloody"... all figuratively speaking of course, although sometimes actual blood does get spilled. It also goes without saying that the people on the other side may not be so happy to see you.  

But how is this wall built... metaphorically speaking that is? That's actually an easy question to answer.

All you have to do is propose something... new idea, a new way of doing something, or fish instead of your regular Wednesday night cheese and bacon burger — Anytime you propose doing anything, a wall is instantly created.

Most of the time these walls are very small, insignificant and easy to crash through, sometimes they can be fairly tall and not so easy to get through, and every so often the wall is very, very high, and awfully thick. And although not scientifically validated, there is no doubt there's a correlation between how "different" the proposal is and how "high and thick" the wall will be. You probably already know what makes up this wall —

• The establishment saying it can't be done, or doesn't want it done.
• The fear of failure or the comfort with the status quo.
• People not prepared to invest the energy to make it happen. 
• A lack of understanding or desire to learn.
• Personal gains that do not want to be given up.
• A fear of change.
• The need to challenge and pressure check ideas to ensure they are the best they can be.
• Et Cetera...

Other than a nice metaphor and reference to a movie I like, there really is a point to all of this — Your "proposals" (and the metaphorical walls they create) are indicative of Leadership. Remember that by its very definition, "being first through the wall" means there will be a second, a third, et cetera to follow... and isn't that what Leadership is all about**. 

So the next time you say, "I propose we do this", remember that by definition you are building a wall, and the action you are taking to crash through is defining your leadership. Be bold, and crash through with abandon! 

There are people waiting to follow for sure.

iamgpe

* The movie is Moneyball and the quote comes from the owner of the Boston Red Sox as he is talking to Billy Beane. It's also a great book.

** Yes I know Leadership is a little bit more but this is only a 500 word blog, and I'm taking some artistic licence.

This is why I really, really like beBee...

Simply put... it is the fascinating people you get to meet.

Today I met RenéeCormier and Kevin Pashuk for coffee (I actually had diet coke but this isn't about my slight addiction). I have known Renee for a while now and we meet regularly, but this was the first time I've had the opportunity to meet Kevin face to face. 

I have known Kevin through his writing and comments, and it has always been a nice experience — To meet him face to face was a complete pleasure. Our conversations ebbed and flowed on a litany of topics for about two hours and I was slightly saddened when we had to part company. I will admit some of the sadness was because I had to head out into the rain but that is no reflection on anything other than I don't like to get wet.

I met both Renee and Kevin through beBee, and it is just the luxury of geography that has allowed us to have coffee and diet coke together... but here is the thing in all of this.

I have also met people from Spain, Australia, South Africa, Belgium, Israel, India, the U.S., other parts of Canada, the U.K., et cetera, et cetera... I may not get to spend time with them in a trendy Oakville cafe but I get to know them through their writing, their comments, their interests, their engagement, and their expression. 

I have become a richer person for my beBee experience so far; to everyone I have connected with, "Thank you".

And to all those I will meet in the future, I can hardly wait.

iamgpe

www.bebee.com

A simple and elegant definition of business...

I asked this question to a seasoned businessperson the other day, "How do you define business?"  

His answer wasn't exactly what I had expected.

For him, business is defined as "cashing the cheque" that was given as payment for an activity that had been agreed upon with someone(s). Business in his mind was not defined by what was being done or how, but by the actual transfer of money from one person to another. It was that simple in his mind.

Some clarification was needed on his part because it just didn't sit well with me that there seemed to be little consideration given to what and how something was being done for that "cheque".

It was then pointed out that there was up front consideration to what he would (and wouldn't) do based on legal, moral, ethical or personal reasons, but in theory it could be wide open as to what activities were part of this definition, and that was an individual decision. In his mind it wasn't about what you did that defined business but it was about the transfer of money. We didn't discuss the definition of money but I suspect that if "chickens" were the agreed upon currency, his definition would be satisfied.

Putting aside the opportunity for endless discussions on ethics, morality, legality, good or bad, there is something simple, clean, and direct about his definition. The more I thought about it, the more I began to believe he was spot on, and I did like the elegance of its simplicity. If we agree the goal in business is to make money, then everything else is just activity — If your activity results in a cheque that you can cash then it's business; if it doesn't, then it's just activity (or an expensive hobby). 

In the end the goal of business is to make money, make more money, and make it faster. Underlying this I suppose is all that sales, marketing, finance, operations, human resources, regulatory interpretation, et cetera that goes on each and every day. Cashing that cheque is a reminder to do it better, faster and more innovatively because that's how you stay in business.

Coincidently, a couple of days later I ran into another seasoned businessperson who defined business as "an enterprise or endeavour designed to create value for stake holders, or something like that".

If anything, I was reminded that people look at things differently so you need to stay sharp!

iamgpe