Reinventing yourself

Category: Editorial

Richard Winfield - editor They say that there is only one opportunity to create a first impression. But how many chances do you have to become the new new thing? Steve jobs has made a habit of it and Apple has benefited greatly. But I read recently that Google, which is continually launching new products and gives employees time for invention is losing staff to Facebook. However, powerful and exciting Google is, it is no longer the latest thing. What's more the opportunity for fantastic early stage share options has passed. Could Google be becoming middle aged? Facebook is where it's at now and the sort of staff who enjoy the excitement of start-ups are moving over.

The same applies to individuals. If you are not continually reinventing yourself or at least evolving, you are slipping backwards. As you grow older, you cannot stay the same. We have a saying "mutton dressed up as lamb". It normally refers to women dressed inappropriately but a more extreme version involves too many visits to the 'cosmetic' surgeon. Do you remember when Tom Jones was famous? It was 40 years ago, but when I went to his show a couple of weeks ago he was mostly trading on that old reputation and old songs - though I must say, the theatre was packed.

In contrast, I have since attended a big show "Jasper Carrott's Rock with Laughter" together with more than 10,000 others. Jasper Carrott is a 62 year old comedian who grew up in my home town and I was interested to read a feature on him in our local paper.

He explained that as he had grown older he had repeatedly reinvented himself. He has been on top for a period of thirty years starting as a stand up comic and moving through sketch shows, sitcoms and quizzes. Although stand up is his forte, he said, he recognised that it is a young man's game. Comedy thrives on freshness, upon new things because the biggest element of comedy is surprise. In his latest incarnation he is a promoter, investing his own money in developing this annual Christmas show and inviting his own selection of top music and comedy stars. His public role was only as compere, introducing and supporting his famous guests, as well as a smattering of bright young things. But with 40,000 tickets sold over four nights, he is obviously now a successful businessman, too.

So, as we come to the end of 2007, it is time to review. Are you up to date, stagnating or moving forward? Are you looking forward to an exciting next phase, or complaining about how the world is changing?

Someone who continues to develop and try new things is my colleague Andrew Halfacre. He has developed a very successful course on Starting Your Own Business. Now he has published a compilation of all his resource notes. We have a special holiday offer on The Red Stuff Handbook; see below.

-o-O-o-

In our last issue, I commented on Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" film about cllimate change.

Here are a couple of comments: -

My feeling is that no matter what we do it is not going to make a big enough difference. In saying that, it doesn’t mean we should do nothing at all. I certainly don’t believe that the whole global warming situation can be attributed to burning fossil fuels and that natural evolution may play a major role, as in the ice age. From what I have heard of Al Gore’s world tour (or how to keep yourself in a job once you are no longer Vice President!) I cannot subscribe to it.

I have every admiration for the Avaaz team who are publicising all of these world situations and, by the medium of email, reaching millions of people worldwide and giving us an opportunity to have a voice.

Christine Murrie

I know that it won’t surprise you to hear from me about the Inconvenient Truth. Your points about the GROW model and the need for well formed outcomes are well made; the lack of use of even basic change skills and psychology is staggering, and accounts for much of the lack of progress that’s been made so far.

We’re working with a few clients and government departments to start mapping the ’80-30’ journey – one that will get them to an 80% reduction in CO2 by 2030 – around 5000 work days from now. To do this, we’re convinced of the need to use backcasting – start off at the destination and then work out how to get there – will be an important part of the process.

The level of change that is needed is both frightening and potentially healing, for both homo sapiens and the planet.

Andy Middleton

I have also come across an online game, Consumer Consequences, that enables you to discover the environmental consequences of your lifestyle.

Richard Winfield is founder of Brefi Group.

An international facilitator, he coaches and

facilitates directors and boards in transition:

helping them to make progress by

bringing structure and clarity

to their thinking.