Forget Strategy. Get Results.: Radical Management Attitudes That Will Deliver Outstanding Success

Introduction

“This book is about experiences that have stuck with me and ideas that have influenced my life. What I have learned has enabled me to empower and inspire people around me – people far brighter than I will ever be – to perform fabulous things. I am riding the waves of change.”

 

Often it takes someone else to point out that maybe you do things a little differently to other people. Because the way we behave in our life on a daily basis is – from our own point of view – simply the way we are.

A couple of years ago, I was trying to get back to London for an industry awards ceremony: I had been nominated as Personality of the Year, and the organizers were very keen for me to be there. I had taken a few days off to go skiing in Switzerland with my kids and was planning to fly back for the ceremony. As luck would have it, on the day itself, the weather was against me and all the flights were delayed or cancelled. I phoned in to say it didn't look like I was going to be able to make it after all. “Please make it,” was the message back. “We really need you to be here.”

There was a break in the weather, eventually, and well behind schedule a flight managed to get off the ground while the weather window was – precariously – open. I landed in London and, with minutes to spare, a cab whisked me over to the Grosvenor House Hotel just in the nick of time. As I walked into the ballroom, which was full to bursting with industry colleagues in immaculate tuxedos and evening wear, ...