It's Not Always Right to Be Right

Chapter 7Ever Heard of Harry Redknapp?

A few years back, I shared the following Mark Twain quote with my three kids and not one of them got it: ‘When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years’. Their response was, ‘Yep, pretty clear that old man needed to grow up’. Classic. A few years on, I would be curious to see if they had a different answer. If it remains the same, I'll need to rewrite this chapter.

Experience really is a fascinating phenomenon: invaluable, yet underleveraged.

If only we could appreciate experience when insight takes place, in those moments of anguish, occasions of discovery and instants of reflection. They add belief, reassurance and confidence, which are all beneficial for those we serve.

Now, that would be special.

THE MESSAGE

‘If I knew then what I know now, how success would be mine.’ So very true. I love the value of experience; it has definitely made me that much better. Not just in a business sense, but also as a partner, parent and hopefully as a friend. When I say better, I am talking of being more productive and more efficient. A better decision maker and a better leader. I am more supportive and more challenging, an improved delegator and an increased provider of freedom and autonomy. I have enhanced my care and empathy for others, alongside my desire for ‘doing good’ for others. This comes with having ...