It's Who You Know

3 Transform to a collective network

In Suzanne Collins' science fiction trilogy The Hunger Games, one boy and one girl aged between 12 and 18 are selected by lottery from each of the 12 districts to fight in a murderous televised game of survival.

When 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen strategically outflanks both the other contestants and the organisers using as her weapons compassion and collaboration rather than anger and competition, she not only wins the contest but also becomes the symbol of revolution.

Alone Katniss is no threat. But when she joins forces with other strategists and game players of diverse talents, her influence and impact increase exponentially. She carefully selects individuals who add strength where she is weak, so collectively they form one super-power capable of overthrowing the dictatorship that has long ruled their universe.

As with much dystopian fiction, there are clear lessons to be drawn from the story, the foremost of which is that we can only achieve so much on our own, but when we align ourselves strategically with the right people we have the potential to create change and transform the game of life.

The eye of the storm

No matter what stage of your career you are at, in today's world of constant challenge, change and busyness you simply will not be able to move fast enough on your own. And sitting on your hands and waiting for the world to help you is like sitting in the middle of a tornado.

You have to take ownership and responsibility for ...