The genius of Bate
Nicholas Bate's latest series is Strategies for Success. As usual, he reminds us what we should be doing.
The world is full of the latest and greatest. "Data analytics" we scratch our head over, "best practices" that leave us wondering best for who? Crap masquerading as leadership. Confusing garbage served up with a nod and a wink as advice.
I read an article this week about how to stay well. Walk regularly. Get your flu shot. Keep an eye on your blood pressure and cholesterol. Sleep. Wash your hands. Get a check-up once a year.
Does any of this shock you? Of course not.
I look at health data for a living. Don't have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or uncontrolled diabetes. These three problems pop up again and again in the most complicated, deadly and costly diseases. If you have one or multiple of these problems, control them. Diet, medicine, combinations. You will live longer.
Yet we have people who ignore simple health advice every day of their life and are shocked when they have serious health problems stemming from the complications of their lifestyle.
In business, here is the key: Show up (come to work mentally and physically on time on a regular basis). Have a positive attitude about your job. (My plumber tells jokes as he changes out a toilet or crawls under my sink.) Pay attention. Learn. . .from your successes and from your failures.
How hard is that? People fail to do these basic things every single day and smack their forehead wondering what the hell just happened when they don't advance.
Where am I headed?
It is the basics that we so often miss. We fail to say something, do something, do the right thing over and over. My Junior year in college I failed to get a summer internship in comparative economics. I called and asked if there were any other programs. "Why yes," the nice lady replied. "How about political journalism? Would you like that internship." I asked a simple question and got a summer in D.C.
The genius of Bate is that he reminds us to do the things we should be doing. God bless Nicholas Bate. I read him every single morning and learn from him every single day.
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