The Latest News from PlanA

I was chatting with someone about their focus for the coming year and they said that they wanted to develop structure and processes within their business, with the ultimate aim to look at exiting their industry in 5 years’ time. We started chatting about the various things for them to consider and it reminded me of a book I read a few years ago – Built to Sell – Buy it here!

The year as a ten-year-old used to go on forever, especially in those winter months when there was no end in sight, the thought of sun and summer seemed a distant dream. How I looked forward to spending time with my mates and cuzzies down at the river, going to the pools over the holiday period, and just hanging out.

As I type it is the Monday after the 2023 elections in Aotearoa New Zealand. There is still 500,000 Special Votes to count, but as we know it will be a National / Act coalition, possibly with NZ First as the third coalition partner.

Now I don’t know about you, but towards the end of the campaign I really started to turn off. Everyone seemed to be promising everything, blamed everyone else and the noise became a bit too much.

In the world of business, clarity is the cornerstone of sound decision-making. Whether you're a board of directors, business owner, or a general manager, your choices greatly impact your organisation's success. To get good clarity though, you need to test assumptions. In this blog I’m going to give you three simple things to think about when it comes to getting clarity around your business direction and decisions.

I recently read the book American Icon by Bryce Hoffman. Although it is about the Ford Motor Company, it is really about the remarkable journey of Alan Mulally, the former Ford CEO and the folks he worked with, who turned the company around.

While we can't control election outcomes or external factors, we can control our reactions and commitment to excellence. In the words of Mulally, ‘The most important thing is to keep moving forward and to focus on delivering results’. By following these principles your business cannot only weather the storms of change but also emerge stronger and more resilient, regardless of what government is in power.

I initially thought I’d write some commentary about the recent New Zealand election and what that might mean for business. But the more I thought about it, the less inclined I became to go down that path. First of all, until a government is formed, who knows what things may look like and secondly, I’d just become another talking head, making guesses and assumptions (although by the time you read this the election will be over, and who knows if a government will have even been formed!)

By implementing strategies inspired by agile pit stops, tech, purpose-driven leadership, sustainability, and team training, you can be poised to accelerate towards success. Just like a Formula 1 champion team, the key lies in adaptability, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

In the competitive landscape of modern businesses, customer loyalty plays a pivotal role in sustaining success. Building a base of loyal customers can lead to increased revenue, brand advocacy, and long-term business growth.

I want to touch on something that affects all of us, no matter our age or background, and that’s energy. Not the electricity kind, but the kind that makes us feel motivated and ready to tackle our goals.