Back to basics

Hi Everyone,
It's really tempting to invest your time and efforts in the latest fad. I've done and perhaps you have too.

I don't actually think that's a bad thing as long as you understand the underpinnings of what you are trying to achieve and you don't put all of your eggs into one basket.

An example of where this type of thing can cause problems is Judo's new rules about leg grabbing. For a number of years some very flashy pick-up throws have become popular to the point that they have become the favourite technique of many athletes. All of a sudden they are as good as banned leaving those that have focussed on these techniques struggling to develop effective attack methods.

For this reason good coaches train their students soundly in the basics of throwing and the basic techniques to a very high level before allowing them to get swept away with the latest fad manouvre.

Techniques are there to achieve a purpose, keep the purpose in mind, understand the basic principles that will allow you to succeed and develop a range of contingencies that are consistent with the basic principles to ensure that you don't lose out because your one technique, for whatever reason, is no longer viable.

Kind regards
Simon 'At Your Service'

Doing it now

Hi Everyone,

You know growing up our coaches would always tell us to attack 'now' when we were engaged in a tough fight.

They could see when our confidence was down, or when we were over analysing the situation. They wanted us to commit to doing something with complete effort 'now'.

I think that's a lesson that is a very important one indeed. Deciding to do it 'later' can end up with it not getting done and can breed a negative vibe as we dwell on why it might not work. It can also end up with wasting time through double handling and that's not very 'judo' now is it?

Kind regards
'Simon At Your Service'

Defence!!!

It's funny what reputations can do for business. It's just like taking on the big name player at a judo tournament. It can seem much more of a challenge just because of your perception of things.

If you are starting out with a great idea you need to consider what stories can be created about you to deter competitors. If your offering appears to be great, your product range superior, your uniform professional, and your marketing strong, you may very well put off new entrants. Keep in mind that this can be 'created' without necessarily spending a huge amount of money. We are trying to cause people to see our business in a certain way, our business may not yet be all that advanced but it's the perceptions that count.

Time to get the creative juices flowing to put up some barriers to new entrants coming to compete against you.

Kind regards
Simon 'At Your Service'

A time for reflection

ANZAC Day is a day of reflection for many of us as we consider the sacrifices many people made for the betterment of the general poulation.

Reflection is a valuable practise! It allows us to look back and learn, which will hopefully prevent future mistakes.

Take the time to not only reflect on key dates on your calendar but also on elements of your business, such as key decisions, outcomes of relationships, results of marketing campaigns and the success of deals done.

Set goals and find a way to measure impacts as you go. This will allow you to reflect with greater ease and clarity facilitating decisive action.

Action - reaction - action along the way from a platform of solid planning will set you up well for success.

Kind regards
'Simon At Your Service'

One size doesn't fit all!

One of the things I love about judo is that anyone can find a range of techniques to suit them. With some sports there is a best way to do things and a certain type of athlete (build etc) that is likely to succeed. With judo you develop techniques that suit your build and situation. As an example, taller, leaner people may prefer leg throws whilst shorter, stockier folk could excel using shoulder techniques.

This is a useful example to apply to business where making the best of what advantages you have is vitally important. What do you do really well? And how can you build on it to develop your unique form of competitive advantage?

Lesson 5

Hi Everyone

The fifth lesson put forth by Jigoro Kano in lessons for judo outside of the dojo is contained in an eloquent statement I believe lends itself to reflection rather than explanation. The statement is as follows:

Walk a single path, becomming neither cocky with victory, nor broken with defeat, without fogetting caution when all is quiet or becomming frightened when danger threatens. (Kano, Kodokan Judo, 1994, Kodansha International, Tokyo, p. 25.)

I look forward to sharing a new theme next week.

Kind regards
Simon 'At Your Service'

Do you know when to stop?

This week I am continuing to share the 5 priciples of judo outside the dojo.

The fourth principle needs little explanation, Jigoro Kano suggests that you should know when to stop (Kodokan Judo, 1994, Kodansha International, p. 25). 'This can be stated quite simply, when a predetermined point is reached, it is time to cease applying the technique, or whatever'.

This is something that most successful gamblers or investors have used as a basis for their activities. Knowing what they have to play with and setting clear boundaries set as to when enough is enough. In business this would be akin to your succession plan that highlights the details of when and how you will remove yourself from the business if things aren't going as planned.

Having this type of plan also prevents us from making a very common decision-making error commonly known as, 'escalating commitment'. Which Waddell et al  (Contemporary Management, 2007, McGraw-Hill, p. 280) state, is 'a source of cognitive bias resulting from a tendency to commit additional resources to a project even if evidence shows that the project is failing'. In other words, continuing to plunge more and more resources into something that is clearly not working. I wonder if that something you've experienced? I know that as a kid I used to do something similar when I was telling a lie!

I look forward to sharing the 5th lesson on judo outside of the dojo next week.

Kind regards
Simon 'At Your Service'