Happy New Year !

After the turmoil of 2020 and 2021, most of us hoped and believed that 2022 would give us a bit of a respite and a return to some kind of normality. For a short space of time, it actually looked like the confusion, panic and fear was finally behind us!

And then… Surprise!! It’s time for a good old-fashioned disruptor to totally screw up all our plans, causing political, financial and geopolitical chaos with no end in sight. And with a little help from the doom and gloom mongers, better known as the news & media, many of us are understandably forced into a mental state of depression and retreat, and one thing I’ve learned over the years, is we become what we immerse ourselves in. So please be careful what, and who you allow to influence you!

One of the crucial lessons learned by being surrounded by businesses large and small, the very first one being my father and mother’s, is that the great ones are so focused, stubborn and unwavering in finding opportunities in every situation. When others Zig, they Zag! In the early days, my father was told by his accountant that the business was failing, and to file for bankruptcy. Dad refused, insisting there was absolutely no way he would default on his obligations to those that had trusted him. He contacted all his suppliers, explained his situation, and without exception, every one of them gave him the time he needed to get back on track. Dad took on two additional jobs, while my mother ran the main business. He even borrowed the neighbour’s bicycle, so as to save a few pence on bus fare.

We lost Dad this year, and this was our first Christmas without him, but his lessons, love and support are always with me, and I know there will always be hope and opportunity, no matter what the others say. It’s easy to put on a big smile when the sun is shining and everything is going our way, but it takes a certain kind of individual to keep pushing forward, irrespective of the conditions around them.

Right now, you’ll find that many companies retreat, batten down the hatches and hope for the best, believing that some divine intervention will be their saviour. Hoping that others will provide the answers, opportunities and solutions to help turn their fortunes around.

Others believe that they simply can’t compete with the competition, because they are too cheap, much bigger, better positioned, much richer, more dominant. While others see opportunity, and understand that if some can excel in this industry, so can they. How this plays out is always down to how proactive we are, compared to how reactive we tend to be!

While some are paralysed by panic and fear making irrational decisions and becoming inactive, those with the strong desire to not only survive, but thrive, find the time to focus, evaluate and execute. And yes, this takes valuable time, time, that many of us claim we don’t have, but it’s amazing what we can accomplish with some very small changes. For example, diarising an uninterrupted hour a day to focus purely on planning, adapting and strategizing your business is an absolute must! “But I don’t have an hour!”, I hear you cry! Then you MUST find it, whether that’s waking up half an hour earlier, going to bed half an hour later, spending a little less time on social media looking at the latest mind numbing “hilarious posts”, or missing out on equally mind-numbing riveting, predictable TV soaps, you CAN find an hour. But it all depends on how badly you really want to succeed! Is it a hobby, or is it your destiny and chosen career.

And make no mistake, if you opt for surrender, retreat and giving in, you’ll be surrounded by supporters that comfort you with such wise words as “Don’t worry, you’ll find something else” or “You gave it your best shot” or my favourite “You’ll learn by your mistakes and this will make you stronger”! Giving you the comfort blanket you think you need for acceptance, and a softer landing, but in reality, crushing your dreams.

Any kind of success in any industry is tough. Others looking in from the outside often see the rewards, but fail to understand the pain, sacrifice and struggle to get there, and indeed stay there. You have to be relentless about continually improving every aspect of your business. This isn’t a destination it’s a never-ending journey, and the road will never be straight. There will be unexpected twists, turns, road blocks, breakdowns and some off roading. But on the days, you get it right, it’s an exhilarating, intoxicating ride. So, let’s support each other and enjoy the journey together!

The truth is, being successful isn’t the challenge – you might think it is, but I promise you, with the right mindset, combined with the right people, and with the right path of action, success is almost inevitable.

I hope you get the opportunity to get some rest and enjoy the holiday break, and look back with some pride at what you’ve achieved in 2022. It certainly looks like 2023 will need us performing at our absolute best, so enjoy the next few days to the max, and let’s look forward to supporting each other in the New Year.

I’m tremendously excited about the New Year, and a new project we are launching very soon. It’s something I had to put on hold for 6 years while chairing NABAS, and something I’m tremendously passionate about, and something I know you are going to LOVE. So Watch This Space For An Imminent Announcement!

May I End By Wishing You A Healthy, Happy & Successful 2023, Filled With Fun, Laughter And Amazing Memories.

Happy New Year,

George.

https://www.gointernational.co.uk