We Choose To Go To The Moon

A company director sits at a computer and interrogates a database. They pull all sorts of information and start compiling reports. Very quickly they identify the company is growing but they know their team has more to offer. In fact they know their team can rightfully achieve a much higher level of ambition, way beyond what they believe is ever possible!

Sometimes in work and in life, we settle in to a routine that is comfortable. We find a level of stimulation that is just enough to keep us interested or it satisfies our basic needs. From that point on, we can become steadily stuck in a rut and we reach a plateau. That is not such a bad thing but the longer it continues, the more difficult it becomes to move on.

It was Albert Einstein who once said his definition of insanity was “doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results”. For a manager or a director this might ring true. Attempting to change a routine or people who have become institutionalised can prove frustrating, especially if relying on just hope alone.

Luckily in life, some people are pioneers. They believe in something bigger and better. They have vision that inspires something creative. They have the strength to be leaders and take other people with them. And they choose to do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard!

Here We Go Again

Is being comfortable in life enough for some people? If you reach a certain goal and life is fine, are you happy to accept there is nothing else left to accomplish?

Running a business can be demanding and if the turnover is steadily increasing, it can be tempting to sit back and happily coast along - just making the odd tweak here and there. This year, we’ve done well and I’m a lot more relaxed. It has probably been the easiest time since starting the company six years ago,

Having some breathing space has been nice but recently, I’ve felt lost and somewhat bored. Surviving a recession and recovering from it has been a valuable learning experience. On reflection it has made me realise what type of person I am. It has questioned what makes me tick, where I find enjoyment and how badly I need a challenge.

Repeating 100% annual growth on turnover like we experienced in the past would probably be incredibly tough, time consuming and very challenging. There again, on the flip side of the coin would it not be inspiring, stimulating and fantastically exciting?

We’ll Be There In Thirty Minutes

A Chief Executive leaves a meeting early. Instead of heading to a hotel for the night, they catch a last train home. An hour later they realise they need a car to meet them at the station in 35 minutes. They call their Executive Assistant, who phones the chauffeur provider, who says “sorry, we’re too busy”. Would the Chief Exec be impressed?

Now I’m not saying that all journeys are last minute but occasionally, a regular customer will need their chauffeur provider to pull out all the stops and make something special happen. It is how they earn their prestigious reputation, distinguish themselves from the competition and develop a trusting relationship. 

This week, a major International event took place in our local area. It is a one-off occasion lasting just a few days and admittedly, there is some high profile chauffeur work. However we don’t get involved because peak-demand from inexperienced organisers with passengers who are not regular traveller’s leads to misunderstandings. Silly mistakes occur when requesting vehicles. Details become confused and what appeared to be lucrative quickly becomes a high maintenance, low profit customer.

Sometimes it is tempting to make a quick buck. Nevertheless, that is not how any self-respecting chauffeur company builds a reputation. For us, we recognise the value a long-term customer places on our commitment to their needs. Being available when they need us most is critical. So if the phone rings last minute with a request to pick up the Chief Exec, what do you think we say?

Summer Cruising

In previous blogs, I mentioned the last two years had been tough going. Thankfully the last six months have been easier but on reflection, I felt older, slower, drained and if brutally honest, overweight (physically and mentally).

Realising I needed stimulation, a month ago I joined a business club and over the last week, I’ve met some of the members individually. It is good to say that growing new relationships, sharing ideas and discussing experiences has genuinely felt encouraging.

Simultaneously, time invested in social media has delivered a positive outlook in the last week. Joining discussion groups over the previous 18-months and discussing the chauffeur trade, has developed a wide network of new associates with huge potential to grow DrivenByQ.

This week has felt just like the good old days and given me a very different perspective. What if the last two years have simply been an intensive learning process? Better still, what if now is the time for a new dawn with a return to enjoyable and fun reasons to run a business? This week, I even dusted down my road bike, managed some cycling and was pleasantly surprised to find I am definitely not past it – not yet anyway!