Спасибо for Your Lessons, Coach
I love a good, hard workout. It’s relaxing yet exhilarating, and cell phone free. Equally satisfying is for those 90 minutes, rarely does anything ever blow up at work. It’s an ongoing reality check that no matter what, the world keeps on turning.
We need a healthy work life balance, even if sacrificing productivity. Today, investors expect forecasts with three decimal place equivalents, and we’re hyper programmed for 24/7 availability, or at least must give that impression. I’m squarely in this category, needed a fresh perspective, and was looking to slow down.
By chance, I formed a close, but unexpected friendship, as a workout buddy, with one of our kids’ gymnastics coaches. He’s an immigrant who recently obtained US citizenship. Russian is neither a language I speak, and nor for the past three years has my friend expressed any interest about business, or my professional activities. Yet, he has taught me several lessons, many of which are ironically commerce related, and he always has great balance in his life.
Despite his broken English, and the two of us having nothing in common, we regularly have extended, misunderstanding-free conversations. He even frequently invites me out with his friends at night or on weekends.
Given how much time I study the cultures where I travel, it’s refreshing hearing this “Coach’s” US perspective. It’s uncensored, honest and unbiased. At times, I must concede, it even grates on my nerves given its simplicity. Once in a while, it’s important to view your surroundings from the outside looking in.
Consider the following:
- Core business messaging is still key: Don’t let who you really are get lost in translation with fancy add-ons meant to impress customers. Coach often reminds me that despite his Pidgin English, he always still understands my key points. Differentiation, second mover advantage and pivots are critical strategic tenets in business. But, do we sometimes forego the forest in lieu of the trees?
- Keep expectations simple: Metrics are the currency through which so many companies are evaluated, but has the needle moved dangerously close to paralysis by analysis? At the end of the day (month, quarter?) revenues need to consistently exceed expenses. Why should we complicate this further?
- Don’t sweat the small stuff: Whether through our training, societal expectations or hit songs by artists like P!nk, absolute perfection seems to be the new “business normal.” Yet, no firm will sport a consistently flawless track record, and most worries never come to fruition, anyway. How many times will the small print Coach doesn’t even know exists, let alone read or understand, ever be that relevant?
Boston’s weather is changing so eventually we will have an opportunity to actually smell the roses again. By the way… no cell phone, SWOT Analysis or Russian dictionary required. Спасибо (thank you) Coach.
Greg Stoller is a lecturer involved in building entrepreneurship and international MBA business programs at Boston College. Visit his blog www.languageofbusiness.biz or http://www.bc.edu/content/bc/schools/csom/graduate/admissions.html for admissions information.
