LET’ S DO BUSINESS
OUTSIDE THE COMFORT ZONE
Downes eventually left the military, although civilian life initially looked remarkably similar.
Within a week he was back in Baghdad, working in security and protecting media crews in hostile environments. He did that for four years before moving into roles including training foreign special forces in the Middle East.
His transition away from military life was gradual. Then came an unexpected second act.
A former SAS colleague, Billy Billingham, called him about a television programme.
Downes had barely watched SAS: Who Dares Wins.
Before long he was one of its directing staff, introducing a mass television audience to a personality that combined the intimidating presence expected of the show with the warmth and humour familiar to those who know him.
The programme is entertainment, and Downes is clear that real SAS selection is very different. Yet he believes the experience gives contestants something valuable.
Take people away from comfort and familiarity, put them under pressure, and they frequently discover capabilities they did not know they possessed.
It is something he now explores with businesses too, through talks and experiences that take teams into unfamiliar situations and force them to think, communicate and make decisions.
He has watched senior leaders freeze while more junior colleagues find solutions.
The hierarchy becomes less important than the team.
That willingness to leave the comfortable behind matters enormously to Downes.
He worries that modern life makes avoiding discomfort too easy.
“ I think everybody should be setting themselves challenges, physical challenges and mental challenges,” he says.
“ You’ ve got 1,440 minutes in a day. You tell me you can’ t spend 60 minutes doing something positive, whether it’ s reading a chapter, getting something done or getting out and about.”
His own routine continues to reflect that approach.
He remains active, sets himself targets and gets important tasks done rather than waiting until he feels like doing them.
It all comes back to discipline. And the belief that time is far too valuable to waste.
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