Modern Business Magazine July 2016 | Page 60

MODERN LEADERSHIP profit, learning, are you on the path to success, or are you stuck because your competition audit is creating self doubt, a negative questioning of your why – and subsequently dampening your spirit of growth and momentum. It’s time to throw some fuel on your own fire – and light up the business sky. The people and businesses that will ultimately succeed will be the ones that are capable of making sense of the complex and chaos. we all have different baggage, backgrounds, financial situations, and stuff going on. But if you want it enough, if you are hungry enough and if you take control of owning your role in writing your story, creating your dreams – then action will happen. Whether things go to plan or not – own the role you have to play and hold yourself accountable for your success, whatever that may be, because this will absolutely create action towards achieving your goals. Ownership and accountability drive exponential momentum. Your First Competitive Audit is…YOU In his book, The Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell famously proposes that it takes 10,000 hours to truly master anything. If this is true, then you need to embrace every one of your strengths and understand your capabilities. Use your awareness to your advantage and strengthen your unique skills to become more. The business landscape can change in the blink of an eye and often we can spend so long comparing 60 ModernBusiness July 2016 ourselves to others, watching everyone else instead of focusing on developing ourselves that when we remember to take said blink, the future is suddenly the present - and we are no longer a participant in our own version of success. Take the blinkers off and open your eyes to what you are bringing to work, to the possibility of what could be, and above all make sure you reinforce your plans and dreams and change direction towards that dream if need be. The ones that will provide the insight, evolution, innovation and most of all the execution of said ideas. They will have their eye well and truly on the future goal, whilst being adaptable and willing to change their dance as required getting there. They are focused on their vision and will power ahead with conviction. Don’t let your own flame go out simply because someone else is burning brightly. Remember, they may be thinking how warm and strong your flame is too. The reality is that new businesses are going to pop up out of nowhere for the foreseeable future, because it’s the way things are. New businesses will continue to challenge the norm, to create new industries and reshape the corporate landscape. But that doesn’t mean you have to blow your own fire of innovation out. Just make sure your first competitive audit is with yourself, because you are your key competition. Better the last goal, ask the hard questions of yourself – are you growing in sales, Janine Garner is the Founder and CEO of LBDGroup, author of From Me To We, and works with senior leaders to build high performing teams. For more information visit http://www. janinegarner.com.au