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Value basics

I think the neurosurgeon and author Henry Marsh first drew my attention to the concept of don't look down.

He likened being a consultant neurosurgeon to being tight rope walker, a profession where it's very easy to fall off at any moment and particularly if you see the scale of what you're doing.

The greater the stakes, the higher the tightrope, the wobblier it becomes, and the more likely you are to fall off; that's where bravery comes in.

People get to the top, and they start to protect the very thing that got them there, their creativity, their agility, and their ability to take a risk; it disappears because of the safety that they have created and the instinct to protect the safety as much as possible.

It's a little bit like defending a 1-0 lead in a cup final.  

You might get away with it, but if you don't and the other teams score, the momentum lies with them, and you give up the chance to win. 

Being brave, as the first value in any business, is absolutely essential to success.

Being able to risk properly (even dare I say it carefully) is essential for growth.

Without being able to do this, you will stagnate, and you will never ever be able to reach the heights that you imagine, the heights that you set yourself when you have nothing to lose.

By Colin Campbell on 20/08/23 18:00