#DigitalTransformation it's not about the technology... It's about #TheFutureOfWork

This might sound odd for someone who gets paid to inspire people around digital transformation. And who talks on the TV and radio about technology. BUT Digital Transformation is NOT about the technology.

IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE.

It's taken me a few years to be 100% sure on this. And don't get me wrong it - annoys me (as a techie futurist.) But it's the people that make the difference to your business. Not the technology. As the wrong people - even with the best technology - we still be the wrong people. And so the outcomes you get - go wrong. Or are wrong!

For example...
You can give someone a calculator. But this doesn't make them an accountant. Or even a good accountant. You can give someone excel but this doesn't make them a financial director.
It might seem simple and trite.

But the right people make the ALL the difference.
However, don't just think that this is therefore an HR issue. It isn't. Picking the right people is hard.

But keeping them is even harder. Which is the job of the leadership team (and dare I say management team.) It's the job of the leaders who create the right culture in which your best people can be happy and flourish.

WHAT ABOUT TECHNOLOGY THEN MR TECHIE?

Ok. Technology IS important. It can bring amazing opportunities for businesses to have a competitive edge. Technology brings social change. It is often the trigger for shifts in understanding and opportunities we couldn't even imagine. Did we know the internet would bring remote working, or mobile phones - the gig economy.
Just think what the printing press did. It helped bring about the Protestant church and the reformation. Or what the washing machine did... You get my point.

But technology is the trigger. After that you need the right men (or women) to do (or not do) the work. So AT work. You need technology. You need to get people the right tools for the job. You can't run a launderette with people going down to the river to wash the clothes.
But you might be surprised how many people are trying to do that right now. Conceptually.

"They are thinking like the past (not just in the past) - when managing the present and even the future." (Dan Sodegren 2019)

Only after we free our minds. Will the rest follow.

Yes - we have technology now to help you pick the right people. As GP Bullhound is predicting...

BUT...

Your people need to be trained up in the future of work.

For your organisation to have a future.
After all this. Then let's give them the clever tools and technologies that allow digital transformation to take place.

Why the rant?

It has been triggered as I was listening to the wonderful Prof Helen Marshall give a great speech at The University of Salford. In which she detailed (in ways I will not blog about here) the landscape for Universities.

• The external pressures they are under.
• The internal need for change.
• About how with the right vision - Salford IS doing extremely well.

But like many organizations - they have:

• The wish to become agile and to change.
• To make sure they not only survive but thrive.
• She talked about being "fit for the future"
• And how culture is all important. Which was music to my ears after investing in FLOCK.
• About...

"How a train is coming and it's our job to get our people out of the way."

So they have a plan. Which many businesses do.

It is a speech that I have heard many politicians and leaders give whilst working around large organizations like the NHS and in education. Both areas renowned for not changing rapidly. And it reminded me of a slide I use in my talks around #DigitalTransformation.

I hope you find it useful.

And as you see here - successful change isn't about technology. It's about the people. The resources (which you can argue technology is part of) is only one small part. As without the right skills and training in place how can you expect managers to change? They don't they just create ANXIETY.
And if they don't change and they punish people below them that try to.

How does the organization change?
It doesn't.
It gets hit by the train. Whilst blindly crossing the tracks.

So the question is

HOW DO YOU HELP CHANGE HAPPEN?

One way I am seeing more and more clearly is that you use technology to help people understand their own motivations and values. You do this en-masse. For your employees and for you too. And then as leaders you get this feedback (decided by them and not a computer) and YOU make calculated (scientific) data driven decisions. Not easy decisions. But data driven / psychologically proven / #future of work decisions.
You might find that some managers might not really be suited to be managers. Some people might need to swap teams.

Some people might need to be helped to leave. And you might want to truly recruit the right people (based on values and attitudes) from the talent pool. The idea of keeping the same people in the same jobs isn't going to work.

BUT YOU CAN TRAIN PEOPLE.

Yes - you can train people. But what if "training" isn't the point. What if they don't share the same values as the organization will need to do - to survive. This isn't a point of training them to use the calculator.
What if they don't like training or the point of the calculator. If someone is fundamentally internally opposed to it... what happens next?

Do they make your life more fun. And the workplace better? Or do they create issues and problems. And cost you lots of money and energy.
In fact, are there people doing that already. As you can see the train on the horizon...

THAT TRAIN 'AINT STOPPING.

I am on .... The TV show FastFix: Diabetes is on @ITV TODAY 9 - 10pm... And I am on it!....

The TV show FastFix: Diabetes is on @ITV TODAY - as part of #DiabetesAwarenessWeek.

It's on the Weds / Thurs 13 / 14th at 9 - 10pm. 

With trailers being aired in prime time as we speak. And I am on it!

Whilst the press release from ITV about it is below...

This new two-part factual entertainment series aiming to break new ground features people with Type 2 diabetes attempting to reverse their condition by living on a radical liquid diet, potentially saving their lives - and the NHS billions of pounds. 

Which is why we started this petition...

 Please sign it and share on social media...

WHY? As Type2Diabetes is a NATIONAL CRISIS...

“Type 2 diabetes is a national crisis and a massive challenge to the NHS. But this experiment proves that there is real hope of turning the clock back and reversing Type 2, using this revolutionary diet to stop this epidemic in its tracks.” - says Presenter Anita Rani about the programme which airs during #DiabetesAwarenessWeek

The programme features five obese and overweight patients (one of them we can now say is our founder @DanSodergren) who moved into the unique experimental diabetes reversal unit, the Fast Fix Clinic after he was diagnosed with Type2Diabetes in November 2017.

As the press release continues - the story of what happens...

"[The housemates] live on a diet of just 800 calories per day for four weeks in order to see if they can 'fast themselves better' as they attempt to shed more than two stones (15kg).

While all the participants have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, this diet isn’t suitable for everyone, requires medical supervision, and must not be undertaken by those on insulin and with certain other conditions.

Four million people have Type 2 diabetes and another 12 million are at increased risk, so based on research by the Universities of Newcastle and Glasgow, this programme aims to find out whether the five volunteers can turn the clock back on their Type 2 diabetes, potentially pointing the way to a solution to what has been described as Britain’s biggest health crisis.

Also attempting to trim her own waistline is Loose Women’s Coleen Nolan, who undergoes a lifestyle transformation hoping to lose 5kg to minimise her risk of developing diabetes. Celebrity chef Rosemary Shrager and TV quiz boffin Paul Sinha undertake their own extreme fasting diets at home to avoid underlying health issues and the potential of diabetes.

Joining Anita are GP and obesity expert Dr Zoe Williams and Professor Jason Gill, who is at the forefront of research into how diet and exercise can prevent diabetes.

At a time when there are concerns the NHS will struggle to cope with a future diabetes epidemic, Anita, Zoe and Jason aim to get to the bottom of the issue and offer hope to those affected and practical advice on what we can all do to help ourselves.

The founder of www.Type2DiabetesFree.com and www.BeFreeOfType2D.co.uk @dansodergren is one of the housemates to star in the 2 part show.

"I am very excited" says Dan Sodergren, "But as I haven't seen it I don't know the ending or how they will make us all look. Let's hope we can get a positive message out there about people living with (and hopefully reversing) Type 2 Diabetes"

"One of the best parts of it all was meeting some of the great people that have tirelessly worked on helping people with this condition. And really getting to know them and their pioneering work. It's been a great privilege and I am very lucky."

Apparently, today's #GroundhogDay. But what does that film really mean? What does it mean to you?t

Today's Groundhog day, an oddball holiday built on the premise that winter's a grind, that we want it to be over with, that our motivation is ... 

The magic of the film, though, was realizing that our motivation is actually up to us.

And that if we choose, we can change it.

If we do, the world might change in response.

We get more of what we respond to.

Thanks Seth again for this amazing blog. 

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2018/02/what-motivates-you.html

Some great advice from Seth Godin for when you write a book. And how to market it.

I was speaking to someone (someone off the tele) about why they didn't have a book published.

It was madness to me. Someone with that position and belief in what they do and why they do it. Someone with SOMETHING to say. not having a book!

As even I have a book published - Make Your Passion A Success.

So the following advice is from Seth Godin - who has published LOTS of books - and in very many interesting ways. He knows his stuff. And he is a legend in marketing.

The following bits of advice are golden and link into different articles he has written on book publishing and how to market books. 

All around his experience of building The Domino Project.

• Building a book (part 1) via The Domino Project - Tom Kubik is a gifted and successful commercial ... http://tinyurl.com/ydeffr8b 
•  
• Building a book (part 2) via The Domino Project - Amazon is it. There are now two channels ... http://tinyurl.com/y7z6r78u
•  
• Does it pay to own a small bookstore? via The Domino Project - A student asked this question. My ... http://tinyurl.com/ybog7gq3
•  
• The secret to designing a cover (Building a Book III) via The Domino Project - Most books are ... http://tinyurl.com/y925zy6u  
•  
• The power of bulk sales (Building a Book IV) via The Domino Project - A few years ago, I ... http://tinyurl.com/y743nc7f

1. 
   

I also list this here to remind me - as I am also going to write a book about myself getting Type 2 Diabetes and all the amazing amounts of research around what you can do to reverse the condition.

The best thing I learnt after 8 years and what you can too... In one.

A couple of months back, I had my Great Marketing Works work anniversary. I know this as lots and lots of people congratulated me on LinkedIn. Which I am forever grateful for.

But it all got me to thinking? After 8 years what had we done? So I started looking at it all.

How – the big question. 

How many clients? More than 100.

How many training sessions and talks. More than 500.

How many consultancy gigs. More than a 1000.

How long did clients stay for ? Between 1 talk and 8 years!

Which sector did I get client from? More than 70% of our clients came from the education and training sectors. Ironically, for us,  they were also the worst paying sector per client. But I do love education so...

So… How much a day? From £50 (once) to £5000 (once.) But with the public sector paying less and less each year. And the private sector paying more and more.

All interesting stuff BUT…  None of this really informed me about me. It was just the business.

The What’s. The bigger questions. 

But then I found an old piece of paper. On it I had written down answers to an exercise my mentor had set me many moons ago. I had kept this piece of paper on my wall but never really looked at it and I now had the chance to do the exercise again and compare and contrast my answers.

Was I really on track?

My simple suggestion is that you write down the answers to the questions below.

And then in a year or two (probably not 8) come back to them and do it again. Have you changed? Are you on track? Should you take a day off to celebrate or commiserate?

My mentor questions. 

1. What activities do you like to be doing? 

2. What skills would you like to be using? 

3. What impact would you like to make? 

4. Who would you like to work with? 

5. What would you like to learn about? 

6. What values would you like to live out? 

7. What environment do you want to work in? 

8. What would success look like to you?

These are my answers separated by the 8 years since I started Great Marketing Works. 

1. What activities do you like to be doing? 

2009:  Talking, writing, doing tech stuff with big screens.

2017:  Inspiring people. Talking with people. Being inspired myself.

2. What skills would you like to be using? 

2009:  NLP, public speaking and teaching.

2017:  My talking skills, writing, marketing strategy around startups.

3. What impact would you like to make? 

2009:  On my bottom line and become slightly famous.

2017:  On my family / personal life and health.

4. Who would you like to work with? 

2009:  Honest people, proactive people, front runners, creatives.

2017:  People I like and respect and can go for a beer with.

5. What would you like to learn about? 

2009:  Google, PPC, Social, Mailchimp and Salesforce.

2017:  Myself. How to raise my daughter well. AI. Probably coding and tech. And finances.

6. What values would you like to live out? 

2009: Love, Respect and Creativity.

2017: Love, Creativity, Respect, Integrity. Kaizen if possible.

7. What environment do you want to work in? 

2009:  A fun one, a high tech one, a stable one.

2017:  A warm one. A dry (ish) one. A safe one. A progressive one.

8. What would success look like to you?

2009:  2 houses, 2 offices, family living near the beach with a stable work environment.

2017:  Living abroad, warm and safe, with a happy family, with no real money worries.

So had I changed that much? 

Should I take a day off to celebrate or commiserate?

To commiserate: From the last 8 years. 

- We never moved to the beach. But we did live near one for 4 months.

- I didn’t work with many front runners. But had some very cool clients.

- I got "ripped off" - a lot – so not all my clients or business partners were honest.

To celebrate: From the last 8 years. 

- Became a paid public speaker and trainer.

- Touched the lives of over 50,000 people.

- Became an expert at digital marketing and social media.

- Co founded other businesses like Follogro and FFFlip.

- Went on the BBC many times – heck – so perhaps I became slightly famous.

- I did at one point have 2 houses and 2 offices.

- With my clients now I have a stable work environment.

So today I took the day off. 

A HUGE thanks to all those who have been on the journey with me. Some of you as clients for Great Marketing Works. Some as friends and peers. Many of you as both.

All you have been part of it.

Thanks. 

And thanks to you for reading this too. Now get something from it. Copy and paste the above questions and quickly do the exercise. Write down the answers to the questions above. Come back to it in a year and thank yourself for doing it.

If you don't prioritize your life, in 2017, someone else will. #HappyNewYear.

This is a great quote adapted from the wisdom of Greg McKeown. So my question to you – as my wife and daughter sleep soundly – giving me this hour to blog is…

What are your priorities for 2017?

AND….

What are you grateful for? 

This last point I will tackle first – as it’s more important. It’s key for your happiness and the happiness of your world.

What have you been actively grateful for in your life in 2016?

Many people have said 2016 is the worst year EVER. Actually...

the “ Fuck you, 2016” sentiment is likely just acollective feeling, borne by social media, that this was “ the worst year ever”

Which makes me think perhaps some people don’t write down what they are grateful for. And many people don't have a full grasp of the technological and demo-graphical changes that are causing this psychological magnification.

I urge you in 2017 to start doing just that. The former rather than the latter.

Write down a list of what you are grateful for.

Every 5 days or so I write down a list of what I am grateful for. What has gone well that day. And what I will do the day after.

Next year I will make this part of my daily ritual.

In 2016 I did it for over 3 months after a health scare.

Today I worked out the TOP 5 things this year I am grateful for.

They were in no particular order:

1.   My Health

2.   Our Wealth

3.   The Family

4.   My work

5.   Opportunities.

In 2016… I can sum up each relatively quickly….

My Health.

Simple but key to existence. On a basic level I am here. I exist free of known disease. My back is getting better and stronger. I am overweight and I am 40. I am not fit.

But apart from that I go to the gym a few times a week now. More than ever before.

Our Wealth:

Again, not much to report. Not that we don’t have much. We have lots.

As this infographic shows if you have the basics you are already richer than 85% of the world!

But I could do with a little more (couldn’t we all.)

And so this year I am going to investigate where it all goes and save more.

I will also invest. In myself and in tech companies I believe in. Including my own.

The Family:

I am very lucky. My daughter is fully fit, funny as f%^& and always pushing my buttons and boundaries. And those of my wife. And thinking about she does the same ;)

I am not as close as I would like to be to my closest family – due to my business being set up miles away from them. But my extended family are generous to a fault in both time and energy. Plus we (as a family) have all missed a few “bullets” from the big C this year and so I am continually grateful.

My Work:

Over the last year, I have produced more workshops and training sessions than I ever have done before. I have:

-      Produced workshops to over 200 young people. Creating courses for specialised audiences. That have been some of the most rewarding courses I have ever produced.

-      Worked with some BIG household names. Training them and their partners in social media marketing, social selling and digital marketing.

-      Passed a personal milestone in money made in a day. More than I have ever made before. Making more in one, very special, week than I made in a year - 20 years ago!

My Opportunities:

I am very lucky to life in Manchester, a city growing in its influences and confidence. And I am even luckier to live near the recently created Media City. This means my opportunities are well positioned so I have been lucky enough to:

-      Been asked to work on great tech space support ideas like LAUNCH at Media City.

-      Launch my own tech startup called FFFlip.

-      Be working with the UTC at Media City with their employment engagement piece.

-      Been on national radio stations as a digital marketing / social media expert. For all the UK countries – some of them a couple of times. Even been on Radio 4 and the World service!  

-      Been asked to be on the BBC breakfast show - many times. In fact, I have now been on TV more this year than all the appearances on any channel - in my whole life before. Have even done the newspaper reviews a couple of times... 

So what are my priorities for 2017?

And what are yours? Do you have areas of your life that you would like to improve? Or master? Or perhaps you want to start something completely new and go back to being a novice to improve yourself? 

All I can do is give you mine – which might surprise you.

My Priorities:

-       Either build my brand or forget about it. As going on the BBC is lovely but it only makes sense if part of a continued strategy to be famous. 

-       Be the change I want to see in the world. It’s time to influence people by being rather than just telling. Training others is great but I need to do more.

-       Get a handle on money (not saying this year has been bad it hasn’t.) But I really want money to start working for me rather than me just work for it.

-       Start working with other people more. Going solo as a consultant is heart breaking. Handing over projects and moments is soul destroying for me. 

-       Family first, business second. It’s time to be more patient with my own ideas and failures. Making myself mentally ill for a success that is eluding me - is blinding me of seeing the very success I already have achieved. 

Which is the point of this blog on the eve of 2017. 

To see what I have achieved. What you have achieved. Not necessarily what the world has achieved.

Happy New Year. 

Please do write down a few things that you are grateful for this year.

Perfect timing, my wife has just woken up - it's time to crack open the champagne ....