Wim GE De Vos

Category: Pearls of wisdom

  • Why start a business?

    inspirational-smll-business-quotes

    Why start a business?

    Simple question, so let´s look for a simple answer.

    You want to

    1. make lots of money 💵
    2. be free and work less 🏄‍♂️
    3. have impact 💥

    Pick one and organise your business in accordance.

    Brutally. No compromise.

    You have to pick one – the others will be a consequence of your choice.

    And then when you succeed you will become either:

    1. rich
    2. free
    3. change agent

    My take: choose impact 💥 and have a shot at being all 3…

    Closing with this video, a Pearl of Wisdom from Apple´s history:

    Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.

    S. Jobs (1955-2011)

    Thunder Lizard - IMPACT, this is why we play
    Impact, this is why we play

  • the domino effect 🁳

    ICE Cinema “sherlock”

    Let me start todays post with the answer first: The Domino Effect. 🁉

    And now the 3 questions to which the domino effect is the answer…

    Why do some simple habits trigger other more powerful ones?

    The domino effect proves it is within your power to spark a chain reaction of good habits by building new behaviours that naturally lead to the next successful action. There is an astounding interconnectedness between the systems of life and human behaviour is no exception.

    The inherent relatedness of things is a core reason why choices in one area of life can lead to surprising results in other areas, regardless of the plans you make.

    Why do I blog?

    When a friend of mine asked why I started blogging daily I explained: the domino effect it has on how I live my day.

    By blogging daily I am creating a self-discipline and consistency around daily learning moments. I start from the premise there must be something interesting to learn and share every day.

    So I created a habit of reading, observing and analysing at least 1 thing every day that is worth learning. So I keep my mind and eyes wide open so I am more aware and conscious for this daily learning moment.

    And then I write it down and share it publicly. This implies I have to think the learning moment through and structure it into small understandable tasty pieces 🍕.

    How do you create a successful channel business?

    An example. Today I spent half a day with Mr S., a new sales partner for ICE cinema (one of the cool ventures I am deeply involved with – mixed reality spaces etc…).

    I passionately explained everything I know on the subject. Transmitted not just my knowledge on the product but also on the market, clients and logic behind why people an ICE cinema.

    While I share my passion for how an ICE cinema really delivers on the promise of the suspension of disbelief and how it becomes the families favourite room in the house I am actually applying the power of the domino effect. I am helping to create yet another domino that will have a positive effect. Another small business that will have a BIG impact.

    That is how you build a successful channel business. One domino at a time.

    ✌🏼 out. W

     

     

  • Unlimited bowling 🎳

    unlimited bowling
    unlimited bowling

    Just turned 45 and so reviewed my score in the small business unlimited bowling 🎳 league.

    • I set up businesses that i ran
    • I set up businesses that i did not run
    • I ran businesses that i did not set up
    1 went bust
    2 I exited and doing well
    2 I exited with a nice profit
    2 where I am an active investor. Enjoying the solid returns until I can exit.
    2 are in start up phase and looking promising
    2 are knocking it out of the park and starting to scale
    3 in embryonic phase putting the pieces together
    🎳
    I will keep doing unlimited bowling, and practice various shots. Get better every few games. Work on the risky splits.
    🎳
    And above all bowl without remorse…

  • Mentor or Hero?

    Real Super Hero
    me being Tony Stark 💥

    Loads of business “self-help” books go on about why you should look for a mentor. For advice, guidance, insights and a bit of help here and there. Not me.

    I would say, go and pick some heroes first. Heroes are far more powerful in my view. Let me quickly explain why:

    • Heroes are in no short supply. They come in all colours and shapes. Finding a mentor mostly happens within the circle of people you meet and know.
    • Heroes are analysed, dissected and explained by others. Whereas mentors work mainly from self-analysis and their own framework of success.
    • Heroes work together well and can be changed out when needed. Mentors create a longer term dependency and the relationship is often exclusive.
    • Heroes cannot be used as an excuse (hear yourself say “hey, i failed because when studying Steve Jobs, Hubspot and Sesame Street I found out they got some of this shit wrong…”). Mentors are often brought in as a (fake) insurance policy for success. Which is both unrealistic and unfair.

    But most of all, I feel it is a matter of attitude towards your future. Active or passive.

    You pick your heroes and study them, learn to think and act like them. Approach this if it were some intensive continuous training exercise. This is how you interiorise a success-attitude. Or you find a mentor and ask for advice and guidance (so the mentors initiative and timescales). Mainly a receiving more passive approach.

    Act as if you own your destiny. Pick and study your heroes well. And if a mentor crosses your path introduce him to your heroes.

    Note: I am much more in favour of the concept of “mentor-ing“. A do-word as they say. Mentoring is a crucial activity for those who want to lead change and achieve a vision.
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  • How to be a linchpin – Seth Godin on Impact Theory

     

    Linchpin by Seth Godin is one of the books that impacted me the most. It helped me find and refine “my art” as Seth calls it and serves as a compass to give direction to my thinking and actions. We can all be an artist and a genius if we want to. Now how powerful is that 💪🏻.

    I invite you to listen to what Seth has to teach us. He is generous and wise. But do not expect quick fixes or easy answers. There are none. And you will have to be generous too…

    In Linchpin Seth talks about you, your work, your choices and your opportunities to make a difference in the world around you. It is also about today and tomorrow.

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    Linchpins are all around us. Even if not always easy to spot. They are the essential building blocks of great organizations. They may not be famous but they’re indispensable. And in today’s world, they get the best jobs and the most freedom.

    Check out this episode of Seth on Impact Theory or browse through his website. Probably the best investment in yourself in a long while.