Wyse thoughts for August

Silence is golden
As much as I enjoy London, its sensory overload can still be somewhat overwhelming. Sitting at breakfast a few weeks ago in a busy hotel, surrounded by noise, chatter, the scraping of cutlery against crockery and a dubious choice of background music, I was seriously questioning my sanity when I came across an interview with the authors of a new book.

Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise by Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz is all about ‘the power of silence, as a source of mental clarity and physical health’; it was the perfect distraction from all the hubbub and had the miraculous power of restraining me from telling my neighbouring diner that he couldn’t eat the pattern off the plate.

In a world that is filled with noise and distraction, their words inspired me to take a moment to think about the importance of what they call ‘deep silence’. This isn’t necessarily purely auditory – after all our environments can be noisy in a host of different ways, from financial worries, to imposter syndrome, family stress and fears of recession – but all of these factors together crowd our brains and stop us from thinking clearly.

We can’t stop the noise that surrounds us but we can find ways to dial it down. We can ask ourselves what is it that gives us those moments of peace, where despite everything the auditory world flows past as sweet as a brook? Perhaps the answer lies in meditation, or perhaps in the ability to choose what brings us the greatest joy, the moment we connect solely to what we do where the joy and fulfilment stands stronger than the noise of the outside world.

As I discovered in London, it takes focus to reduce distractions and switch on deep silence to get work done. Like any skill it requires a bit of training and it obviously worked because I found the time and the space to write this newsletter!

I guess the question for entrepreneurs and founders is what constitutes your ‘golden’ moment, your deep silence? This is important right now as, thanks to ever-changing customer needs, an economy in freefall and the continuing recovery from the pandemic, the external noises for small businesses can become overwhelming and extremely challenging. For me, when it comes to leading Wyseminds, finding deep silence comes when I really connect to my purpose, and use it as the focal point. This is where you, too, can dial down the noise, reflect on what you are looking to achieve, understand where the opportunities are or where the problems lie. It’s here where you will find your ‘golden’ moment and the beginning of the golden thread that runs through your organisation.

While our planet may be noisier than ever, Zorn and Marz contest that finding deep silence will empower you both physically and mentally and can boost your ability to be healthily productive in life and business. For entrepreneurs, finding space to think can sometimes be a tough call, but with the world on holiday in August, it might just be the perfect time to focus your efforts on your own pocket of golden solace. And breathe…

Stronger together
‘Until you can afford it… learn fast!’ This was Isabel’s conclusion when I asked her to describe how she got to where she is today. And of course, she is right. For the past year – as founder of Sensi – a software solution for training people to achieve maximum ability in sport (watch this space!) she has had to be all things to all people and if she didn't know how to do something, she learnt it.

However, how long does it remain effective to be a multi-skilled super hero?

Your business is unique, but the way businesses grow is not, involving a series of eras from forming to seeing success and as you progress through each era, in order for it to grow effectively into the future, the support you give your company needs to be aligned with its needs.

In the beginning, Isabel admits she would have taken on her friends as they all had an interest in sport and crucially at putting sportswomen back in the field, but is now glad that she resisted because having lived every job, every role and every situation she knows what – and who – she needs to move forward. As with many of the entrepreneurs I’m talking to right now, I asked her ‘what's next?’

‘Over the past 12 months I have become clearer and clearer about the beliefs behind what I am doing,’ she told me. ‘I know I need skilled people, but I also know that I need them to have shared beliefs. That's who and what I am looking for.’ Working with Isabel over the past weeks has reinforced how important it is to have a clear vision and know what you need, even in technical startups.

I am so excited about Isabel's journey. As a founder of a new business myself I know the importance of investing the time and joy in those who surround you, so they have to be the right people.

Moving into September and with challenges on the horizon, we need to be more aligned than ever, not just by what we do but by aligning our visions and beliefs with the right ‘others’. As Isabel said: ‘believe the same as I do’ and when this alignment is in place, that is when the magic happens!

Sensi

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