Thirty years ago today the Special Air Service (S.A.S.) stormed the Iranian Embassy in London and into the glare of the world’s media spotlight; their days of relative anonymity were over.
This elite fighting force is without equal; their operational successes largely unpublished, the ones we know about are often beyond public comprehension.
The S.A.S. are an enigma; individuals volunteer to join unit, the majority (reckoned to be 90%) fail to pass it’s extensive and exhausting selection process. They earn more than regular soldiers but nowhere near as much as their civilian counterparts can, so financial gain is not the primary motivator for membership of this exclusive cadre.
People join ‘The Regiment’ as it is often referred to for many reasons; being part of the elite, proving themselves at the highest level and for the privilege of working alongside the best are just some of the reasons given.
Business can learn a thing or two from building such a powerful brand reputation. Business Leaders should ask themselves: what would it take for us to become so well regarded? and what could we achieve if we were?
As with the military elite, becoming the best in business requires talent, beyond the ‘norm’ mental-toughness and an usually high determination and self-belief. The training and on-the-job experience just go to mold what is already there.
Watching events unfold on TV thirty years ago we were not to know how relevant talent and confidence would be in thirty years time. The talent is out there, it just needs to be encouraged and nurtured.
