The rise in popularity of this phenomena reflects our desire to stand-out, to be noticed and reap the perceived benefits of fame, fortune or both.

Certainly, the featured individuals achieve a degree of both notoriety and income but others, those behind the scenes and pulling the strings reap even greater rewards.

Why place your destiny in the hands of others?
Take control, find out what needs to be done, identify those with the need and the ability to pay and do it for yourself.

The internet affords the greatest opportunity to achive your objective and all it takes is a mix of knowledge, skill, effort and determination.

Making the rules is much more fun than following them.
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The employer expects and the employee agrees to a specific set of responsibilities and the implied associated activity.

In return for the reward, the employee is expected to work for a ‘nominal’ number of hours. On occasion, it doesn’t matter how these hours are spent, so long as the employer ‘sees’ the employee is ‘at-work,’ the assumption, is that ‘the employee is working.’ Often this course of behaviour results in the employee feeling they are paid to ‘attend-work.’

Implicit in many organisations is a feeling that the employee should be at work before their colleagues arrive and ought not to leave first; the car-park-game is born!

If an individual is paid by results, trust is both explicit and implicit for the relationship to prosper. Micro managing the key result areas (K.R.A.s) is ignored in exchange for an expectation of results.

Independent, freethinking individuals are set free by the payment by results model because it allows for creative endeavour. Worker bees on the other hand, loose all structure and meaning; terrified they colonise together, taking comfort from collective mass and soon revert to recreate the status quo environment they find safe.

Let’s be clear, we need both: free-thinking indviduals and worker-bees for our society to function, which type are you?
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The experiences and opportunities afforded to top talent is often a double-edged- sword. The pressures and expectations can lead to crippling self doubt; the path to the top is not easy, ever.

If you think it is, check out tonight’s ‘Inside Sport Special’ called Mind Games.

Whether you are, or have experienced elite success, the content will surely resonate. Knowing you are not alone is both comforting and helpful in making sense of the ‘dark-thoughts.’
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The reputations of both individuals precedes them; Marc Bolland from Morrisons to M&S and Archie Norman who is credited with transforming ASDA, takes over at ITV. Both gentlemen have been at the helm of significant business transformations in highly competitive sectors and during difficult times, why else would have been hired?

The respective pay packages are significant; whether they are pricey or a valuable depends on the results both achieve.

Director and shareholder expectations will, no doubt be high. Of interest to me is how the senior teams will be changed over the coming weeks. New top-guns almost certainly means change and invariably, new personnel too.

Striking the balance between installing new talent and retaining those already demonstrating talent is a fine line. Either way, we the public can look forward to revised service propositions over the coming months.

I wonder whether both will be afforded comparable periods of grace before the results come through?
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Unless the economic landscape changes rapidly they are likely to be disappointed when it comes to securing a real ‘graduate job’ at the end of their course.

First some context parameters; what constitutes a graduate job?
1) One which by a quirk of supply over demand employs people who happen to hold a degree?
Alternatively is it
2) A position, for which, a degree is a pre-requisit?

Last year 408,000* undergraduate places were available, in 2009 this number is likely to increase. Graduates will probably find an excess of supply over demand in the coming years. As the motor industry has found to its cost, keep producing when the market isn’t buying equals a glut of unsold stock.

There is a glimmer of hope though, its never been easier to start a business. Technological advances mean tasks once considered complex and expensive, can be completed for a fraction of the cost. Think what an average personal computer or smart phone can achieve. The consumer market is increasingly sophisticated, creating demand for personalised products and services. It needn’t be the case of invention, innovating something that already exists is an excellent way to earn a living and take control of the economic future.

*Fifty thousand students expected to loose out on university places, July 10th 2009 The Times, Joanne Sugden

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.

How this incident will affect Lewis Hamilton’s reputation in the long term remains to be see.

Lewis is still a young man, how he will be remembered depends on how he conducts himself from now on; it’s not too late for him to establish his name as one of the all-time greats. Perhaps even to transpose his ‘brand’ beyond Formula One. Those who have sought to criticize the young man would benefit from a moments reflection; what would they have done in his situation?

Almost without exception, most people ‘toe-the-company-line’ and go-along with the instruction of their employer. It is the exceptional individual who is true to themselves irrespective of the consequences.

Lewis may be talented and marketable enough to live with the outcomes of such independence. After all, this is the mark of true talent!

Behaviour designed to enable the business to survive can have self-fulfilling outcomes however, meaning the organisation mearly makes it through and exists only.

OK, continuing to trade is a given, but what if this is at the expense of missed opportunities?

British Army military training offers an alternative strategy, it’s called ‘fight -through’ in essence it’s this:

when the enemy engages you they expect you to be shocked and probably get bogged down or retreat, you do exactly the opposite and take the fight to the enemy, it’s the last thing they expect and can, when executed well (requires talent, good training and confidence) lead to victory.

Applied to business right now it means, increasing the talent within your organisation, focussing on the key business issues, investing in the areas likely to make a real difference to your business.

Strengthen and develop your team, they are the ones who will influence/persuade and keep your customers with you.

Belief and attitude are powerful drivers, if your people feel you are supporting them and investing in them, they will reciprocate in spades. No employee wants to live a life ‘on-hold,’ sitting-tight until things get better.

Go-getters want action and have the energy to deliver, use this to your advantage; take the fight to the market, fight-through.