I had an epiphany today
Actually I really had two; the comment about climate change and the Coal Industry in Australia was the product of my other epiphany, but I am not sure it was actually an epiphany like this one; furthermore, writing about them in the same was just too long.
So I was in the shower this morning thinking about the Carlton Football Club which, for those that might not know, has gone through arguably one of the worst periods in its entire 111 year history with bottom of the ladder finishes in three of the past five years and generally speaking not even a glimmer of hope...
until now.
We won on the weekend; first win for 2008 (season is only 4 weeks old at this stage!), and although we can't go getting ahead of ourselves, it was a very good win, against a good side and it was definitely the sort of win that can turn around history.
So there I was, in the shower, thinking about what the coach would be saying to the team this week. We are playing the 'worst' team in the league this week and I was wondering how the coach would be managing the risk that a loss this week could completely destroy the confidence and mindset of the players.
It was at this point that I realised why I have this 'longing' to be a CEO; it isn't the power or money, but rather the desire to work with people to create high performing and successful teams. I was thinking about what I could say to the Carlton Football Club players to get them motivated (I am a 4th generation fan and it doesn't go back much further than that!) and it just dawned on me; I would get more satisfaction from knowing my words and presence assisted them to succeed than actually reaping the success myself.
So the epiphany, and maybe one could only call it a half epiphany at this stage, was this: I don't actually have to be in business to work with people to create high performing teams... I can actually do it anywhere, in any arena.
And I guess this is what appealed to me the most because despite a longing to be a CEO, I didn't actually think I want to be a CEO; the hours are ridiculous, the rewards can be short-lived, people are always out to get you, regulations and other things constantly strive to make things difficult, and at the end of the day, they tell me that being a CEO is lonely because you are expected to have all the answers.
So I was in the shower this morning thinking about the Carlton Football Club which, for those that might not know, has gone through arguably one of the worst periods in its entire 111 year history with bottom of the ladder finishes in three of the past five years and generally speaking not even a glimmer of hope...
until now.
We won on the weekend; first win for 2008 (season is only 4 weeks old at this stage!), and although we can't go getting ahead of ourselves, it was a very good win, against a good side and it was definitely the sort of win that can turn around history.
So there I was, in the shower, thinking about what the coach would be saying to the team this week. We are playing the 'worst' team in the league this week and I was wondering how the coach would be managing the risk that a loss this week could completely destroy the confidence and mindset of the players.
It was at this point that I realised why I have this 'longing' to be a CEO; it isn't the power or money, but rather the desire to work with people to create high performing and successful teams. I was thinking about what I could say to the Carlton Football Club players to get them motivated (I am a 4th generation fan and it doesn't go back much further than that!) and it just dawned on me; I would get more satisfaction from knowing my words and presence assisted them to succeed than actually reaping the success myself.
So the epiphany, and maybe one could only call it a half epiphany at this stage, was this: I don't actually have to be in business to work with people to create high performing teams... I can actually do it anywhere, in any arena.
And I guess this is what appealed to me the most because despite a longing to be a CEO, I didn't actually think I want to be a CEO; the hours are ridiculous, the rewards can be short-lived, people are always out to get you, regulations and other things constantly strive to make things difficult, and at the end of the day, they tell me that being a CEO is lonely because you are expected to have all the answers.