Every year I get thousands of messages from people on LinkedIn wishing me Happy Birthday.
This is awesome:
people care
It’s also bad:
How do I reply to so many direct messages
I tried that a few years ago – it took me a few weeks to send a personalised message to everyone. last year I used the LinkedIn autogenerated suggestions. That felt horrible and ungracious.
So this year – I’m saying thanks and giving people a link to this post to share a few thoughts…
What’s Important as I Close in on 50
- Business Model Innovation – there’s a lot to be said about it, and most of the other strategists in the market are missing a trick or two. So I’m writing a book – you can sign up for the weekly excerpts here and tell me if I am onto something or not
- Doing Good – The world is getting f***d. I’m not working any longer for companies or startups who don’t create either human or environmental good. The search for cash is important, but can only be part of why we do what we do going forward
- Impending SME Doom – everything suggests that a huge number of SMEs are going to get wiped out in the next few years – they aren’t changing, don’t have the cash to change, and don’t have the talent to make the changes.
- Balance – I don’t know how many people I’ve seen burnout – marriages, bodies, businesses and souls have got charred as they make the wrong choices. me too. Several times. Finding better ways of living the good life (eudaimonia) and achieving lotds
- Running – I say running, but I really mean mindfulness. I still my mind as I run through the jungle, across the desert, or my beloved Shropshire hills. It’s great to stop the chatter of the monkey mind
What Does This All Mean?
I want to have more conversations with interesting people who see the world the same way I do, and want to change it.
I want to spend less time doing pointless or harmless work (or busy work)
I want to spend the next 30 years of my career focused on creating, growing and nurturing, people, ideas and businesses.
If I was LinkedIn guru I’d pepper this with calls to action and salesy stuff. Not me. If I’ve struck a chord and you want to talk set up a call
And thanks for the birthday wishes.
Denis
