Understanding the source of our profits
 I was watching a documentary on Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, the woman who discovered Pulsars. Whilst the emphasis was on a narrative of her discovery, her attitude to science - and the parallels we can draw with business - was more interesting.
As a devout Quaker she described her faith as one that has no dogma, but instead encourages the individual to find their own understanding of their place in the world and their relationship with God. This, she maintained, had served her well in her science career. Rather than set out on a quest to discover absolute truth she instead saw science as being a search for understanding. And once she attained an understanding she had to be ready to accept new ideas, observations and theories, even if they overturned what she thought she knew at that time. Regardless of the religious element, I thought this a noble approach to take.
I have seen a similar attitude amongst the best bosses and thought leaders that I have worked with, for and admired from afar. Their ideas constantly evolve as they make new observations and gain new experiences. They don't hold onto whatever it was that first got them famous, but rather challenge themselves to gain an even better understanding. Indeed some of those I admire are more than willing to hold up their hands from time to time, proclaim "I was wrong" and move on.
It is worth thinking about. Are you the sort of person who sticks to their guns, no matter what the evidence is showing? Or do you allow your ideas to evolve and adapt as you gain new experiences? If the former the chances are you have a limited shelf-life. You've probably been promoted (or will be promoted) off the back of one big hit, and now you're expected to repeat the feat. Of course, because you're locked into a dogma, you'll try and repeat what you did before - and when that fails you're going to blame everyone else for your lack of success.
If you're in the latter camp then you could have a good career ahead of you. You'll get promoted off the back of your success, but then you'll have another one. And another. And another. And why? Because you will understand what bits of your past success you can carry forward, and what new stuff you need to learn, develop or build to move yourself forward.
Perhaps we have should have a new mantra: Business isn't about profits, business is about understanding how profits are made.
Previously on this blog...
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Setting up shop in a new country: beyond the website
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Why call centre staff deserve your respect
If call centre staff set the first impression for your business, why do we treat them so badly?
Becoming a Specialist? A hard decision to make ...
Specialising requires hard strategic decisions to be made about your business.
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The quest for quality in Agile Software Development
Why quality assurance remains a central part of project management, regardless of the use of Agile methods
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