First published 22 June 2020 on Your Best Year Starts Here with Nigel Risner.
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Last of the CHAMPION model. Nigel had covered integrity at the end of last week's, so this one was the final two letters, O and N.
O is organisational skills, and Nigel was very open about what he can't do. Jeff Ramm does his slides, a writing partner helps with his books, and his PA does everything but speak. He also won't decorate his house. And then there's me, apparently in charge of the wires. If it was left to him, he says, there'd be half a recording on Zoom and nothing would ever have gone out. (Fair.)
I'm not much better. I'm a monkey with a few elephant habits, and I had to learn every one of those, because pure monkey gets nothing done. So I book time in my diary for the stuff I don't fancy doing. I also brought back the how and who thing. Swap the letters of how round and you get who. If you don't know how to do something, find out who does. It's an acronym in the book I was writing, and when I got to the O for open-minded Nigel jumped in with his line about being a tour guide instead of a travel agent.
N is nerve. Nigel really wanted chutzpah, but it doesn't start with an N. For his chicken soup run he needed 50 challah rolls, so he asked a baker he knew through the Craft Bakers Association for a discount. Fifty per cent off, turn up Friday. Now they're getting repeat orders and basically running a soup kitchen. He also gave a copy of his new book to every house in his close. One of the dogs ate it.
To finish he wants you to score yourself out of 10 on all eight letters. Most people land around 48 out of 80. If you put 80, Nigel says you lied.
What I'd pass on
- Write down what you're brilliant at and what you're not, then work out who can cover the gaps.
- If you don't know how, ask who.
- Systems and diary time can make up for skills that don't come naturally.
- Ask, even when it's a bit cheeky. Nigel got half price on the rolls just by asking.
- Score yourself out of 10 on all eight CHAMPION letters, and be honest.
The answer's always gonna be no if you don't ask.
Nigel Risner
Just take the three letters of how and rearrange them, and you get the word who.
Neil Martin
