Do few things.

Do the right things.

Do them right.

Peter Drucker is quoted as saying that the purpose of a business is to create a customer. He believed that innovation and marketing are the two primary functions of business. The full quote provides more context; he said, “Because the purpose of business is to create a customer, the business enterprise has two–and only two–basic functions: marketing and innovation. Marketing and innovation produce results; all the rest are costs. Marketing is the distinguishing, unique function of the business.”

The question I wrestle with is why, in many instances, the customer is treated as a nuisance, someone who is there to interrupt the “normal” flow of business.

Many Real Madrid fans deem it the most important Champions League victory for the club. After years of futility, having been stuck on 9 titles for what seemed like eternity, the La Decima finally came after more than a decade. It would open the door to 3 more Champions League titles in the next 4 years.

Just like it was for Real Madrid, the number 10 is significant in many ways. After all, most people have 10 fingers and 10 toes, and 10 is the base of the decimal numeral system we use. Pythagoras, yes, the one with the theorem, thought that 10 the most sacred number of all, because 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = 10. The numbers represent the following: (1) existence, (2) creation, (3) life and (4) the elements earth, air, fire and water. Just in case we forgot, the Bible has 10 commandments. Finally, 10 is the first number with 2 digits in the decimal numeral system.

All this is to say that la decima is worth pursuing, for it shows that you have repeated the process for at least 10 times. Now it is on to the next 10.

As with grounded theory, sometimes the data must lead to discovery of the theory, ie start with a fresh mind and explore. Seek first to understand, then to impose your understanding.

Steven Covey said of the 7 habits of highly effective people, habit 5, which deals with putting an emphasis on understanding the other person’s perspective, resonated the most with people. This is routed in our need to be understood ourselves. It also leads to better solutions, as understanding leads to empathy and therefore creating solutions that are more holistic.

As project managers, this is extremely helpful as the solutions we bring with our projects should be fit for purpose. Understanding the problem is the first step to developing any potential solution. And if we are to understand, we must be guided by the raw data, solicited from our stakeholders. For that is the first step towards shared understanding.

The clearest way to see the passage of time is by watching your children. You can still picture them as a toddler, or that baby in a cot, yet they’re all grown, thinking independently and forming their own perspective of the world.

It is these moments, when you can see clearly that time has passed, that you can reflect on your own growth over the same period.

Are we growing as much as we can, or are we still speaking baby talk?