When the kids are little, evenings are simple. You get them to bed, come downstairs, pat yourself on the back for an excellent day of parenting, pour a glass of wine, and the telly is yours. No more CBeebies – you can finally watch your programme.
But as they get older, things change. They start staying up later than you, and suddenly finding something everyone actually wants to watch together is like trying to solve a complex Venn diagram.
If Anna’s out, Louise, Beth and I can watch Frasier (Anna insists “psychiatry isn’t funny, Dad”). If Beth’s out, Louise, Anna and I will go for Inside No. 9 (too scary for Beth).
Every now and then a show comes along that we all love but, most of the time, it’s about compromise.
So, we’re always on the lookout for something that sits in the middle of that Venn diagram – not necessarily anyone’s favourite, but something we can all live with.
Right now, that happy middle ground is Destination X.
It’s a show where Rob Brydon drives contestants around Europe, but they don’t know where they are. They have to piece it together from clues and hunches – and one wrong turn can leave them miles off course, asking “Where the X am I?” and kicked off the show.
And it struck me that running a business can be a lot like that…
The Cheshire Cat Was Right
There was a famous bit in Alice in Wonderland when Alice asks the Cheshire Cat which way she should go. He replies: “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.”
When Alice says she doesn’t much care, Cheshire Cat answers: “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.”
It’s exactly the same in business! If you don’t know what you want your business to give you -income, time, lifestyle – then any old path will do. But don’t be surprised if you end up somewhere you didn’t intend.
Three Lessons From Destination X
- Define your Destination – Get crystal clear on what you want from your business.
- Plot the Route – Once you know where you’re heading, you can map the steps: setting revenue targets, improving margins, hiring, automating.
- Check Your Bearings – On Destination X, contestants make a wrong guess and they’re way off track…or even eliminated. Business is the same – small drifts add up. That’s why regular check-ins matter.
Watching Destination X is great fun. But running your business without a clear destination? That’s risky.
That’s why we’ve started using Clarity with our clients. It’s all about setting goals, working out how small changes to key numbers can make a huge difference, and putting a plan in place. Then we meet regularly to keep you accountable and on course.
While guessing might work on a TV game show, it’s not the best strategy for your business.
So… do you know where the X you are, and where the X you want to be?
If you’d like us to help, please email su*****@*********************co.uk or give us a ring on 0151 380 8084.
Many thanks
Jon
PS The sweet spot in the Davies Family TV Venn Diagram this year has been filled with The Traitors (all countries!!!), Richard Osman’s House of Games, Ludwig, Poker Face, Only Connect…and Squid Game.