I would like to think that our industry has made so many improvements, we are now probably in one of the strongest positions we have ever been in.
[gap height=”15″][gap height=”15″]A very warm and happy welcome not only to a New Year, but a new decade! Announcing a new decade proffers an additional layer of celebration, harnessing an aura of positivity and optimism, if you will, and I am completely on board with that. Over the Festive Holidays, I always spend some time reflecting over the last 12 months and honing my thoughts for the delivery of all that I expect to deliver and be delivered over the course of the year to follow. But when it comes to a new decade, well that’s almost a whole new ball game entirely.
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This juncture in time, the dawn of a new decade, is surely deserving of a more considered overview of what the last ten years have delivered. It’s a timely juncture to consider and reflect upon what we have learned and achieved during this period, along with a review of all the checks and balances assigned to the building blocks we have in place to deliver a secure and successful future. Importantly, if there have been any own goals scored, what they may have taught us along the way or if we are indeed deserving or lucky enough to present an unbeaten scorecard reflecting all our ambition, hard work and effort.
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And after this period of reflection, how do we best approach applying the accumulated knowledge, information and experience to our advantage and the benefit of others, as we look forward with energy, enthusiasm and excitement to the ten years ahead and beyond? For each of us, the process will be somewhat different and the outcomes entirely variable. But the important point is that we go through this process. To continue along a pathway that we know can or indeed should be changed or adapted for the better, even if the status quo is doing “okay” as it is, is quite frankly lazy and I suggest ultimately doomed to failure.
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I would love to say I have a completely clean scorecard to present, but that would mean ignoring a number of initiatives I would adapt or change. The good thing is that I have already put in motion a number of these adaptations and changes going forward into 2020. These are already discussed with my teams and we are all very excited about what 2020 and beyond will deliver.
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For us, 2010-2019 was, overall, a decade of challenges, adjustments and improvements. There was of course some pain along the way, as there was for most of us in all industries during this time; but we have absolutely learned and benefited from the ethos of “no pain no gain” and I would like to think that our industry has made so many improvements, we are now probably in one of the strongest positions we have ever been in. Let me tell you, this is tremendously empowering and very exciting!
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So, whilst I have diligently wiped the scorecard clean for the start of 2020, I will certainly be looking for a greater score than, say, 2-0 by the end of the year AND by the end of the decade – well, as I hope you would expect, I’m thinking really big numbers here – in fact, I predict by 2029 it will be a whole new ball game altogether and I can’t wait for the journey to begin!
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