Insights happen in the strangest of places and at the most unexpected of times. Today, I’m taking my Lotus Elise, Series 1, 1997, down for pre-season check.
Notable for not having anything unnecessary that gets in the way of going around a track very quickly. No power anything, no luxuries, and no unnecessary power. 120 bhp, 700kg. Low emissions, 55 mpg. A joy to drive because it just does what it is designed to do. It accelerates and slows down quickly, and because it carries so little weight into corners, changes direction with none of the drama so beloved of Top Gear, and mixes with German and Italian exotica with a quiet self-confidence. It doesn’t, though, do “social influencing” in flash surroundings..
So what, I thought, would a company that behaved like this look like? Something with a clear purpose, no unnecessary management, PR, marketing or other “performance” baggage?
It has a lot in common with an artisan (maybe because artisans built it and look after it). As artisans, our craft is our power unit, our relationship with materials and client determine our handling, and our lack of overheads, from smart offices to smart advisers enables us to change direction quickly. It makes our work a joy, and a place where we like to be.
No, we don’t “scale”, or think like a “start up”. We don’t do dogma or worry about who we’re seen with. We do something that matters to us with those who appreciate it.
We are neither rich nor poor.
There are worse fates in life.
This, from today’s “Gaping Void”, catalysed the insight.
Have a great day.