Dear Reader,
In my corporate career I was lucky enough to work with a great organisation called Lane4, founded by Adrian Moorhouse the Olympic swimmer. The company is named after the swimming lane in which the fastest qualifier always swims, where the water is less disrupted, in the middle of the pool. It’s also where the crowd naturally focus their attention. And so Lane 4 is symbolic of the place or situation in which the best performance can be expected.
Lane4 was run by a group of Olympic medal winners who helped leaders and organisations, by applying their Olympian experiences and practices in the corporate world. One of the stories they used to tell was of a swimming centre in the US where a sign on the wall read “The Purpose of this Establishment is to Create an Environment in which Success is Inevitable”.
Lane4’s philosophy, and my belief, is that everyone can find and co-create their own environment, and establish and learn to live in their own Lane 4. Here, you can be at your best, calm under pressure, connected, supported and confident. A place where you stop striving and start performing. Here, success becomes inevitable.
I was reminded recently too of the concept of “Beginner’s Mind”. In Zen philosophy, and in karate, which I have practised for a long time, we are encouraged to nurture “Sho Shin”. There is a wonderful freedom that comes from having no attachment to expectations, and no ego. Only the intention to do your best. Everything is learning and everything is success.
I think we all enjoyed this at our recent surf networking event!(More details and pics on my LinkedIn post). The ocean is very good for keeping you humble. Happily, underneath a wave is as fun as on top of it. In surfing, as in life, we are all beginners.
Have a lovely week.
Adam
