Urbane – Reflections on Education.
Talent is critical, being One of Us is everything. Number Three
Welcome to my weekly column on the nuances of success in business. The critical knowledge for success in global business is beyond the technical tools, business models and software, it is the capability to understand and apply the stories, the analogies of western history and the historical case studies which your peers readily have at hand – you need to think like “one of us”.
Latin words and phrases have been carried forward in the shared legal and medical developments across many generations and are used as shorthand references to maximise the impact.
Si Monumentum Requiris Circumspice – The great architect and builder Sir Christopher Wren ( 1632 – 1723) has only this inscription of his tomb in St Pauls in London – it makes a simple and overwhelming point – “As to my monument, look around you” – you are standing inside the high dome of the Cathedral and nothing more needs to be said. You could use this phrase when making the point that your contribution to the busi- ness is such that they only have to see your results to fully assess your value.
Ad Astra per Aspera – Not everything goes to plan in any business, sometimes you need to make a comment that we will make it eventually while recognising current setbacks – “A rough road leads to the stars” does this directly and suggests an underling confidence in the future. This is also on a plaque attached to the retired NASA launch tower where the Apollo 1 astronauts were lost in the January 1967 capsule fire, this rough section of road inspired Apollo 11 to the moon less than 18 months later.
Being able to provide a quick, relevant and unique comment sets you aside as being “one of us” within the business. Remember these and try to use them soon.
Dr David Arelette is the Professor of Practice Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the La Trobe University Business School in Melbourne, Australia and a consultant to StudyCo in Collins St Melbourne. You can contact him on d.arelette@latrobe.edu.au