It is important to have someone in your life that you professionally dislike.
For me, it’s Keri.
In her professional field Keri is, and probably always will be, the worst (and best) person I know.
I am programmed to professionally dislike Keri for two reasons.
First, she tells me what to do.
(I don’t like being told what to do).
Second, she exposes my weaknesses, shortcomings and bullshit with poisonous precision.
And as a consequence she gets me to do and be something I have never managed to do or be in over 50 years.
Keri is my kickboxing teacher.
I started kickboxing three years ago and have a few belts now.
Keri treats me as if I am training to fight in the ring.
To protect myself from people like her husband – who I spar with.
Alan is 20kg heavier and 25 years younger that I am.
His approach matches Keri’s.
No excuses.
We’re there to fight.
I have to tongue-bite and find the determination, humility and hunger to ride the verbal and physical attacks and outings to get to what I want.
Stronger.
Fitter.
To live longer and be with my 9 year old Izobel.
Mirrored, this is why I absorb the professional dislike that I experience when I sit alongside business leaders.
I tell them what to do.
And I identify and expose their weaknesses, shortcomings and bullshit with poisonous precision.
How do they react?
It depends what they want.
If they want stronger.
Fitter.
To live longer as a business and a brand.
They tongue-bite and find the determination, humility and hunger to ride the verbal attacks and outings to get to what they want.
Or if they don’t want the discomfort.
I go.
And they stay as they are.
This is, of course, neither the whole story nor every story.
However, it is very common.
It is important to have someone in your life that you professionally dislike.
Someone like Keri.
Someone that, in their professional field probably is, and probably always will be, the worst (and best) person you know.