The Latest News from PlanA

I recently read the book American Icon by Bryce Hoffman. Although it is about the Ford Motor Company, it is really about the remarkable journey of Alan Mulally, the former Ford CEO and the folks he worked with, who turned the company around.

While we can't control election outcomes or external factors, we can control our reactions and commitment to excellence. In the words of Mulally, ‘The most important thing is to keep moving forward and to focus on delivering results’. By following these principles your business cannot only weather the storms of change but also emerge stronger and more resilient, regardless of what government is in power.

I initially thought I’d write some commentary about the recent New Zealand election and what that might mean for business. But the more I thought about it, the less inclined I became to go down that path. First of all, until a government is formed, who knows what things may look like and secondly, I’d just become another talking head, making guesses and assumptions (although by the time you read this the election will be over, and who knows if a government will have even been formed!)

By implementing strategies inspired by agile pit stops, tech, purpose-driven leadership, sustainability, and team training, you can be poised to accelerate towards success. Just like a Formula 1 champion team, the key lies in adaptability, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

In the competitive landscape of modern businesses, customer loyalty plays a pivotal role in sustaining success. Building a base of loyal customers can lead to increased revenue, brand advocacy, and long-term business growth.

I want to touch on something that affects all of us, no matter our age or background, and that’s energy. Not the electricity kind, but the kind that makes us feel motivated and ready to tackle our goals.

"Good governance is not a luxury. It is essential for meeting the challenges of the 21st century and for ensuring that development is sustainable and equitable." – Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand.

Cyclone Gabrielle, which hit Hawke’s Bay on February 14, is going to have significant impacts on local businesses and communities, and the wider economy, for a long time to come.  The cyclone brought heavy rainfall and strong winds, causing widespread damage to infrastructure including roads, bridges, and power lines.

Running a business is no easy feat, especially when you are trying to navigate the challenges of a constantly changing market, customer demands, team development, supply chain, cashflows, health & safety, compliance, the list goes on!

Kia ora folks. I live in one of the areas worst-affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and for a couple of weeks we had no power (still no water 14 days later but that’s a different story). Anyway, that meant in the evenings, before it got dark, I was able to get a bit of reading in. And I managed to work my way through Steve Hansen: The Legacy, written by Gregor Paul. Here's my review ...