Two years to go. On one level it seems like only yesterday that the Annexe at Lane4 with the small TV in it was full of employees awaiting the decision. I will never, ever forget that moment when Mr Rogge read out the word ‘London’. I remember thinking all sorts of things...’will I have kids by then, it would be fantastic to be able to take them.....what on earth will this mean for Lane4, it could be hugely important...I bet Adrian is glad he went to Trafalgar Square, and I bet he doesn’t make our meeting this afternoon now!’ Many other things besides.
Two years to go and I have kids, two now, and they are very definitely coming. Conor even made it out to Beijing with my wife Claire and I. It has certainly been hugely important for Lane4. And Adrian definitely didn’t make that meeting!
From a Lane4 perspective things are really hotting up. We have a wealth of talented colleagues taking some part in 2012, whether aiming to compete – Greg Searle and Clare Strange – or in a coaching capacity – Wil James, Jeremy Cross, Dominic Mahony and Charlie Unwin. Also, Adrian will be commentating on the swimming Commonwealth Games and European Champs warming up his vocal chords for London. More details about what each of these people are up to are at http://www.lane4performance.com/Lane4-on-the-road-to-2012.html#first
Away from the actual field of play, many of us remain involved on other levels. A group of us support a Bucks County Council, GE and Lane4 CSR initiative in local schools called Inspire Motivate Achieve. We are actively supporting the engagement and learning agenda of five sponsors on their journey to bring alive the opportunities presented by the next few years present to support meaningful change in their own organisations through their employees.
On a personal note, I have finally finished a book with my Dad which builds on some of the themes from the session I ran with Rob Clarke from London 2012 at our Lane4 Client Conference last year. This is due to be released in November.
Two years to go. It hardly seems possible....and yet this London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games has already given me, my family and Lane4 more in terms of a legacy than I could ever have hoped for.
It's been a while since I posted to this blog. The reason for that was spotted by an eagle eyed reader who noticed in my profile that I now live in Oxfordshire with my wife Claire, son Conor and also a new addition - daughter Niamh.
Niamh is now two and half weeks old, and getting used to life in the Rogan household. Her Daddy tries to go running early, unfortunately now even earlier in the morning. When back, it is a case of juggling breakfast, the radio, dinner plans and an early blast of Fireman Sam for Conor.
Fireman Sam is the tip of the iceberg, if that is not too confused a statement. One of the newest phenomena for me has actually been getting to know the kids industry a little bit. My favourite is Thomas the Tank Engine, principally because he was my favourite as a kid, too. HIT Entertainment own the rights to the show, and license the brand in a number of categories - from new books to train sets; pyjamas to cutlery. Yes, we have them all.
I have actually been pleasantly surprised by the quality of much of the entertainment available to children. For example, the BBC through CBeebies provised a stream of consistent, educational television. Half an hour in front of the Numberjacks (a show teaching basic numeracy) has to be a good use of a child's time.
It feels to me that we demonise the kids' toys and entertainment industry nowadays. We complain that it is too commercial, as though that were a sin in itself. In my view it is a good thing. Commerciality and free market economics ensure that the quality output which parents value rises to the top. We get the kids industry we deserve.
If I am ever lucky enough to get the chance to study again, the subject I would like to study is Economics. While the recent crisis has revealed that actually nobody holds all of the answers in this space, I think I would definitely enjoy the journey. Strategy consultancy after University taught me the real basics, and not a day goes by where I do not return to that grounding as the building blocks of my current working life. At some point I would love to top that up with some more detailed learning.
Of course, the reality is that some top line theory from a few years ago is not enough to lead in the current environment. I try to take as lively an interest as I can in all things economic, both in terms of news but also pushing my ongoing learning along. This is not easy because I am lucky if I get a spare minute in a busy day, let alone time for attending a lecture or two. Fortunate, then, that I have my friend Stephanie to rely on!
Stephanie Flanders is the BBC Economics Editor. Actually I have never met her, and I rarely even get the chance to hear her broadcast. I find the car en route to work a little early, and the end of the News at Ten a little late for me to really process complex information. Fortunate for me, then, that she writes a fantastic blog called Stephanomics. This provides me with all the economic news and opinion anyone would need to lead a business in short, concise chunks.
One of Stephanie’s blogs last weekend, ‘Damned if They Do, Damned if They Don’t’ brought home to me once again the challenges our leaders currently face. The truth is, nobody knows which way the economic pendulum will swing, and there is a fine line (or even no line) between too much and not enough fiscal stimulus. Stephanie relays our expectation that leaders will meet this this challenge head on and deal with ambiguity in an agile, proactive way.
Leaders of any business are confronted with their our own version of this tightrope. Over-investment might be risky to the long term health of any business in the current environment, but no more so than under-investment. Our Lane4 approach throughout has been to favour positive, forward movement – launching our broader service offer being the outcome of this approach. We move on remaining confident but not complacent.
http://mattrogan.blogspot.com/2010/04/lane4-our-new-world.html
While I am no more likely to be able to predict the medium or even short term economic picture than the next man, my responsibility as a leader is to have my ear to the ground. My friend Stephanie is by no means the only strategic input to my work at Lane4, but personally I do value the context she sets.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/stephanieflanders/2010/06/damned_if_they_do_damned_if_th.html
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