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Recently, I picked up a new interest in book reading and I am amazed at my dedication. Ken Allen, ex CEO of DHL Express, poured his heart into his book titled, “Radical Simplicity”. I am a fan of CEOs telling the stories of their companies. He tells the story of how he moved a loss-making business of £2bn in 2008 to a £1.2bn profit centre within 10 years. He is known as the turnaround specialist king.
The book tells the story of a Yorkshireman who rose from an account officer to the CEO of the most international company in the world. DHL Express is in more locations than the United Nations! One of Ken’s unique skills is the ability to strip away everything that interferes with the main thing. An international delivery business should be an international delivery business and nothing else.
I think as humans we are usually in a rush to do so many things. We just want to jump from pillar to post bearing different names and identifying as different things. Today, we are a software engineer and tomorrow, we are considering a career in financial planning. I am also guilty of this. All in all, I am not saying we are incapable of handling several positions and statuses. All I am saying is that we should at least be known for one thing. Let that thing be the first thing that comes to people’s mind when they think about you.
Ken was able to transform the fortune of a 60 years old company by applying the rule of simplicity. Simplicity is built on focus – Laser focus. You are probably wondering how this sermon affects your finances. Well, it affects everything about your finances.
Do you have a clear-cut path for your finances? What SMART goals have you set for your personal finance? How disciplined and committed are you to your goals? How often do you review your goals? What milestone have you set for income, savings, financial education, expenses, investment and how many of them have you met?
I can tell you a million and one things about finances but if you have not taken that decision to radically simplify your finances, then it’s all a waste of time and energy. Information does not profit. Only action does. Today, take a step forward in your finances and be like Ken Allen.
Lastly, take this advice from the former global CEO of the world’s best known logistics brand – “When you believe you have made the right decision and are following the best path for you, execution is much easier; you can clearly see what’s important to do and what you should stop doing.”
Today is a good day to walk in the direction of your goals.
Your Favourite Financial Coach,
TL.