THE STORY
One Direction, Little Mix, Westlife, Olly Murs, Susan Boyle, Leona Lewis. These are just some of the successful bands and singers discovered by Simon Cowell, television reality show judge, entrepreneur, entertainment manager and record executive.
Cowell was voted one of the 100 most influential people by Time Magazine twice. These world-beating acts were all rough diamonds when they were picked from relative obscurity. He was able to use his imagination to predict what these artists might become after a further polishing of their vocals, dance skills and stage presence. He never dismisses prematurely, but selects based on future potential. One of his other core skills is having a deep understanding of what resonates with the British and American public. This unshakeable confidence in his own intuition has meant that when he has a strong “gut feeling” he trusts it to deliver. “I genuinely think that if I like something, other people will like it as well”. At the end of 2019, his gut feel told him that One Direction would reunite sometime soon. Let’s see!
KEY TAKEAWAYS
We can learn three things from Simon Cowell:
Be informed by what has worked in the past. By dissecting previous successes, you have a better chance of predicting future ones.
Treat initial ideas like rough diamonds and try to envisage where they might end up as opposed to where they are right now. Select based on future potential rather than present performance.
It’s not just the rational and logical part of your brain that should make selections. Use all your intelligences, including your gut.
YOUR CHALLENGE
Identify a decision or choice that needs to be made, either at work or at home.
Take each of the 3 key takeaways outlined above and use them to help you make your decision.
Repeat the same exercise during the course of the week, when making further decisions, in order to strengthen your Judge muscle.
