The power of three

Former President of the United States Abraham Lincoln once said ‘don’t worry when you are not recognised, but strive to be worthy of recognition’. This is something that has been both a guide during my life, and a sentiment that I try to encourage my employees, colleagues and family to take note of. While it is human nature to seek recognition for our accomplishments, there is certainly satisfaction that can be had from having confidence in a job done well, regardless of whether we are recognised.

Seeing in a new year I am often more reflective around this time, and it’s made me recognise the value in this – the importance of not sitting still. We drive our business through passion and expertise, but the great ideas are a result of something else entirely. And this to me is what might be the distinguishing factor between fleeting recognition and a more ingrained, enduring recognition: the knowledge that it is never guaranteed and many strive for it each day.

This takes a combination of passion, hard work and perseverance. And some might say luck, being in the right place and the right time. You see this a lot in the world of sports. You see this in Pelé, with his tact, creativity and conviction, in Rivaldo, his enthusiasm for the game and focus on the pitch, and Geoff Hurst, with his expressive style and determination, and all are recognised for phenomenal hat tricks that will go down in history as brilliant sporting moments.

Saying this, there’s also something to be said about the power of three. I find this idea appealing, particularly so as following two years of being named as a leader in the Gartner* Magic Quadrant for Global Network Service Providers, we’re pleased to announce that we’ve retained the accolade this year. Our own professional hat-trick that I’m extremely proud of.

It hasn’t been easy, but the saying simply wouldn’t be so motivating if that were true for anything truly fulfilling that must be worked for. As a company, we have a mentality that it doesn’t matter if you fail. I’ve tried to create a business that is open to new ideas and a place that houses innovation and forward-thinking, and recognition of this kind is further reassurance for me that I haven’t failed this pledge. We are constantly looking for new ways to help and assist our customers and provide services that better their experiences; it’s constantly moving and evolving.

I think that Robert Iger, the CEO of Walt Disney, had it right when he said that ‘the heart and soul of a company is creativity and innovation’. It isn’t about doing these things to be recognised, but the results often get you there.

Read the full details of our announcement, and you can also watch the video of my favourite soccer hat trick – the brilliant Rivaldo for Barcelona against Valencia from 2001 – below.

*Source: Gartner “Magic Quadrant for Network Services, Global”, Neil Richard and Bjarne Munch, 14 January 2016

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