An Olympic Triumph for the Optimists

Oh Danny Boyle we love you so...
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

After all the sniping and sarcasm, the 'we'll never be able to better China' comments and the media's constant search for new ways to deride the Olympic organisers, Friday night's opening ceremony for London 2012 was always going to have to go some to shut the cynics up.

It did so, in spades (and with some hilarious 'shovel shuffle' dance moves from the fathers of the industrial revolution...how did they keep a straight face while they did the Macarena in front of billions?).

Massive congratulations to Danny Boyle, whose quirky, irreverent, spectacularly British opening ceremony was a master-stroke.  If you're in business, you can learn a lot from what happened on Friday night...if you care to think about it...


1. Play to your strengths
If you're a business and you know what you're good at, you can build a strategy around that.  Here in Britain, we're great at being creative, innovative, funny, daring and caring.  This ceremony played heavily on the creative arts, comedy, community, society, diversity and risk-taking (well done Ma'am by the way...that sky-dive didn't even ruffle your feathers...).   Know what you're good at and focus on it, make it the standout characteristic of every aspect of your business and customer service.

2.  Contrast, not copying
This  ceremony didn't even try to compete with the rigidity and scale of the Chinese ceremony four years ago.  This was so different, it couldn't even really be compared.  Creating a brand so different from the crowd that it stands alone may be scary, but the risk can be worth it if you believe in your product.

3. Be human
It always amazes me how many businesses try desperately hard to de-humanise their business.  To appear more 'professional' (whatever that means), or to improve efficiency.  Personally I think this is a mistake.  People buy from people, and if you forget that you're in danger of becoming a cold, soulless entity with no connection to its customers.  By playing on our humanity and emotions (as a movie director, Danny Boyle is obviously an expert at this) the ceremony became a far more intimate experience than it could have been.  If you do the same in your business (remember someone's name, it's as simple as that), you will gain loyalty and repeat business without even having to ask for it. 

Makes sense really, doesn't it?  Yet it could so easily have gone another way..so, well done Mr Danny Boyle and to whoever picked you for the job.  You took this on with no fear, and you did us proud.