We’re back in the Hugoversity library to delve into another business book.
This time, Jenn has read and reviewed Paul McGee’s S.U.M.O. (Shut Up, Move On), the ‘straight-talking guide to succeeding in life’ (according to him).
While not PR or marketing-related, this book is a useful tool for anyone leading, or even simply working within, a business to understand the pitfalls of behaviour that can have a lasting impact on the rest of the team, but also support good habit development, and ultimately a stronger team.
“That’s just common sense”
The main principle of the book is a simple equation: E + R = O
Event + Response = Outcome
Ultimately, life is rarely just about what happens to you, it’s how you respond that makes the difference.
Paul uses an example to demonstrate this – being tailgated and flashed at in the fast lane of a motorway by someone determined to get past. A room of 12 managers all responded differently – one would calmly move, one would get irate, one would slow down and so on.
But ultimately, regardless of the situation, how you respond influences the outcome. The ‘driver’ cannot be held responsible for you being late because you slowed down, or in the worst cases ended up in an accident because you provoked them. You have the control to influence the outcome of anything that happens to you; make sure you use it.
BSE crisis
We all know people who believe their current circumstances are nothing to do with their previous decisions, are not related to the actions they have taken, or remotely linked to the attitudes they have adopted.
They Blame Someone Else. These BSE card-carrying members also put on a very special item of clothing – the victim tshirt.
The victim tshirt isn’t a permanent item of clothing, we are all guilty of a quick change every now and again. You didn’t get the promotion, your business wasn’t as successful as you wanted, you didn’t win that contract. You start thinking “I’m better than them!”, “The economy is the problem” or “They’re not in the same league as us” – and it can take some time before you realise you’ve swapped your top.
And what are the consequences? E+R=O. You don’t grow your business, you lose team members, you don’t go after the big tender opportunities – these outcomes are all a result of how you responded.
Removing your tshirt can be hard, after all it’s comfortable and easy to wear, but what could happen when you do? Your mentality begins to shift to ‘I’m responsible for how I choose to respond, and I need to learn how to become a survivor.”
To help wearers remove their victim tshirt, Paul shares some SUMO language to replace victim language – ultimately with the goal of changing mindset.
Hippo Time
It’s not always easy to SUMO.
When you don’t get the job you were perfect for, when you aren’t chosen to attend an event, or don’t win an award.
In fact, it goes against human nature not to be disappointed and a little downcast after a big blow – we’re emotional beings – so, someone telling you to ‘Shut up and move on’ is likely the last thing you want to hear.
That’s why you need a buffer: Hippo Time. Wallowing. Acknowledging the emotions you are feeling.
Paul takes the reader through his three top tips for Hippo Time, which mainly focus on who you’re talking to, and how long your wallowing lasts.
While it’s important to do and do well, Hippo Time is a mini-break, SUMO is home.
What did we think?
I cheated with the term ‘reading’ here and actually listened to the audiobook version, and that really helped in this instance.
Being from Manchester, Paul has a fabulous accent and reading his own work helps to bring the content, especially the personal anecdotes and experiences, to life. In turn, that made it more relatable and easy to consider my own experiences, which may not have been as simple if I’d only read the book.
That being said, I did also have a copy of the book which helped me refer back to some of the graphics, charts and exercises that are peppered throughout to further demonstrate certain points or experiences.
What did we learn?
It’s ok to wallow when things don’t go your way – as long as you don’t do it forever and you learn from it.
What happens to you doesn’t define the outcome – you have the power to control any situation through your response to it.
The book isn’t purely for business people, but a resource for anyone to help live their life more successfully, happily and peacefully, if you only give yourself the chance.
