The $1000 Dynamic Connection Challenge

I've got a problem...

I suspect many of my connections - or their connections - have a related problem. I bet $1000 that both sides would appreciate being connected.

"Normal" channels for these related problems are proving inefficient and frustrating. I've got a hunch LinkedIn might be a better option. I don't expect something for nothing - there's $1000 worth of value to the person that can help me solve these problems - for the "solver" or to be paid forward by them.

Let me explain...

I have a very particular set of skills...

(...couldn't resist, it was fun typing that). The headline one I've been running with for the last 2.5 years is Krav Maga Instructor at Dynamic Krav Maga. If you're unfamiliar with Krav Maga, it's a self defence system that originated in the Jewish community in 1930's Bratislava, was further developed in the Israeli Defence Forces and was repurposed by it's founder for civilians on completion of his service with the IDF.

For me, Krav Maga training was transformational. My health - physical and mental - was greatly enhanced. My confidence in dealing with confrontations, aggression, abuse and bullying increased exponentially. At the same time, it helped me develop greater emotional control, stress management, mental clarity and focus. Those benefits were something that I wanted to share - with my family and my community. After training with Krav Maga Global schools both in Australia and the UK, I was selected to attempt the gruelling 24 day General Instructors Course in 2018. Completing the course, and being granted the coveted black instructors shirt was one of the proudest days of my life.

Soon afterwards we returned to Perth, and on our return Dynamic Krav Maga came to life.

With business development manager (and wife) Jen May it has grown, with fellow KMG instructors joining us, development of our Women's workshops, corporate offerings, private training and of course our core product - quality self defence training of Kids, Teens and Adults of the KMG Practitioner syllabus.

As DKM develops, we plan to employ more instructors, and open up new regions including the Pilbara. While it's been fun being able to attend networking events, run school and corporate programs, and work at youth events in a KMG T-Shirt, the majority of my work has been a continuation of what I have been doing for many years in the corporate world.

Building a scalable, quality training organisation means putting lots of infrastructure together - marketing and sales automation, online trial bookings and subscription management, attendance management, payment systems etc etc.

I'm also an experienced nerd

Luckily, my employment history included over 20 years of business improvement, application development, business analysis, process reengineering, project management and people leadership in quality companies, across different sectors in 3 countries, such as:

• Developer, Analyst and Project Management roles in JP Morgan's Institutional securities trading businesses in Sydney and the UK
• Senior BA in Credit Suisse HQ, Zurich
• Process re-engineering, BA & People Leadership (100+ indirect reports) at Bankwest
• ICT Project management launching Fiona Stanley Hospital
• Workflow design and development for Australia's offshore petroleum titles
• GDPR (Privacy) compliance for floral retail icon Interflora in the UK

There's been a lot of money saved, made and risks avoided, mitigated and resolved during that time. They're not the type of organisations to promote, reward and transfer you internationally if you're not effective.

All of the technical, tactical and people skills you would expect come along with that. Covid has added another layer of resilience and adaptability. I spent much of Perth's lockdown working on digital transformation in the Pilbara, teaching Krav Maga online to keep DKM afloat.

All of it has been deployed as we've built our own business.

I'm in the process of pushing myself out ...

While I still have teaching and admin commitments on Wednesdays and Saturdays, I'm not needed as much at DKM as I used to be! That's a good thing, and fits in with what a mentor at JP Morgan once told me - you should always be trying to do yourself out of a job.

Over the years I've learned that I'm pretty good at launching things, resetting things, leading change and steering teams through troubled waters. I'm almost dangerous when things are going too smoothly. While we need to build our student number to get to healthy profitability (and Covid-related blips always have a financial impact) the machinery is in place for continued smooth operations and growth.

I'm not planning on removing myself entirely. Preparing kids and teens and working with the unsung heroes in our community services, law enforcement, health and at risk community groups is central to why I started DKM in the first place.

In practical terms, that means I have availability to work on other things Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

So what's my problem?

I don't think I fit smoothly into the Perth recruiting model. My gut tells me not to try and shoe-horn myself into it. That's not intended to be disrespectful, but I think there are people crying out for people with a blend of skills and experiences, especially with the uncertainty and stresses Covid has added to the mix. People like me. I suspect the people looking for those "square pegs" are getting frustrated by the standard recruiting model too.

• I'm a business owner who will have a predictable, ongoing involvement part time involvement in that business.
• Titles don't really matter to me. My experience genuinely includes development, senior business analysis, project management and line management roles. Personally, I think that breadth of experience, as well as my teaching background and even being a dad will be really valuable to teams facing complex problems. ATS systems don't seem to agree.
• I have a preference for part-time (3-4 days per week), contract "senior support" roles, eg BA/PM dogs body who is happy to roll up their sleeves and take on elements of other roles as necessary. I'm not looking for an unchanging, ongoing "safe" role. I'm more than happy with short term/rolling contracts, as long as they are fair and transparent.
• Interim leadership roles are fine with me, and I can slip back into being a team member just as easily. I'd love to be involved in mentoring emerging leaders, but feel no need to have an official leadership role/title.
• I want to have an impact, and feel any initiative I am part of is of benefit to the community. That could be by providing employment, boosting state coffers, improving health and wellbeing, increasing general wellbeing or a combination of those things.

How do you win the $1000 prize?

Connect me with the right person. It may be you. It may be a friend or connection who has expressed frustration at not being able to find the right support to deal with Covid, or optimise their systems, process and people.

• Support that can carry out instructions and intentions without having to be spoon fed and micro-managed.
• Support with verifiable integrity.
• Support that is flexible about methods of engagement.

We own a consulting company that can contract and invoice as needed. We have access to similar and complementary resources. I am OK under the right circumstances to be employed directly.

Terms and Conditions

• The "prize" is a $1000 training voucher redeemable for any Dynamic Krav Maga training service/s.
• The prize will be awarded when there is an agreement between myself as an individual or May Dynamics Pty Ltd and your connection, as confirmed by both parties.
• You may claim the prize yourself.
• You may claim it on behalf of a family member, friend or connection that needs it. (Hint - the elderly, disabled and women and children, unfortunately, are more vulnerable than others to physical and mental assault and abuse). Any recipient must comply with our "No Dickheads Policy" - no bullies, no violent criminals and no know-it-alls.
• You may gift the training to a worthy organisation. We are fully qualified, insured, First Aid trained and of course have our own training facility or can conduct the training on-site.