Who do we look up to?

I was asked this question today; “who do you look up to, recruitment business wise, like what company do you aspire to be like?”

The call fell silent….

I really struggled to answer. Well actually, I didn’t, as in my head I was thinking “none of them, they’re all rubbish”. But that’s just what you tell yourself when you set up your own business right? You want to do things better than anywhere else, because they’re all rubbish.

But actually, they’re not all rubbish, are they? I can see many good qualities in my former employers. Adecco’s training was incredible, Hay’s social events were unreal, Pure’s ethical practice was inspiring and IG’s ambitions were infectious.

It’s like parenting I suppose. You don’t agree with how your Dad disciplined you by smacking you on the thigh with his slipper, but you love how he lets you make a mess, climb trees and get muddy all while not worrying and fussing. So, you ditch the slipper slaps and build a tree forte.

Aspiration. It’s a funny thing really. We might see people or business’ we aspire to be like or that we look up to. But, isn’t it dangerous to aspire to be someone else or create a business, a career or a life like someone else's? When we don’t see the full story.

That business with a ￡2m turnover, could be making a loss. That woman travelling the world for work, could be lonely. That man with the beautiful wife, could be the victim of adultery.

So, should we ‘aspire’ to be anyone, or just aspire to be ourselves, but just better versions of ourselves every day and never compare it to anyone or anything else?

Bloody hell, this has got way too deep for me, someone talk to me about KitKats and Love Island sharpish!