Open Jaw Network Ltd.’s Post

The T shirt is ironic. I’d like to make that clear before I go on! This photo was taken on a recent sailing holiday in Greece. I was doing a refresher course on skippering (having got my Day Skipper qualification 25 years ago I was a little rusty) and the rest of my family were doing their competent crew. (an entry level qualification for new sailors) We had an awesome time, largely down to the patience and good nature of our instructor Tim. During the week, Tim and I agreed that skippering a boat is not that dissimilar to running a business. (To be clear, I didn’t spend the entire week talking about work- Tim brought this up one evening.) Before you set off you consult with your crew and decide where you want to get to. You then confirm and clarify the plan, thus ensuring that everyone is “on board” (see what I did there?) Then before and during the trip, you give each person their instructions on what you need them to do and, if they are less experienced, how you’d like them to do it. When things go wrong you remain calm and give clear, actionable instructions. You may have to temporarily change course, but you remain ultimately focused on getting to your destination.  You don’t shout (unless it’s noisy and you have to be heard) and the more choppy the water gets, the calmer you appear to reassure the crew that everything is ok. One day during the holiday I asked my son Ollie to carry out what I considered a reasonably basic task. I forget the details but it’s likely it would have involved a rope and some pulling and winding. When he didn’t respond I got annoyed with him and told him to crack on and get on with it (or words to that effect) He turned to me and said “I have no idea what’s going on or what you’re asking me to do” And there it was. Thousands of pounds worth of business coaching in one sentence from my 15 year old son. You can’t expect your crew to sail across choppy water if you don’t give clear instructions on how to work the boat. What business advice have you received when you least expected it? #businessadvice #sailing #captain #leadershipskills 

The purpose of training is travel

🌟Set Sail for #WhatShipWednesday Challenge It's that time of the week when we cast off on a new #WhatShipWednesday adventure! 🚢🔎 The open sea calls to us with another cruise ship shrouded in mystery. Can you guess which ship is making waves this week? Here's How to Join the Quest: ✅Study today's enigmatic ship image. ✅Channel your inner maritime mastermind and drop your guess in the comments. ✅Share the fun - tag your fellow ship aficionados and see if they can crack the case too! 🖼️ (Image of a cruise ship with branding removed) Good luck, and may the calm seas lead you to the right answer! #WhatShipWednesday #CruiseChallenge #GuessTheShip

A lifelong learner is something we all strive to be.  Are you an active or passive learner?  Have you used webinars and zoom calls? If you’ve been interested in Virgin Voyages, and you are wanting to learn more (as well as some inside tips), message me to join the Virtual Cruise!🛳️ #virginvoyages #cruising #learningjourney #virtual #traveladvisor

Bit of a full circle moment yesterday, presenting at the Future Pilot Skills event in London on behalf of TUI 🥹💙 Can’t quite believe that this time last year I was on the other side of this stage, going through the nerve wracking MPL selection process! ✈️ To be part of the first fully funded commercial pilot cadet programme the UK has seen in over 20 years is such a huge privilege and a total dream come true. Meeting so many incredibly talented and excited potential new colleagues yesterday was massively rewarding and I can’t wait to see the next course of cadets achieve their dreams too! 👩🏻✈️✨ For anyone applying this year, it’s important to remember that dreams don’t always come true overnight. Sometimes the journey you embark on is long and winding and it’s important to make the most of each setback by redirecting your energy and turning it into a new opportunity. It has taken me over a decade to achieve this dream, and many failures, rejections and hurdles have been in my way. But ultimately I wouldn’t change that journey for the world because it has allowed me to experience opportunities and adventures and make friends and connections I otherwise never would have 🙏🏻 Wishing everyone applying this year, massive massive good luck!! But remember, if it doesn’t work out this time, it may just mean that it isn’t your time yet! It doesn’t mean it will never happen… So keep chasing those dreams and don’t let anyone or anything take that fire from your belly! 🔥 If you’re looking for a little bit more information on the application process, take a look at this article which talks through my journey last year! https://lnkd.in/evcSXzc3 #TUIMPL #LetsTUIIt #TUIPeople #CadetPilot #Resilience #CommercialAviation

"The intricate dance between wind, water, and teamwork when sailing a yacht mirrors the complexities of corporate success" -- what a great article! Clipper Events illustrates some of the ways in which we sailors develop universal skills that apply at work and at play. I would add two more, especially for those of us who practice the fast-paced, close-quarters discipline of match racing: the ability to make good decisions and assess risks under pressure, and the ability to think several moves ahead. Often, in a match, we find ourselves within inches of our competitor. There are just seconds to call up the rules in our heads and decide how to maneuver to gain an advantage without risking the boat and crew, all while staying in compliance with the rules. We also have to understand that the position we establish now will limit or open our options further up the course, so no decision should be made in a vacuum. We, of course, make our best decisions on the helm when we receive accurate information from our crew and understand our crewmates' strengths and abilities. The sport is a true metaphor for corporate life, and it teaches valuable, practical skills. https://lnkd.in/eFbpe5ej

Do you want some onboard credit to spend on your next #norwegiancruise ? Now is the time to plan your #cruise in 2024 or 2025 with the #jbltravelgroup and get up to $200 in #onboardcredit

Quarter 4 - I’m ready for you!! Let’s see what the end of the year brings!! #servicedapartment #servicedapartments #apartment #airbnb #travel #servicedaccommodation #homeawayfromhome #shortstay #property #fullyfurnished #business #growth #bettertogether #money #mindset #mentor #learning #property #whatsnext

What I learned about leadeship in Iceland.

I believe most tour guide skills can be taught. Even the ones that typically ‘come with experience’. Sure, the longer you guide, the more unexpected challenges you experience, but you can still teach someone to ‘prepare for the unknown’. #tourguides #toursandactivities #tourismindustry #experiencecreation #teambuilding