The E Factor E-Book

David Gibson

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Fachliteratur
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 222

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

Transform your approach to learning and working in the 21st century

In In The E Factor: The 21st Century Guide to Entrepreneurial Thinking, award-winning professor, entrepreneur, and accountant David Gibson delivers a singularly practical guide to critical thinking that will transform the way you think about learning and take action. The book explains all the key skills useful to teachers, students, and professionals in the contemporary classroom and marketplace, offering hands-on strategies and techniques for work and school that enhance productivity and effectiveness.

You'll discover how to apply the author's one-of-a-kind model to everyday learning and working and become more successful. You'll also find:

• Practical case studies that demonstrate the power of the E Factor approach in the real world
• Strategies for teaching students to apply the E Factor to enhance their overall educational experience and get more out of each class and lesson they take
• Ways to apply critical thinking techniques to become more interactive as you learn in the classroom, the boardroom, the office, and anywhere else

Perfect for students, educators, and aspiring and practicing professionals in any industry, The E Factor is a must-read guide to active learning, development, and working that will transform the way you interact with the world around you.

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Cover

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Preface

Part I: The Eight E Factors

Chapter 1: Resilience

The Building Blocks of Resilience

Creating and Implementing Your Resilience Plan

Opportunities and Threats

How Is Resilience Achieved?

Chapter 2: Finance

Financial Habits

Some Areas You Need to Study

Keeping Track

Financial Jargon

The Balance Sheet

Using Technology

Build Financial Habits

The Power of Leverage

Funding

Employee Financing

Your Financial Plan

Advice for You

Chapter 3: Creativity

First Step

Daily Activity

Chapter 4: Negotiation

Background and Lessons

What Are the Skills?

The Qualities of Great Negotiators

Chapter 5: Personal Branding

Best Practice Examples

The Key Benefits of Personal Branding

A Sample Plan

My Experience

The Benefits

Co-Branding

Be a Warrior

Chapter 6: Strategic Thinking

Culture

Useful Steps to Take

Chapter 7: Leadership

Key Leadership Competencies

Preparation for Leadership

Changing the Culture

The Best Way to Learn Leadership

The Next Stage

Chapter 8: Personal Influence

Who Needs to Influence Others?

How You Could Use the E Factors Individually or Mix and Match

Part II: Applying the E Factors

Chapter 9: Achieving Daily Practice

Chapter 10: The Power of Dreams

Chapter 11: Being Yourself

Chapter 12: Going Global

Part III: E Factor Application

Chapter 13: Using the E Factor

Intention

Chapter 14: Working with Global Technology

Chapter 15: E-Factor Learning

The Method

Daily Activity

What Is Your Learning Style?

Build Flexibility

Learning Methodology

Creativity

A Morning Routine

Purpose

Learning Group

Share Your Story

Create Your Own Community

Chapter 16: Coaching and Mentoring Support

Chapter 17: The History of the E Factor, 2005–2024

Chapter 18: How Can You Become an E-Factor Peak Performer?

Chapter 19: Twenty-One Steps for Success with the E Factor

Chapter 20: Who Needs the E Factor and How Can It Help Them?

Small Business Owners

Company Executives

Millennials

Community Leaders

Educators

Public Sector Managers

Life and Business Coaches

Students

Professionals and Academics

Family Businesses

Mature Enterprise

Chapter 21: How Do You Change any International Organisation or Community with the E Factor?

Chapter 22: E-Factor Case Studies

Conclusion

Execute the Plan

About the Author

Index

End User License Agreement

Guide

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Preface

Table of Contents

Begin Reading

Conclusion

Execute the Plan

About the Author

Index

End User License Agreement

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THE E FACTOR

THE 21ST CENTURY GUIDE TO ENTREPRENEURIAL THINKING

PROFESSOR DAVID

GIBSON, OBE

This edition first published 2025David Gibson © 2025

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except as permitted by law. Advice on how to obtain permission to reuse material from this title is available at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.

The right of David Gibson to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with law.

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Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of WarrantyWhile the publisher and authors have used their best efforts in preparing this work, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this work and specifically disclaim all warranties, including without limitation any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives, written sales materials or promotional statements for this work. The fact that an organization, website, or product is referred to in this work as a citation and/or potential source of further information does not mean that the publisher and authors endorse the information or services the organization, website, or product may provide or recommendations it may make. This work is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering professional services. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a specialist where appropriate. Further, readers should be aware that websites listed in this work may have changed or disappeared between when this work was written and when it is read. Neither the publisher nor authors shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Gibson, David A., author.

Title: The E factor : the 21st century guide to entrepreneurial thinking / David Gibson.

Description: Hoboken, NJ : Wiley, 2023. | Includes index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2024021653 (print) | LCCN 2024021654 (ebook) | ISBN 9781394285488 (paperback) | ISBN 9781394285501 (adobe pdf) | ISBN 9781394285495 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: Critical thinking. | Entrepreneurship—Psychological aspects.

Classification: LCC BF441 .G445 2023 (print) | LCC BF441 (ebook) | DDC 650.101/9—dc23/eng/20240603

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2024021653

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2024021654

Cover Design: WileyAuthor Photo: Courtesy of the Author

Preface

Welcome to The E Factor: The 21st-Century Guide to Critical Thinking. My new book focuses on helping people learn, develop and survive in the global economy.

I have been helping people and institutions acquire entrepreneurship and innovation skills over a twenty-year period. The new technological revolution has increased the need for everyone to develop these skills to deal with constant change and challenges.

This book will provide you with the E-Factor skills to succeed and will enable you to make an impact on your area of work and help others to do the same. It is important that you not only read the book but complete all related exercises and apply the strategies within your own area of expertise. You will acquire both the knowledge and the capability to achieve your career and business goals.

This is your opportunity to become part of a global community of practice. So, enjoy the book, practise daily and make a significant contribution to your organisation and your community.

Best wishes.

Professor David Gibson, OBE

2024

Part IThe Eight E Factors

I decided to write this book in three parts.

The first part discusses the eight competencies related to the E Factor and how you need each skill to develop and grow in today's changing economy. The eight E Factors are:

1. Resilience

2. Finance

3. Creativity

4. Negotiation

5. Personal Branding

6. Strategic Thinking

7. Leadership

8. Personal Influence

Chapter 1Resilience

If I had to encourage you to have one skill that would increase your chance of surviving and thriving in the global economy, it would be to develop resilience.

At times, the word is overused but I'll explain what it means and how you can develop it.

It is the capacity to anticipate setbacks and crises. That seems a little negative, I know, but the reality is that not everything will go according to plan. The Fourth Industrial Revolution and the technological impact will bring constant change and challenges.

As an entrepreneur and a lifetime adviser to other entrepreneurs, I have found that many people expect that everything will go to plan and will be straightforward. However, business and your career will provide both opportunities and setbacks – sometimes at the same time! Sadly, I have seen many people give up great ventures and careers when the inevitable first obstacle appears.

People tend to believe you are born confident or an entrepreneur and some people have lucky breaks, and some don't. During my time as an enterprise educator, I have heard many highly intelligent people tell me it's all down to luck as to how you and your career turn out.

Nonsense. Certainly, genetics and upbringing have an influence, but you can still have a significant impact if you are prepared to learn and find new innovative ways to meet challenges.

You can be resilient, learn from your mistakes and achieve your goals whatever happens, but you must be prepared to learn. It is not enough to have knowledge – you need to find the right strategies and change your own behaviour and mindset to survive and thrive in this colourful arena of change. You live in a different world, one that is more uncertain than the one your predecessors faced, but arguably with more opportunity as you can potentially have more global opportunities than the previous generation.

The questions are: Will you be prepared to learn the skills and the mindset? What are these? How can you learn them?

Without good resilience you might miss significant opportunities, but you will acquire the skillset. Knowing about the theories is not enough. Let's review these skills and develop a plan together so that this core skill/mindset will allow you to welcome both challenges and opportunities.

The first thing is to be self-aware, so ask yourself: Are you resilient? How do you act in a crisis? What do others think about your ability to cope under pressure and deal with unexpected challenges? Ask a variety of people so that you can measure the response, and look for brutal honesty no matter how sensitive you are, and a range of responses to improve the validity of the feedback. This is something you should do on an ongoing basis.

You may not like some of the responses but if the feedback is from a variety of people these responses can provide valuable analysis on the areas you will have to work on. It is important to learn how to fail, without it destroying your dreams.

Sometimes you might feel it would be nice to avoid feedback that is indicating areas of weakness but responding to this in an appropriate and positive way will save you years of heartache and provide the opportunity to be even better prepared for future challenges.

What is your physical health like? The stronger and fitter you are, the better prepared you will be for any potential crisis or opportunity. What is your weight? How fit would you describe yourself?

At one point in my life, I was unfit. I was also working extremely hard, long days and hours, with poor sleep. Then I had a health scare which encouraged me to embrace physical exercise and examine my lifestyle. I now run 5 k every morning and eat healthier.

This enables me to cope much better with pressure and unexpected events. If you are physically fit, it helps with your sleeping and lifestyle.

I am not trying to turn you into a fitness fanatic but instead to make you aware that physical health plays a part in helping you manage your energy levels and be more productive in your work. You become better prepared to deal with unexpected events, crises and even those great opportunities. Develop a plan and realise that physical and mental health are vital tools for you to use.

Make a realistic plan, one with no pressure to do too much at once if you are trying to create good habits and behaviours that last. Whichever physical exercise you choose must be appropriate for your age and personal background. You also need to find something you enjoy as you are more likely to turn it into a habit. Is there a sport you like or a class to attend which is fun? The more enjoyable and convenient it is the more sustainable the impact.

Personally, I find t'ai chi to be an exercise technique that provides physical and mental health benefits and is appropriate for me. It can be practised in a group or on your own and you do not need any specialist equipment or venue.

Ultimately, you will only keep doing a physical fitness programme if it is simple and easy to undertake, with a dash of enjoyment. The key is little and often, and be aware that healthy food can enhance your physical and mental well-being.

Your mental health is equally important. There is pressure to constantly be productive, which can induce stress. This can then lead to anxiety, which is not good for either your physical or mental health. You might be young and fit at the minute, but stress can sneak up, and you need to be able to recognise when to switch off from work and learn how to relax your mind and body. Bringing yourself into a natural state of balance helps to make you more productive, more successful. What is the best way to do this?

Mindfulness is a word you will hear often, and it plays a significant role in improving mental health. It is the capacity to relax physically and mentally at any time, learning to focus your mind on what is going on now around you and how you are feeling, but remain detached so you do not respond or react. Learning strategies to help you relax and gather your physical and mental strength are important. Learning to breathe deeply and slowly can help to reduce any potential imminent stress. One amazingly simple exercise you can practise is to breathe through your diaphragm. Slow breath in for five and out for ten. It's the outbreath that helps you to remain calm. The most important thing is to be aware of how you are feeling, and what might need to change.

The key is learning to be mindful in the moment by not reacting immediately or giving into your emotions – taking a little bit of time to adjust and refocus will prove useful. It is all about controlling and reducing any anxiety, which unfortunately has become all too common in today's business world and particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic. There are a variety of techniques you could experiment with to find what works for you.

If we can learn to accept that life moves around us at distinct levels, sometimes high sometimes low, then we can become more resilient and respond in the appropriate way. The calmer and more relaxed you are in your response to different challenges the easier it will be to find solutions and the better you will feel physically and mentally.

This strengthens your resilience. Some people are naturally calm and relaxed in all situations – perhaps personality and life experiences have taught them to take their time and relax when a problem arises. The rest of us need simple strategies with good impact.

My wife is a professional relaxation therapist, therefore I benefit and learn techniques first hand. As a meditation teacher, she ensures we start every morning with a 10–15-minute meditation. It is a myth to think you must meditate for at least an hour, 10–15 minutes is beneficial. When you are relaxed and focused, you are much more resilient and much more likely to solve challenges and problems as they arise; therefore you become resilient.

I am not saying you must do meditation to be resilient but what you must do is understand your own stress levels and triggers, and how you cope with them. We have many more triggers now than ever before, with technology changing regularly, and our dependence on it, and how we use it. Many people find themselves in stressful situations at work and at home. This is why many people are reluctant and frightened to run their own business and find it difficult to separate home and work life on an even balance. It makes sense to find several simple strategies and techniques that will not only provide solutions but will enhance your well-being and improve your resilience significantly no matter what you face.

There are many apps around and authors who specialise in helping you to find the appropriate techniques that may suit you. You can learn and adapt more than one technique and use them in different scenarios, and all will increase your resilience.

Find what works best for you and have the strategies to remain calm whatever comes up. Not always easy I know, but when you find or create what keeps you calm your resilience level will be extraordinarily strong.

Resilience is your capacity to deal with the changes we all face in the 21st century. The more you look after yourself the less anxious you will be when challenges appear at any stage. You will bounce back whatever unexpected changes and challenges arise. You will also have the confidence that you are ready for anything. Learn to be calm in the eye of the storm. Clearly, how you respond to sudden change may be the key quality or skill we all need. No matter what our background or ability we all need to learn to bounce back in unexpected circumstances.

The Building Blocks of Resilience

One of the most sophisticated models that anyone can learn with proven effectiveness is the model of Martin Seligman of the University of Pennsylvania, the creator of positive psychology.

He created a highly effective research-based model for resilience building in the US army. His model is called ‘PERMA’, with a focus on Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning and Accomplishment. It is recommended you work on them one at a time.

Can you remain positive in what looks to be a negative and challenging situation? It's your choice, make the right one. People who are negative with you should be used as fuel for a positive response. Enjoy proving them wrong. If you have ever been written off before you will know it can be great motivation. I was once told by an eminent academic from Queens University, that my enterprise education programme would never work. It became the number one model in the world within two years. You always have a choice as to how you react to negativity or discouragement. You can always control your response.

Keep doing the work you love and engage with externals, who are not involved in your organisation. This will keep your motivation up. You will also need people inside and outside your business or organisation who believe in you and will support you completely. This gives you the determination and the belief to keep going in tough times.

A small but motivated team can produce outstanding results. Find the people who will be with you no matter what. You only need a few and be open minded. It can be the most unexpected people.

Keep focused on your strategic purpose and you will be unstoppable. Always be focused on where you want to be and know that opportunities will appear. Celebrating small achievements will keep you motivated. One time I was making little progress, but I still believed in what I was doing. I re-evaluated how I was spending my time and how I was applying the E Factor.

One small opportunity to work with some environmental students became my first victory, and that taste of success was enough to raise my spirits and give me the passion to soar.

The best time to create habits to motivate yourself are at the start of the day and the end of the day. I am incredibly lucky my wife without fail gets us to meditate and say mantras first thing in the morning. I can honestly say I feel amazing and powerful at the end of those 15 minutes. Set your intention each morning to have a successful day.

It is also good to finish your day with gratitude for any lessons learned and the victories gained. Keep a small journal to highlight the good things. Celebrate the wins no matter how small.

Can you be grateful for the opportunity to learn lessons when things are not going according to plan? This is when you apply your resilience skills.

Remaining calm is a daily challenge but it is one that will keep you going.

Keep your belief and enjoy the learning. Learn to go lightly and laugh each day. Believe that one day you will look back at this and realise that no matter how bleak it may have looked in the short term, you persevered and saw it through. Once you get a small opening, jump into action – take that leap of faith.

Like many people I find myself being positive to others facing negative challenges but extremely hard on myself. Go easy on yourself. We are alive, we are learning, and we will get there. You can be an unstoppable force. Just take time, get your plan, and action it.

Take time to visualise your day and rehearse your responses. There is no guarantee that everything will go according to plan, but you will increase your chances that it will happen. Visualisation is a powerful tool for you to have in your skills box, and always keep your visualisation positive.

The mind is a powerful force. Choose to reframe your thoughts and keep them positive. It isn't always easy but keep persisting. Those who are resilient and keep learning, keep putting positivity out there together with action are an unstoppable force. Are you up for it? Give up the rollercoaster rides and be empowered by what you can control.

There is unmistakable evidence now that resilience skills can be taught and need to be. I do understand that changes can challenge our anxiety and push up the stress levels but if we can accept this and work on positive responses as opposed to reactions there are massive opportunities to learn and grow.

So how can you prepare for this? Practise thinking positively under pressure. Focus on what you can contribute. Should you begin to feel overwhelmed, distract yourself and refocus, and breathe – slowly, deeply and gently.

Why do you need to keep learning? Well, you may have been trained in how to pass exams, could you train another person? We will all need to interact with new people and innovative ideas.

Put yourself into situations that will require you to use these E-Factor skills and then begin to teach someone else. That will really increase your learning.

The reality is that you must, as part of your resilience strategy, take control of your own learning.

As part of your resilience development, you must learn what is needed now. It's an exciting time to be learning and developing and part of your resilience training is to accept this and prepare yourself to prosper and succeed as a global citizen.

You will become more adaptable than the previous generation. Accept that you must learn differently and that much of your learning to date is of limited use in training to be a global citizen.

Perhaps one of the finest examples of adaptive learning I have seen recently has been the new wellness training designed by Hilary Scott, a professional relaxation therapist in Northern Ireland. Noting that people either attended a mindfulness class, a meditation session, t'ai chi, or yoga, for example, she created a programme that brings the six biggest stress relievers and relaxation techniques into a one-hour session – ‘Six in Sixty’. The variety of learning and the impact on our mind and body is incredibly significant and inventive. Most of us lose attention after the initial impact of achieving the feel-good factor, and our mind begins to wander. Hitting that spot six times in an unusual way has an incredible impact on our mind and body. If you're going to be resilient in this new world, this is an example of a model that could benefit you.

Creating and Implementing Your Resilience Plan

There is a significant difference between creating a plan and turning it into a workable model.