#JM Inspire and Connect: WHERE DREAMS ARE MADE...

A BRIEF WORD OF INTRODUCTION

My strongest desire is to advance the common good and to make the world a better place, every day, everywhere, by :

Advising and influencing CEO's and business leaders in my job as a consultant at KPMG ; Leading people into their most inspiring journey ever ; Teaching and helping younger generations - those who will shape the world of tomorrow ; Counseling and supporting selected political and religious leaders ; Organizing thought-provoking inspirational events like the Essentials ; Connecting people and ideas all the time ; Trying to learn and to write on a regular basis ; Transforming "think tanks" into "action tanks" ; Being a radical optimist ; Most importantly, making my wife Cécile and our 4 children as happy as possible ; Serving God and people ; Investing wisely the 86.400 seconds we get every day to make our world a better place ... And keeping up smiling, no matter what !

Monday, June 17, 2013

WHERE DREAMS ARE MADE...

Atelier Berluti - LVMH Journées Particulières

I had the privilege to be invited last Friday at the Avant-Première of LVMH Journées Particulières, with a visit of Berluti's Atelier Sur-Mesure in Paris, "dans les coulisses du rêve" - "Where dreams are made".

This was indeed a real moment of travel into PURE INSPIRATION and a journey into DREAMS and STORY TELLING.

This is not just because of the sheer beauty (and price) of Berluti shoes, nor because of their 120-year old process of designing and making bespoke shoes... This is more a reflection on the meaning of TRADITION and HERITAGE :

For instance, their master shoe-maker does NOT use 3D-simulation or Hi-Tech material and devices to measure the feet of the customer... He simply draws and take notes for hours, in 2D, on an ancient type of paper, and discusses at length with his client to best understand his needs, likes, dreams, desires, motivations, fears, etc... From this pure dialogue and exchange, the whole process of CREATIVITY and tailor-made manufacturing can start !

It calls for a profound reflection on how we best execute our work, and how we can deliver the perfect product to our customers... I believe that any great product (or service) is a blend of :

Perfect understanding of client needs

Story-telling to "market" the product/service and make it sound totally unique

Creativity to give a sense of tailor-made and exclusivity

Values and heritage to give a sense of trust and timelessness

Search of excellence in all phases of work

Enormous experience (15.000 hours practice to become a master in any job)

One can ask the question then : Am I doing all this in my day job ? Am I treating my clients as best as possible ? Am I offering the best approach and solutions to my client desires and needs ?

All good questions for today...

Let's be inspired by the way Berluti shoe makers INSPIRE their own clients and CONNECT with them, intimately and passionately !