Colour versus Black & White

“When I watch cycling, I’ll be watching in colour and you’ll be watching in black and white. But, in football, I’m watching in black and white.”

An analogy you've possibly heard before.

This version comes from 'performance' guru and Mr Marginal Gains, Dave Brailsford.

Making news at the moment as he 'returns' to his more global role after a hectic 18 months trying to re-steer one of the world's biggest football clubs, Manchester United, back towards former glories.

There's been plenty of knockers.

What is not in doubt, is how he turned British cycling into such global force. Velodrome then road. An incredible achievement.

Environments he has created have produced a new level of elite benchmark. More than once.

Can his foundations just laid precede the same?

It's a tough ask. The depths the team presently plumbs. The chasm by which rivals currently outpace them. The greater factors now beyond his control.

Yet consider what it means to accept you watch in black and white, where others see in full, HD technicolour.

The analogy is perhaps fading.

From 2-D to 3-D might hold more sway today.

Soon, we may well cite tech that immerses us within VR. Will it come with a jetpack?

Yet I get his point.

I've walked into countless salesrooms down the years.

I see them very much in colour.

The sounds, smells, taste, looks and feel all betray where they're at. What's likely going on. How close to success they will be.

You don't need to drill down far for pertinent examples.

In my current focus for instance, this would involve how they set about selling a new product. I absolutely love turning any salesteam settings dial from the black and white of nearer zero colour towards max.

It's also worth pointing out, that until meeting us, our prospects may not necessarily be aware that they are watching in B&W.

Likewise, unbeknownst to them an option they entertain may be drained of colour too.

Where we are the true specialists they seek, we need to let that be known.