Why Edge Conference (another technology conference) and why work as a genuine consultant - what's the purpose anyway???

From my welcome opening speech of Netlight Edge Conference 2015 in wonderful Alte Kongresshalle in Munich.

I’m Mandus Engman, I’m Partner at Netlight, I’m a Genuine Consultant, I’m entrepreneur,  I’m a father and I’m a believer.

I meet many different companies in different situations, different challenges, different opportunities. I meet the people

I’m a believer in that I believe together we can make a difference. We can achieve something together.

I love this day because it gives me perspective and time to reflect. Where am I; where am I heading; why am I doing what I do.

We tend to ask ourselves and talk about “what” and “how” but so many times we’re missing the “why” – and without the “why” we’re missing the essence, the depth – what is meaningful for real.

So why are we all here? I know why I am here, but why are you here today?

I know by fact that we are all here by free will. It's Sunday and no one gets paid any extra to be here. So we’re not here for the money - a promising start.

So why are we here?

Just like the boids of the flying flock of birds, I guess some are here just because they followed the flock here. To comfort in the wellness, safety and the great power of the flock, cozy right? It's not a bad thing to hang out in the middle or back of the flock for a while, get inspired and see where it takes you.

Ok – but for the rest of you, why are you here?

Hopefully you’re here to meet, to listen to and to discuss interesting matters with other talented passionate people. That really makes me passionate – and that I love.

But we need something to be passionate about. We need to find our why – our purpose.

Googling Purpose you find quotes like:

“People who find purpose in their work unlock the highest level of the motivation game"

"Purpose is a cause larger than yourself that drives the deepest motivation."

"Purpose is what drives you out of bed in the morning and makes you do magical things."

Wow, we need a purpose. Purpose - bring motivation - which brings passion and joy. We need to find purpose. But I’m sorry to break the news that’s it’s really for you to find out yourself. But this day bring the perfect opportunity for you to find yours.

My personal purpose  - and feel free to be inspired if you’d like, is sort of three folded:

•  I want to be part of creating the digital future we all live in – how we communicate, how we find information, how we travel, how we amuse ourselves, how we shop – because I love technology....in combination with business, I love smart and simple solutions. I love how we come up with new things we couldn’t imagine we needed but still makes live easier, better or more fun for all.
• I want to find talented people eager to find a purpose themselves. I want to help them find their purpose and I want to help them reach their full potential – because I love to see them grow and be part of and inspired when they deliver magic together with me, my colleagues, our clients - us.
• I want to show the world that the future of high-value-service companies should be based on trusting the individual, purpose, passion, creating together and self-management rather than hierarchy, control, beurecracy  and individualism. Because it frees so much more energy and unlocks so much hidden potential.

That is my purpose, or Evolutionary Purpose to make it even bigger. That’s why I love to hang out with you here today and that’s why I work with Netlight – because it goes perfectly hand in hand with my own personal Evolutionary Purpose.

But in this it’s easy from time to time to feel low and start questioning oneself. So which role do little I really play in this Evolutionary Purpose. Do I really make an impact at all. Do I even belong here amongst you other talented passionate people. No, I’m an imposture, I’m fake. But please don’t - STOP. We all do it from time to time, it’s a natural sign of humanity, that unfortunately will hinder you from reaching your full potential if not dealt with.

We ARE all part of this, and by being nothing else but ourselves we will contribute inn our daily small decisions and interaction with other world citizens. All thanks to that we really care and engage in ourselves, our colleagues and our clients. We will make a difference. And remember the world and Netlight happens around YOU when you interact with other people and you show how much you care – not anywhere else by anyone else. – not in the White House, in Kreml, in the Chinese party committee or Octoberfest.

Learning from each other, Creating together, challenging ourselves – the powers we let loose are enormous and do spread.

Looking back at what we have achieved together the past years one get astonished. Not a day goes by when I don’t come across a product, tool, gadget, service or store we have been involved in making, some way or another – I feel so proud.

And knowledge sharing and knowledge transfer – or Edge as we call it - is one fundamental part of the success story. It helps us become Genuine Consultants totally focused on making our clients become heroes.

Edge is something we really do. - Daily within our engagements reaching out to our closest Netlight network, or as far as needed. - During our Edge Meetups held in all offices. - Within our Edge Competence Cells and within or lab environment, Edge Playground. - During our initimit technology festival Edge Academy and today during our grandiose Edge Conference held yearly.

But which competence, which knowledge and experience – is currently Edge – currently relevant to drive the digital industry forward? Currently making challenges or opportunities to our Clients?

Is Internet of Things, Big Data, Hybrid Clouding, Behavioral Economics and Nudging, Angular II, Continuous Integration, Self-managed Network Organizations, Digital Transformations or ElasticSearch?

I don’t know – but together all of us in this room – we have the answer. And let’s spend the day discussing and carve some of it out. Let’s expanding our networks. Let’s find our personal purpose. Let’s grow our passion and let’s have fun.

What's your Purpose?

What did I bring back from Edge Conference 2015 - a summary.

 Folllow me on twitter: mandus_engman