Launches & Relaunches

(and their motivational momentum )

Last week I got to test-run the new JKS Restaurant, Ambassadors Clubhouse, just off Regent Street in London.

I have rarely seen a restaurant as swoon-inducing (if that is a proper term). From the superlative Punjabi food to the decor and service, it made for a magical night - even before it properly opened. The Clubhouse is dedicated to the founders’ grandfather, and the emotional connection and authenticity really showed.

I’ve been supporting the JKS Group founders and leadership team over the past months, and have been struck by the sheer blood, sweat and tears thrown into this launch.

In truth, I sometimes asked myself: Was it all going to be worth it ? Why put so much pressure on ourselves to reinvent ourselves when we are already successful? In JKS’ case, the Group already has over 40 restaurants and a string of Michelin stars to its name.

The whole experience made me think about the first ever organisation I launched, GlobalGiving UK. We had a Minister attending the launch reception, and hosted it at my old consulting firm (so yes, it was fancy). But it turned out to be on the very day in 2008 that Lehman Brothers collapsed. Lots of wealthy individuals attending had lost loads by the time they reached us in the early evening. (To their credit, they still came).

Inauspicious as it was, it was still special. The work that my colleague Rachel Smith and I had done was immense, from launching a new platform to vetting hundreds of organisations and bringing in swathes of seed funding. That night made all that work feel real.

The point about organisational launches is that they break and mark time. Yep, they are fuelled by extrinsic (external) motivation to a large degree: no one wants to look foolish in front of a crowd. Particularly a crowd of peers in which we are respected.

But they also have huge intrinsic value. They mark out the special moments. And they give us the space to step back; to remember how much progress we have made. And actually celebrate what we have done. That’s rare in our always on, what-have-you-done-for-me lately world.

They also matter for our friends and loved ones. They can actually see where all the hours away from home, truly went in.

Launches, in other words, can give us motivation and meaning.

Particularly those of us in early-to-mid-life, who are over the traditional markers of university graduation, first job or (if we are lucky) first home.

I have recently been foraying into performing stand-up comedy - an art form I have always loved watching. And after five intensive days of Monday to Friday training, my group had to perform on the Saturday to an audience of everyone’s friends and families. I won’t lie: it was terrifying.

Yet we wouldn’t have taken the course as seriously (yes, doing good comedy really is serious) without it. But more importantly, we wouldn’t have felt like real comedians.

So, I have become a big proponent of launches. If you have been leading a new organisation for a while for example, what about marking its five year anniversary? And using it to launch a whole new set of ideas for the next mountain to climb. But also to celebrate the people who have climbed the first mountain with you.

If you’ve always played the saxophone, why not do a recital for your friends ? Charge a small amount and donate the proceeds to a charity of your choice.

Or if you’ve started a new sport, organise a small competition for the other players in your club. Have a celebration drinks afterwards for everyone.

To truly make the most of life, I think we need to keep climbing new mountains. If we don’t, we can get stuck (to mix metaphors) on life’s treadmill.

The challenge is often not knowing when you’ve finished your current climb, and when it’s time to begin a new ascent.

Launches help us to mark both.

If you’re feeling a bit static, maybe even in a bit of a funk…maybe it’s time to get on that launchpad.

PS - pic of the opening with Aida, Eashan and Karam and Jyo from JKS. Go visit before the inevitable first Michelin star comes.

I am trying the mobile version of Substack as (like many writers) I prefer writing alfresco. Hope it reads ok - let me know if there’s any feedback!