This morning I shall lead a team of 8 in a presentation for a chunk of new business in the tourism sector.

We’ve spent many, many hours getting our strategic thinking and  creatives just right, including a 28-hour work day over the Independence holiday. My friend and colleague, Nikola L, impressed by the effort remarked, “You guys will win. There’s no way the others are putting that much effort into it.”

I am not sure. Not about the effort but about the winning. 

Today, we will go up against two of the  the top advertising firms in the country, McCann Erickson  and Lonsdale Saatchi & Saatchi.  Their names  are  salt in the advertising  world. We, on the other hand, we are like the little engine that could armed with what we think is  a remarkable strategy and smack on  creatives.  

We get the fact that we are the underdogs. At the same time, we’ve moved beyond that  and because of this great belief in our ideas, we’re convinced we’re the ones to beat.  

Still, am I nervous? A bit. Do  I feel a bit of discomfort.  Heck , yes, heaps,  and I only just discovered why on Sunday morning at 3:00 a.m  when I could not sleep and  re-read Seth Godin’s  ‘Tribe’  for the third time searching for a clincher that would soothe.

Here’s what jumped out...

“It’s uncomfortable to stand up in front of strangers. It’s uncomfortable to propose an idea that might fail. It’s uncomfortable  to challenge the status quo. It’s uncomfortable to resist the urge to settle. When you identify the discomfort, you’ve found the place where a leader is needed.”

I think these are very wise words that  will be my guide at 10:30 this morning. Today, that  discomfort feels pretty much okay.

I hope you wish us luck.