Unexpected learnings from Escape to the Country

A few weeks ago I discovered something miraculous. On my Samsung TV, there’s a 24/7 Escape to the Country channel. 24/7!

So if you don’t know, Escape to the Country is a property show where they take couples who want to escape the busy city for a slower-paced country lifestyle, show them 3 different houses (including a “mystery house” that pushes the buyers beyond what’s possible), and then sit down at the end and assess if any of them would be suitable for purchase.

I’ve loved it for years, because I live in an apartment in the heart of Sydney, so a gorgeous house in the green English countryside is the furthest thing from me usually - though I was just in the UK speaking at an international Business Change and Transformation conference on “Worth It: Measuring Return on Investment in Digital Transformation”.

So I’ve been binging these Escape to the Country episodes on this 24/7 channel but I started getting a bit fed up because at the end of the show what happens pretty much EVERY time?

THEY DECIDE NO HOUSE IS FOR THEM!

That they’re going back to the drawing board and they’ll keep looking.

It’s always SUCH an anti-climax.

BUT THEN! An episode with a couple who had moved every 2 years for almost 2 decades took me completely by surprise…

The wife was set against open plan living. But when my favourite host, Jules, showed her the “mystery house”, which was semi-open plan, it had so many other features and was so beautiful and perfect that when she went back inside with her husband to look at the house again she burst into tears. It was beyond her wildest dreams.

When they met up with Jules, she burst into tears AGAIN, she was so overcome at the thought that this was finally her forever house.

When they caught up again later for the review of all 3 houses, she burst into tears yet again - it was clear this house had made an impact.

And then, I heard the words that were music to my ears: they made an offer on the house, it was accepted, and they were preparing to move in.

• Jules showed them 3 houses = project delivered: TICK.
• They made an offer and it was accepted = adoption: TICK.

So where was the Return on Investment?

The Return on Investment was that I CRIED. Every time SHE cried. I was so moved by her sheer joy, and so happy that they were happy, that I was one very satisfied customer - because after all, the house buyers aren’t the customers of Escape to the Country. The viewers are.

Our experience is where the true Return on Investment lies, and you can bet your bottom dollar I’m going to keep coming back for more episodes, not to mention that the story impacted me so much that I’ve just shared it with you.

>> REMEMBER:

Go live is NOT success.

Adoption is NOT success.

Success is: how we improve the experience of people.

And that’s what makes change worth it.

Transforming the experience of people by switching on hearts and minds using deep Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Coaching tools and techniques is at the cornerstone of how I lead, teach and deliver change. I’ve built these into my flagship course, the Leading Successful Change program. And for the first time ever, I’ll be running Leading Successful Change live in person in Sydney for a small group cohort who are passionate about delivering incredible end-to-end change experiences to harness true Return on Investment.

If you’d like to join us, check out the Leading Successful Change Live invitation page here.

Lata xx

P.S. If you want to learn more about how I lead and deliver change, here’s 3 ways I can help:

1. Grab my free Creative Launch Ideas Guide to discover 53 ways to bring your Transformation and Change to life: click here to download
2. Check out my free 6 Ways to Instantly Build Trust video to connect super quickly with stakeholders and build relationships rapidly: click here to watch
3. Join my Leading Successful Change program online here OR come join us in Sydney for the 2-day live course: click here to register