Case Study — Teamwork

S&P Global (Platts) asked me to find marks for long term crude oil – e.g. a price for crude delivered 30 years from today.  Platts had numerous oil experts each with a different take on crude.  I flew around the globe (JFK -> LHR -> JFK -> SIN -> JFK) in search of answers.  

While in London, there was a freak ice storm and I was stuck in town for 3 extra days.  I seized the opportunity and spoke with everyone I could find about crude. I learned a lot.  It was a strange time in London and everyone was extra friendly.  On the plane to JFK (home), a theory formed out of the London experience.  

My trip to Singapore was on the horizon and it was an opportunity to test my theory.  I spoke with many more crude experts.  Back in the NY office, I documented my ideas and presented requirements to management.  The ten month effort resulted in a new business line at Platts and a glowing LinkedIn recommendation for me.

This success is due to silo blending and tenacity.  To finish this project, I worked with multicultural resources.  Resources in the US, UK, and Singapore.  Some folks were journalists, some technologists, quantitative analysts, data gurus…  Everyone helped me get the job done.  I had no reports.  Many of the folks that educated me were above my manager’s rank and busy.  I had to scrap and push to get 20 minute segments of time.  Moxie and the blended hivemind succeeded.  

Can your organization use tenacity and the blended hivemind?