Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to David Bovis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
David, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.
Thanks for asking me to participate. My Partner and I have collective experience spanning 37 years, and we’ve both been integral figures in steering change programs and enhancing performance across various global business landscapes. Notably, our expertise extends beyond traditional business realms, with over two decades dedicated to the profound study of esoteric subjects such as philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience.
This unique fusion of practical business experience and a deep understanding of the intricacies of human behaviour has culminated in the development of a ground-breaking online leadership development program, BTFA™. Standing for ‘Believe-Think-Feel-Act,’ BTFA goes beyond the industry standard, incorporating insights from neuroscience to drive engagement, alignment, and mitigate resistance to change. The program caters to leaders at all levels, fostering a high-performance culture from the ‘shop-floor to top-floor.’
What sets BTFA apart is that we worked backwards from the need to accelerate neurogenesis, to inform the design of the learning experience, which transforms thinking about effective change. This departure from conventional ‘best practices’ in the industrial world has led to a step-change in delivery and an improved immersive user experience, fundamentally altering perspectives o self and others, ultimately influencing actions = BTFA in practice.
We dedicated over 7000 hours to merging the neuroscience of storytelling with various psychological principles to achieve this. You can read more about it on our website, www.duxinaroe.com.
In it’s departure from traditional leadership training models, BTFA acts as a catalyst for cultivating essential leadership behaviours. The program goes beyond the confines of technical training and outdated managerial models, such as IE, TPS, Lean, and Six Sigma, which have persisted for decades. Instead, it focuses on shaping leaders with the trust-building, respect-fostering, and character-driven traits crucial for establishing a high-performance culture.
It sounds fantastic … and your commitment to staying ahead of the curve in both content and delivery is a testament to your dedication to revolutionizing leadership development in the modern business landscape. We look forward to hearing more about the impact BTFA has had on leaders and organizations.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Embarking on my journey in the world of industry and business was a serendipitous adventure. I originally wanted to pursue art. However, the pragmatic realities of the mid-80s nudged me toward a “proper job” so I could contribute to the household. Thus, I found myself navigating the engineering landscape, initially with English Electric Valve Ltd and later, in a Plastic Injection Mould-Making apprenticeship in a medical moulding company on the East coast of Essex.
The early 90s, marked by massive inflation, led to my redundancy after completing that apprenticeship. This setback led me to Germany, to work on Press Tools for a supplier to Porsche, before returning to the UK for a Production Engineering role. It was during this time that I was introduced to the world of ‘Lean manufacturing,’ a concept rooted in Japanese philosophy.
Fascinated by the clashes of beliefs within the industry, I delved into the realms of philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience. This exploration, spanning over two decades, revealed a missing piece in the change and project management circles – i.e. the understanding of the ‘People’ aspect from a biological, psychological, and neurological perspective.
Enter BTFA™, a revolutionary online leadership development program born from the marriage of philosophical principles behind lean thinking and thinking itself as a neurological process. Partnering with Levent Turk, former Country President of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Europe, we spent two years crafting the emotionally provocative animated story that defines BTFA™.
Our innovative approach, a blend of TPS philosophy and cutting-edge neuroscience, addresses the long-overlooked foundation of human behaviour in change management. This thinking, coupled with 74 years of combined change and engineering experience, sets us apart in an industry saturated with traditional methodologies.
BTFA™ solves the pressing problem of global disengagement, as highlighted by Gallup’s report on the state of the global workplace. Our approach has proven effective, with a 12% increase in engagement scores observed in a Toyota Boshuku roll-out in Turkey.
What are you most proud of?
Good Question … Firstly, the tangible impact BTFA™ has had on individuals and organisations, transcending age, gender, and personality types. It’s effectiveness has been hugely rewarding. I also love the resonance of our brand. The name, Duxinaroe, cleverly plays on the old phrase “getting your ducks in a row” to represent deep alignment, and at another level, the Latin term “Dux” for leader, combines with the financial concept of Return on Equity (ROE), which is also represented throughout the experience in the names of the characters. Lastly, our animated story, which truly was a labour of love, unexpectedly turned out to be worth over £2M in professional terms! We had an estimate from a production company to find that out, and realised it sets a pretty high financial bar for anyone to match, alongside an experiential and academic barrier few will be able to match … unless they spend 20 years studying the same subjects while leading org change internationally for more than 3 decades, each!
In essence, BTFA™ from Duxinaroe is the game-changing puzzle piece leaders have sought for over five decades, unravelling the root causes behind poor productivity, performance issues, misalignment, resistance to change, and disengagement. As we continue to make waves, our commitment remains unwavering – to share the science of brain function and reshape the landscape of leadership development.
Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?
Yes, for sure … and I think, in doing so, I’ll also have to talk to the trait of resilience.
Navigating the entrepreneurial path has been an unpredictable journey for me, shaped by an unconventional saying that has echoed through my years: “It takes 20 years to make every overnight millionaire.” While I may not be counting millions, I am steering my own ship, paying my own bills, and relishing the autonomy that comes with it.
Hailing from a working-class background, the concept of investment initially seemed alien. Reflecting on the journey, I recognize several barriers that, as an entrepreneur, I inadvertently faced. Firstly, my own thinking and assumptions held me back; I didn’t consider seeking investment, partly due to a lack of confidence in my opinions and a feeling of not quite fitting into societal expectations.
The barriers extended to my inability to articulate my ideas into a compelling value proposition without tangible proof. Despite the common-sense nature of my vision, it took two decades of dedicated study and exploration to weave it into a cohesive and practical framework.
Teaching leaders about the intricacies of how brains work in a market fixated on proving return on investment posed a unique challenge. Prevailing mindsets, such as the “Show me the money” philosophy, and decades of ingrained beliefs in change management methods demanded a revolutionary approach. I found myself navigating uncharted waters, creating a blue ocean amidst a sea of red, challenging the established norms and offering something fundamentally different.
Investors, anchored in the existing system, struggled to see the value in a paradigm-shifting concept. Rejections were disheartening, with even successful consultants expressing doubt. Yet, fuelled by an unshakeable belief in my purpose, I persisted, “bootstrapping” the venture, often at personal cost. Sacrifices included losing a house, tight financial moments, and enduring scepticism from those who couldn’t fathom the practicality of my vision.
Today, with a viable product gaining rapid popularity, investment opportunities knock at my door. However, having grown accustomed to the freedom of being my own boss, I prioritize retaining control over a sudden influx of capital. For me and Levent, my business partner, the value of autonomy and staying true to our vision outweighs the allure of immediate financial gain.
Reflecting on this journey, I’ve come to understand the true values that drive a business. It’s not merely about money; it’s about personal freedom, being authentic, and finding contentment and happiness in what you do. Money, in this context, becomes a by-product of passion, not the sole driving force. For me, and many others who have found purpose beyond profit, there lies a deeper fulfilment in creating something meaningful.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
In the early days of LinkedIn, I was like many in full-time employment, I didn’t delve much into it beyond the basics. Instead, I spent those initial years introducing others to the platform to try an build my network.
A turning point came a few years later when I attended a few free webinars focused on maximizing the benefits of LinkedIn. The advice that resonated deeply was the analogy that LinkedIn is akin to building relationships in real life, requiring extended effort over time due to the absence of face-to-face meetings. This insight crystallized the objective: building trust, a cornerstone in any relationship, achieved through consistency, honesty, and respect.
Fast forward many years, and at a dinner with investors and high-profile networking figures, I was introduced as “The guy who has been saying the same thing on LinkedIn for the last 20 years, despite all resistance that came his way.” This recognition highlighted the value of my unwavering consistency and dedication to a message I believed in.
Additionally, I earned a Masters in Applied Neuroscience from ION, the Institute of Organisational Neuroscience. Once fully independent and having refined my communication about BTFA™ to resonate with my target market, I embraced speaking opportunities at international summits and conferences. This transition required personal reflection, development, and resilience in the face of criticism… my first talks were terrible and I had to learn fast from failure.
The real breakthrough, however, came once I was able to present a credible product on stage. This, combined with a much improved ‘Keynote’ style, has become the catalyst for numerous inquiries and new projects. Reaching this turning point took a decade of consistent efforts on LinkedIn, gradually building credibility that ultimately opened doors to impactful opportunities. The journey underscores the importance of maintaining a credible and consistent presence on business focused social media platforms, like LinkedIn. The entire, 20 year journey, is a testament to the enduring power of trust in relationships. It underpins the need to understand the neuroscience of emotional responses between people, so we can understand why concepts, like trust, really make a difference to performance… for entrepreneurs, corporate groups and wherever humans interact to achieve a desired outcome.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.duxinaroe.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/duxinaroe_btfa/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Duxinaroe
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/duxinaroe/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/PsyCulturChange
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BTFA