O PI N I O N Keep your strength up Sometimes you have to shed a little muscle tone to become stronger, says Freddy Paxton, President of FIDI Global Alliance S trength is a word with many connotations. It can refer to potency, ability to withstand pressure, intensity level, fighting capability or special skill that gives an advantage over others. In business, it can mean the difference between success and failure. To reach a desired outcome and achieve your goals, you need to exercise strength. To build strength physically, your muscle actually breaks down and rebuilds itself stronger as you add more resistance. Its a constant battle to stay strong and healthy, to keep your strength up and keep growing. How do you command all of your muscles to work together to achieve your end results? Last issue, we explored maintaining balance to move forward. Once weve achieved that balance, we need to focus on becoming stronger to grow. For FIDI, there have been many major steps of growth since our founding. The biggest builders and pillars of FIDIs strength are, of course, our Affiliates, each one a key component in how we deliver the best possible service around the globe. FAIM is the second pillar of strength, keeping FIDIs muscles working together. When FAIM first became mandatory, this was a real workout. We even shed some Affiliates, losing muscle tone. But in the same way as you build physical strength, you sometimes have to lose muscle to allow what remains to grow stronger. A new pillar for FIDI will be our FAIM programme for destination service provider certification. This is set to be launched in 2019 andwill add a new dimension to our organisations strength. It will broaden our quality programme and help you to include other businesses that you may own in our audit programmes. I compare this to squeezing in an hours workout while achieving double the results. The biggest builders and pillars of FIDIs strength are our Affiliates, each one a key component in how we deliver the best possible service around the globe WW W. F I D I. O R G FF289FebMar19 pp06-07 Freddy Paxton.indd 7 FIDI Academy has always been a pillar for FIDI, be that through its online training courses which are available throughout the year or its e-learning library, which is available 24/7. Make sure to look at the international classroom offerings for 2019, and send your crme de la crme to strengthen their knowledge through peer learning and mentorship, with the best volunteer training team any industry has to offer. Options are available in Europe, the USA and Asia this year. The latest pillar to add tothe mix is our new Financial Assessment. Thiswill help us to grow stronger and build the strength of FIDIs brand. These requirements will be piloted over the next two years, with auditor EY verifying your financial stability, and the cost during this phase will be absorbed by FASI. Its a win-win situation for you, your fellow Affiliates, and your customers. We will have a number of sessions on this new financial requirement during our Conference in Amsterdam so make sure you attend to find out how it can work for your office and your accounting teams. As well as EY experts, the FIDI Academy, the FAIM Coordination Centre and the FIDI Office team will be on hand to answer any questions you may have and to prepare you for your next workout. So step forward and make a plan for 2019, to keep your strength up. FREDDY PAXTON, PRESIDENT OF FIDI GLOBAL ALLIANCE Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter (@freddypaxton), Instagram (freddypiii), LinkedIn or by email (freddy@ paxton.com). I look forward to grabbing a coffee with you if you are ever in DC, or if Im in your neighbourhood. 7 24/01/2019 13:30