Old Dogs and New Tricks
"You can't teach an old dog new tricks."
How many times have you heard this old saying as an excuse for not
trying something new or avoiding a fresh approach?
The expert animal trainers say that a dog of almost any age can learn
new tricks. It's the human animal that makes choices regarding when
and how much to learn.
I'm constantly amazed at how frequently I hear one of my CEO clients
say, "I'm too old to change."
Nonsense! This is simply an excuse to sidestep the effort required
to learn or experiment.
When you try something new, you often feel uneasy about it, and frequently
pull back. The security feels good. You are in your "comfort zone"
Your personal "comfort zone" is where you are comfortable in what
you are doing in your job, your life and your experiences. It is when
you have no feelings of risk or anxiety. Some call it "being comfortable".
You could also call it "a rut".
The downside of always staying in your comfort zone is that it can
be very limiting.
Why is this significant? The past few decades have seen enormous and
accelerating changes in technology and social structure, in geopolitics
and especially in the organizations in which we work. The pace of
change is staggering and daunting. The mass of information available
to humankind is doubling every 20 months.
The world passes us by as we stand still. Complacency, in our fast-paced
competitive world, can be fatal to business and severely limit personal
and professional growth. If you are not learning, trying new things
and growing, your job or business may be deteriorating.
Having a positive attitude toward learning and changing may be one
of the most important characteristics of successful people. In my
years as a Business Coach, I have observed many successful CEOs and
entrepreneurs. With very few exceptions, those who are successful
and happy have developed and maintained a positive outlook about change
and continuous improvement.
This positive attitude is not accidental. Successful business people
know how to create a positive attitude and positive motivation for
themselves. They don't just wait for it to happen. They purposely
create positive change.
All change implies learning and vice versa. They are inseparable,
one impossible without the other. If you learn, you change.
Effective learning must be conscious vs. unconscious, active vs. reactive.
It must be something you seek, not just “let it happen”. If learning
is not conscious, it can’t be improved. It just becomes “another task”
without effective application to the circumstances in your business
(and personal) life.
Learning in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing environment can’t
be left to chance. Make a conscious effort to capture your experiences
and learn from them or be doomed to repeat your mistakes. Worse yet,
you may habitually keep doing those things that are working for you,
while your competition is actively seeking new ideas, innovation and
growth.
The competitive advantage of the future is your adaptability to learning
and change.
"There are risks and costs to a program of action, but they are far
less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction."
- John F Kennedy
How do you learn new tricks and <-- e x p a n d --> your personal
comfort zone?
Before you just throw all caution to the wind, try some simple things.
** Drive home a different route.
** Shop at a different grocery store.
** Order something from the menu that you've never tried before.
** Sleep on the other side of the bed.
Make a conscious effort to experiment.
Let yourself feel the adrenaline level rise a bit. Allow your anxiety
level to increase. Feel your heart rate and breathing going faster.
The adrenaline is your body's natural drug that, in moderation, makes
you sharp, creative, and quick. It creates the feeling of excitement
and exhilaration that comes from trying something new. Recognize that
it also can be scary and stressful. Some stress is useful. Too much
can be harmful. Some stress provides energy. Too much stress causes
distress and can lead to burnout if done to extreme.
Why would you want to give yourself the stress of stepping outside
your comfort zone?
Because that's where growth takes place.
Just like a muscle gets stronger when you exercise it outside its
normal range of use, you get stronger when you get out of your rut.
And just like your muscles, once you stretch beyond your current capabilities,
you don't ever go back to your original dimensions.
As you try new things, you gain confidence. Confidence makes you feel
powerful and good. And when you are confident that you can survive
new ideas, you allow yourself to try even more new things.
What's the limit?
Obviously, you need to be realistic in your risk management. Most
successful people think through the possible outcomes of taking a
risk. Then they prepare for how they would deal with each potential
outcome. Successful people take risks, but they are not foolhardy
or stupid.
What are some higher level activities that could add to your personal
and professional growth?
Here's my challenge to you.
Make a list of 50 things that, if you really were successful in doing
them, you would be a better person or a better company. Consider a
few new tricks such as:
Give a speech
Write and publish an article
Start an exercise program
Meditate daily
Teach a class
Feed a homeless person
Volunteer
Climb a mountain
Learn to play a new musical instrument
Sign up for a dance class
Try for that promotion
Then choose one or two that you are willing to do within the next
90 days. Schedule those new activities, then go for it. Afterward,
choose one or two more and do it again.
Make personal and professional growth a lifelong habit. You will not
become an old dog as long as you keep learning new tricks.
© 1997 - 2002 BizSuccess All rights
reserved. No duplication
About the Author...
Gary Lockwood is Increasing the Effectiveness and Enhancing the
Lives of CEOs, business owners and professionals.
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