Never grow u p
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egendary and iconic Beatle Paul McCartney is still rocking and rolling at 73. In fact, he recently launched a new world tour. Tom Selleck
(aka Magnum P.I.), now 70, is the star of CBS’ hit TV drama “Blue Bloods,” where he still is pretending to chase the bad guys. And the greatest golfer ever, Jack Nicklaus, 75, who mostly designs courses these
days, still has it. In fact, the Golden Bear recently nailed a holein-one during the Par 3 Contest prior to the 2015 Masters golf tournament at Augusta
Why companies can never get too set in their ways. By Lorrie Bryan
National Golf Club. Are you getting the theme here? Today, one of the biggest secrets to never growing old is to think and act young. Channel that robust childlike exuberance and imagination.
Never grow up Brands wary of the shortening business lifecycle and challenged to stay ahead of the curve could probably take a page from these ageless celebrities’ staying power. Here are six business lessons that will help you stay forever young:
1. Stay fit and agile As a small business or entrepreneur, your agility is a primary competitive advantage,” says executive coach and best-selling business author, Lee J. Colan, Ph.D. “Being agile means being quick – responding to things quickly and acting quickly. Agility is a trait of a successful leader, and it becomes particularly valuable in times of change and uncertainty.”
2. Continually strive to build meaningful relationships
“When we get too comfortable, we no longer challenge ourselves, and by ceasing to strive toward goals or push ourselves to accomplish, we stop growing. When we do not grow, we begin to die.” – Liza Horvath, President, Monterey Trust Management
Eric Holtzclaw, an entrepreneurial coach and strategist, says that companies often gather some transactional data initially, and then assume they know and understand their customers. They make decisions accordingly, when in fact, the data they are using is outdated or skewed. “They think they know their customers, but they don’t,” Holtzclaw says. “Feedback needs to be built into the product itself – a regular practice. Businesses rely too heavily on transactional data, and that can give a skewed picture of what’s really happening. The best way to really get to know your customers is to talk with them, visit your best customers at their places of business, and see firsthand what they do and what their challenges are.”
3. Get outside your comfort zone “When we get too comfortable, we no longer challenge ourselves, and by ceasing to strive toward goals or push ourselves to accomplish, we stop growing,” says senior advocate Liza Horvath, president of Monterey Trust Management, a financial and trust management company. “When we do not grow, we begin to die.” Colan, co-founder of The L Group Inc., a consulting firm specializing in growing organizations, says that seeking discomfort is essential to keeping your momentum and staying ahead of the curve. Most growth and learning occurs when you are uncomfortable. “This does not mean you are never satisfied with yourself or others,” Colan says. “Rather, it provides a healthy alertness of
where you can improve. By delighting in this state of discomfort, you will be more relaxed and more likely to see creative ways to improve. If you can achieve your goals doing business as usual, then your goals are not big enough and you won’t get to the next level. Your goals should force changes, require tough decisions and inspire bold actions.”
4. Broaden your horizons Today, businesses need to continually push their boundaries, explore new territories and look at the markets beyond their own industries. “You have to look beyond your competitive set,” Colan says. “Explore and discover best practices beyond your immediate industry. Find out who is doing what you aspire to do – whether it’s customer service, innovation or cost management – better than you are doing it.”
5. Listen and learn Colan says that reverse mentoring is an effective way to pass on experience and knowledge within an organization. Companies in all industries have formal and informal programs designed to hone their talent and sharpen their competitive edge. “However, the technology revolution has created an ironic twist to traditional mentoring,” Colan says. “Today, it’s common for a young, entry-level worker to have a better understanding of technology or some aspect of the operation than his or her manager. As a result, many organizations are shifting into reverse. Senior leaders are soliciting input from younger employees – especially when they need to better understand operations, customer preferences or new technologies.” Colan emphasizes that it’s im-
“You have to look beyond your competitive set. Explore and discover best practices beyond your immediate industry. Find out who is doing what you aspire to do.” – Lee J. Colan, Ph.D., Co-founder, The L Group, Inc. portant for leaders to make a personal commitment to staying fresh and continually breathing new life into their organizations by encouraging small ideas, and that means listening to the younger members of the workforce. “Put some new minds on old problems. Even if you don’t have a formal program, try hanging out with your younger team members, even those who might be younger than your own children – a guaranteed eye-opener. You might discover that you are so far out of the loop you can’t even see the loop.”
6. Have a positive outlook Suzanne Segerstrom, a professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky, says that research shows that a positive attitude correlates with better physical and mental health and a longer lifespan, and likely slows the aging process. Likewise, having a positive attitude is essential for ongoing business success, as Colan emphasizes in
his book, “Orchestrating Attitude.” The book helps translate the incomprehensible into the actionable, providing a roadmap of inspiration and application that can help create a new attitude for success. “You are the conductor of your own attitude,” Colan says. “Nobody else can compose your thoughts for you. Once you develop a habit of choosing a positive or negative attitude – that is exactly what you will send to and receive from the world. Our attitudes are our personal boomerangs to the world. Whatever we throw out comes back to us. A life filled with positive attitude is also filled with positive impact.”