We are nearing the end of 2013 and one of the most
important (and profitable) investments you can make is to
review the past few months very, very carefully.
To an amazing degree, we humans are creatures of habit. We
are the best examples of Newton's law that, "a body set in
motion tends to remain in motion." We tend to plunge
blindly ahead, repeating yesterday's mistakes and failing
to learn from experience. Yes, we take great pride in the
fact that we "can" learn, but my observation is that we
seldom do.
We tend to assume that what worked yesterday is still the
way to go. Of course we know we shouldn't do that! We all
know that, "Those who fail to learn from the past are
doomed to repeat it." We know we should examine our
records. We know we should be thoughtful, creative and
innovative. We know that. But do we do it?
When Jack Welch was the head of General Electric, he
insisted that half the company's profits come from products
and services that were less than five years old. Why? His
focus was always on innovation because he understood that
yesterday's methods would never work in tomorrow's world.
Take time--several hours, perhaps more--to carefully review
the following questions:
1. What worked best in 2013? What surprised me or taught me
something unexpected for my work or business?
2. What did not work, or is working less and less well?
What was less profitable or less effective than I expected?
Is it time to drop it altogether?
3. What's new in my field? What are the best and smartest
people doing that I should start doing in 2014?
One of the best things any professional, business owner or
manager can do is invest in seminars and conferences. The
chance to get away and rub shoulders with smart people is
incredibly valuable. Conferences generate new perspectives,
and new ideas create vast new opportunities! Invest in
yourself! Schedule at least one conference in 2014 right
now, while you're thinking about it. Send the deposit. Make
the commitment.
Most of us would prefer that 2014 not be a repeat of 2013.
We're better than that! Review and learn from the past to
create the future you truly want.
important (and profitable) investments you can make is to
review the past few months very, very carefully.
To an amazing degree, we humans are creatures of habit. We
are the best examples of Newton's law that, "a body set in
motion tends to remain in motion." We tend to plunge
blindly ahead, repeating yesterday's mistakes and failing
to learn from experience. Yes, we take great pride in the
fact that we "can" learn, but my observation is that we
seldom do.
We tend to assume that what worked yesterday is still the
way to go. Of course we know we shouldn't do that! We all
know that, "Those who fail to learn from the past are
doomed to repeat it." We know we should examine our
records. We know we should be thoughtful, creative and
innovative. We know that. But do we do it?
When Jack Welch was the head of General Electric, he
insisted that half the company's profits come from products
and services that were less than five years old. Why? His
focus was always on innovation because he understood that
yesterday's methods would never work in tomorrow's world.
Take time--several hours, perhaps more--to carefully review
the following questions:
1. What worked best in 2013? What surprised me or taught me
something unexpected for my work or business?
2. What did not work, or is working less and less well?
What was less profitable or less effective than I expected?
Is it time to drop it altogether?
3. What's new in my field? What are the best and smartest
people doing that I should start doing in 2014?
One of the best things any professional, business owner or
manager can do is invest in seminars and conferences. The
chance to get away and rub shoulders with smart people is
incredibly valuable. Conferences generate new perspectives,
and new ideas create vast new opportunities! Invest in
yourself! Schedule at least one conference in 2014 right
now, while you're thinking about it. Send the deposit. Make
the commitment.
Most of us would prefer that 2014 not be a repeat of 2013.
We're better than that! Review and learn from the past to
create the future you truly want.
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