We sure are creatures of habit, aren’t we?
When you can consciously catch yourself in a pattern you have had a long time that typically feels comfortable and safe, you know it’s time to break out and create a new normal. The process requires a temporarily discomfort of the new thing until it becomes a new, upgraded normal.
Here’s a recent dinner conversation I had with a colleague who has been a long time dear friend of mine. We “grew up” in the entertainment industry together over the last 30 years. He’s been at a production company for over 25 years. He is highly respected and liked in the industry in his EXEC-VP position because of his morals and values, and being a seriously nice guy.
Due to a change in company ownership, his position was recently eliminated giving way to a consultant offer with the same company. After several days of deliberation, he accepted the new role. Now he’s only working 2 days a week in the office and the remaining days from his home office doing whatever he wishes.
He is beginning to think, “What’s next?” – When we discussed his options – he said more than likely he would find another “VP job” to dedicate his every waking hour to, but is open to ideas.
I said, “You have two choices. You can recreate the same set up you are comfortable with and have been doing for 25 years or you can finally go after those creative projects you have been wanting to do but had no time given your dedication to the job. You can be a consultant on several different productions given your stellar reputation and live more often in your genius zone rather than your excellence zone. You have the excitement and liberation of unlimited creative options in one direction. You have predictability and certainty in the other direction from doing what you have been doing for two decades. Be sure to look at both options during your due diligence.” He said, “I didn’t look at it that way before. You are right. I’m looking at my usual way of safety and comfort vs. a new way of working and using my creativity. I tend to choose a pattern of predictability in many things I do.”
Time will tell what happens, but I helped him see his options through a new lens that felt exciting and out of his comfort zone. Share with me what mode of operating or decision making could you be doing in your business that is a pattern of predictability and comfort that may need a fresh approach?
Apple had it right. Think different.
Plenty of joy and blessings,
