Virginia Woolf, one of my favorite writers stated:
‘the eyes of others our prison, their thoughts our cages”
It is very easy to break out of ties that bind you when you can see them; when you can see how they bind you. It is another story altogether when you are under an illusion of freedom, or when you are ignorant of your true jailer.
Unfortunately in business we are very often that jailer. Our biases, fears, and preconceived ideas of what works and what doesn’t are very often the bars that make up that cage from which our innovation cannot break free. Our ignorance of this fact is often the key to said cage.
Our inability to truly analyse ourselves, laugh at our foibles, adjust our perspectives and leave room for correction very often leaves us brittle, inflexible and a very easy to break Humpty Dumpty.
So how can we change our story? How can we break through the cage, set our ideas free and give then structure so they can deliver results? Allow me to share a few thoughts and share with me yours if you will.
1. Identify your prisoner: Take a note book and analyse yourself,using temperament identification tests online can help (they can be a great eye opener though not definitive). Who are you? what are your values? What is your background, personally and professionally? What are the greatest influences on your life? What drives you? What breaks you?What are your limits? This will give you a stronger sense of identity. Knowing who you are and what you stand for is a great anchor in life.
2. Identify the pitfalls and booby traps in your life. Sometimes our careers are like a Vietnamese jungle in a Sylvester Stallone Movie; full of booby traps and ambushes to the extent that sometimes it seems like you can’t catch a break. Many a man has failed because of a woman…whether wife or mistress…that temptation to sabotage a colleague, that lethargy that makes you slack off, that moment of greed when you take more than is yours, debt, that nasty boss who gets the worst out of you or that unbearable insubordinate who brings the tyrant out….for women one of our failings has been handling power well or managing other women objectively…the list is endless. Not all of us will be felled by the same blow. So identify yours…and train your muscles and your instincts to detect and avoid or confront (absorb) them before they take over. I am amazed when people are so proud of their weaknesses…”oh i can’t resist a pretty woman” “..you know i love money” “..oh boy do I hate deadlines!” Do not deny them….rather prepare yourself. The best way I can think of is be faithful even with little…it trains you well. Develop good habits
3. Identify those bars that hold you in: These consist of biases, skewed views of yourself and others.If you think you can’t work with a woman, a young person, if you believe all old people are archaic, if you bear tribal or racial bias, if you can’t work on rainy days etc reign it in! Those are cages you have put yourself into. Only you can free yourself. Open your eyes…bias is most often bred in ignorance. Do research and overcome it. If you cannot do this, try fasting…. there is nothing that inhibits carnal feelings etc or beats the body into submission like fasting….it does get your attention but do focus on something. Meditate on God’s Word etc and ask He who made us all to open your mind and allow you to be objective enough to be productive.
4. Free yourself of public opinion. Yes, your brand matters; yes, you need people to believe in you, but do not like Virginia Woolf says let other peoples pinions imprison you. Do they think you young, impetuous?, ambitious, overly impassioned? too old? Do they think this has never been done, do they think your ideas outlandish? Do listen, feedback is important. But in acting on said feedback, get solutions. Do not curl up in a ball and let your career suffocate to death or stagnate. Get mentors, learn from your betters, study those who have made inroads and how they did it then be that harbinger everyone needs. Do not be hasty and reckless but also avoid being risk averse.Be deliberate and methodical so that when you have finally achieved the impossible, you cannot only state that it was done but also that it was done well!
5. Keep Record; Update your CV, but keep a record of achievements. Many people will remember your mistakes….so make a deliberate effort to remind them of your achievements. This will be an encouragement for you as well. Teach yourself to make periodic progress reports of all your tasks. It keeps you focused and challenged. Do not wait for someone to ask for it or for an evaluation etc. Keep records!I
In conclusion, we are all born with gifts. Some of us invest them, develop them grow them and reap benefits….some of us bury them under self pity, self indulgence or fear and some of us spend our time talking about them but never walking our talk….which of these are you?
Decide today, break those chains, open that cage and let you out! Be the best you can be…not perfect but all there…making us take notice!!