Brampton - What is the phrase most used when we meet a friend after an extended absence. Believe it is "what is new?" In most instances the response is; "not much, what's new with you?" This cycle is repeated time and time again each day of the week. However, we need to ask ourselves whether this response should be accepted as a norm.
The late John F. Kennedy wrote in a speech prepared for delivery in Dallas the day of his assassination, November 22, 1963 "Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." If this is indeed the case then we should be learning at every point in our life if we strive to be a leader in: our business, our community, our service group or our family life.
I believe you are reading this very article and other articles in this publication because you are interested in learning and growing. You are interested in finding out what is new and to absorb that knowledge. Unfortunately, not everyone is of the same mind. Countless thousands of people will go through the next day, week, month or even year without seeking new knowledge.In fact, if presented with new ideas, they may even respond along the lines of "we tried that before and it didn't work". Some may even be quoted as saying, "things are fine as they are, don't rock the boat".
In this time of economic crisis, it is extremely difficult to grow and succeed as a business leader if you are not open to new ideas. Success is of course in the eye of the beholder.
To one person success as a business leader may mean improving the revenue generation of the organization. To another it represents decreasing the cost of delivery of a product or service. Still others will measure against client satisfaction and retention. Your measurement criterion is not the point.
Anthony Robbins a well known motivational speaker paraphrased a long standing quote: "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always gotten." Do you believe that if you were to ask Anthony Robbins, "What new?" You would get the common response "not much, what's new with you?" I suggest not!
We all need to grow and learn new things. We need to learn new ways of doing what we have always done. We should be seeking that breakthrough that has previously avoided us. This is the best of times for small business because we are already lean. Now is the time to take that lean to market. Now is the time to be creative and capture the business others are passing up because it is not worth enough profit.
How about making yourself a personal promise. Step outside of the box. Then when asked what's new, you will be able to tell them about something exciting you have done to improve both your business and yourself as a business leader. Then check out the shocked look on their face.
Copyright Gordon J. H. Newman, CPT 2009
Gordon J. H. Newman, CPT - Gordon is President of The Newman Learning Group Inc. an organization dedicated to providing value add learning and development solutions to improve the bottom line performance of organizations and individuals. Gordon may be reached at