Here’s a fun reminder of a critical thought from my dear friend Dave Norris. This article is a reprint of a piece Dave first debuted on his blog at davidnorrisleadership.com
I consider myself somewhat knowledgeable, experienced, and advanced in the world of personal computers yet, as I was awaiting notice that a large video file was available for download, I discovered something about myself.
This particular file I was waiting on is bigger than the memory on my computer has room for so I procured a 1 terabyte external hard drive and it was ready to go.
It was then I realized that I did not know how, nor had I ever considered that I might have to direct that video file download to the new external hard drive rather than rely on the default setting. What if it went directly to my computer? What if I could not stop it and it filled up what memory space I had? What If? What If? What If?
You cannot expect to achieve new goals and move beyond your present circumstances unless you change.
~Les Brown
Turns out that changing the default download setting to another place is not all that difficult however I noticed something metaphorical about all this which is much more challenging. For all my alleged technical sophistication, I am not using my computer to its full potential because up until now I zealously avoided and practically outright refused to change any default setting thereby accepting what the manufacturer states as to what works best for me and is recommended for me.
Everyone tells you what to do and what’s good for you. They don’t want you to find your own answers. They want you to believe theirs.
~ Socrates
I also consider myself well above average in the realm of Growth and Personal Development. So, after that raising of my awareness, here is the challenging part. Where else in my life am I unconsciously yet zealously avoiding changing my own internal default settings and therefore not realizing my full potential?
Where else am I unconsciously sticking to old patterns of thought, habit, and behavior impressed upon me and accepted by me however from someone else? Where else am I still living my life and running my business by that default rather than by my own design in the areas of health, Relationships, vocation, business, job, and time and Money-freedom? My design includes the full spectrum life of my own creation that I would love living and making full use of my gifts and faculties.
If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.
~Zig Ziglar
Growth is a never-ending process and it starts with us growing as individuals before we can grow and transform our lives and businesses. Learning to notice what we are noticing and finding and changing those internal default settings is the single most difficult work any of us will ever do. That is why so very few people ever do it.
Small business owners will hit an invisible wall that can stall the growth of the company. The key reason there is a wall is that owners need to shift from manager to leader. The question is, how to do that?
Doug is a coach for CEOs and Senior Leadership Teams with 30 years of leadership experience. He is the president & CEO of Doug Thorpe Group. Doug is also a podcast host.
He helps owners understand the ways they need to reshape their thinking and attitude to make a successful break through the wall.
What is YOUR default setting?
