During the initial phase of a new job or onset of a significant task, treating it like a rookie is a natural and essential part of the process. It’s a time where you’re exposed to new people and ways of doing what you may or may not have been exposed to in the past. Your ambition and willingness to learn is a strong indicator of how well you will succeed.
More than ever, the ability to adapt is crucial when it comes to succeeding with technology. At Spiracle Media, we’re always looking to stay ahead of the game when it comes to online tools, video and strategy that lead to phenomenal results when reaching the target audience. That’s where continual evaluation comes into play. The ways of yesterday may be extinct tomorrow or at the least lose their shine. It’s an obvious concept, but one that takes focused effort to combat.
First, don’t get stuck in your ways. There are always new pieces to add to the puzzle that will assist in reaching the goal. It’s critical to evaluate and re-evaluate on a consistent basis. Make it part of the routine. Understand why things happen and realize that your ways are not always the best ways despite getting the desired result. The bar of evaluation should be unreachable.
Second, social media and video are introducing new tools every day. Some are relevant, while most probably won’t make a difference in what you’re trying to accomplish. However, having a basic idea that those things are out there is a must. What’s in demand? Who is using them? Is there a correlation between these tools and our efforts? After that, you can weigh whether it makes enough sense to slightly change direction.
This all ties back to the attitude of a rookie, but not just any rookie. A rookie that takes pride in further education and consuming information that doesn’t completely consume, but adds to your productive knowledge base. One of the biggest pieces of advice that I can throw out there is don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things. Easier said than done especially when things are working fine. I get complacent just like the next person and stubborn to new ideas once and while. But overall, I am up for a learning experience. It should be an exciting process as the things you are testing today will be in play before you know it.
Treating it like a rookie will keep your ideas and your actions fresh. You will naturally want to learn and that’s a powerful thing. Don’t get complacent in who you are and what you are doing. Remain productive at all times. A good summation of that concept is found in this quote by John P. Kotter, “A higher rate of urgency does not imply ever-present panic, anxiety, or fear. It means a state of complacency is virtually absent.” Complacency might not lead to ultimate failure, but it will certainly be a failure in utilizing your talents and abilities to maximum capacity. Treat everything like a rookie!
