Maybe It's Time to Try Again
I've had a rule for a long time when it comes to food. If there's something I don't like, I make a point to try it again every once in a while. Not because I expect to suddenly love it, but because I want to see if my tastes have changed.
It all started years ago with mushrooms. I couldn't stand them. Then one day I ordered a dish at a restaurant and after a few bites realized it was full of mushrooms. Surprisingly... I wasn't upset about it. In fact, I really enjoyed it.
It made me wonder how many years I had been missing out on something because of an opinion I had formed long ago.
That doesn't always happen. There are still foods that confirm exactly why I avoid them. (I'm still not a fan of stinky cheeses.) But it has happened often enough that I've learned something valuable: our preferences aren't always permanent.
Enjoying the views of Huatulco while on a morning run
Recently I was reminded of that lesson in a completely different way. For years I've avoided running, choosing almost any other form of exercise instead. Cycling, rowing, swimming... I'd happily do any of those before going for a run.
But during our summer in Mexico I didn't have my bike, there wasn't a stationary bike nearby, no rowing machine, and the ocean was too rough for swimming.
So I laced up my running shoes and to my surprise... it wasn't too bad. I actually enjoyed it.
The slower pace of running compared to my usual bike rides gave me more time to take in my surroundings. I listened to an audiobook while I ran, which made me feel productive. And although I don't think I'll be signing up for a marathon anytime soon, I found myself wondering why I had written running off for so many years.
It made me think about leadership. How often do we write something off because of one or two experiences? An idea. A person. A process. A department. Even ourselves.
As leaders, we make decisions every day based on our experiences. Experience is valuable, but if we're not careful, yesterday's experiences become today's assumptions.
Great leaders don't just learn from experience. They revisit it and they stay curious enough to ask, "Is that still true?"
Maybe the employee who struggled two years ago has grown into a leader. Maybe the idea that failed before could work now under different circumstances. Maybe your own preferences have changed.
Sticking with what we know can make us more efficient. But occasionally revisiting what we've written off can make us wiser.
This week, I challenge you to ask:
What have you written off that might deserve a second chance?
Want to experience Huatulco Mexico with April and Anthony? MIBE Retreats are back and registration is open.Learn more here.
