It is that time of year again...

It is that time of year again. You know, when we all take stock of where we have been, where we are, and where we want to go. You can put me squarely in that basket and I am OK with that. After all, it makes sense to take stock, reassess, readjust, and make plans for growing yourself and your career.

Which reminds me of this bread store I used to go to with my mom and brother when I was a youngster. It was always a highlight of errand running as my mom would usually buy us a delicious treat. In those days, we did not have the means for those treats often. I had not been near this store in years but recently took a walk in my hometown to see what I could see and came across it. The store was closed. For good.

I thought about the stores purpose. It was a discount bread store and an outlet for the namesake on the sign. Basically, it was the place you went to save money, especially when you needed to save money. As far as I could tell, that was all this little store ever was. It looked the same, just as it did when I went there so many years ago. And that was the problem.

If we are not growing and constantly updating our offerings you tend to get left behind. It reminded me of my favorite business book: ‘What got you here, won’t get you there’ by Marshall Goldsmith. In this book he posits the idea that constant change and reinvention is a key tenet of successful people. I agree with that wholeheartedly.

So what am I going to do differently in 2020? A few things that I think any business professional should try:

1. Read Often – I will read at least 10 books this year. 5 for professional development & 5 just for fun.

2. Talk Less – I will strive to listen to those around me and work on truly processing what others have to say, both professionally and personally.

3. Give More – I have always been the most successful when I maintain focus on the customer and what I could do for them. I will work towards providing more value than I have in the past with my colleagues, team, and family.

Which brings me back to the shuttered bread store. The retail landscape has changed quite a bit since the inception of this store and others like it. Today, your local megastore now offers plenty of merchandise including inexpensive options. The need to seek discounts at specialty stores is not necessary. Could the bread store have evolved into something that would have allowed it to maintain viability? Perhaps.

I for one intend to continue to learn, reinvent, and grow my skill set and knowledge base to maintain the viability that today’s business world so desperately needs from us. Contributors who will roll up their sleeves and continue to push forward with new ideas and ways of doing things. And if we do it right we just might get that delicious treat for a job well done. Just not from the bread store.

Helpful links:

www.cphartog.com

‘What got you Here, won’t get you There’ – By Marshall Goldsmith