When I meet someone who is looking ahead to one of life’s many “big steps” (i.e. starting a family, starting a new business), or perhaps a new venture, I often ask them what they have done to PREPARE. As you might expect, my question puts them on the defensive (which, as the Dark Lord and a person who enjoys rustling some feathers as a means of making a point, I enjoy).
Consider the following dialogue…
BERTHA: “I am sooo excited! I am going to be starting my new business in just 3 months and I can’t wait! I am going to rock this world! YES! YES! YES!”
DR. MARC: “Congratulations! What have you done to prepare for success?”
BERTHA: “What do you mean by that? What the heck is that supposed to mean? I took two whole business classes and have shadowed a number of successful individuals in my field! So there!!!”
DR.MARC: “Shadowing other folks is sort of smart, but what you are really doing is making certain ‘translational’ assumptions.”
BERTHA: “Whaa…whaa….what is a ‘translational’ assumption?”
DR. MARC: “Uh oh – that’s not a good sign. A translational assumption is one in which the end-user, which is you Bertha, ASSumes that you can extrapolate what you’ve seen in the businesses that you’ve shadowed, to your business. In other words, you are being GIVEN fish instead of LEARNING how to select the correct fishing rod, learning how to select the appropriate bait, learning how to select the right fishing spot, and of course, learning how to fish.”
BERTHA: “You’re a big jerk Dr. Marc!”
DR. MARC: “Yes, I knew you would say that. I’m not saying you’re wrong Bertha. To some folks, I do come off as a jerk. That’s par for the course when you are dealing with unoptimized individuals. I don’t expect to hear anything less from someone who is inherently weak. Nevertheless, the fact remains that you are lacking a mindset that can navigate…circumstances. There are many variables that impact the success of a new business, and for that matter, impact your marriage, how you raise your children, and how you live (and get the most out of) your life. If your mind is NOT prepared to navigate life, then you will fall flat on your face and quickly point the finger of blame in MANY directions. You’ll see (LOL)”
BERTHA: “But I spent two years working for X, Y, and Z – and I now know how to deal with any and all situations.”
DR. MARC: “Uhh…NO. You know how to deal with CERTAIN situations in a CERTAIN environment. Like I said, you appear to lack the ability to properly diagnose circumstances. If you haven’t been taught how to process life’s situations and circumstances, then your ship is already sinking – even though it hasn’t left the dock.”
An acquaintance of a friend went to open a new restaurant. The acquaintance, who we’ll simply refer to as Steve, had managed a number of restaurants in his 20 years of being in the industry. In early 2010, Steve put all of his money into opening his dream restaurant. By February 2011, the restaurant was closed. Steve had worked for the best of the best, but Steve lacked the proper knowledge that transforms a “manager mindset” into an “owner mindset.” Lest you think that a certain mindset is some type of “genetic gift” (i.e. the ability to draw), allow me to be the first one to set you straight: A PREPARED MIND is a byproduct of proper instruction, not luck. It’s learned.
If your mind is not prepared for success (i.e. a great marriage, a great career), then not even the best guru, coach or mentor can help you. It’s really like sprinkling the finest grass seed on a field of concrete; nothing is going to happen.
The best investment you can make in your future has very little to do with desired end result. The VERY BEST investment you can make in your future is preparing the mind to navigate and rapidly course correct – if needed.
Have A GREAT Day!
…Dr. Marc & The Mind Virus Team