It’s been a bit of an emotional roller coaster this weekend in the Filbert Household. My husband and I have another business that breeds and raises Dutch Warmblood horses for the Hunter/Jumper show market. Our very first ‘piece of inventory’ was a lovely filly born in 2005 who was named Adame by my Grandmother in one of her last lucid moments with our family before our passing. Needless to say this horse has an emotional attachment as well as representing a significant business asset. Well she decided with the weather changing and all, she just wasn’t going to drink anymore for a bit. With horses this creates all kinds of problems and hers escalated into a life threatening situation called colic. During the 5 hour long surgery as the vets worked to save her life, I had a lot of time to think. This blog post will share with you a bit of insight that perhaps will help you as you look to your career growth or perhaps inspiring your team.
We know how critical water is to life, so is growth to human beings. The phrase, ‘you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink’ is a statement we have heard and often counter with something like ‘you may not be able to make him drink, but you can sure make him blow bubbles’. Which represents how often we force new behavior on ourselves or others. Many people are complacent and satisfied with status quo. Others perhaps may want something different, but have no willingness to go through the pain of change. So they stay stuck. In church this morning our pastor referenced the ruts we all live in. And then he compared the rut to a grave, it just happens to have the ends knocked out of it. But yet this is how we live and we don’t recognize it until someone makes us aware of a different outcome.
The challenge in working with people is having the commitment to follow through with whatever is necessary to make change happen. We see what is possible in ourselves and our team, but it’s just so easy to keep doing what we are always doing. My constant frustration has been seeing people perform at a fraction of what they are capable of, yet knowing they just won’t take the steps necessary to reach a different result. They can’t bring themselves to go through the pain of change to get a different outcome.
So I decided to change things up – in May of this year I was privileged to have Joyce Layman join my team. Her strength and skillset is making change happen within companies and individuals. Or rather, changing our reaction to change. And recognizing how we are our own worst enemies when looking for something different. Until you affect change in your thoughts, you cannot effect change in your outcomes. Growth is hard. It’s painful. But if you want to advance in your career, continue to be successful in an ever changing world – it’s necessary.
Ada made it through surgery and over the coming days, weeks and months she has a long road to recovery. And while I can’t make her drink, she will have salt added to her food twice per day. The thirst will create the result I’m seeking and that is necessary for her to live. She’ll drink. And rather than continuing to make your people ’blow bubbles’ by sitting through yet another endless sales meeting without clear direction, how about you introduce a little ‘salt’ into your sales team?
How about you? Are you thirsty? What will you do to address your desire or thirst for different results in 2014? Would love to hear from you!
Good Selling!