Originally posted on Facebook HERE
I realized this week that as humans in general – when we start something new – we’re much more inquisitive about how to do things than once we’ve been doing something for years. Once we become “set in our ways”, it seems like anything that would force us to change is sometimes disregarded before we ever really give it a chance at all. It happens to humans… it happens to businesses, too. Kodak? Blockbuster? BlackBerry? MySpace?… all refused to change and adapt to the shifts in how their businesses were run. And as an obsessive/compulsive person, once I get something that works for me, I tend to stick with it. There was a period of my life for over ten years where I had the same breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack every day. If I find pants, shoes, or shirts I like I’ll get ten of them and it’ll be the only thing I wear for years. Let’s not even get into hoodies. And musical gear? I explore a lot there – but there are some things I’m set in my ways with. I want a big huge heavy bass amp with a lot of power. I have tried other things, I even own small lightweight stuff, but – meh. Not for me. There’s a certain look and feel to the basses I have that I like, too. Has to have dots or blocks on the fingerboard. 5 strings preferred. I’m not a huge fan of all the “fancy” exotic looks that can be had. Give me the classic Fender bass look. Headless basses?… I’ve had a few, but it took me a long time to even give them a chance. And I do experiment a lot with equipment, but in the end… I stick with what I’ve been using and doing for years now. Everything else gets sold. At work – it takes years to develop a feel for helping people with their investments. And you have to keep your head on a swivel as well, always watching the current trends, etc – changes to regulations… but every advisor eventually develops a set of things that seems to be the best for them and their clients. And once you find that, it’s what you do, right? Why give anyone the second best thing?… so over time we lose a bit of that initial “I’m open to everything” mindset. We do it with the job we have (couldn’t see myself doing anything else), where we live (would you really be open to selling your house and moving to another location if an opportunity arose?), our relationships, where we shop, and numerous other things throughout our lives. While I am the self-appointed “king of routine”, I also strive to stay open to all the possibilities that exist in life. I might bristle when presented with something – but I have a curious mind, and I like to reasearch new things as I find out about them. I try to be as open minded as possible. It’s how we grow. I don’t think most people would want to end our lives as our own personal Blockbuster, ya know?… He lived, he worked at the same place, wore the same clothes, ate the same things, saw the same people, then he died” – there’s nothing wrong with that if it’s all where you’re heart is. But… “He lived a curious life, exploring all the time, trying new things, meeting new people, and taking chances” – maybe a better way to live? We have free will. Do we really use it to it’s fullest extent?
