I was on the receiving end of some really tough feedback from a close business colleague of mine recently. He’s not one to mince words and the feedback he delivered hit me in the face with a chair. (Figuratively of course, no chair or face was actually harmed in the delivery.) And his feedback hurt deeply, because it’s an approach on life I’ve prided myself on for decades.
The two words he delivered were simple, but cutting. His hurtful words? “You’ve changed.”
To add some context, I’d like to think I’ve earned a trademark as a guy who challenges the status quo. If there’s some zigging going on, I’m zagging. If the invitation says black tie, I’m the guy in the open neck shirt and colourfully patterned jacket. If they tell me no, I’m looking for the yes.
I’ve never been one to adhere to weary meaningless traditions just because that’s what they did in the good old days. Hey, if we all were inflexible to change, we’d be driving horses and carts to work and we’d have to trek to the thunder box in the back yard for our daily ablutions.
So, to be told that I’ve changed hit me pretty hard, and had me reflecting on his words.
Take this quiz with me. (And if you’re not sure if you can answer the questions, you may need to phone a friend.)
- Have you ever thought or said, “Get off my lawn”?
- Do you find yourself thinking, “Kids these days…”
- Do you find that it now takes you all night to do what you used to do all night?
- Have you contemplated yelling at a cloud?
- Do your dentures glow in the dark?
- Do more than two body parts complain when you get out of your chair?
- Have you ever started a sentence with, “Back in my day…”?
- Have you ever justified something in your personal or work life with, ‘That’s the way we’ve always done it around here’?
- Do you find that you hate noisy bars and restaurants, but your TV is turned more than halfway up?
- Have you ever muttered under your breath, “Bloody P platers”? Bonus questions:
- Do your more-than-amply-bushy eyebrows bristle when somebody says something about Boomers?
- Have you ever mumbled, “These young people need to toughen up. Back in my day, interest rates were 17%.”
If you’ve answered or even nodded yes to any of these questions, you won’t need Google or WebMD to diagnose you’re suffering from a severe case of Old Farts Disease.
Those of us with OFD may feel resigned to their destinies.
It’s too easy for people of my vintage to lose their flexibility, not just in body, but in mind, spirit, and business. It’s too easy to just take the same road to work every day, break for lunch at noon, and watch the news at 6pm every night with a warm cup of Milo.
Fear not, my fellow follically challenged friends. There is hope on the horizon, although the sun may be appearing to set faster on our particular horizon.
Breaking news, my friends. If you’ve spent your life whinging about ‘the minorities’ having too much of a say and you’re now at least a sexagenarian, guess what – we Boomers are now in the minority.
So, are you now:
Talking about and receptive to ideas your family or kids may have around climate change, mental health, or supporting a different team (whether that’s in footy or around sexuality)?
Talking to staff or work colleagues in an open and respectful manner around work-life balance, working from home versus working in the office, three-day versus five-day work weeks, and overall working hours?
Sharing roles – are they good, bad, or indifferent about them?
How are you staying relevant? Are you attending industry events? Are you listening to new podcasts or subscribing to different newsletters? How do you embrace new ideas?
In the real estate business, especially, you have to keep an open mind, have a preparedness to embrace change, and a insatiable passion for growth.
Register here for this information packed webinar on October 4th where I’ll be discussing these things more in-depth. Or, if you insist on being old school and seeing things in the flesh, join me on my next tax- deductible study tour to the Philippines in early November or December where I’ll be presenting on 5 new old ways of doing business that helped me and will help you stay relevant in this faster-paced world.
