What Works: Stagnation is putting your life and business in danger
Submitted by editor on Mon, 10/24/2016 - 5:09pm
When I think of stagnation, I think of a pond where the water isn’t circulating. The water gets murky. Algae might grow. If water sits stagnant for a while, pets can get sick if they drink from it. Stagnant water is a source of malaria and dengue. It’s serious stuff. Let it sit a long time and it smells like serious stuff, too. This is what happens in our lives if we don’t grow.
If we are content with living the same year over and over and calling it a life, we are at high risk for stagnation. It all starts with things not moving in life. It creeps in through routine. Same day, same routine, same results. Nothing changes. The water of life isn’t circulating. This might sustain for a while. In fact, certain creatures live well in murky water. But even the lotus flower floats on top of the mud and the murk. It finds strength in that stagnation to create new life.
This is why it is so important to circulate the water of our lives. It's important to grow emotionally, mentally, physically, and yes, even spiritually. When I work with clients, I use the I CAN formula to spark growth.
I = I: Yes, at its most basic level I MUST TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROCESS. Yes, that's meant to be in all caps. Because, if you don’t take ownership of your growth, no one else will. When we are children, our parents guide us to grow. We don’t know how to take ownership of much, beyond our toys, until we are about age four or five. Yet, as an adult, you must take ownership of your process. If you set out to do something and slip along the way, look within for the reason. It all starts with YOU.
C = Commit: You must commit to the process. Tackle it the way you would tackle anything you are passionate about. If you are passionate about art, tackle it like a new art project. Think about how you acted when you wanted something so bad you could taste it. What energy did you have? How relentless were you? To grow, you must commit to growth.
A = Adapt: You need to roll with the punches that growth brings. For a seed to grow, it must break through the soil. This requires the see to split, to sprout, and to push its way into the light. If you aren’t ready to adapt to this disruption, you’ll stop just when you are starting to grow.
N = Nurture: Nurturing the growth is so important. Growth is a life-long process. Every day of your life, something is different about you. Maybe you get scratched. Or the sun brings out a freckle. You lose weight. You gain weight. Personal growth is also about daily progress. You will not make big leaps and have major transformations every day. What you can create is small progress to spark big results. You can do this in any area of your life.
Bringing it back to business. “Business as usual” is a mindset that can lead to stagnation. Customer needs are always changing. The competitive environment is always changing.
Technology changes too. If you live in the land of “business as usual,” you may wake up one day to a scary scenario. You may discover outdated processes, less working capital, or inventory that doesn't rotate. This is the business danger of stagnation. It hurts your bottom line.
This week’s exercise: Take ownership, commit, and prepare to adapt to and nurture ONE growth area. Just one. Post what you have chosen below and what ONE small step you will take toward creating that growth in your life or business.
IF YOU NEED HELP
I will be travelling out of state for the next month, but I will still be available to my clients in Carson City over the phone. My availability will remain updated through my scheduling system. You can schedule your session right here.
What Works Coaching
Diane Dye Hansen is the Chief Inspiration Officer of What Works Coaching, a business coaching and marketing services firm based in Carson City. She has 20 years of experience working with top corporations, growing businesses, motivated entrepreneurs, and individuals hungry for a fresh start. Diane holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Marketing from Cal State San Bernardino. She is also a candidate for a Master’s degree in Communications Management from the University of Southern California. Her column appears every Monday, and sometimes Tuesday, in Carson Now.
