by Alice Stapleton Newman, Guest Blogger
Finally, we feel it safe to say that, in the two towns that Dynamic Sales Solutions calls “home,” the cold is beginning to subside, and the sun is becoming less and less of a stranger to us. In Brick, NJ and in Miramar Beach, FL, Scott and Kate are busy! Busy meeting new clients, conducting sales trainings, and prospecting for business growth. It is very exciting. So many new things happening for Dynamic Sales Solutions.
We often think of spring as a time for growth, new endeavors, and shaking off the old. But, it is important that with the ritual of “spring cleaning” that we are careful not to throw out the baby with the bathwater.
What do I mean? Well, here’s an example:
It can be frustrating to keep up with emerging technology and change in the workplace. The key is to take it one step at a time.
Many of us can remember a time of “cross-over.” That time when technology was beginning to explode – promising to make our lives easier…but with a catch or two: We first had to learn how to use it, followed by an actual commitment to using it, followed by a long-term promise of constant learning that the perpetual upgrades of technology would surely require. Some of us embraced it. Some of us defied it (here’s a shout out to those still using a rotary phone). And still, some of us fell somewhere in the middle of this spectrum.
Well, I can say I am one of the latter. I craved technology – was perfectly willing to trade in the flip phone for the smart phone. But what I wouldn’t do? I wouldn’t toss out my old manual-turning, hand-written-on-little-white-cards, business-cards-scotch-taped-inside, handy dandy Rolodex. It was my connection to the world. Proof I’d met you at a recent workshop, evidence that I indeed had taken lunch with the head of the company.
I was kind of like, well…my precious.
But as time went on, and I began storing contacts and information the new way, my rolodex saw less and less turn-time. It did in fact become obsolete. Even to me, who had fought off many cubicle crusaders who taunted me for protecting it from the janitor’s pit of death. But I was careful to remind myself and others that it was the rolodex itself that needed to go. Not what it represented. Not the idea of organization, and definitely not the idea of maintaining contacts – both old and new.
So, I did what I never thought I’d do. I gave my rolodex one final turn. Card by card, alphabetically, slowly and with precision. I cleaned out my rolodex, transferring its information from cards to computer.
When I finished (a week later) I felt accomplished. Like I’d done something huge, crossed a sort-of finish line in some e-marathon. Since then, I’ve slowly adapted to the world of emerging technology. I’ve faced the reality of hearing myself regularly say, “But I just learned how to use version 5.4.2! Grrrr!” Yet, I know if I don’t get on top of learning 5.4.3, someone else will, and then I’ll be behind in an era where being behind is equivalent to career suicide.
My rolodex endeavor is just a small example of how spring cleaning can make you better at what you do. It encourages efficiency, learning, and positive change.
Spring Cleaning is as good for your career as it is for your home.
What is a spring cleaning task that you can do to encourage your own growth? Think of something new to embrace and something outdated that you can merge in order to make for easy transition. Perhaps you gift your outdated, ten-pound laptop to a homeless shelter for internet use and upgrade to a faster version. May be you stop noticing the new bicycle rental kiosk outside of your office and actually rent one to pick up your lunch instead of getting your car out of the garage and sitting in traffic. Or, though you love the feel of paper against your fingers, may be this once you buy the e-book since you can’t seem to find time to make it to the bookstore. Hey, you’ll be saving a tree after all.
Bathwater gone, baby kept. I didn’t just toss my rolodex. I allowed time for it to briefly merge with technology before I gave it up for good. What it represented is eternal. How it accomplished its purpose has long since been improved upon. I opened my eyes to efficiency and change.
Well, just don’t look in the locked third drawer from the left in my office credenza.