Last evening, I had the pleasure of meeting up with my friend, Rob Darrow, who I had not seen in 4 years. We had worked together in the past, and we have kept in touch via video conference and telephone calls. It was great to be able to talk in person. During the conversation, we determined that he was my son’s age. I’m not sure if that changed our relationship, but the realization did make us both understand that age isn’t a factor in business, unless you make it one.
As I have aged, I have always worked to stay relevant. Each year when I write my commitments for the year I layout my goals and plug them into my system. When I create my commitments, staying curious is at the top of the list. Curiosity keeps me relevant.
The highest return on investment comes from investing in yourself. I’m a lifelong learner and I stay focused on keeping a childlike curiosity by reading. I also spend time learning from others, like Rob. I like to tap into other people’s experiences and expertise. I ask questions to understand where my friends and acquaintances have come from and what they have done. I can learn from them as mentors.
How do you stay relevant in your role today? What experiences are you having that you learn from? Is it an on-purpose strategy?
I’m grateful that Rob had a layover in Austin that allowed us to meet in person again. I know he considers me a mentor- its that age thing… but I learn just as much from him as he does from me. That’s the beauty of curiosity and the beauty of experiences.