"The Object of all life is development; and everything that lives has an inalienable right to all the development it is capable of attaining." Now get out there and Live! - The Science of Success by Wallace D. Wattles

As a speaker I meet many people on my travels.  I love meeting people and learn from my attendees as I teach my topic.  Since I am a lifelong learner, I consider it a job perk.  Sometimes the things I learn leave me challenged to process what I am hearing.  Last week was one of those moments. 

A raised hand got my attention during my program and the question was: "What can you do when the people you work with aren't interested in growing anymore?"

The attendee said the people she works with say things like:
1.  No more learning.
2.  I've spent the bulk of my life learning and there's no need to learn anything else.
3.  This is who I am.
4.  This is the best it's going to get.
5.  I'm not interested in training on any new stuff.

... and they mean it. 

For a moment, I was speechless.

In a world where new innovative products and services are created on a daily basis, these people have stopped their personal growth.  Not only that, they proudly verbalize it for all to hear. 

Does your company have people who think this way?

As a business, your success in the marketplace relies on competitively marketing your products and services.   Innovation, ideas, vision and success comes from the people you employ.  If your people have authentically decided to stop growing, so will you and your company.

Truth is, at a recent event I sat next to an individual who suddenly sighed loudly.  "What's wrong?" I asked her.  "She replied, "I miss carbon paper."  She told me she had 5 - 7 years until retirement and didn't want to learn anything more.  She just wanted her job to stay the same as she finished her time and then retired. 

This is an RIP employee.  She has Retired In Place.  She's just taking up space while collecting a paycheck.  If she worked for me, she'd have to retire NOW!

Today's marketplace

In today's marketplace, there is no place for this impotent thinking.  Employees like these stifle creativity, kill ideas, and shut down other employees who have what you need to succeed in your industry. 

Contrast the above mentioned  employees mindset with Sony Corporation. 

At Sony, you can conceive of the idea in the morning, prototype it that day, and if it is not feasible, discard it at the end of the day.


I believe that organizational model is what brought us the Sony sneaker that wirelessly communicates with your iPod.  Imagine the moment when an employee suggested, that your sneaker could communicate with your iPod while you jog and change the songs to match how slow or fast you are exercising. 

My son, Charles, owns a pair of those sneakers. 

In addition, you can download your running information and share it with other runners worldwide.  Just visit Sony and check out all of the things you can do with that one pair of sneakers.  It's positively amazing.

Can you imagine the environment in which an employee can comfortably share an idea like that? 

It comes from the top down.  The ability to innovate must be encouraged!

At Google, employees are able to take time off to think and be creative. 

Other companies encourage employees to take a creative sabbatical and use the time to think and be innovative.

How about your company?

Can your employees share ideas without fear of ridicule?  Are you open to suggestions?   Would you have laughed off the idea of Wind Technology? 

Do you have employees like the ones mentioned in my seminar?  And if so, what are you doing about it?