The Fix is In 4

The ad doctor is in again, laying down a little hee-haw for the fourth time. See the rest of the series by clicking on one, two, or three.

(4) Inbred thinking
The worse half of learning.  It's assimilation of thought, not growth of imagination.  It's not seeking a give it take, not a mutually-beneficial relationship.  Here, one mindset gets passed, without adapting to a new environment.

We’ve all seen it a hundred times.  Someone gets older instead of gets better.  They get comfortable in their ideas. They love them, so they don’t ever change, and they pass along the same dogma to someone in an inferior position. 

The Fix:
Expect growth, in both yourself, and those around you. The only way to avoid cyclical thinking is to constantly avoid making the easy choice, and to create an environment where learning is king above all. And, not just learning of one thing, but a quest for knowledge of everything you can know.

It means relying on others around you to bring in their ideas, and making it easy for them to share and accomplish. In our business, we have to know that we don’t always have the answers. The quickest way to ensure continued success is to surround yourself with good people, and allow them to flourish.

photo from twm on flickr.