Working With the Garage Door Up

You’re the go-to person for your clients and employees – you deal with the most complex challenges they can throw at you. You’re the person who is responsible for decisions that will determine the success or failure of your business. You’re an expert in your industry. You’ve worked hard, and now you know a lot.

Your expertise, your competence, and your off-the-charts ability to get things done have become a core part of your identity.

It feels great to do the things at which you excel.

And it’s dangerous to linger there.

“I Know”

When you start feeling pressure to know everything, even when you don’t… or when you feel like the only way to win is by being the smartest person in the room… the brain shuts down the possibility of learning something new. I call it the danger of “I know”.

“I know” is a blocker to growth. It gets in the way of learning and adapting to changing conditions. It prevents new information from influencing your decisions (not a great strategy in a changing world) and limits how much you’re able to take in fresh ideas and insights from those around you.

The Beginner’s Mindset

Personal and business growth demands that no matter how much you already know, you’ve got to be willing to go back to the beginning.

The beginner’s mindset means accepting that there’s a limit to how much one person can feasibly know and shaking off the feeling of having to have all the answers. You could also call it a Curiosity Mindset or a Learners Mindset.

Working With the Garage Door Up

Author Robin Sloan has a great phrase for learning in public. It’s like someone practicing music or woodworking in their garage – they’re working with the garage door up. It’s unpolished, mistakes are obvious, there’s a high level of vulnerability.

But because it’s publicly imperfect, it’s also open to feedback and new ideas. It might even inspire your neighbours to try something new themselves.

In business, working with the garage door up could mean talking through a mistake at a staff meeting, and sharing what you learned. It could mean registering for a course or workshop to keep your skills up to date. Maybe it’s just admitting you don’t yet know the answer, but you’re willing to do the work (or ask for help) to get to the right decision.

This Week’s Takeaway

Strong leadership and vulnerability aren’t mutually exclusive.

Leaders who aren’t afraid to learn in public, make mistakes, and express themselves authentically are seen as stronger. They’re the type of leaders that build stronger teams as well, with people who are willing to take risks and learn from any mistakes (instead of covering them up).

Being an expert doesn’t mean you have to do it alone.

So when was the last time you asked for help?

Start Growing, Without Working More

If you’re looking for clarity and the right steps to take your business to the next level, then it’s time for a change of pace and scenery… and I’ve got the perfect evening planned for just that!

Join me at the cozy Port Credit Log Cabin for a mini retreat, sharing fresh ideas, practical strategies, and great conversations.

You’ll walk away with clear steps to make your business run smoother, boost team productivity, and set yourself up for growth.

October 23rd, 6:00pm - 8:00pm, In-Person

Port Credit Log Cabin @ The Bradley Museum

$15.00 + HST, Seats are limited!

Click here to learn more and join us in Mississauga!

Indistractable: by Nir Eyal

Indistractable is a guide on how to stay focused in a world filled with noise and distractions. Solving the problem is not as simple as swearing off devices. Abstinence is impractical and often makes us want more. If we want to live the life we aim for, we need to stop doing things that takes us off track and strive to do what we say we will do - through research-backed methods.

Check it out!

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