This article was originally published by MonitorDaily in December 2023.
Reprinted with permission from the author.
In our fast-paced and ever-changing world, humans can get lost; this isn’t anyone’s goal, but far too often, it is the reality. During out conversations with innovation thought leaders, one truth came to the forefront; we are all ultimately responsible for our own personal growth. Ideally, we have a team and leadership that supports humans in the innovation process. However, we truly thrive when, instead of waiting for permission, we take ownership of our personal growth journey.
Todd Buzzard, CPA, CLFP, VP of the CLFP Board of Directors and SVP of Finance at First American Equipment Finance, emphasized this when he said, “Today, we have a wide range of learning styles and methods of disseminating information. The variety of teaching mediums empowers individuals to discover what styles work best for them. Personally, I believe it’s important to experiment with different methods. Discovering your preferred learning style requires an investment of effort and time to experiment. The key is to embark on a personal journey of discovery to find what works best for you.”
When exploring and following your curiosity, enjoy the journey. It’s important to remember that the hard work of Innovation can also be fun and exciting. Jeff Rogers, bestselling author, award-winning television host, and improv guru, shared this mind-expanding insight, “Most people think that work is the opposite of play. It’s not. The opposite of play is depression. When you are working, having an incredibly great day, you’re engaged, hitting on all levels, enjoying it, people are attracted to you. That’s no different from a sense of play. Innovation has multiple meanings. People think about it as creativity, imagination, evolution, and revolution. In part, they are all correct. Innovation is all those things at specific times. You must have a process to identify where you are and which aspect of innovation to apply at a particular time.”
Rachel Sheerin, burnout expert and behavioral analyst, shared, “Innovation and burnout are connected. It’s almost impossible not to see it because change is the core of both innovation and burnout.” When striving for innovation, we need to protect people. Sheerin noted insightfully that “high performers seeking balance need to reflect on essential questions: What are your values? Are you living your values? Where do you spend your time and money? For instance, show me your calendar; if you say you value friends, family, and faith, why is it only filled with business meetings? Where are the family dinners, friendly meetups, and the like?” Not living your values can lead to burnout. Identify what you value and where you spend your money and time and adjust accordingly.
Dorie Clark, Professor at Duke Fuqua School of Business and author of Wall Street Journal bestseller, The Long Game, beautifully summed up the importance of owning our own growth journey, , “It is a very human tendency for overachieving people to just want to keep pushing forward and stay focused on the goal that remains at the other end of the horizon. We need to pace ourselves and recognize that accomplishments are worth celebrating. It’s about getting disciplined and understanding what your highest value activities are. It’s about learning to say no to things that may have been a yes in the past, and tightening up criteria so that you are strategically protecting that space.”
We are so grateful for the insights and experiences shared by these generous and visionary leaders. It’s crystal clear that the heart of true innovation beats not in the latest gadgetry, but in the pulse of human ingenuity and curiosity. At TomorrowZone, we’re not just observers of this dynamic; we’re active participants, facilitators, and catalysts, igniting the spark of change in the Equipment Finance industry and beyond. Reach out to TomorrowZone today, and let’s turn your vision into a vibrant reality. The future is bright, and it starts with a conversation. Let’s talk.
