There’s something about September that brings the back-to-school vibe, even if you don’t have kids. You’re not alone if you’re itching to buy notebooks and sign up for a bunch of classes!
But here’s the secret: Make sure you’re studying the right things. Productive learning often means stretching. So, you may need to skip the classroom and pay attention to some awkward life lessons!
Let me tell you how director Ed Zwick cracked the code about why you need to ace the real-world masterclass.
Ed Zwick has been on a roll on Twitter lately, putting out several threads about the art of directing. One is simply entitled, “Toughen up.” He writes, “Be your own toughest critic. Never settle. A hack always knows he got it right; only the mediocre are always at their best. And never, NEVER say, “no problem. There will always be a problem.”
Zwick’s thoughts reminded me of a conversation with a friend eager to take their passion from side hustle to incorporation. Shuba has plenty of enthusiasm, but getting his start-up off the ground has been much harder than he ever imagined. He threw up his hands in exasperation one day and laughed, “I thought I just needed to start up. But it turns out I don’t know anything about starting up!”
Shuba has plenty of work ahead of him, but he has the humility to admit there are plenty of things he doesn’t know. Best of all, he’s optimistic enough to think he can master what needs to get done.
In the September series, Be the Somebody, we’re talking about how you can use soft skills to step into inspiring roles. You don’t have to wait for the perfect, anonymous Somebody to show up and make your dreams happen—you can make that happen!
Believe it or not, being stubborn can be an advantage because you can use that trait to keep going in the face of incredible odds. When you’re a little obstinate, you won’t settle, be mediocre, or adopt a know-it-all imposter persona. That’s what my friend Shuba is doing. Instead of putting his head down and pushing forward, he’s redirecting his will and using that energy to learn, expand, and grow.
You can Be the Somebody who becomes the Obstinate Optimist by using soft skills like adaptability, creativity, smart choices, and healthy self-esteem. Let’s contrast negative mindsets with the change soft skills can bring:
* I know what I’m doing becomes Before I leap forward, I need to become an expert in this phase
* Everything will work itself out. I don’t need to take this feedback becomes My best thinking was a good start, but by adjusting my plans, I can do better
* This worked for someone else so it should work for me, too becomes That didn’t go the way I thought, but it’s not the end of the world. I just got a masterclass about what not to do. Nex time, I’ll make an informed decision.
* Everyone bluffs a little—this is no big deal becomes My authenticity, character, and reputation are important to me. I’m digging in so my talking points are automatic the next time around
Everyone has times when they need a little more polish, data, or practice. The life lesson you may need to learn could make you a little uncomfortable, but it’s also what makes you human. And you want to bring your humanity to everything you do.
So, cultivate a keen eye for what you must study or improve. Tune into your inner wisdom about small changes to make that will have big impact. And become adamant about managing problems while they’re small. “Let’s make the same mistake twice” is a direct quote from No One Ever!
Don’t walk away from that life lesson staring you in the face. Instead, be the Obstinate Optimist that aces that masterclass!