How to Succeed By Becoming the Most Updated Version of Yourself

Are there things you are doing the same way because you have just become accustomed to doing them that way?  Perhaps you have always approached your job the same way or always solved problems the same way.  Are there perspectives you have had your entire life that you really have never challenged, but just accepted to be true because you have always had that same perspective? It is easy to fall into the habit of doing or seeing something the same way you always have.  Oftentimes longevity and consistency are the ultimate trump card and our justification for doing what we have always done.  Certain things have worked for us in the past, why change them?

Positive Change: The alternaview

The alternaview is that we should always be looking for ways to positively “update” ourselves.  It is not that we change just to change, but rather we realize the importance of enhancing ourselves and having the most relevant, updated skills, and perspectives that are able to encompass an ever changing world.

The world and everything in it is dynamic and changing all the time.  Consequently, it would be nearly impossible to grow and develop in the ways we should if we are not aware of what is going on around us and also not doing what we should to be a part of a changing environment.

Those people that are best positioned to take advantage of everything around them are the people that are constantly looking for relevant ways to improve and upgrade the way they do things. They are constantly trying to do things better than they have in the past.  They are always looking for additional ways they can put their skills and strengths to work in light of what has changed around them.  They are continually challenging their own viewpoints and perspectives to make certain they can stand up to the test of time.  They are open minded, willing to change their mind and depart from views they had in the past that are just no longer relevant.

Think about the first generation cell phone or even the first generation iPOD.  If companies stopped inventing features and enhancements because their products functioned well and accomplished their initial purpose, think about how much we would have missed out on.  Granted both of these devices provided us a lot of utility and benefits that we didn’t have when they were first created, but think about how much they have been developed, enhanced, and improved to provide even more benefits.

People are no different and are in need of continual “upgrades” from time to time.  You need to become the latest and most updated version of yourself with features that provide you benefits in the current environment. You can’t have antiquated skills or views that are out of date and expect to take advantage of everything around you that is changing.  We should always be aiming to upgrade and enhance what we do and how we see the world. And, this means we have to be open and willing to change and do things differently.

If things have worked out well for us in the past, that is great, but not necessarily definitive evidence that we should continue doing them the exact same way forever and ever.  Just because you had a successful career for the last 10 years, doesn’t mean you can ever become complacent.  You need to consistently be looking at everything around you, noticing how the world and things are changing and figuring out what that personally means for you and how you need to change. Perhaps you need to develop more skills, perhaps you need to expand what you do…whatever the case may be, you have to always be looking to upgrade yourself.

It is not that we reinvent the wheel or change what is working just to change, but rather that we build on our skills and viewpoints and enhance them in a way that allows us to continually improve and unfold.

How to use this alternaview:

1. Enhance your skills. If you have always been good at something or if you have developed strengths, then you should build on those.  Continually work on developing more  strengths and find different ways to apply them.  Are there new things you should focus on learning because they are going to be needed in the future?  Is there something you are not doing now that you probably are going to need to be able to do?

2.  Update your viewpoints and perspectives. Are some of your perspectives a little out of date?  Perhaps it is time to be a little more open minded about something?  Maybe it is time to look at things differently?…to consistently explore alternaviews?

3. Be Inquisitive. Take a look and notice the things that are changing around you and the way that people are changing.  You may not always think they are positively changing, but you have to be aware of the fact that they are.  Explore what is most likely coming around the corner? What will the change mean for you?  What may you want to do differently?

4. Be Ready and Willing to Always Change. Are you afraid of change or do you embrace it?  It is easy to just want to do things the way you always have because you feel more comfortable, but that doesn’t mean you should.  You need to push yourself to be open to change so that you are willing to change when the appropriate time comes.

You have to stay relevant.  You have to keep yourself updated.  Don’t do what you have always done, just because you have always done it. Always be willing to change, expand and build upon your current skills, thoughts and perspectives.  You can and should enhance and upgrade what you do.  You can and should change your mind if it makes sense. Don’t fall into the trap of being that person who says, “I have been doing it this way for 10 years, why on earth would I change anything now?” or “I have always seen things this way and I see no reason to look at things differently”.  Yes, you can do what you have always done or see things the same way if that is still relevant, but check yourself, be honest and make sure you are not outdated. You should always be aiming to be the most updated version of who you are…that is the alternaview.

Are you the most updated version of yourself? Do you agree with this alternaview?