Our entire education system is set up with an end in mind: to pass a test following a period of learning, well cramming in most instances; getting our answers right and then moving into the job of our dreams, where we get to use this knowledge we’ve amassed over the years as an indication of how much we know and why we deserve the big bucks.

There is no end to learning. Sure some systems are set up where we have to pass tests to get to the next level but that’s only one part of it.

On the flip side of this – we hear of companies that want to be more innovative, who need more people on board to use their initiative.

1. This is never going to happen if we close ourselves off to further learning.
2. This is never going to happen if leaders in organizations foster environments where there is no latitude except to do it THIS WAY and THIS WAY ALONE.

I was chatting with a colleague the other day, himself a solopreneur. He was telling me about a friend of his who worked with one of the largest banks in Trinidad and Tobago. Once a bright, energetic, young man, his friend was now a shadow of himself, beaten down by constantly having his ideas and thoughts rejected. After one too many beatings he has resigned himself to “giving dem what they want.” He is no longer feeling excited, at least, not where he works.

I am guessing that many leaders prefer to live with familiar ideas and habits of thinking. This makes managing the process of leadership easier. They are comfortable with the knowledge they have because to entertain anything else would be too risky. Too much at stake. What if a new idea or way of doing things is entertained and it fails? How will it look? How will I look? What will that say about me?

Learning and becoming should never stop.

In this safe space of maintaining the status quo and not encouraging too much ‘outside’ thinking we end up in a place of stagnation. Slowly, but believe me surely, after doing a good job, for many years, we become replaceable. In our knowledge comfort zone, we ensured that in our chosen field, we would eventually become limited and ultimately lose control over our jobs and our lives.

Never forget, that you were born an original. You are the only one with your mix of abilities. This is your value. Do not squander it in exchange for a comfortable hell! Keep learning. Keep generating new ideas. Keep applying those ideas. What if you fail? Choose failure over stagnation – become irreplaceable!