Have you ever watched a herd of cows as they follow the leader?
Not one cow questions where they are going – they just follow. And the view never changes for any cow except that leader.
Why? Because that’s the way they’ve been programmed. It’s part of being a cow.
Humans were given the power of free will – the ability to make our own choices.
Yet lately I have to wonder if we’re becoming more and more like those cows. We comfortably follow “the rules”, those beliefs, processes and institutions that have been part and parcel of our training in life and work. Even when those same institutions become obviously flawed, or fall behind the times as our world advances and evolves – or devolves as the case may be.
BTW – I don’t mean institutions as in those that live only in a big building. My insitutions come in the form of everything from big organizations to small groups that wield power over our industries, government and regulations, institutions created based on our past.
We argue for the status quo all the time.
Why? Because our view doesn’t change. Afterall – we’re programmed, just like those cows.
What got me started on cow-think? It was the verdict in the Anthony trial last week. I’ll admit it – I was disgusted. But I was also intrigued by all the people who wanted to explain the legal system to me, upholding that system as the be-all and end-all of our country.
I have to ask – is it really? I dont believe our legal system resembles the intention of our founding fathers anymore. I am saddened to say that I now believe that graft and personal gains (not to mention manipulation and distraction) are making a mockery of our judicial branch – of all our government branches for that matter.
Let’s face it – when the Supreme Court allowed lobbyists and big business to fund campaigns – our free democracy went the way of the wooly mammoth. To me that decision, along with the circus cases like OJ, Robert Blake and many others are proof positive of a very flawed legal branch.
Yet many uphold that system – even with the graft and just plain ridiculous results we see. Why?
Because its an institution we were programmed to uphold.
So now back to business.
As I was watching people defend our legal system – because it is the legal system….I saw so many similarities to our businesses today.
As we moved to the 21st centiury, many of our 20th century systems and rules, institutional legends and beliefs also went the way of the wooly mammoth. Everything shifted. But did we? Or did we just continue on with the same views, following the same rule – like those cows whose view never changes.
How often do we question our own business systems and beliefs?
Do we ask “What if this system, institution, belief or process is broken?”
Do we revel at the idea of challenging that which has been established as “the system”? Or do we bindly follow that lead cow of a belief, because it is set into stone in our perceptions?
So here are some questions for you.
How many “systems” or processes in your business have you questioned in the last six months? How many have gone unquestioned for years? That’s not the way to success in the 21st century.
How many actions do you take on a daily basis because they are habits – because that’s what you’ve always done? What happens when those same actions don’t work anymore? Do you change your view – or just keep on following? Your results won’t change until you change your view.
How often do you follow the rules of your industry or market, just like all the other vendors in your space? That’s not the way to be distinct – it is the way to remain ‘me too’.
My Grandpa had a wise saying he taught me as a child.
“The view never changes unless you’re the lead cow.”
Are you the leader or is your view, well, stuck?
