I like this story inspired by Reid Hoffman the founder of Linkedin.

Kids and Cars

“Detroit Motor City was the crown jewel of America. Visitors from around the world flocked to get a glimpse of entrepreneurship and innovation at its best. Then the automakers lost their entrepreneurial spirit. Like the Titanic colliding with the tip of a giant iceberg, Detroit sank slowly to the bottom.

What went wrong? Plenty of things. But they can be distilled into three main reasons.

First, instead of listening to customers who wanted smaller, more fuel-efficient cars, the automakers continued building bigger cars that nobody wanted.

Second, instead of taking competition from Japanese cars seriously and learning their methods of “lean manufacturing,” American automakers clung stubbornly to their decades-old practices.

Third, instead of moving quickly to keep up with changing markets, executives willingly embraced “death by committee.” (A senior executive once said that if a man saw a snake lying on the factory floor at GM, they’d form a committee to analyse whether they should kill it.)

Eventually, all the automobile manufacturers filed for bankruptcy and needed the government to bail them out. In the three and a half years leading up to a federal bailout, GM lost $82 billion!

Here’s what happened to the winners-turned-losers at Detroit. They suffered from the hubris that accompanies success, failed to recognize and match competition, and refused to adapt to change. This isn’t just happening with companies today, but with individuals and their careers also. The forces that toppled the great city and industry can topple all of our careers.

Your career and you

It’s essential to treat your career like a startup. Keep investing in yourself rather than relying on the skills of yesterday to get you through tomorrow. That’s the only way to thrive in a dynamic, ever-changing world.”

We all have different reasons when choosing or questioning our career choices.

My story

Any advice that I offer or share is always grounded in personal experience so here’s mine: You’re reading this due to my ‘startup’. The foundation is built on decades of experience, just packaged differently. In my primary core as a musician I’m still involved in actual stage performance, though I’ve introduced a fresh angle to what I offer. This will take time to gain momentum, but it will. Just like two successful drum tuition schools I kickstarted – and also the fact that you’re reading this (the same thing happened with my first book ‘Rhythm of the Head’ but that’s another story).

 I started my first school in London in the late 90’s. The motivation was due to feeling burned out from excessive touring and not being at home and an attentive Dad for my two young daughters. Both drum schools were slow in getting off the ground even though I had built an established reputation as a drummer.

In 2004 I kickstarted my second school in Johannesburg. I remember sitting there after about five months with 3 students thinking “is this ever going to work?” But eventually, after doggedly sticking to my guns and enormous amounts of self-determination, things started to turn around. I eventually had a regular 50 plus student base with a waiting list. I could also choose when and where I wanted to play gigs. Like Reid suggests, I had adapted, invested in myself and in essence treated my career like a startup. I had also developed a new set of skills as an in-demand teacher and mentor. I came out on top.   

In Conclusion

So, when it comes to your career, are you aware whether you’re headed in the right direction?

Maybe it’s time to take stock?

Photo: Markusspiske – Pexels

Georg Voros is a Performance Consultant with 45+ years of top-level experience and author of two books on performance. He delivers high-impact workshops on productivity and flow, and offers tailored mentoring packages to support personal growth and achievement. Learn more at www.vorosperformance.co.uk