The Entrepreneurial Savant

When things aren’t going your way or you ‘blocked’ and can’t seem to resolve a problem or begin to take the steps required to solve that problem, there are exercises that can help to break out of your ineffective state of mind. One, from Dr. Van K. Tharp, a psychologist who specializes in the psychology of successful investment traders, goes like this:
“Get up out of your chair. Walk away about four feet and then look at how you looked in that chair. Notice your posture, your breathing, your facial expressions. Then imagine how you would look if you had the sort of mental state you would like. When you can see that clearly, sit down in the chair again and assume the position that you just imagined.
The exercise works for almost any situation as it involves several important principles–changing your body posture, seeing yourself from a more objective viewpoint and imagining a more resourceful state.”*

*As quoted in Market Wizards by Jack D. Schwager, Harper & Row

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Have you ever wondered what it is that makes it possible for some human beings to regularly perform at levels far above average? Why some athletes, musicians, counselors, communicators and leaders get far better results consistently than their peers? It used to be an accepted fact that these people were exceptionally gifted in ways that the rest of us could not hope to emulate. Recently there have been breakthroughs in the study of exceptional performance that make it possible to learn from these prodigies. By using a technique known as modeling, people are studying the personal strategies that highly skilled individuals use and putting them into form that can be taught to others.
Classically trained musicians are required to memorize extremely complex pieces of music, taking into consideration a very large number of factors including tempo, pitch, tone, feel, the interaction with other musicians, physical and mental technique, the response of the audience and many other elusive factors. By modeling the interior techniques used by musicians talented in these skills, it has become possible to teach others the process they use to achieve. They may use visualization techniques, mnemonic devices, and other techniques to help them get through a piece. By breaking these strategies down into processes, they can be taught to others.
Is there someone you admire who has abilities you would like to develop? Talk to them about the thought process they go through to prepare themselves. Observe the physical rituals they use. Read biographies and interviews for clues about the mental techniques used to get to that highly capable state. Modeling is a very complex process but even a rudimentary awareness of how it works can help you to learn faster and more effectively.

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If we all had stores this one wouldn’t need any elaboration. But maybe your ‘store’ is a desk or a pick-up truck full of tools. Either way it is a good idea to set things straight before you start your workday by doing some cleaning up around the shop. It conveys a great deal to a prospective customer or patron about your style and efficiency and makes you and your co-workers feel better about your jobs.
By the way, this rule apples to big shots too. We’ve all heard stories about company founders who still set examples by being on time and involved, even if it means grabbing the occasional broom. Next time you see a piece of litter on the company lawn, pick it up yourself.

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Superficial knowledge and borrowed experience are the rewards of being an observer rather than a participant. No matter how much expertise you accumulate by watching, reading and listening, you will never truly experience success unless you take the plunge and go out into the deep water. When you become fascinated by a subject and go beyond the contemplation stage into the action stage your entire perspective changes. All kinds of opportunities open up. I’ll give you what may seem to be a far-fetched example.
A friend’s father is nearing retirement from a job with a large company. In the past few years he has become interested in carved duck decoys. These decoys have evolved from a utilitarian aid for hunters into an art form. In fact there are  competitions with categories for non-functional decoys that are judged solely on the skill of the carver. Our retiree has read books and articles on the subject, has calendars featuring photos of decoys and has often contemplating trying his hand at carving. One Christmas he is presented with a book of patterns and goes beyond reading and actually tries his hand at making a bird. His first attempts are amateurish but because he has actually done it, his insight into other’s work is radically changed. He begins to look at how they resolved certain problems and learns about carving competitions with categories designed for novices. He begins to enter and receives awards and encouragement from people who he had revered as experts.
After a few years of carving, his birds begin to sell for respectable prices. By now he specializes in certain birds and certain positions and has developed a style that is recognizable to decoy aficionados. His armchair interest in an esoteric discipline has become an important (and profitable) part of his life, opening up whole new groups of relationships and providing an interesting second career.
As soon as you explore an interest beyond what you can absorb through observation you are in new waters. To continue the metaphor, you may get swept along into an entirely new and fascinating life.

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This is a standard military rule that has been broken over and over again throughout history with disastrous results. If something is not working, decide how far you are willing to let it go without improvement and then get out if it doesn’t improve. It’s human nature to cling to bad ideas and shove a lot of energy into holes in a feeble attempt to rectify errors. A successful person recognizes mistakes, cuts them off and learns from the experience.

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