Thursday September 12th - Success and Neuroplasticity

In my last post I spoke about the underlying factors related to studying entrepreneurship versus just going ahead and being an entrepreneur, and how they might contribute to issues in accountability and conflict avoidance.

Most of the time when we brainstorm solutions to issues in accountability and conflict, we often take the position of the leader or proactive person trying to motivate their team members. While this approach has its merits, I feel that there is another approach.

The alternative approach is different in the same way that the words motivate and inspire are different. Motivate conjures up a pushing effect that moves others into action. On the other hand, inspire implies something that internally arises and pulls one into action. By taking the perspective of the 'unproductive' team member instead of the leader, we begin to ask questions around how we can inspire our teams.

So, instead of asking "how can we motivate team member to be productive", we can ask "what can we do to help team members naturally want to motivate themselves?"

Now I'll admit, I'm not proactive 100% of the time, but I mostly consider myself to be effective. When I was in high school I used to struggle with managing work loads and meeting deadlines, and eventually incorporated that behavior into my identity. When I got to second year varsity I recognized that I had certain limiting self beliefs around being able to manage time and workloads, and made the conscious decision that it was something I wanted to change.

It's been a big learning curve and I'm proud to say that I've come a long way. So here is a cool insight I can share with you that has helped in making my transformation.

Think in terms of neuroplasticity. The brain has an amazing ability to rewire itself and make new connections. Whenever this process takes place and new networks are formed, another process takes place called 'myelination'. This is a process where thin layers of fat coat neural pathways, insulating and making them faster and better electric conductors. The more these pathways are exercised, the more myelination occurs.

Every time you do something, think of it in terms of 'practicing' it. The more you practice waking up in the morning and hitting the snooze button five times, the better you become at doing it! The more you practice thinking negative thoughts, the better you get at being negative! The habits you practice literally solidify in your brain and dictate your destiny.

Being aware of this, I began to reflect on my behaviors and whether or not they were congruent with being able to achieve the dreams and visions I had. Effectively, in order to achieve a certain set of results one must become the kind of person who achieves those kinds of results. I started to look at role models like Steve Jobs and Richard Branson and compared my habits the habits they may have... I don't think they hit snooze button too often.

For students in an entrepreneurship program, I think we need to look beyond the idea of starting a business and more in terms of becoming an entrepreneur. We need to ask questions "what are the habits of rockstar entrepreneurs?"

If team members are in touch with their personal vision (ideally to become an entrepreneur who changes the world) and are aware of neuroplasticity, then I think it follows that they should feel inspired to cultivate habits that complement achieving their vision. Such habits include: being reliable and being willing to face conflict.

It's a theory I do my best to live by, and I hope sharing it with you brings you success in the same way it has for me.