Adjust your mirrors…

Today, when you get into your car to go to dinner, to a party, or to the store, take a glance at your two side view mirrors and notice what you see. Most will see the back half of their car. What is the value of having “side view” mirrors if you have them pointed so far inward that all you see when you glance at them is what you already know is there? Why do most Americans still turn their head to the side just prior to changing lanes on a crowded freeway? Where was this learned?

When you stop to think about it, does it make sense to turn your head while traveling in a different direction at over 70 mph? Nope, it doesn’t. Here’s a prevailing reason why we do. A long time ago, in a drivers training program, some authority figure told you there is a “blind spot” in every car. FACT. There is no blind spot. Not a one. Not a small one or a big one. None. Of course, this assumes you have adjusted your mirrors properly. The bad news is if you adjust your mirrors properly, when there is nothing beside you, and you look in your side view mirrors, you will see nothing. Apparently most of us would rather see our own vehicle. We would rather see our own vehicle even though we already know it is there. It gets even funnier.

In life, you and I have “blind spots.”

As much as we try, we cannot know everything about ourselves or the team around us. We need the help of true friends to really understand who we are. Yet, most tend not to look. We rarely ask those that know us to tell us something that might actually help us speed on down the road. The older we grow and the higher we rise the more this pattern is repeated. We would rather see ourselves the way we’ve always imagined ourselves, even though we know we need help. We would rather just shove our weight around and albeit, bruised and battered through the process, keep the pedal to the metal. We change directions in our car by turning our heads. We don’t trust our mirrors. We don’t trust our mirrors.

We choose the direction of our lives in much the same manner. We don’t have mirrors, we don’t trust the mirrors we have, or the mirrors we have don’t trust us. Houston, we have a problem. Adjust your mirrors. Seek feedback early and often. Develop at least a few truth tellers and routinely ask them to illuminate your blind spots. This will become more difficult the longer you wait, and so much easier once it’s a habit of your heart. The hardest part is hearing the truth the first few times. As you listen, process, and adjust, you will get better. You will welcome more. You will go and get it. Trust will build. You and your teams speed will too. Very cool.

Who do you trust to reflect back the truth? How often do you seek their reflections? How often do you make adjustments? When was the last time you properly used your side view mirrors?

Adjust your mirrors, friend. Good…