“Always Be In Student Mode”

I recently listened to a brief interview with one of my favorite musicians. He’s an accomplished bass player, well into his 50s and he made a very insightful comment about his most recent band, whose members are twenty years his younger: Always Be In Student Mode.

What he means is for him, no matter how accomplished he is, he’s always learning and keeping an open mind. There are many pitfalls when you think you know it all and think you can stop learning new things. This is true for most things in life, but it has particular meaning for marketers.

For those in marketing, Always Be in Student Mode means you should always be open to learning new skills, tools and other practices that may impact what you do in your work life. It’s also important to take advantage of these opportunities to learn as they happen and not to put them off. They might not be there later and you never know when that new skill will come in handy.

Another interesting thing from his interview was the benefits of surrounding himself with players much younger than him. Youth can have a beneficial effect on your ability to learn and try new things so don’t shy away from opportunities to interact with those your junior or to brush off those not as experienced as you. Everyone will benefit from an open, learning environment.

As you start your day, ask yourself if you’re “In Student Mode” and open to learning and interacting with those that may not be as experienced as you. If you’re not, you may be missing a great opportunity to improve yourself, your career and your work.

RTC