Stay Sharp: How to Avoid Going Squirrely in Business
Do you ever start feeling squirrelly in your business — scraping the bottom of the idea barrel, retreading old ground, thinking you’re the center of the universe? It’s a common hazard, especially when working solo for long stretches.
Isolation breeds stale thinking. Like muscles, our brains atrophy without exercise. We need outside perspectives and experiences to stay mentally sharp. Reinjecting our own thoughts in an echo chamber is a recipe for stagnation.
I was reminded of this in a conversation I overheard between two entrepreneurs about church. One had grown dissatisfied with the experience. But he realized that without the regular community time, he started to go squirrelly.
While no longer interested in the sermons, he valued the human connection. Rubbing shoulders (even metaphorically) with others kept him grounded and expanded his thinking.
This principle very much applies in business. When I go too long without engaging with other high performers, I crawl up inside my own head. My “new” ideas are just thinly repackaged old notions. An insular echo chamber forms.
To stay agile and inspired, I make time to regularly interact with brilliant peers — at live events, masterminds, conferences. The face-to-face brain friction generates those creative sparks.
I come away with fresh perspectives, new connections, and renewed motivation. Immersion in a community of excellence gets my neurons firing differently.
Don’t underestimate this. Make it a habit to rub brains with brilliant people. Avoid going squirrelly by stepping into inspiring environments that shake up your thought patterns.
You’ll be amazed at the innovative ideas and breakthroughs that emerge when you force your mind into new terrain. Shake things up regularly, and your brain will reward you by unlocking its genius.
The key is pushing beyond the comfort of your bubble. Your brain loves familiar grooves, but genius requires routinely disrupting those patterns. Stay sharp by rubbing against other bright minds.
