Hammers and Elephants
Hammers and Elephants
Have you googled yourself lately? I've been working on the SEO (search engine optimization) forTheGeniusCultivator.com, which has me googling myself to check on how things are looking when other people are trying to find me on the interwebs. By the way, my website is all new and I'm really proud of it. You should check it out!
Back to googling… as I was making observations, next steps, and generally trying to accomplish my task of making The Genius Cultivator easier to find, I came across a speaker profile from a group to which I'd previously presented. I immediately knew the writing wasn't mine.
“She has a hell of a story,” they said, pointing out
my general lack of resources and support as a younger woman.
As I reflected on that for a moment, how my origin story is unusual, I thought, “I tried out a whole lot of things just sorting out how to do life. One of my advantages is that there was no one around to tell me I was doing it "wrong.” A lot of things I tried worked out because my opportunities for doubt were so limited. I had no way of knowing that my tactics were unlikely to work, and so they did.
What would you do– what COULD you do– if no one was telling you that you're doing it wrong?Certainly there are tremendous benefits to having people who care about you protect you from harm and missteps. But maybe that's a knife that cuts both ways. Think of it like when someone says, “no matter what you do, do not think about an elephant.” Of course, now all you can think about is an elephant. As a younger woman, I didn't have a whole lot of elephants to think about because who was going to tell me not to?
To bring this to a business principle, there's the saying that:
If all you have is a hammer then everything looks like a nail.
But what if all you have is a hammer and you don't know what a hammer is meant to do? What are all the things you might try to use it for?
I asked Gemini for some humorous alternative uses for a hammer, and here is what she gave me:
Office Decor/Paperweight: The ultimate minimalist desk accessory, subtly conveying a no-nonsense attitude and serving as a very heavy paperweight.
A Personal Metronome: Tap lightly on the desk for a dramatic, rhythmic effect while pondering a big decision.
Impromptu Drumstick: For a sudden burst of rhythmic inspiration (or frustration) on a sturdy, inanimate object.
The Ultimate Fly Swatter: Guaranteed to get the job done, though cleanup may be extensive.
An Extravagant Doorstop: Holding open the most important door in the house with authority.
A Primitive Back Scratcher: For those hard-to-reach itches (use the claw end with extreme caution).
Pretzel Straightener: For the truly dedicated snack perfectionist who insists on symmetry.
If all you have is a hammer and you are unaware of a hammer's intended purpose, you probably would not be looking for nails.
My challenge to you is this – look at two or three of your most frequently used tools and rethink what they COULD do. Has your business outgrown your client onboarding process? When was the last time you looked at the updated features of your CRM? Is your social media strategy still doing what you wanted it to? (Did it ever?) What is something that you have “handled” frequently for a long time that may benefit from another look?
I'd love for you to tell me what you came up with, and what did or did not work.
And whatever you do, do NOT think about elephants.
