It’s no secret I am a senior networker, agewise. However, I’ve noticed that a number of my age peers refuse to change and adapt with the times. Not that I am all that with it, technologically or timewise, but I do believe that refusing to adapt to change is not tied specifically to aging. It is a state of mind and your willingness, or lack thereof, to learn, that causes this aberration.
So, in the interest of information sharing, here is a list of things to consider doing to knock a few years off of your perceived age and get you into the swing of thing in the 20-teens’ way of doing business:
- Learn to text. Face facts that the world communicates via short messages and mobile to mobile. If you aren’t then you aren’t connected to your customers, business associates and family. Sure, nothing replaces face to face or a voice to voice conversation, but to ignore this technology is likened to thinking the horseless carriage will never catch on.
- Dip into social media. Get involved in the Twitter conversation by tweeting as well as listening. Follow companies and people on Facebook. Post to your LinkedIn profile and connect with new people via LinkedIn. Be active and have these sites be dynamic. Have you considered Vine?
- Always carry business cards. Nothing more to say here. Consider a waterproof case so you can take them into the pool.
- Think of computers, phones and the like as appliances. Don’t get caught up in brand or operating system or that other who-haw–be aware but don’t be a slave to a brand or type. As a good writer can use different pens, so can you use a different device to communicate.
- Remember that one thing never changes: it’s not about you, it’s about your customer.
- Change is the only constant. Roll with it.
- Spend less time at your desk and more time out of the office and with or near your clients or prospects. Get to know them, their clients and markets.
- Think big picture. Don’t get caught up in the tactic, be it brochure, text message or video.
- Broaden your menu choices and don’t be judgmental of the choices of others. Consider it a way of getting to know your peers, friends and clients. Have you tried Sushi?
- Keep up with popular culture and today’s cultural references. Gone are the days of referring to the Mary Tyler Moore Show or quoting Richard Nixon to make a point–most of your audiences weren’t even born when these things were passe the first time.
There are many more, but this short list is intended to make you think. The world of business isn’t run by 55-year-old white guys sipping scotch in a smoke-filled room. Chances are these days it’s a 40-year-old woman entrepreneur sitting in a coffee shop in the burbs closing deals on her mobile device.
Get with it.
Relentless.
