Friends As Motivators
Email Article
In Hugh MacLeod's book "Ignore Everybody" he talks about how new ideas alter the power balance in our relationships. A few years ago I was bouncing an idea off a friend. I could hardly contain my excitement as I laid out an overview of where I felt this project was headed over the next few years. My friend sat quietly.
Soon, he interrupted, asking me why I thought I had the right to do something like that. I was taken aback. He continued, saying I had no experience in that area and besides, I was just a redneck from Georgia. He wrapped it up by saying I was doing just fine right now. Then my friend changed the subject.
It took me a while to understand what happened that day. Your friends have a view of you, and that view has served them well. They’ve built their life around you being a certain way. Making drastic changes will shatter their beliefs, upset the norm, and impact their world. Like it or not, you play a role in their lives and your new crazy plans will screw things up.
So the next time you get a lukewarm reception with your new idea, just smile and understand all they heard you say was “I’m changing” and they don’t like it.
