Fred Flintstone was, for a time, a role model to a lot of young minds.
When I was a young lad in public school I had the convenience of being able to come home for lunch and I remember rushing home and wolfing down my lunch just so I could catch the daily episode of The Flintstones before heading back for my afternoon classes.
For those that remember the antics of Fred Flintstone you will certainly relate to the humour more now as an adult than you would have as a child.
Fred was always getting himself into situations that were well beyond his natural ability but somehow he always seemed to fare well. He never really came up short, did he?
As a kid I likely missed some of the finer points of the situational humour in those shows and after watching a few episodes recently it struck me how Fred and Barney always took incredible risks without the slightest consideration for their own experience; sheriff for a day, leaders of a rock band, school bus drivers or taking over a business for a day to name a few. Nothing seemed to be off limits.
All from a couple of guys that worked breaking rocks in a quarry.
Here’s a clip from one of my favourite episodes.
What do you need to know to conduct a business meeting?
Apparently nothing and there are only 3 things you need to say:
- Whose baby is that?
- What your angle?
- I’ll buy that!
What do Fred Flintstone’s antics have to do with achieving success, really?
At work, in the past few months, we have been developing a strategy for an alternate line of business. We are looking at taking the precept of Corporate Interior Design to a new level beyond the pure esthetic to the analytics of business process and its effect on the functionality of physical space. The idea itself is not new, in fact, many large scale firms offer this type of consulting service, however, our ideas on approach are a little different and are focussed on a market sector largely overlooked by some of the giants of the industry.
So, what has been holding us back from launching forward?
Is it because we don’t have the direct experience to deliver the services?
Our team is intelligent. We have vast experience with the execution of design services and precedent work, case studies and research is out there for the taking. We are professionals. We can execute and have proven it time and time again.
Can we succeed without direct experience?
Do we fake it until we make it?
Well, we may look at Fred Flintstone and think there’s no way that we are going to get ourselves into situations like he consistently puts himself into. The risk to our reputation is far too great to take such considerable leaps of faith.
Or, alternately, we may think about the one single most important factor involved in achieving anything in life.
Confidence.
Can we do it?
Is it not akin to Fred’s self-fulfilling prophesy of success?
If you believe it is possible can it become possible?
It’s worth a try is it not? The actions you take are directly proportional to the attitude you have and vice versa. You choose. Positive or negative. If you believe it is possible then it will become possible. You will make it so.
Either way.
So, would you fake it until you make it?
I never really believed this attitude to be a viable option until I started blogging.
In the course of starting a blog I have had to learn some things about blogging that, as a newcomer, were only be possible by reading, testing and refining rinsing and repeating. I have had to share my fears, aspirations, thoughts, ideas and I have had to work very hard to build engagement all in a world that I know little about.
So, do you have it all figured out yet Dopping?
Hardly but I am getting there and over time this thing will grow as long as I continue to work at it, learn from my peers and the leadership in the industry and not limit my thinking in any way.
Does that relate in any way to the risks you take starting a new venture?
Heading toward the unknown? Hell, the unknown is exhilarating.
Did you have the experience to make it work out of the gate?
Years of experience builds confidence but the risk to change how things are done takes confidence in your ability to use your experience in ways to achieve something you have never done before.
Right?
Ok, repeat after me: If I believe I can and I believe that I have the ability to make it happen then I stand a better chance of actually getting somewhere.
It’s just like a self-fulfilling prophesy.
It builds confidence and it’s cyclical.
I can do this and I will.
Can’t can take a ride on a one-way train to get-lost-ville along with self-doubt, self-pity and ego. So long, good riddance, bye, bye now.
Am I going to tell you I know everything? Not a chance!
I am going to show you that I can use my ability to approach my work in a unique and innovative manner?
Yes and with that attitude I will be successful.
It is a self-fulfilling prophesy.
Thanks for showing me the way Fred. You are one good {cave} man.
Over to you: Is faking it until you make it a dangerous method? Let’s hear what you have to say about the idea of the self-fulfilling prophesy of success.
A quirky sense-o-humour coupled with an indelible sense of stylish sarcasm makes it difficult to take the world too seriously doesn't it? My faves: fun, passion and hard work. I work here everyday: www.designdialog.ca
