New vs. Old; Do you prefer the past or the future?

Yesterday I attended a luncheon where Sandra Yancey, founder of the eWomen Network, spoke. She raised an interesting point about what attracts a potential client to work with you, or to join an organization, etc. She asked the audience, “Do you really care about what I’ve done in the past? Or do you care more about what’s new, and what I am doing today?”

That’s an interesting question to ponder, so I ask you:

Do you care more about the past or the future?

Are you more focused on the present?

What do you tell people about who you are when you meet them? Is it all about your past accomplishments, or what it is that you are doing that is new?

Do you care more about who someone used to be, or who they are today?

Do you know someone who hangs onto the past (old technology, wears old clothes, etc.)?

Coaches are taught to focus more on our client’s future and help them visualize what is ahead, but I argue that a person’s past is also important. How you treat people in the past and in the present speaks a lot about your character. The sum of your experiences defines who you are today, and shapes your viewpoints and perspectives about the world. Skills you learned in the past can help you in a new career.

Sandra Yancey would not be where she is today, without the actions of her past. eWomen Network was started in the year 2000, and in just over 10 years, she has grown the organization into the largest networking group for women in North America. Today, eWomen Network is the #1 resource for connecting and promoting women and their businesses worldwide. To answer her own question, yes, it is important that she spent the last ten years building the eWomen Network. It would not exist today without her actions and efforts.

At the same time, history is not everything. History is important, it needs to be respected, and it does shape you, but you need to focus on the future as well. The same thing that worked for you in the past –  in business and in your life – may not work in the years ahead (That’s where innovation comes in – see yesterday’s post.) New Year, New You? If you’re indeed ready for a change, quite possibly.

Eventually the new replaces the old – this is true with people, and with ways of doing things, processes, etc. Nothing stays the same forever. The clothes you have in your closet will eventually be replaced with new clothes that you buy. Music from the 1960s (Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin) is considered to be classic, but today we are bombarded with new music from Taylor Swift, Coldplay, and The Black Eyed Peas. These ideas bring up more questions:

If the new eventually replaces the old, does it supersede it?

Are the old and the new equal?

Does the old ever replace the new?

Can the old ever make a comeback?

I would love to know your thoughts/feedback/comments on the above! Let me hear from you!