This is embarrassing, but I will admit it: I feel out of touch.
This realization happened recently while reading the book Extremely Online by Taylor Lorenz. Lorenz shares the history of influencers on the internet – primarily through social media – and how they impact our society. Lorenz’s stories are about folks who drive trends and behavior worldwide with just a post, impacting the lives of millions. The people she writes about have tremendous cultural influence and, scarily, most of them were new to me.
You may be thinking that social media influencers mainly impact the young, and since I am not young – thanks for the reminder – I shouldn’t worry about that. I could probably latch onto that theory, but while I was reading Extremely Online, something else shook me. Time magazine released its 2024 list of the 100 Most Influential People. I should know these people, right? However, I was surprised to realize I only recognized about twenty names. Look up the list yourself; it’s easy to find and see how many you know. If you recognize more than twenty, then good for you, you beat me.
My self-identity includes viewing myself as someone who is culturally aware, so when I realized how out of touch I am, it was tough. I could rationalize or justify my situation in many ways, but I decided that was a bad idea, both personally and professionally. I chose to acknowledge my ignorance and work to fix it.
Mentioning my new realization to other leaders has drawn chuckles; some think I am more worried about being out of touch than I should be. I appreciate their encouragement. However, it is so easy to be comfortable in our own world that we often may not realize how small it is. It is important for leaders to continually broaden their world and at least have a sense of the current culture. As leaders, we are hiring folks and selling both products and services to others who live in and are significantly influenced by a culture we may know little about. If we are going to make good decisions, we need to understand the environment in which we function.
It starts with being self-aware. Honestly, I like to think of myself as self-aware; it is a priority for me, and I have both spoken and written about the idea. However, I, like almost everyone else, am self-deceived, and it was proven when I realized how few of the top influencers I recognized. Being self-aware starts with accepting you know very little and looking for ways to expand your knowledge.
At Correct Craft, we talk about a concept we call “Be a Learner.” Being a learner is not just about reading books, taking classes, watching documentaries, etc.; it is about receiving new information with an open mind, or what is sometimes called a growth mindset. Unfortunately, most people are not learners, they are knowers. Knowers are people who absorb new information with the mindset of validating what they already think. Learners resist the “knower” mindset; they want to expand their views and enjoy having their minds changed. If you want to grow, be a learner.
Expanding your world requires getting out of your comfort zone. Of course, there is a reason it is called the “comfort zone,” we are comfortable there, and people love comfort.
A couple of years ago, while preparing to run a marathon, I read an article that recommended embracing discomfort while training. This idea of embracing discomfort was a total game changer for me and a primary reason why I was able to train during the summer heat in Florida and run the full marathon.
Getting out of our comfort zone often requires us to challenge our fears, but that is good. Sometimes, it may mean attending events that are different for us. The great news related to getting out of our comfort zone is that when we do, our comfort zone expands—in other words, tolerating the discomfort of stepping out of our comfort zone results in a much larger comfort zone where we can function in the future. This can be exhilarating.
An odd set of circumstances resulted in me traveling to over 110 countries, which I write about in my book Education of a Traveler. Without a doubt, nothing has expanded my thinking like traveling and meeting people around the globe. Very few people will be able to visit that many countries, but everyone can break their regular travel routine to see someplace new. It doesn’t even have to be another country; you can visit someplace different and experience something new, even if it is in your own state.
Many people are willing to expand their thinking and are open to learning new things, but they don’t actually do either of those. The reason isn’t a lack of interest; it is a lack of intentionality. Expanding your perspective won’t just happen; you must make it happen. Read something contrary to your current thinking, go somewhere new, attend a cultural event you would not usually attend, or change your routine. Do something that makes you feel uncomfortable. If you are willing to be intentional about it, you can expand your thinking very quickly, probably even today.
A few years ago, I realized I needed to better understand the African American perspective and acted on that realization. I read over a dozen books by African American authors describing their experiences and viewpoints, and they had a significant impact on my perspective. Often, we can fall victim to believing something when we really have very little information on it or experience with it. Being intentional about expanding your horizon will be life-changing in a good way.
I have a long way to go to become culturally aware. I, too, need to broaden my thinking and be more relevant. I plan to be intentional about that and challenge you to join me.
Written by Bill Yeargin.
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