You Can’t Land From Here
Notes on Expanding Your Circle of Influence
By Jeff Alexander
Article from the July 2007 edition of The Advantage Newsletter
For several years now many people have associated Alexander’s with our hot air balloon, Stars and Stripes. Besides being a fun way to advertise our printing business, the balloons have been a great way for Curt Bramble, my friend and partner in the balloons, and me to share an exciting hobby with our families, friends and employees who have joined us in being part of the balloon crews over the past two decades.
It’s been about 15 years since I took up flying, When I was first learning to fly the balloon, I felt most comfortable, almost normal, when the balloon and I were flying high above the ground. Once I got the balloon to a high altitude I didn’t have to worry about how fast I was climbing, or descending, and I was floating high above any obstacles that could hurt the balloon or me.
When Curt, a certified instructor, began teaching me how to pilot, we’d head out near Cedar Fort – back then it was in the middle of nowhere – so I couldn’t get in anybody’s way. Then, once I got my air-legs and felt a bit more comfortable, we flew in the Provo-Orem area. But even then I still felt more at ease flying high and getting above the things that could harm the balloon or anyone in the basket with me.
Again and again as we trained together, Curt would tell me to get closer to the ground, because as he would say, “You can’t land there from here.” Curt knew that if I only flew 10,000 feet high I’d never know what the wind was doing near the ground, and therefore, I’d never be able to even venture a guess as to where I might be able to land. He also knew if I’d get closer to the ground I could focus in on where I was going because I could feel the different wind directions that were going to guide me to where I needed to be at that level.
Finally now, years later, I can honestly say my favorite flying is close to the ground, because I know that’s where I feel a greater sense of control. That’s also where I can focus on the direction I want to fly and where I want to land.
My ballooning experiences are not much different than our experiences in life and business. Many people are like I was when I first started to fly. They are very comfortable staying a great distance from the obstacles and challenges that test their skill. They may actually think they have a better view of everything in front of them and don’t want to change. And even though they continue to be fearful and uncomfortable each time they have to get close to a confrontation or problem (landing their balloon), that isn’t enough for them to want to change what they are doing.
Other people, those who face the challenges and are willing to try new ideas, actually end up more in control of their lives, and they enjoy the opportunity those challenges present as they know which way the winds are blowing and how to get where they want to go. They are also the ones who can quickly react to changing situations and make necessary adjustments. And, in today’s world, the winds of change are fast and frequent.
As I look back at my career, I am amazed at all of the different challenges, obstacles and opportunities that have come my way. Learning what I have power to change or take advantage of has proven critical to my successes and failures. When I worry and fret about those things I am powerless over, I waste valuable energy that could be spent building and developing in the areas I can control.
Steven R. Covey describes the two situations I have mentioned in his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. He says, “"In looking at ways to influence and change our surroundings it is helpful to notice where we focus our time and energy. We each have a wide range of concerns--our health, our family, problems at work, the national debt, etc., and it is these things in our lives that make up our Circle of Concern.
“As we look at those things within our Circle of Concern, it becomes apparent that there are some things over which we have no real control and others that we can do something about. We could identify those concerns in the latter group by circumscribing them in a smaller Circle of Influence.”
Drawing a parallel to ballooning, 10,000 feet up is the Circle of Concern, and closer to the ground is our Circle of Influence. Within the Circle of Influence I have identified four areas where I feel we are most empowered to change. They are Traditions, Habits, Relationships and Processes. Each time I focus in these areas I have taken a step forward. I would like to spend the rest of this article focusing on the Circle of Influence.
Everybody has their limitations. When we began our careers our skills were often very limited. As a result, successes and growth may have come frequently and easily. This was because our Circle of Influence and expectations were smaller. Soon it seemed that progress was slower and frustrations increased. It was easy to wonder why there wasn’t more improvement and success. And usually the situation seemed critical, if not hopeless.
Just like beginning to fly my balloon, it was easy to get up to the higher altitudes, cruise and feel comfortable, and successful. Then it was time to learn to navigate the lower winds and learn to land. The uncertainty and challenges can make giving up seem like the best alternative. Similarly, starting a business, though hard, is not usually near as difficult as continued development and sustained growth and profitability. We have to constantly assess the traditions, habits, processes and relationships that helped us reach our first level of success. If we see that those areas change so that we can act on the winds of change, instead of reacting to what is thrust upon us, we can cross the plateaus in our careers and move on to climb and conquer the next peak.
Let me share an example from our business. When we first opened Alexander’s the business was a retail copy center. We enjoyed the success that came from from individuals making personal copies. In just a few short years, dozens of local copy centers opened, and the traditions, habits, processes and relationships had to change. As we did this, we saw the opportunity available by becoming a commercial digital printing business. With these new relationships and a complete transformation in our processes, we became the largest independent digital printer in the Intermountain West.
It was only a few short years and again the marketplace changed. By anticipating this change, we positioned ourselves as a total solution provider. This helped us maintain our position in the marketplace, but growth was flat, and we knew that a new direction was needed. We began offering variable data, personalized printing. Though it was the right direction, we were so far ahead of the marketplace that literally none of our customers (relationships and processes) were ready for what we had to offer. The frustration and disappointment could have made it very easy to retreat or give up and get out of the cross winds.
Finally, today the market is embracing high technology, and we have become much more than a printing business as we consult in marketing development and program solutions. Though many of our customers are the same, our relationship is more one of partnering. Our processes are vastly different and we have to be ready to perform and change at a moment’s notice. Personally, I had to change my habits of working as I became a sales manager as well as a business manager.
We all, no matter what our occupations, are affected by the Internet and rapidly advancing technology improvements. Employee skill sets, attitudes and flexibility, combined with a desire to embrace change are imperatives to increase our Circle of Influence. Without these, our old traditions, etc. linger around, and we are consumed by the past, not enjoying the fruits of the future.
When we hear the excuse, “that is how we’ve always done it”, we must quickly stop, think and ask is what we used to do the right thing now? Remember, our traditions, habits, processes and relationships are what make us successful, and they can also stop us from achieving greater success.
The next time you are feeling some frustration with your life or career, take a few minutes to look at it from the perspective of your Circle of Influence (Traditions, Habits, Relationships and Processes). Make the changes you can affect, enlarge the Circle, and enjoy the growth and challenge. What happens is all up to you. You are still in control.