You’re never too old to be disruptive

People love to blame generations.

We’re quick to point out differences between our generation and the next, and to assume we can’t learn anything from each other.

Not only does this attitude not serve us, but research on disruption shows it’s completely bogus!

You don’t become more resistant to change or disruption the older you get, and you’re not more disruptive when you’re younger.

(Yes, despite the “Okay, Boomer” responses and reaction videos on TikTok!)

Age doesn’t matter in disruption. Sure, there are some differences between generations — people text now instead of meeting in person. That made it hard for Boomers to communicate with Gen Y at first, but now everyone does it. You can teach an “old dog new tricks.”

A more compelling consideration than age group or generation is disposition.

I often get asked, how do you stay on top of trends? And while I feel young at heart, that’s not why. Instead, it’s about my disposition:

Some people are disposed to trying new things — we call them early adopters. I’m in that category! I’m constantly asking, what’s new? I love new people, new experiences, new tech, new ideas. I’ve always been wired that way. I’m hanging on by my fingernails when it comes to Web3, but I’m fascinated by it!

On the other hand, a close friend jokes that he’s the “lead indicator” that something’s about to go mainstream. He prefers to find a tool he really likes, then use it for decades. He’s not an early adopter. If he’s trying something different, it’s because he’s really thought it over. And when he commits, he commits.

If you don’t love to embrace new things, that’s okay. It doesn’t mean you’re too old or “stuck in your ways.” It just means you’re wired differently. And while our culture tends to embrace “early adopters,” we need diverse kinds of wiring for all stages of successful operations, transformations, and disruptions.

We must not confuse age with disposition and disposition with open or closed mindedness.

Hit reply and let me know — are you an early adopter, or do you prefer to take your time?

My Latest:

• Who’s afraid of a little feedback? In my livestream, I shared how to turn something most people dread into an uplifting, positive experience everyone can benefit from. (If you’re more of a reader, check out Leading Disruption!)

• How do you get something — like your product or service or even your digital transformation — to go viral? Join me on my next livestream Tuesday, March 8, at 9 am PT / 12 pm ET to find out. LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter (Hint: It’s easier than you think!)

Good Things:

• Reads: Here’s a great new leadership book: The Seismic Shift in Leadership by my friend and colleague Dr. Michelle K. Johnston. The book shows how connection is the key to successful leadership, and I'm finding it especially compelling amidst the "Great Resignation." Order your copy here.

• Referrals: Join me for a livestream on “The Future of Work” sponsored by Workplace by Meta on Thur. March 17th. And I’m keynoting the Female Disruptors Summit on Wed. March 23rd where I’ll be speaking about how to overcome the specific challenges of being a woman disruptor.

• Resource: How are you doing on your new year’s resolutions?!? One of mine was to develop more focus, especially to get 1-3 major tasks done each day. One tool that’s helped me do that is the Action Plan from NeuYear.net - you can print out the free PDF or order a pad of them already printed.