Are we all fleas in a box?
In a famous experiment, a scientist placed several fleas in a box, as you would expect, they quickly jumped out. He put the fleas back in the box and placed a lid over the top. For a while the fleas jumped around hitting the walls and lid, but after a while the fleas became conditioned to the restrictions of the box and presence of the lid and continued to jump around but within its confines. The scientist then removed the lid and found that it was no longer needed to keep the fleas in the box - the fleas had learned to limit themselves to the confines of the box and the realisation that they could not escape.
Many of us, based on personal experiences, are held in place (in business and life) by our own self-imposed limits. There is no real barrier, but we act as though there is a ceiling that prevents us from breaking out and achieving our true potential.
We talk about ‘thinking outside the box’ but all too often restrict ourselves (and those around us) to remain within its confines. Yes, there may be challenges and obstacles to overcome in achieving the tremendous opportunity that exists for us (there are always obstacles on the road to something worth having) but in most cases the barriers that hold us back are the ones we all too often impose on ourselves and readily accept from those around us.
The fact is, if you want to get to the next level, don’t ask your fellow fleas what to do - if they had the answers they wouldn’t be in your position either. Unfortunately, they will also do their best to keep you in the box with them, as misery loves company.
Consider this. In business we tell our people to be fearless, to ‘push the envelope’, to ‘think outside of the box’. And the first person (our proverbial flea) who tries to bring forward a never before tried and certainly not tested idea, gets firmly, even if respectfully, shut down – and back on goes the lid to our box.
The next time this intrepid flea person comes up with an idea that doesn’t quickly and easily fit the norm, they’re far more cautious. They ask themselves. “Is this really a good idea?” But bravely they put their new idea forward and ‘slam’ goes the lid once again. With damaged confidence and bruised heart our poor flea goes back to their desk, wondering where it all went wrong. Of course, the next time they come up with something new, something that may revolutionise your business and turn the whole industry on its head the likelihood of them risking ‘The Lid’ is slim. Better to be a safe and happy flea than a beaten and bruised one.
Of course, we believe we are saving ‘our people’ (and ourselves) from the pain and heartbreak of ‘failure’. After all, the brain’s default setting is ‘better safe than sorry’ and over time you even stop looking up to see that the lid is no longer there - and there goes any thought about breaking out of the box for you and your business. The problem is that if you do the same as everyone else, you will be seen as the same of everyone else. You become a commodity provider where price is the key differentiator, and that is both an uncomfortable and dangerous position for any business to be in.
So, ask yourself the question…do you see those around you (and yourself) as fleas to be kept in a box or people that would happily fly to the moon and without a facemask, if you got behind them and took the lid off the box?
