In the rapidly evolving landscape of business, marked by constant disruption and technological advancements, the ability to adapt and lead with the mindset of a life-long learner can be a major differentiator — a key to constantly disrupting the status quo. Shunryu Suzuki’s wisdom encapsulated in the quote, “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few,” holds profound relevance in today’s dynamic environment. Navigating change with a beginner’s mind is not just a choice but a necessity for leaders aiming to thrive in the face of adversity.
Here are two stories and examples of how to navigate change in 2024 with a beginner’s mind.
GENE PINGATORE: A LIFE-LONG LEARNER
When I was 28 years old we decided to run our first-ever Coaches Academy for high school, college, and pro basketball coaches. At the time there were plenty of options for basketball coaching clinics across the world, but almost all of them exclusively focused on team-based offensive and defensive strategies. Our basketball training company’s focus was on individual player development. So instead of a clinic on the X’s and O’s we ran one that focused on the Jimmy’s and the Joes — the players. We secured a gym, put together a program, and started to market it to coaches. I couldn’t believe the response that we got from coaches all over the world. As registrations were rolling in there was one from Saint Joseph’s High School in Chicago from a coach named Gene Pingatore. I thought to myself, “Wait a second, isn’t that the coach from the documentary Hoop Dreams, who coached Isaiah Thomas and in the McDonald’s All-American Game? There’s no way this guy, at 72 years old, who just passed the 1,000 win mark is coming to our Academy. He must have signed up some JV or freshman coach from his staff.”
The day rolled around and the coaches were lined up in the hallway of the elementary school we had rented out for the Academy. I was seated at the check-in table with the registration list and I remember this short, older coach stepping to the front of the line. As he approached I greeted him with, “Good Morning.” He responded, “Gene Pingatore, Saint Joseph’s High School, Westchester, Illinois. Really looking forward to the clinic today. I’ve never been to one like this before.”
“Holy shit”, I thought to myself, “He’s actually here.” I felt the pressure and humility at the exact same time. I couldn’t believe that he would spend his Saturday driving up to Milwaukee from Chicago to learn from some 28 year old kid. But, what he knew was this — to challenge the status quo it’s imperative he continued to grow. He liked it so much that he gave us a testimonial and five years later invited us to run our Coaches Academy at Saint Joseph’s in Chicago. He made his transition only four years after we ran that Coaches Academy. Talk about adopting a beginner’s mind and being a life-long learner.
BILL PETERSON: A GAME OF INCHES
One of my mentors from my basketball days was long-time NBA and college coach, Bill Peterson. I was introduced to him through a network of coaches and when he was an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks I used to go watch him run players through workouts either in the off-season or in their pregame workouts. In the NBA because of all the travel, they don’t practice a lot during the season and a lot of the individual skill work is done before games. Bill was one of these underground guys in the NBA. The Dallas Mavericks hired him for the sole purpose of developing the careers of two players who would go on to be Hall of Famers — Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki.
Like Coach Pingatore, Bill was also an example of someone who operated with a beginner’s mind. There would be days when I’d be in our gym working players out and I’d glance towards the seating area only to find Bill there. He’d just show up, unannounced, at our training facility to watch me work out middle school and high school kids. Of course, at the time Bill was coaching in the NBA, so it’s not like he didn’t have anything better to do. He was there to learn. Even though he was 25 years older than me and helped someone like Steve Nash become a back-to-back NBA MVP, he had the humility to show up at our gym.
I learned from him that at the highest levels — no matter the industry — it truly is a game of inches. Maybe 1/8th of an inch. And, if he could pick up one tiny little teaching point, drill, or concept it might take things to the next level with someone he was working with. His approach reminds us that success often hinges on the willingness to embrace new perspectives and insights, even when they come from unexpected sources.
CULTIVATING A BEGINNER’S MIND
Here are two prompts to consider when cultivating this mindset:
- What is a belief that I can let go of to open myself up to all possibilities?
Example: I’m currently challenging the belief that success requires absolute control. - What’s something I can commit to learning that will move the business forward? This might involve exploring external factors like talent attraction drivers or delving into personal growth for leadership development.
In conclusion, the beginner’s mind is not a departure from expertise but a mindset of perpetual curiosity and openness. One thing I’ve learned is the more I think I know the less I open myself up to possibilities. Embrace the unknown with curiosity and a beginner’s mind, for therein lies a key to transformational leadership.
