My fish tank
Changing the water
Here’s a slightly odd, but thought-provoking question for you:
If you take a goldfish out of a dirty tank, scrub that goldfish clean, and then plop it back into the same tank … is the goldfish actually clean?
Sure, there are a lot of things wrong with this. Starting with: do not ever scrub a goldfish!
But despite its logistical flaws, this metaphor has stuck with me since my days in training.
Originally, it applied to organizations: asking employees to change while keeping everything else — the culture, the systems, the expectations — status quo.
And it can apply to you, too.
Because the bigger (probably more real) question is:
How do you make changes to bring out your best when the world around you … isn’t exactly helping?
(Which I get is a loaded question, considering all the things I would like to change in the world right now!)
So here’s a gentler entry point, using my own example …
In my office, I’ve got different spaces for different versions of me.
I have my writing chair for when I want to be a writer.
Across the room is a space with my journal. This is for the mornings when I draw a little, reflect a lot, and just … create. That’s where I’m a creator.
And then there’s my computer. It’s where I do the “boring” things like emails and admin … but it’s also where I get to connect with Conspirators and my team, and I can be a teacher, collaborator, and performer.
Having these spaces and objects reminds me of who I am (and who I want to show up as) … and they help me inhabit the best version of myself.
So here’s your question:
What would “changing the water” look like for you?
It can be small … like making one tweak to your environment. A mantra on a post-it note or a new angle for your desk.
It can be something much much bigger … like changing jobs or moving to a new community.
But most likely, it’s something in between.
Whatever the scale, the point is to think about the environment you need to thrive. The context and support you want to grow. The people you want to connect and collaborate with.
Just thinking about that is the first step. And moves toward it are next. (And don’t forget to celebrate the moves you’ve already made/are making!)
I’d love to hear what this brought up for you.
