As we wrap up this series on the “Laws of the Farm”, I’m reminded of an enduring principle when it comes to your thoughts.

• Change your paradigm in order to change the outcome.

Paradigms Over Best Practices

At the core of this principle is changing how you see the world, other people, and especially yourself. Changing your frame of reference is behind every great breakthrough because it opens up a whole new area of insight, knowledge, and understanding.

If you’re married, remember what it was like to be single. What happened to your paradigm of life when you got married? Or what changed about your views on the world after you began having children?

Or think about when you got a promotion at work and your job title changed. Or when you received a different calling at church. Or when you bought a new car.

You begin to see things differently. You view the world, other people, and especially yourself in a way that you hadn’t before.

Job to Be Done

In the early 2010’s, Harvard research professors developed a new theory titled Jobs to be done. The idea was that customers don’t buy products or services because they fall under a certain age, gender, or geographic demographic. Instead, they “hired” products or services to solve a job that arose in their life.

The classic example used in describing this theory is when these professors suggested to McDonald’s that they needed to change their paradigm. The data suggested that half of McDonald’s milkshakes were being sold to busy professionals looking for a meal that would keep them full in the mornings. Understanding this “job” would then help them innovate the product.

McDonald’s then started handing out smaller straws and putting chunks of fruit in some of their milkshakes; these busy professionals needed a drink that would last 20-minutes during their commute to work. The result of their paradigm shift, and subsequent innovation, tripled McDonald’s milkshake sales.

Nowadays, McDonalds believes they aren’t competing against other fast-food chains for the sale of milkshakes. Instead, their milkshakes compete against doughnuts, bagels, and bananas–other “to-go” options busy professionals eat in the car.

A true paradigm shift.

Takeaway

If you focus your attention on techniques, on specific practices, on “to-do” lists, on present pressures, you might make some small improvements. But if you want to move ahead in a major way, you need to shift your paradigm and see the situation in a totally new way.

Change your paradigm in order to change the outcome.

Tyler

Daily Directive

I’m challenging you right now to workout 50 days in-a-row. Here is your workout today:

Day 27 (of 50)
For time:
800m Run
100 Single Arm Dumbbell Thrusters
50 Single Arm Dumbbell Rows

Other Articles in this Series:
Laws of the Farm: Sharpening the Axe
Laws of the Farm: Sleep
Laws of the Farm: Nutrition
Laws of the Farm: Exercise
Laws of the Farm: Connection