How learning to use a compass can help you in business

If you read any of my blog posts, you probably know that I love the outdoors. I especially love hiking and kayaking. After a long, cold and snowy winter, I’m anxious for spring. I was excited to attend a recent LLBean compass reading class. I figured this would be a good thing to know for hiking.

I should also add that I am incredibly spatially challenged. I can easily confuse my right and my left.

I had a blast in this class and realized that what I learned can help me a lot in business.

Here’s how learning to use a compass can help me in business:

1. Be determined.

The night was cold and snowy and I didn’t feel like going out. It would have been so much easier to sit at home in my warm house, reading a good book. I knew that I would be glad I went once I was there, so out I went.

2. Get outside of your comfort zone.

Reading a compass used parts of my brain that aren’t normally used. Don’t ask me exactly which part, but suffice to say it’s the “spatial lobe.” (Note: I made that up.)

3. Ask questions.

Surprisingly, there were several other people in the class. Who would have thought that so many people would want to go out on such a cold night? We were all eager to learn.

The guy teaching the class knew his stuff and could probably read a compass with his eyes closed. As we were plotting points and calculating declination, I got confused. I was embarrassed at first, but then I thought I am probably not the only one. I’m glad I raised my hand.

Have you had a recent experience that helped you in ways that surprised you?

Compass photo is courtesy of Roland Urbanek’s Flickr Photostream, under Creative Commons Licensing.