The Veteran Rookie Mindset
Renee’ and I are watching “The Rookie” - a new TV show starring Nathan Fillion. I didn’t expect to like it. But I do.
The premise is a guy joins the police force in mid-life, along with a crew of millennials. Of course, he’s a rookie. But he’s not a rookie.
He faces the steep learning curve of being a beat cop.
At the same time, he brings emotional maturity to the table. Something his younger colleagues are not so well versed in. A rookie at work, a veteran at life. It makes for interesting and relatable tension.
I’ve had to be a rookie at least once every decade of my working life thus far.
20’s - Everyone’s a rookie
30’s - Rookie Pastor
40’s - Rookie cross-cultural development
50’s - Rookie personal developer and consultant
A veteran at life. A rookie on the job.
Here’s the mindset necessary to make it:
- I have a lot to learn
- I am not the smartest person here or the most experienced person here (even if I’m the oldest.)
- I can always get better.
- As a rookie with experience in other areas, it’s possible to leverage that experience to somewhat lighten the learning curve.
- Don’t think too highly of your experience. Remember, you’re an intern again.
- I provide emotional maturity and stability to my colleagues if I choose to walk in it.
- I don’t have anything to prove.
- I’m not competing with anyone.
- I bring more wisdom to the room than I think.
- People much younger than me bring more wisdom to the room than I think
- Own mistakes and their consequences. Embrace them as learning opportunities.
- Don’t make excuses.
- Don’t step into the whirlwind and drama that tends to attract folks younger than you.
- Act appropriately to my age
- Don’t be a judgemental glass of sour milk.
- Be teachable - especially when it comes to technology, new skills, policies, etc.
