PARTING WORDS
The Expert That Lives Within Each of Us H
Jim Lee, LPC Executive Editor
aving recently attended the NRF loss prevention conference in Fort Lauderdale, I found myself thinking about everything that it takes to put together this and similar events that support the industry every year. Having attended more than most, I’m granted the unique opportunity to reflect on all of the different events, how they’ve changed over the years, and how they’ve remained the same. It always amazes me to see the way that our industry has continued to evolve, and the effort and passion that goes into building a professional presence that effectively supports the retail business.
important that we don’t sit on our laurels, and we continue to work on our skills every day. I’ve found that the finest and most successful in our business are those that, despite their knowledge and experience, remain flexible and open-minded to new possibilities. I find it very revealing to see seasoned faces sitting on discussion panels at the conferences speaking on the newest technology. It reminds us why they’ve gotten to where they are. Especially considering the way that the retail machine is marching forward, this is an important part of our industry development.
Learning from the Best
There are experts in all walks of life—those with a high degree of skill in or knowledge of a particular subject. However, a true expert understands that expertise never fully reaches a pinnacle. A pro golfer may practice eight hours a day for years to become one of the best in the world. Shot after shot builds skill, confidence, accuracy, and muscle memory as their talent grows. But with all that talent and ability, even the very best have days where they just can’t seem to hit the ball. While anyone can shank a shot or misread a green, on any given day even the pros may just struggle to find their game. So what do they do? They stick with their game, they trust in their talent, they rely on their mechanics, and they move on. If all goes well, they play better the next day and the day after that. The same type of thing can happen to any of us in loss prevention. An LP expert works countless hours for years to craft his trade and become one of the best in the world. We build our talents with hard work, practice, cooperation, and dedication. However, regardless of how hard we work to hone our skill, there are still going to be days when we have difficulty finding our game. What should we do? Stick with our game, trust in our talent, rely on our mechanics, and move on. Sometimes we don’t give ourselves enough credit. Becoming an expert at what we do is something that we earn. Talent leads the way, but honing our skills and building a career is still a process. It’s not something that evaporates just because we’ve had a bad day. Remember that the best way to stay on top of our game is to consistently work on our mechanics. That comes through in our efforts to learn, listen, and share. Conferences, training, certification, and similar offerings provide us with that opportunity. Enjoy the ride, but take advantage of the opportunities.
But for me, it’s always been about the people. Some of my oldest and closest friends are part of this community, and I thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to see and meet with them at functions like this. With many there’s a familiar history, but there’s always room for common interests and new friendships. We may tell new stories and compare notes on old ones, but we’re still there to learn, share ideas, build our programs, and improve the business.
Becoming an expert at what we do is something that we earn. Talent leads the way, but honing our skills and building a career is still a process. Remember that the best way to stay on top of our game is to consistently work on our mechanics. It’s still fun to see the new faces that appear every year and watch as they absorb everything that goes on around them. It’s fun to watch the former rookies become veterans and take their game to another level. It’s exciting and energizing to see the maturation of our newest industry leaders and watch as they work with more experienced leadership to take the industry to another level. There’s always something new to talk about, and fresh ideas to lead the way. We have so many experts in this field, and a world of possibilities to expand our reach and influence. This also reminds us of the importance of developing the expert that lives in each one of us. Some are more apt at bringing it to the surface, while others have to work at it. But either way it’s equally
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