It hit me yesterday during a coaching session. My client was talking about how she was dreading attending a professional meeting with her peers, academic researchers. Nothing new would be discussed.  She could see the direction that people were focusing in for their research was a bit like changing the deck chairs on the Titanic–lots of energy but little impact.  Her own research used a different approach, one that required more time, was harder to get published with, but had more application to solving real-world problems.

When I asked her what she wanted to do about her situation–being a boundary crosser, not fitting in to this professional world of her colleagues–she reflected that it is precisely her ability to see another perspective that makes her an effective researcher. As the conversation unfolded, we both realized that the solution is not in persuading her peers to think differently. It is in creating a new game.

Boundary crossers are uniquely positioned to change the game, to help whole industries and disciplines break out of the status quo.  They can see the larger picture (read: Symphony from Dan Pink’s A WHOLE NEW MIND.) 

Apple is probably the best example of game changing. Steve Jobs is the right-brainer who ventured into the left-brain world of PCs, a classic boundary crosser who doesn’t fit in with either the artists or the engineers. He didn’t try to persuade PC manufacturers to focus more on design. He went off and did his own thing.

This insight has me jazzed about what can happen with the Boundary Crosser Group Coaching pilot program. I can’t wait to see how working with a group of boundary crossers, meeting twice a month over the phone, can create more game changers in the world.

If this idea excites you as well, sign up for a free teleclass I’m holding on Monday, Sept 24, at 2pm MT. I’ll talk about the three-month program in more detail. See top of left menu bar on this site to sign up.