North of the 49th | Amway

When it comes to writing, I want to be a Russian hockey player, circa 1972.

Before you think I’ve gone off the deep end, let me explain. The Russians came to the great game of hockey relatively late in life – starting in the late 1950s. Canadian hockey players at the time were firmly entrenched in believing their style was the best – straight-ahead play, dump it in and chase, fire as many pucks at the net as possible.

The Russians, however, had a blank canvas upon which to draw. They took the best of Canadian hockey, but also married it with the side-to-side play, deft passing, and patient set-ups that they brought over from their much more robust soccer experience. It wasn’t strange to see a Russian team fire the puck at the net less than 10 times a game, but those 10 times were all quality scoring chances. The Canadians may shoot 40 times, but much of that effort was wasted.

And while Canada prevailed in the 1972 summit series, it was far closer than expected. The Russians became dominant in the sport and their style was paid the ultimate compliment – the Canadians (and the rest of the world) started copying their style and adding it to their own.

That willingness to explore various styles and learn from others is integral to how I approach writing. Of course, you can’t lose yourself in the process – you have to get your house in order before you start decorating. If you don’t have the chops or the experience as a foundation for your writing, then no façade is going to hold up. I’d like to think that I have a certain style to my writing that’s fairly consistent – I just enjoy learning from others to help refine my game.

And the wonderful thing is that there are a lot of Russian hockey teams out there from which to learn.

For one, the Internet offers a seemingly unlimited source of inspiration and education. And I believe that to truly grow, one must not be afraid to go down different paths in search of knowledge.

I love to write, which is good because that’s my job. And I think I’m a good writer. What I do know is that I’m a far better writer today than I was 10 years ago – and I’ll likely be exponentially better in 10 years from today. But how? After all, I’m not learning in the traditional sense, sitting in a classroom taking notes, so how can you explain that growth?

I read — a lot. I read books (classics and contemporary), I read magazines, and I read a tremendous amount on-line. The knowledge available on the Internet is incredible, and your access to a world of writing is just a few clicks away. Of course, I read business, current events, and sports-related work, but I’ll also read entertainment, technology, and scientific blogs and reports. I’ll go highbrow — delving into a historical analysis; and I’ll go lowbrow – checking out a snarky celebrity-oriented blog.

One of the reasons? Because I can take so much from each of these writers and apply it to my own work. Many of these writers are incredibly deft at turning phrases and writing engaging hooks. Exposing yourself to that type of diversity of experience can only help you in your day-to-day job.

Yes, I’m a business writer by day. But I’ve also taken the opportunity (as evidenced by this blog and our Facebook pages) to branch out into Social Media. By night, I freelance for various publications, ranging from hockey to business writing. Plus, I have my own Web site, where I publish columns on a number of topics. All of these efforts require different writing styles, but they all complement each other nicely. I think that my business writing is improved by my hockey writing, and vice-versa.

The same can apply to business. Yes, we work in the direct-selling industry, but there are lessons to be learned everywhere – from traditional markets to TV and Web advertising. Inspiration and knowledge can come from anywhere.

I believe that the key is to hold true to what you are, give yourself that foundation and style (whether it’s how you write or how you conduct your business), and then augment it with the lessons and tips you’ve picked up through your exposure to others.

Now it’s your turn. Do you agree? How do you approach improvement, whether it’s in business, writing, or whatever your field of expertise is? Do you try to expose yourself to as many options as possible, or do you prefer to focus with laser-like precision on one path?

Comments are open. And remember – keep your stick on the ice!