The ‘Great Unlearn’ is about letting go of mental models that no longer serve you. In a rapidly changing world, your past “successes” can become your future “barriers.” Unlearning isn’t about forgetting; it’s about actively dismantling the cognitive rigidity that keeps you repeating old patterns when they are no longer effective.
Emptying the Cup
To fill your cup with new water, you must first empty it of the old. Unlearning is the process of identifying the “unwritten rules” of your industry and daring to break them.
Identify 'The Truths'
List every assumption you currently hold about how your business or project must work.
Example: “Sales is a face-to-face business.”
- “Customers prefer traditional methods.”
- “Digital tools are just for support, not for closing deals.”
Challenge the 'Common Sense'
For every “truth,” ask: “Is this still true TODAY?”
- Truth: “Sales must be in-person.”
- Challenge: “Is this true given the global reach of Zoom? What if digital interactions could build stronger relationships by being more frequent and data-driven?”
Identify the Discard List
List the specific habits or beliefs you are now going to “unlearn.”
- Unlearn the belief that “personal connection only happens in person.”
- Unlearn the habit of relying solely on traditional sales pitches.
- Unlearn the idea that digital tools are complex and difficult.
Design the New Habit
Replace the old rule with a new experiment.
“Instead of flying out for every initial meeting, we will use interactive digital demos to close 20% of our deals remotely.”
Practice
Industry: “The Restaurant Business.” Old Rule: “A restaurant must have a physical dining room.” How does unlearning this lead to a new business model?