How can I influence my friends to think Lean?

When I mentioned Lean philosophy to my friends they smiled and said that they thought there was something wrong with me. They were skeptical as of course they had never heard about this before. After this meeting I felt demotivated and hesitant to even try it. Maybe they’re right and it’s just a waste of time to even try to think Lean. I don’t have any specific problem in my life; I just wanted to try something new which could be beneficial in the future.

Unfortunately this is a common issue. I understand that your friends’ opinions do count; however, you need to decide what you want to achieve in your life and what your personal goal or dream is. Demotivating factors occur from time to time and you might feel that no one understands you, but you hold something powerful in your hand – the willingness to learn new things, and an approach which could make you even more successful and happier in the future. The things you do today will affect your tomorrow. The question is how to achieve your goal or dream. Lean is about how to achieve your goals simply because it is focused on ‘value-added’ things which make a difference in your life. Who wants to waste their time or money? You can develop a basic understanding and start to have a Lean mindset by going through each chapter and applying it in daily practice immediately. Your friends will notice the difference so that even without words they will see what Lean is about, why it is beneficial and how far you got with it. Success will follow your journey; never give up. Be a positive role model, influence and success story for your friends.