To say that Americans are busy would be putting it mildly. Look no further than the average corporate soldier for proof. He/She has a Blackberry full of meetings, outings, dinners, off-sites and much more. They may be "well titled" or have no title to speak of, but you can bet their running hard.
Now here’s the million dollar question; Are they making a difference? By that I mean, are they really accomplishing anything that will have some impact after they’ve left the organization? Is it just a flurry of activity that someone else will take over when they’re released or retired?
Most people are not leaving a mark. They’ve substituted activity for true results that matter…is it any wonder why happiness has eluded them. Why are these folks unhappy? I think it has to with a part of the human core that knows they don’t have forever to leave a brilliant light behind (thank you Bernie Taupin). Why do all the meetings if nothing of significance is produced?
So what do you do if you find yourself in a predicament like the above? Here are some suggestions:
- Listen to this Seth Godin Podcast around his new book.
- Read the comments from Anon on Penelope Trunk’s Blog).
- Ask yourself what’s holding you back from doing what you want.
- If you’re married DO NOT follow your dream without your spouse.
- Any organization that’s better at meetings than producing dynamic products/service, is a company to be avoided.
In general, there are few people who understand the concept of incentives and measured performance. I absolutely detest absent-minded activities, give me performance.
I am of the believer of the doctrine that people engaging a-m activities are seeking to bury their problems rather than confront and resolve the issues.
The problem is that the majority of our labor force works on a time-incentivized compensation structure that rewards them for hours “worked.”
-Daniel
You wrote:
I think it has to with a part of the human core that knows they don’t have forever to leave a brilliant light behind (thank you Bernie Taupin).
Could you provide more info about which Taupin lyrics you are referring to?