The End of Safety and Security

Many management and career consultants have said that the idea of safety and security in the workplace is pure fantasy now.  I would say their a little late to the party.  Life/work today, and a hundred years ago, is not safe or secure.  It was never supposed to be.

Somewhere, we began to see the organization (specifically the place we worked) as "mommy and daddy."  This made total sense since as humans in a prosperous age our desire for safety and security far outweighed our desire for risk and adventure.  With organizations making many promises (pensions, health-care, etc.), many people thought that all would be well until that magical age of sixty-five.

Then things changed, as they often do.  And like the addict who realizes that their "stuff" has been taken away, people began seeing change as the enemy.  The idea of safety and security started to ebb.  All of a sudden (or so it seemed) the mirror reflected the responsible party.  The person who would need to toughen up and grow.

Far too many organizational leaders are soft.  I know this, because I was one of them.  I went to bed at night, during my time in corporate America, hoping and believing that my great future was set.  I found time to revel in my impressive numbers (sales, money, prestige, power) and I relied heavily on my own logic.  The logic that convinces you that you're loved by the organization and that you're invincible.  I didn't toughen up and grow until I was escorted out.

Image how life would look if we didn't see things as safe and secure:

  • You wouldn't be so preoccupied with what media hurls your way.
  • Bad news would still be tough to hear, but your roots would be stronger for it.
  • You' would focus more on building a great life.
  • You would embrace thankfulness and contentment.
  • You would take more risk in your career and life.
  • Your followers would know why they're following.
  • Your regrets would be few.
  • You would leave the graveyard poor.
  • The critics would be silenced.
  • Everyday you would leave a brilliant life behind.

Advice on Life from Ted Kennedy

Kennedy

Ted Kennedy has some advice for us today; Forever Now

By now, you may know that Senator Kennedy has been diagonsed with brain cancer.  My prayers go out to him and his family as he will certainly face a tremendous challenge battling the disease.  The cold reality of Senator Kennedy's situation reminded me of the fact that we're all terminal.  He, however, has the advantage/disadvantage of knowing.

People who don't know (maybe you and I) can easily put the thought out of our minds.  We figure that our end is an eternity away.  That is a very dangerous mind-set!  It's not just dangerous because one-out-of-one person dies, but because it produces the following:

  • A delay in saying the "I Love Yous."
  • Settling for the average.
  • Substituting the intangibles with the tangibles.
  • Finding self-worth in the minds of other people.
  • A disinterest in Destiny.

So if you're in a career or a life designed by the "you need to/ought to" group, get out now!  Senator Kennedy would advise you to live "forever now."

Why Meet?

Seth Godin posts on The new standard of meetings and conferences.  The piece provides practical approaches to making meetings/conferences work.  But I’m most intrigued by the implication of how organizations accept the status que.  The practice of pretending that yesterday’s dinner is really not left-overs.

I know many people who work in organizations that have meetings and interactions without knowing why.  Maybe it falls under blind allegiance, maybe a desire to hold onto what once was. 

Ever sat in a conference or meeting and found yourself more interested in your watch? 

Acknowledged or not, many leaders are under the hypnotic spell of being ok and satisfied.

Time for some creative discomfort and dissatisfaction.

Advice for Barack Obama

This is not a political/2008 American election post.  This is some friendly/honest advice for Barack Obama.

For consistency, I’ll focus on things relating to leading.  So here goes:

  1. Embrace candor and don’t tell us what we want to hear.  I know political pundits and spin doctors would say that’s crazy, but its what most Americans want.
  2. Don’t assume that you’ve arrived or have been anointed.  Leadership is a responsibility and not a privilege.
  3. Surround yourself with people who are interested in doing the right thing, and not polling numbers.
  4. Since history will judge you by what you did and not what you said, make your decisions and carry them out.
  5. Tough roads are what make us great, so don’t shy from them.
  6. Be careful with people who are impressed by you.  Those types will tell you only what is in their best interest.
  7. Tell America what you’re for.  Anyone can say what their against.  Courage is found in the "for."
  8. Be specific, even if it costs you.
  9. Like all of us, we only get one shot at this thing called life, so make it count.
  10. There are no inside secrets.  So don’t assume anything.

The Boomers

Matthew Scott over at The Life’s Work Group posted this piece on boomer men.  It’s very telling.

I think the reality Matthew points out is really for all sexes and ages.  Boomer men are just a part of the sign post.  Many people can relate to the statistics, and many people are addicted to being entertained.

Life (and all the issues attached) is hard.  It’s a subtle temptation to desire ease, comfort and security. 

I believe all people were wired for adventure and risk.  The question always takes us back to our willingness to embrace this.

Found by the Reason

Be found by the reason and:

  • Your career will take off in ways you never imagined.
  • Your employer (even if they don’t know or understand it) will be pleased.
  • People will begin to ask questions.
  • A sense of purpose will pervade.
  • Networking becomes important because you have a story to tell.
  • You’ll discover that leadership is not soft.
  • Candor will become a tool.
  • Money and things will become less important.
  • There will be a test and you must face it.

You can choose to pass on acting on the above list.  It truly is an optional proposition.  Don’t believe in the hype/marketing that tells you to keep things on the surface.  Your circle of influence (customers, friends, family, etc.) wants more.

Chaos and Insanity = Brilliance

My friend Cyndi sent me a quote once that stated how brilliance (the light you leave behind)manifests itself after much chaos and insanity.  It is an inspiring thought, but maybe like you I’m not the biggest fan of the chaos and insanity part.

Fortunately, I picked up perseverance and have been blessed to see good results from letting the "winds" have their way.  I’m humbled and thankful beyond my greatest expectations.  That makes it worthwhile, by the way.

I am convinced that world is not as brilliant as it could be because many will not endure the chaos and insanity.  We’ve been deceived by the snake oil salesmen who tell us we should be afraid, very afraid.

Find your Destiny and you’ll discover that paying the price does not require counting the cost.

An Inconvenient Truth-Really

Having trouble in life and/or career? 

Think about the following:

  • Trouble is like fire in the furnace that removes impurities from gold-your gold.
  • Trouble is like a plow to soil being prepared for seed planting-seeds of a great life.
  • Trouble is like an inconvenient truth haunting you to move out of what’s familiar and comfortable.
  • Trouble and pain are relatives, and they both are megaphones for a deaf world (thanks to C.S. Lewis for that analogy).
  • Trouble is like a laser in a master surgeon’s hands that focuses exactly where the need is.
  • Trouble should move you to ask for help.
  • Trouble is like the rainstorm that precedes the sun and rainbow.