(This reflective article was written on 3/17/13)
Today is March 17th – St. Patrick’s Day. I am a second generation, American-Irish gal married, raising a family and working (thank God) during these very uncertain economic times. As soon as I read this out loud to myself, I laugh! Why should my life, my relationships, my financial difficulties be any more significant than anyone else’s? They’re not…
Yet, we’re a society that’s living at an all-time high of “divorce”. I’m not just talking about marriage either. I mean we’re literally divorcing from ourselves and the world. When life gets a little “too hard” to deal with – we bail.
As I continue to say, “We’re at the cross roads of cultural and generational change.” We no longer live our lives from the sole mantra of “listen and follow directions”. (Quite frankly, I’m sick of being a good girl.) We’ve swung in the other direction… now it’s all about empathetic listening, expressing how we feel, and having a “healthy” work environment. (Go ahead try to find the exact definition of healthy.) The truth is living life from either extreme will result in inertia – i.e. resistance or disinclination to motion, action, or change. This is where we’re at, and as a consequence, we’ve lost our fight for life and our relationships. We do what works for us.
Now think of the impact this philosophy has had on corporate American business. You don’t have to be an Einstein to know that U.S. economic growth is stalled and dying a slow death against a global market.
So what is the BIG problem that we all can’t seem to deal with? It’s called EGO.
Solution? Get your fight on for RIGHTEOUSNESS!!
Stop acting like an egotistical moron! If you’re a decision maker…stop acting like God, Master of the Universe or some other celestial being. Remember the minions in the movie Despicable Me? Yeah, well they made things happen. Stop treating people like you own them. Establish relationship, mentor, and lead; flex your attitude to allow for human error. Stop cutting payroll expenses trying to manipulate the bottom line; it will only give you short term gains. Make decisions that are righteous and support the whole. You can’t control financial outcomes. You can BE A FEARLESS LEADER. Keep the faith in your people and trust that they’ll get the job done!
Stop being a cry-baby! Don’t think your work place is a “healthy environment”? You better check yourself before you wreck yourself. There’s never going to be a time or place in life where the human condition doesn’t want to control….either through force or avoidance. This is our spiritual nature and we’re born either one way or the other. If you’re an anxious ridden mess, and aim to please at all costs, however, you will not earn the respect of your peers or your boss at work. No one will know what you stand for. Eventually, you will feel like you’re getting bullied. Find your voice. Use it appropriately. This will take time and much practice. Relationships require effort. With practice, respectful relationships will evolve.
Simply put, stay focused on the WE…not the ME. Stay focused on the daily goals and the mission of the company. Now that’s RIGHTEOUS!
“A family of Irish birth will argue and fight,
But let a shout come from without and see them all unite.”
