“If we can measure it, we can do it faster.”“If we can put it in a manual, we can outsource it.”“If we can outsource it, we can get it cheaper.”“The end results are legions of frustrated workers, wasted geniuses each and everyone one of them, working like automatons, racing against the clock to crank out another policy, get through another interactions, see another patient. It doesn’t have to be this way.” (Godin)
Robert has been reading this book called Linchpin Are You Indispensable? By Seth Godin. Me personally, I’ve been reading The Millionaire Next Door. It is also a good book, but written a bit more like a text book. Very research oriented (which is good, but it takes a while to read). Rob’s book I think is remarkable.
Yes, this blog shall be about Rob’s book because it has really got me thinking. We’re both pretty focused on being indispensable at our jobs so that we can ‘go some place’ and become successful. Of which, let’s get this straight, Robert and I are pretty focused on our careers right now. That is not the case with everyone that I know or necessarily how it should be. It is simply how we are at this time in our lives. I mean, I gotta have a reason not to cook, right?!
I should probably add a disclaimer—I have not read the whole book. I’m trying to let Rob get through it before I take it over. I tend to read about 3 pages to his one, so we can’t read it together either. I’ve only read bits and pieces that Rob has told me to read.
According to the book, “There used to be two teams in every workspace: management and labor. Now there’s a third team: the linchpins. These people figure out what to do and when there’s no rule book. They delight and challenge their customers and peers. They love their work, pour the best selves into it, and turn each day into a kind of art. Linchpins are the essential building blocks of great organizations. They may not be famous but they’re indispensable. And in today’s world they get the best jobs and the most freedom.”
Now, doesn’t that sound nice: “They love their work, pour the best selves into it, and turn each day into a kind of art.” I sit here and wonder, do I do that? Do you? Do you always pour everything you got? Do you love getting into work each day?? So much so, that it’s like a work of art when people watch you?? I’d like to say yes, but I’m an auditor. I don’t know how much art can be created here? But, I’d definitely say that there are some days that I look at an audit report that I’ve written and am like.. “Gosh, that is a work of art.” Maybe not in those exact terms, but after a difficult job I can know what its like to look back and say, “Damn, I did good.”
But… I’m not here to psychoanalyze my job or anything. There’s a better part of this book I want to talk about. Something that I’m finding I’m truly passionate about. Being great. I want you to be great and I want myself to be great. I don’t like it when people tear you down and don’t build you up. School was tough for me until I got to college, where I decided I wanted to do something great and make my mark on my school. And I’m doing my best to make my mark on BKD. So.. here’s my blog… And it kind of goes like this. “Every day I meet people who have so much to give but have been bullied enough or frightened enough to hold it back. It’s time to stop complying with the system and draw your own map. You have brilliance in you, your contribution is essential, and the art you create is precious. Only you can do it, and you must.”
So, what happened to us?? Why can’t we all be brilliant and are usually rule-followers? Why don’t we step out of the box, make our own rules, and just be who we want to be?! As the book points out, “Kids can do anything (except fly, which they really truly want to do). Very few of us set out to be average or to be typical. Then, somewhere along the way, the indoctrination kicks in and we start looking for a place to hide. We try to find a place where no one will discover how truly mediocre we actually are. We want steady work, something that smoothes out the bumps, a sinecure that will protect us. […] The typical indoctrinated response is that great work and great art and remarkable output ate the domain of someone else. You think that your job is to do the work that needs doing, anonymously."
Well folks, the book says it and I believe it… how is it that we have all become average when all had these great big dreams as kids? But I truly believe that we are all capable of greatness and remarkable in our own right. Don’t ever let someone tell you aren’t.
But, how did we get to these feelings? We all have them, some more than most, sure. “I don’t want to call attention to myself.” “I don’t want to get into trouble for breaking the rules.” “I always follow directions, but why am I not getting the raise that I know I deserve?” “How do I get my teacher/boss to notice that I’m above his/her average worker?”
The book says a lot of our “don’t vear off the path set out in front of you” starts from our schooling. And I think the author has a heck of a point. Additionally, “we remember what we learn in situations where successful action avoids a threat.” “Schools have figured this out as well. They need shortcuts in order to successfully process millions of students a year, and they’ve discovered that fear is a great shortcut on the way to teaching compliance. Classrooms become fear-based, test-based battlefields.”
Now, I’m going to stop right here for a moment. I know way is this a diss towards our teacher. I have had many a great teachers. I could not do what they do. I don’t have the patience or maybe even the heart. Teachers are awesome. 100% awesome.
However, as the book points out, “Well-intentioned teachers don’t want to do this, but the system often gives them no choice. The work of creating positive change in a classroom is daunting, and without enough time and support, it’s a tough dog.”
I think somewhere along the way, we’ve lost the idea, that we need to teach others to believe. In themselves and in others. No, I do not believe anyone deserves a hand out or for things to be given to them. I am a true believer in hard work and the American dream. Dream—I said, not right. But, I’m so tired of complacency. You don’t have to be where you are because you think, “well, I have a job and it does pay well enough.” You can be better. You can be who you want to be. Will it be hard? Will it be uncomfortable stepping out of your zone? Yes! 100% yes!!!! You might even fail. Heck, you can always go back to your complacent job if you fail, so why not give it a go? Do something big. Maybe it’s not about your job… maybe you want to get involved in a community project but none of your other friends or co-workers do that kind of thing, so you wouldn’t want to ‘call attention to yourself.’ Go do it!
I like this list that the book provides of what our school education is providing us. And after you read it, I think you’ll agree to various degrees:
1. Fit in
2. Follow instructions
3. Use # 2 pencils
4. Take good notes
5. Show up every day
6. Cram for tests and don’t miss deadlines
7. Have good handwriting (I think my husband missed this lesson)
8. Punctuate
9. Buy the things the other kids are buying
10. Don’t ask questions
11. Don’t challenge authority
12. Do the minimum amount required so you’ll have time to work on another subject
13. Get into college
14. Have a good resume
15. Don’t fail
16. Don’t say anything that might embarrass you
17. Be passably good at sports, or perhaps extremely good at being a quarterback.
18. Participate in a large number of extracurricular activities
19. Be a generalist
20. Try not to have the other kids talk about you
21. Once you learn a topic, move on
But… how do these key marks teach us to be indispensable?? How are they making you great?? Sounds like they are making you and me average. Now, there’s nothing wrong with being average if that’s what you want to be. I’m average at several things, and I’m okay with that. But there are some things I want to be great at.
The book also points out that the only two things school should teach us is:
1. Solve interesting problems
2. Lead
I never thought about school the way the book points out. But in my mind, it’s so right. I’d give anything if someone would have taught me to be a leader instead of letting me sit passively in a classroom all day. I envy the people who can take control of a room and take charge. After being in the workforce for 3 years... I’ve really seen how “Don’t challenge authority” comes into play. So many people do something because someone told them to and then don’t think about it. What if you have an idea to make this process faster? More efficient? Or just invent a whole new idea because the old one was archaic and no longer necessary?! That will never get out if you don’t challenge those above you. Now, that doesn’t mean go in and just start challenging others and creating frustrations. I often notice myself just doing things because someone told me to. But why am I doing those things? Maybe I need to be a linchpin and crack open the door a little for some good ideas to flow out.
I also hate asking questions. I’ve developed good research skills just so that I don’t have to ask questions. I hate that sometimes. I usually feel like asking questions makes me stupid. Maybe I should already know the answer?? Why am I like this?? No idea… but I guess over time it was somewhat ingrained in me. My family members are just the same way as well. We shouldn’t be like that. How can we be great if we don’t understand and are too afraid to ask questions to be great?
I’m becoming passionate about breaking these barriers. About being who we were meant to be. And I think that to get to be great, you have to know how you became mediocre which has led me to this blog.
Besides school, the book points out that Corporations also strive to make us average. Think about it from their standpoint: “Let’s say you’re the boss, the guy with the map, the person generating jobs and taking profits. You have a business model that allows you to hire people to manipulate data or make sales or do some other task that you can write down in a manual. An exceptional performer earns you $30 for every hour he works. A good employee is worth $25 an hour, and a mediocre worker can contribute about $20 an hour in profit. If you can’t tell who’s mediocre and who’s exceptional when you do the hiring, and you want to pay everyone a standard rate, how much should you pay? Well, other than as little as possible, the answer is certainly less than $25 an hour. Probably less than $20 an hour. You want everyone employee to make money, even the mediocre ones. Which means that all your other employees are getting paid less to make up for the ones who contribute the least.”
So, as you can see… every which way we turn, people are pushing us to be like everyone else. Work harder, faster, better. But, don’t go outside the box. Just be average. But you know what, let’s not be average. Let’s not be complacent with what we’ve got. Be great—if you want to be. Believe in yourself, cuz you know what… I believe in you. I really do.
Series to continue… upcoming next, How To Be a Linchpin.
P.S. If you want to read more, I encourage to buy the book. It is a very easy read!!!!
All text in italics was copied from Seth Godin’s book… so they are his words and not mine. Didn’t want to violate any copyright laws!
No comments:
Post a Comment