Zombie Workforce...What happens when we don't matter

YOU MATTER

As a person in authority, you can always create activity. You have the power to do so, since you hold  the proverbial whip. The question isn't if the expected activity is happening on your watch, that's the minimum.  The real question is whether or not you are a leader who can engage activity.  In this depressed time of our economy where  by we have lost the gushing optimism that used to over-flow not so long ago, it has been replaced with a barricading pessimism from the hurtful lessons learned.  Over the course of these recent years, we've seen money easily slip away.  Hopefully, by now we've realized that money is only a necessary unit of trade and not what makes us matter. What good is a self-worth that can easily be taken away.  As the fallout of the economy continues, we are also seeing a human productivity fall out that goes beyond the lost homes and unemployment rate. Throughout this down turn, the workforce has lost its humanity and has been transformed into an emotionless cog. Or, at least the bean counters would like to think so.  The holy grail "bottom line" has created a fear fueled loyalty to those fortunate to be working that resembles activity, albeit minimum. A work force can only keep up the work activities in the fear of being fired for so long.  Eventually, the person loses all engagement and becomes a zombie worker.

The Armagedon of ambiguity...Canada set to drop the penny

"That will be $4.01."  Says the clerk at the store. "Oh, you don't have a penny?" "Oh well, I guess I'll just  have to round it up to $4.05." Are you ok with this? If you are Canadian, you will have to be ok with it soon.

Canada has declared that it will be dropping the penny from their currency, citing budget cut-backs and anecdotal claims that the penny only adds to clutter on our dressers. When it comes to financial transaction details, the future of Canadian money exchange between customer and clerk will come down to either the round up or cash-less option.  As it pertains to us, taking the penny out of circulation is symbolic of removing the fine print out of fundamentals.

When you lose the details, you lose the envisioned whole.  Having the principle to manage the fine details in daily living is how we build our lives on solid ground instead of ambiguity.  Ambiguity is a word that has never been associated with success or strategic. Does the Canadian removal of the penny reflect societal trends that we are now ok with living in ambiguity?

It's something to consider, because in the end, the person with the power will make sure they end up on the positive side of the rounding up phenomenon soon to come.  I don't foresee the commerce giants being "OK" with rounding down, since they know darn well that a penny earned over multiple transactions will quickly add up to millions.  The American for Common Cents, understands the broad implications for this tiny transactional tool by stating,  "The increased cost to consumers will be felt in everything from the grocery store to the gas pump. Pennies add up to millions of dollars every year for charities across the country. Simply put, the penny plays an important role in our everyday lives and in our nation's economy." Our daily penny-type actions will always add up.  While you and I may not have much influence in Canada's recent decision, however we can use this as a wake up call for our own life. Take the power position and demand that you value the details in your life, before time and ambiguity eventually add up to regret.

Win Today!

Victor

The penny principle... simple achievement overlooked

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  Big achievements always bring us great gratification.  Yet, like any good thing overdone, the caution to us all is to beware of achievement bubbles.  Like all of the bursting bubbles that we have had to endure in our recent economy, can we be allowing our mindset to be bubble blinded?  Achievement bubbles leave us feeling unfulfilled and insignificant if we aren't continually achieving "great things" relationally and professionally despite the fact that you have achieved much already.   The Penny Principle reminds us to maintain a present-mindedness about ourselves so that we don't overlook the subtle moments and opportunities in front of us that will eventually add up to a life well lived.  How do you practice the penny principle in your daily life? 

Win Today!

Victor

So where do you see yourself in 5 years?

  So where do you see yourself in 5 years?  This is a common interview question that just the other day I myself found regurgitating to a potential hire.  As the words fell out of my mouth almost effort-less like a rehearsed script, I caught myself wondering, "Now why is 5 years the magic number?"

  As someone who manages employees, I like to know what the career plans of my co-workers are so that I can help our time together be one of growth and vision. However, as I look at my personal life, I could have never have answered that question 5 years ago with absolute surety.  From my own experience, life has proven to be more unpredictable than predictable.  The 5 year plan can be a rigid trap if you aren't able to mange the ever-changing moments that we encounter each day.

  Life is happening right now for me and you. In it all, I'm learning that achieving is more about living with a vision in your heart while managing the moment with a present-minded attitude. When I do so, it has allowed me to be in tune with the personal and professional moments of life that eventually adds upon other moments that eventually equal achievement of vision.  In contrast, my regrets in life have more to do with mismanaging the moment, whereby I miss the person in pursuit of the goal. 


  Leonard A. Schlesinger, Charles F. Kiefer, and Paul B. Brown recently published in the Harvard Business Review blog network an article that considered the wonder of the 5 year-plan as it pertains to career planning.  In it they concluded that career planning is more about a "Direction based" vision fulfillment than a detailed plan. They suggest the following guides as a means of "Acting your way into the future you want (HBR, 2012)." I believe this growth-minded list of suggestions can have merit in all aspects of our personal and professional lives.

1. Determine your desire
2. Take a step toward it
3. Incorporate what you learn from taking that step
4. Take another step
5. Learn from that one
6. Repeat until you have a job, your own business, or have achieved your goal

Win Today!

Victor