This is one topic I have thought about a lot over the past decade and it effects every one of us in some fashion. My disclaimer is that it is all based on my experience and observations. I certainly have no profound expertise in the area other than my own first hand experience.
I love to read. When I moved from Tennessee to Texas in 1992, I somehow got introduced to Louis L'amour, best selling author and old west storyteller. Within a year, I had completed nearly every Western he had ever written, somewhere around 100 books I believe.
One topic neatly woven into nearly every story was what was called "Riding for the Brand". Every ranch had their own brand which would uniquely identify their cattle. When a man would go to work for a rancher, it was his pledge and committment to ride for the brand, ie, the ranch owner. Paid $40.00 a month, room and board, the owner had his loyalty no matter what arose and these men would often fight and die, if necessary, out of honor and committment for their word. Ranchers, likewise, owed a great deal for such committment and took good care of their "hired hands".
From my earliest memories as a child, somewhere around 5 years old or so, we would load up the lone family car every afternoon and drive downtown to pick my dad up from work at Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company where he had gone to work in college. My father, like many of your dads and moms, retired from that same insurance company 30 something years later. (I'm not lying X'ers and Millenials, it really used to happen) Many of my younger readers are at this point asking, even if such a thing were possible, why would someone want to work at the same place for 30 years, let alone two! Hold your horses (imagery tieing this paragraph to the last), we will discuss that soon.
Here's one for you boomers and Veterans: Do you realize that the youth of today will have 17 different jobs by the time they reach 35 years of age. Pick up those teeth because I heard your jaws hit the ground! That is a true statistic and what is scary is for the 20% who defy the odds by only working 10 jobs, there will be another 20% who will work 40 something. Think on that one a minute!
This mutually beneficial relationship between employee and employer existed in America from the 1880's (actually much earlier than this) until it began to erode sometime in the 1980's. 100 years! That's a long time, my friend. But as I mentioned, certain events and trends (which I will not even try to explain, since I'm not sure what they are) triggered an erosion in trust and partnership between boss and worker right around this time period.
It is my proposition that the loss of trust and committment between worker and employer has had a very negative impact upon the workplace. As Stephen R Covey claims in his book "The Speed of Trust", trust is foundational in relationships and a key attribute that must exist to allow humans to move beyond a certain baseline level in our relationships of any sort. With trust generally missing today, we have nullified a key ingredient in our abilities to move to deeper relational levels at which greater things begin to occur. Jim Collins discusses crucial conversations in his best selling book "Good to Great". Crucial conversations, our ability to openly discuss tough, sometimes sensitive, issues are beneficial in cutting through hidden agendas, addressing sacred cows, or our ability to tackle tough subjects in the name of progress. I have had tremendous results using this tool but, without trust, these will rarely if ever occur. If I cannot trust my boss to push back or question him when something is not adding up, guess what? I will likely not be willing to stick my neck out and do it. But if my employees know that they can "use their voices" to ask hard questions or offer input without fear of retaliation, the climate is improved and our relationship can move to deeper measures which will yield better results and outcomes. Morale increases exponentially when an employee knows his input is valued.
To be frank, Wall Street and the unrelenting pursuit of the mighty dollar has had negative impacts as well. Employees are measured up and down and from side to side in the name of productivity gains. Employers are often guilty of not replacing vacancies but instead of dividing the duties of the departed and asking the remaining workers to shoulder those duties. This is acceptable to some point but there comes a point when it is not healthy and is not fair, especially if wages are not reflective of the increased duties. Workers are now seen as expendable and a certain level of employee churn is accepted. Job security is, by and large, a thing of the past. I understand that's the way it is and we will never go back to the atmosphere that existed in the past, but it's a shame in my book as we have lost some of the tenets which made our country great.
Lastly, we may like the new arrangement with shorter periods with the same employers or we may not. But, it is a reality and we must mentally adapt if we are to work in that environment successfully. This is difficult for people like me who tend to like stability and display loyalty to my employer. I am by nature a brand rider. Today's brand is a company logo and it leaves me a little bit empty. I'm still searching for the branding fire.
What do you think?
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Things are tough for millions right now
2009 - 2010 was a tough period for our family. I, along with 15 - 20 million other Americans, was out of work for much of that period and it was difficult making ends meet. We learned a lot through this period and thankfully I am gainfully employed again as of mid-December.
Last night, I got to thinking about the difficulties so many are going through these days. A severe recession has led to more Americans being on food stamps than at any time in our nations history. Work is scarce and our governments efforts to reverse this trend have proven largely unsuccessful. The housing crises has millions more citizens displaced, unable to afford their mortgages any longer. Many others have family problems, health problems, etc.. The list could go on and on.
As humans, I have learned that we are happiest when we take our eyes off of ourselves and put them on others. Most people I know are far more blessed than they even realize, including me. Meanwhile millions across the world continue to suffer, some losing hope that significant change will ever come.
What can I do to give someone hope? What about you? Would you join me in committing to seeking out at least one opportunity per day for the remainder of January and attempting to spread a message of hope to someone who may need it? Do you know someone out of work? Do you know someone who has given up? Someone recently divorced? Someone having financial challenges? Would you make one positive interaction a day a priority and bring some light to someones world? Would you just look for such an opportunity with someone you may pass on the street? It may just take a smile or a hug. Perhaps someone needs some financial help. Maybe it's a meal for a homeless person. Whatever it is, would you join me in taking my eyes off of myself and looking to help another who needs it worse than you? I think we will see that, in doing so, we will be a blessing to someone else but will likely me blessed more ourselves as a result of giving. As a friend of mine said, "Hope for the hopeless, help for the helpless, strength in the weakness". And from me, "God bless you for making a difference!"
Last night, I got to thinking about the difficulties so many are going through these days. A severe recession has led to more Americans being on food stamps than at any time in our nations history. Work is scarce and our governments efforts to reverse this trend have proven largely unsuccessful. The housing crises has millions more citizens displaced, unable to afford their mortgages any longer. Many others have family problems, health problems, etc.. The list could go on and on.
As humans, I have learned that we are happiest when we take our eyes off of ourselves and put them on others. Most people I know are far more blessed than they even realize, including me. Meanwhile millions across the world continue to suffer, some losing hope that significant change will ever come.
What can I do to give someone hope? What about you? Would you join me in committing to seeking out at least one opportunity per day for the remainder of January and attempting to spread a message of hope to someone who may need it? Do you know someone out of work? Do you know someone who has given up? Someone recently divorced? Someone having financial challenges? Would you make one positive interaction a day a priority and bring some light to someones world? Would you just look for such an opportunity with someone you may pass on the street? It may just take a smile or a hug. Perhaps someone needs some financial help. Maybe it's a meal for a homeless person. Whatever it is, would you join me in taking my eyes off of myself and looking to help another who needs it worse than you? I think we will see that, in doing so, we will be a blessing to someone else but will likely me blessed more ourselves as a result of giving. As a friend of mine said, "Hope for the hopeless, help for the helpless, strength in the weakness". And from me, "God bless you for making a difference!"
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
The older I get.....
... the more I find myself thinking about what is important in life:
You know, sitting here thinking, life used to be about having fun. Living moment to moment, day to day. Looking forward to that next event, party, function at school or work, trip or vacation, get-together with friends. While there is nothing wrong with any one of these things, I have noticed recently that my values have begun to change. Although I still like to have a good time, I have begun to believe that life is somehow about much more than these things.
The law of diminishing returns dictates that the thrill or excitement that we get out of something is slightly reduced each time we repeat it. Therefore, if we hope to keep the thrill or challenge as high as it once was, we need to push a little harder - add a little more - escalate the challenge a little higher. Is it simply that I have been to enough parties, taken enough trips, accomplished enough goals in business and now these things no longer motivate me the way they once did? I don't believe so. I look at friends both in real life and on facebook and many seem to very much still be living and thinking the way I once did.
Is it possible that God is working on me, trying to show me that there is much more to life than the things I used to value so highly? That's exactly what I believe it is. While I still enjoy each of those activities discussed earlier, none of those seem to motivate me like they did prior. What seems to motivate me now is simply doing my best to make a difference in people's lives. Being nice to that person who nobody else seems to be talking to, offering a kind word and a pat on the back to the physically challenged person in the wheelchair, waiting to hold the door for the mother with a child in her arms, sharing a word of encouragement and motivation to the job seeker at work who has given up finding work, etc.. Nothing glamorous by any means, but enough.
I find that God just wants me to be content with who He made me to be and to seek to be more like Him. I have no real desire to impress others with certain accomplishments, I do not need to keep pushing to make more and more money so I can have more and more stuff. If you have not realized it, the more "stuff' you have, the more worries you have. (I threw that in for free) I think maybe that I am maturing spiritually and I am enjoying that. I did not so much enjoy some of the hard lessons that I have gone through to get here but they have been worth it. I certainly have not arrived and have plenty yet to work on, more than I probably know.
Anyway, just a few of my thoughts. I'm a work in progress.
Jim
You know, sitting here thinking, life used to be about having fun. Living moment to moment, day to day. Looking forward to that next event, party, function at school or work, trip or vacation, get-together with friends. While there is nothing wrong with any one of these things, I have noticed recently that my values have begun to change. Although I still like to have a good time, I have begun to believe that life is somehow about much more than these things.
The law of diminishing returns dictates that the thrill or excitement that we get out of something is slightly reduced each time we repeat it. Therefore, if we hope to keep the thrill or challenge as high as it once was, we need to push a little harder - add a little more - escalate the challenge a little higher. Is it simply that I have been to enough parties, taken enough trips, accomplished enough goals in business and now these things no longer motivate me the way they once did? I don't believe so. I look at friends both in real life and on facebook and many seem to very much still be living and thinking the way I once did.
Is it possible that God is working on me, trying to show me that there is much more to life than the things I used to value so highly? That's exactly what I believe it is. While I still enjoy each of those activities discussed earlier, none of those seem to motivate me like they did prior. What seems to motivate me now is simply doing my best to make a difference in people's lives. Being nice to that person who nobody else seems to be talking to, offering a kind word and a pat on the back to the physically challenged person in the wheelchair, waiting to hold the door for the mother with a child in her arms, sharing a word of encouragement and motivation to the job seeker at work who has given up finding work, etc.. Nothing glamorous by any means, but enough.
I find that God just wants me to be content with who He made me to be and to seek to be more like Him. I have no real desire to impress others with certain accomplishments, I do not need to keep pushing to make more and more money so I can have more and more stuff. If you have not realized it, the more "stuff' you have, the more worries you have. (I threw that in for free) I think maybe that I am maturing spiritually and I am enjoying that. I did not so much enjoy some of the hard lessons that I have gone through to get here but they have been worth it. I certainly have not arrived and have plenty yet to work on, more than I probably know.
Anyway, just a few of my thoughts. I'm a work in progress.
Jim
Life can change in a hurry brother! November 2010
How do you define yourself? In what do you take pride and gain confidence? Your job or occupation? Children, spouse, friends? A hobby? Your house, car, earthly possessions? Your church or relationship with Christ?
I want to challenge you along with myself as I recant a few recent experiences.
Nearly 16 months ago, I lost my job. Most of you would have considered it a very good job. Our family had lived quite comfortably as an upper middle class family for close to 20 years. I worked hard with a healthy amount of stress in my professional roles and we really did not want for a whole lot. God had blessed us.
For the past 16 months, myself and 15,000,000 other Americans have been either unemployed or underemployed. Because of the severe recession, many very employable people, including myself, are unable to simply walk out and find a job as we could do in normal economic times where unemployment is around 3-5%. Dealing with this has been difficult psychologically and from an income standpoint, among others.
We have had to take a hard look at our priorities and actually, (hang on to your hats) begin living with a budget. This has been the toughest period of my life and yet, an experience I'm coming to believe that I would not trade.
God has been teaching me things that it took putting me here to get me to listen. I'm learning to depend on Him to meet our day to day needs whereas that has never been necessary before. As a result, my faith in Him has grown considerably. It has not been fun but it has been good. Isn't that a strange combination?
I have learned that bad things do happen to good people. In fact, the bible tells us we will experience tough times. This goes for believers and unbelievers as well. "Into every life a little rain must fall". Being "down and out" forces Christians to look up. At some point, when we come to the end of ourself, there is simply nothing left to do but look up and yell for help. I've learned that when we do, He is there.
I have learned that we as Americans have our priorities way out of order. Many of us with credit card debt, living above our means. Far more clothes and shoes in the closet than we need. Mortgages that stretch our pocketbooks all in the name of getting as much as we can to keep up with the Jones's. I have been guilty of these things.
I have learned that there are millions of people out there hurting amongst us. People losing homes, families breaking up. Do you realize there are people taking their lives over this stuff? This experience has given me a new appreciation for how they feel. Do you know what it's like to go through something like this?
I have had it reinforced that it's not what you know but who you know. Sad but true.
I have learned that there are only a few people who "really care". Oh, people will offer to pray but how many actually hurt for you? How many take the time to slow down and really care? Have you checked on a friend who is out of work this week, if only to offer a kind word of encouragement? Have you offered to help them out a little financially during this tough time? If you are in a position to do so, wouldn't God have you do so? What are you waiting on?
I have learned that the church (on the whole) is particularly negligent in knowing what it's members are going through and actually doing something to help. We have deferred Jesus commands to meet our brothers and sisters needs to the Government who cannot do this nearly as effectively or compassionately as the church could be. Do we leave it up to the church staff to know about these things and react to them? I've been guilty in this area.
I have learned that it's up to me to make a difference. As with everything in life, we can know about things but until we have experienced it, we do not appreciate the situation in the same way that someone who has lived it can. As a result of what I am experiencing, I am committing now to assist others. I know what it's like.
Christians - What tough lessons have we learned individually? Have you lost a job, a spouse, a child? Been through a divorce? Been betrayed by a friend? These are all tough realities of life that are difficult to get past. Are we using that experience to meet a like need in someone else's life? I have learned that this is one area I will be able to help others in the future and I commit to doing so starting now.
And, if you don't have a relationship with Christ, please know He loves you and wants that. I could not be as positive that I will get through this without a God who has been there all the way for me. He alone gives me hope and a reason to fight on and make a difference with others. He alone is the reason that I now say I am glad I am going through this experience. I will also be glad when it ends but I will never forget.
God bless you all my friends. Let's make a difference in someone's life today!
I want to challenge you along with myself as I recant a few recent experiences.
Nearly 16 months ago, I lost my job. Most of you would have considered it a very good job. Our family had lived quite comfortably as an upper middle class family for close to 20 years. I worked hard with a healthy amount of stress in my professional roles and we really did not want for a whole lot. God had blessed us.
For the past 16 months, myself and 15,000,000 other Americans have been either unemployed or underemployed. Because of the severe recession, many very employable people, including myself, are unable to simply walk out and find a job as we could do in normal economic times where unemployment is around 3-5%. Dealing with this has been difficult psychologically and from an income standpoint, among others.
We have had to take a hard look at our priorities and actually, (hang on to your hats) begin living with a budget. This has been the toughest period of my life and yet, an experience I'm coming to believe that I would not trade.
God has been teaching me things that it took putting me here to get me to listen. I'm learning to depend on Him to meet our day to day needs whereas that has never been necessary before. As a result, my faith in Him has grown considerably. It has not been fun but it has been good. Isn't that a strange combination?
I have learned that bad things do happen to good people. In fact, the bible tells us we will experience tough times. This goes for believers and unbelievers as well. "Into every life a little rain must fall". Being "down and out" forces Christians to look up. At some point, when we come to the end of ourself, there is simply nothing left to do but look up and yell for help. I've learned that when we do, He is there.
I have learned that we as Americans have our priorities way out of order. Many of us with credit card debt, living above our means. Far more clothes and shoes in the closet than we need. Mortgages that stretch our pocketbooks all in the name of getting as much as we can to keep up with the Jones's. I have been guilty of these things.
I have learned that there are millions of people out there hurting amongst us. People losing homes, families breaking up. Do you realize there are people taking their lives over this stuff? This experience has given me a new appreciation for how they feel. Do you know what it's like to go through something like this?
I have had it reinforced that it's not what you know but who you know. Sad but true.
I have learned that there are only a few people who "really care". Oh, people will offer to pray but how many actually hurt for you? How many take the time to slow down and really care? Have you checked on a friend who is out of work this week, if only to offer a kind word of encouragement? Have you offered to help them out a little financially during this tough time? If you are in a position to do so, wouldn't God have you do so? What are you waiting on?
I have learned that the church (on the whole) is particularly negligent in knowing what it's members are going through and actually doing something to help. We have deferred Jesus commands to meet our brothers and sisters needs to the Government who cannot do this nearly as effectively or compassionately as the church could be. Do we leave it up to the church staff to know about these things and react to them? I've been guilty in this area.
I have learned that it's up to me to make a difference. As with everything in life, we can know about things but until we have experienced it, we do not appreciate the situation in the same way that someone who has lived it can. As a result of what I am experiencing, I am committing now to assist others. I know what it's like.
Christians - What tough lessons have we learned individually? Have you lost a job, a spouse, a child? Been through a divorce? Been betrayed by a friend? These are all tough realities of life that are difficult to get past. Are we using that experience to meet a like need in someone else's life? I have learned that this is one area I will be able to help others in the future and I commit to doing so starting now.
And, if you don't have a relationship with Christ, please know He loves you and wants that. I could not be as positive that I will get through this without a God who has been there all the way for me. He alone gives me hope and a reason to fight on and make a difference with others. He alone is the reason that I now say I am glad I am going through this experience. I will also be glad when it ends but I will never forget.
God bless you all my friends. Let's make a difference in someone's life today!
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