06:24
Faizan
While I'm driving on the highway, I often find my compact car hemmed in by high-powered sports cars proceeding at well below the speed limit, despite having engines that could easily speed up to 140 miles per hour. What's with that?
Well, many people are more interested in putting on a show than in actually accomplishing more. These drivers probably want to have the fastest look at the curb, rather than on the road.
Consider, instead, that in many business activities performance ultimately counts for much more than appearance.
If you've been working in a business for any length of time, you probably have lots of good ideas for improving it. However, many such ideas are never implemented. That's because some people are completely satisfied by just knowing that they could potentially do something better than their leaders.
Other people like to gain a little credit for their thinking. They may share a few of these insights over coffee or a beer after work with family and friends.
More adventuresome people will actually tell a coworker, and they may enjoy a laugh or two by pointing out something silly that the bosses do.
Occasionally, someone comes along who would like to see what can be accomplished and shares his or her views about improvements with a supervisor. That's an important step that often feels uncomfortable.
It's hard for an individual to gauge what a supervisor will do as a result of such a conversation, and there can be unpleasant consequences such as receiving an angry hearing... or even being disciplined in some way.
Even when superiors are discouraging, a few people keep making new suggestions. When one of the ideas attracts support, something magical can begin to happen: Instead of just being someone who is doing a job in the prescribed manner, the employee becomes someone who sees the job as providing potential for doing something far better.
Someone who keeps identifying successful improvements will at some point be seen as a person who could help lead desired changes. Such people are hard to find, and organizations usually treasure them.
Eventually, such an improver may realize that many organizations need assistance in identifying needed changes and leading them into practice... and will compete to get the help they need. Why not launch a business to do that?
While looking for more opportunities, such a person soon becomes aware of the value of adding knowledge, skills, experience, and credentials for attracting more business. With enough of these added resources, a vibrant career can be launched as an independent professional. At that point, someone who is excited by such work can seek to do all the business he or she can handle.
Well, many people are more interested in putting on a show than in actually accomplishing more. These drivers probably want to have the fastest look at the curb, rather than on the road.
Consider, instead, that in many business activities performance ultimately counts for much more than appearance.
If you've been working in a business for any length of time, you probably have lots of good ideas for improving it. However, many such ideas are never implemented. That's because some people are completely satisfied by just knowing that they could potentially do something better than their leaders.
Other people like to gain a little credit for their thinking. They may share a few of these insights over coffee or a beer after work with family and friends.
More adventuresome people will actually tell a coworker, and they may enjoy a laugh or two by pointing out something silly that the bosses do.
Occasionally, someone comes along who would like to see what can be accomplished and shares his or her views about improvements with a supervisor. That's an important step that often feels uncomfortable.
It's hard for an individual to gauge what a supervisor will do as a result of such a conversation, and there can be unpleasant consequences such as receiving an angry hearing... or even being disciplined in some way.
Even when superiors are discouraging, a few people keep making new suggestions. When one of the ideas attracts support, something magical can begin to happen: Instead of just being someone who is doing a job in the prescribed manner, the employee becomes someone who sees the job as providing potential for doing something far better.
Someone who keeps identifying successful improvements will at some point be seen as a person who could help lead desired changes. Such people are hard to find, and organizations usually treasure them.
Eventually, such an improver may realize that many organizations need assistance in identifying needed changes and leading them into practice... and will compete to get the help they need. Why not launch a business to do that?
While looking for more opportunities, such a person soon becomes aware of the value of adding knowledge, skills, experience, and credentials for attracting more business. With enough of these added resources, a vibrant career can be launched as an independent professional. At that point, someone who is excited by such work can seek to do all the business he or she can handle.
Posted in: business
