Corporate vs Passion…is it possible to inspire full time employees to their full potential?
Recently, I was lucky enough to enjoy an evening with former co-workers. I am very grateful for this, as I very much respect and admire a great number of the individuals that were there. They are, by far, the most laid back, funny, intelligent, and just plain awesome people I have had the pleasure of working with over the past 20 years. I’ve been away from the corporate environment for going on two years now. After not seeing my former co-workers for this period of time, and after two years of growth, exploration…and finally….beginning to ‘find myself’, it was incredible to speak with them again - outside the corporate setting and to really see them in a new light.
This started me thinking about their work environment, and remembering what that was all like. I wonder how much of their time is spent on their passions or following whimsical ideas, or moments of creative inspiration they are all incredible capable of? How much time is spent in meetings? Corporate processes? Time sheets? Dotting their i’s, crossing their t’s? Waiting for Friday afternoon or lunch? Trying to get rolling on Mondays? Constant interruptions? How many of them jump out of bed at 4:30 am because they can’t wait to get rolling on all the ideas dancing about in their head. So much talent and time wasted…..
I won’t go on about workplace passion. I’ve ranted about it in a previous blog. I wonder if it’s possible to inspire this in old-school corporate. I don’t think it is. There’s a company in town that prides itself on hiring people with the ‘entrepreneurial spirit’. Sounds pretty. In the end - they’re still making someone elses dream come true. The new 37signals book, Rework, goes on about everything I’ve taken issue with in the old-school corporate setting. I think the old model is broken, and it’s time for change.
A new found friend of ours is always on about urban sprawl, and going back to the village and such. As much as urban planning has to do with it, businesses also have to change. Going ‘green’ is a great pr campaign. What about changing how you do business to inspire passion, and perhaps building a village? All this will naturally move us away from sprawl and bring us back to the village. A couple of ideas here:
1. everyone living out their passions as independents
2. picking and choosing your clients only based on whether or not both your passions are in line
If we all did that, we’d naturally find people we want to share our passions with. Products would be richer, customers would be happier, and life experiences would be incredible! And we wouldn’t be spending so much time on the muda that drives us to dread Mondays, and look forward to Fridays like they’re some kind of oasis. For what it’s worth, Fridays and Mondays mean nothing to me anymore. It’s just another day of passion.
Without signing a contract as a kept employee, we leave ourselves open to experience new and wonderful passions that others have. Best of all - we leave ourselves open to HELP others with their passions, and not be enslaved and coerced into making their passions a reality. And they will do the same for us. This would help corporations as well because the quality of ‘work’ (passion) they would get from people would just be insane!
When you’re no longer wasting time on muda like which desk you get, how many weeks of vacation you’ve negotiated, your title on your useless business card, you’re free to actually HELP and do the passion you are meant to do.
We could do this in our communities, and possibly already do here in town. Although, I’m seeing start ups being pressured into running business the old way. Maybe everyone should use Rework as their business model. Maybe more people should write books on how their business model doesn’t follow the old-school ways. Sir Branson certainly did…and WOW! He really rocked my world.
Being a polymath is a wonderful thing. You help when the passion hits you, and move out (and on) when it’s gone. Passion rarely happens between 9 and 5. Or during the stand up meetings, or in the board room. It happens when you’re charged up about life…and LIVING life…not chained to a desk.
Corporations need to set their people free. New businesses need to follow their heart and not worry about VC’s and doing business the old way. Just because it’s been done that way for the last 50 years, doesn’t make it gospel. Read Branson, read Rework….these are great starting points. Most of all, follow your heart. These guys don’t have all the answers, but they are far closer than typical corporate dysfunctionality.
Social media sites are the bomb - check out Gary V’s CrushIt. Spectacular! The collective consciousness I found on Twitter (and I mocked it regularly before I was blown away by the power of it, and the amazing people on it!) blows my mind. What we could accomplish as humans is unimaginable if only we could tap into the collective conscious and cut out the muda.
Speaking of passion – this post is lacking a bit today. It’s a Saturday, and all three kids are home from school….they’re breaking into my thoughts with incredible speed and precision. Not to mention the fact that today is not a work out day, so my brain isn’t in typical overdrive. The thoughts are there, but the passion is less than stellar.
Regardless, I hope I made some sense. I’ll probably revisit this topic when the passion actually hits me and I have some peaceful reflective time.
‘Til then…..zenfully….Namaste
