Broken In or Breaking Out!
11/04/02
The great American author, Robert Louis Stevenson, wrote an essay titled, "On the Choice of Profession," and, at one point, talked about the trap of finding oneself molded into life in an unexamined career: "The fellow was hardly in trousers before they whipped him into school; hardly done with school before they smuggled him into an office...and all this before he has had time so much as to imagine that there may be any other practical course. Drum, drum, drum.... The trick is performed...; the wild ass' colt is broken in; and now sits diligently scribing. Thus it is, that out of men, we make bankers."
Bankers aside, how many workers and leaders have been "broken in" instead of enlivened and encouraged to find their rightful place in a purposeful change journey. You deserve to find your place in a meaningful mission that uses your skills and excites your sense of calling and need to serve. There is nothing wrong with playing the game within established boundaries or learning common skills, but once you are playing the game people want to know that their role is significant. Where does your job feel like its accompanied by droning drums? In contrast, where do you feel the jolt of enlivening rhythms as you work? Don't let you or your team be "broken in" when your organization needs to do all it can to "break out" in new and constructive ways. Start by looking for ways to break out of the routines that don't seem to be working. Volunteer to take more responsibility on the wild side of making change work....even if you are a banker!
MONDAY'S MIRTHFUL MOMENT
Loren Ekroth supplies this weeks mirth from The Vocabula Review (their online Jan 2002 issue). Richard Lederer lays out a cornucopia of Archie Bunker sayings. You wordsmiths of any age will enjoy these tongue tangles that still can be heard on reruns:
"Why don't you write a letter to Dear Abie?"
"The Mets winnin' the pennant, that would be a miracle. Yeah, like the immaculate connection."
"I don't see why you had to drag me to her doctor, this groinocologist guy."
"The statements I made were supposed to be sub-rosy."
"Forget it. It's irrelevant. It ain't German to this conversation."
"Whoever sent 'em obviously wanted to remain unanimous."
When you keep your eyes open for mirth, you just may find it! Hope this kicks off your morning and helps get your mood adjusted for the week. Now, get busy MAKING CHANGE WORK and have some fun along the way!...