WHY NOT?

One should never allow the apparent unreasonableness of a course of action keep him or her from attempting its completion. We should accept the fact that ANYTHING is possible rather wasting time and effort convincing ourselves to accept defeat before reaching for its alternative. The measure of a solution is in its practical and economic feasibility, not its conventional wisdom or ease of accomplishment.

One cannot be lost if they do not know (nor care) where they are going. One can never fail if they have no plans to succeed. One will never taste disappointment if they have no desire to feast upon success. When we have no destination in mind, we will never reach the end of our journey, for when we do not know what “the end” looks like, we will never know to stop once we have arrived. In order to accomplish anything in life, one must accept the reality that SOMETHING is going to happen regardless of their personal involvement. To thrive, a person must dream of things not yet attained and pursue them until they become reality. To succeed, he or she must be willing to invest energy into bringing their dreams to fruition!

Identifying a solution by starting at the desired result and working backwards can help focus efforts and energies towards the resolution of a task. Starting at the end helps one anticipate lurking pitfalls and problems – allowing one to avoid blind alleys and false starts. People who achieve greatness first expect greatness then figure out how they will accomplish it RATHER THAN starting on a path having no plan or purpose hoping to reach a great destination.

To accomplish great things an individual must demonstrate a sense of determination. A successful person will never repeatedly take the easy road for it often leads towards failure. If success were truly easy, anyone could find it! An innovator will seek an alternate path leading to a different resolution when one road does not bring them to success. Often the effort needed to fail is as significant as that required to succeed! Planning and determination are keys that direct and focus effort towards the accomplishment of dreams - and that allows us to learn from our failures.

If we dare to accomplish our dreams – to be deliberate in our planning and steadfast in our follow-through - we avoid disappointment by recognizing that a temporary failure puts us no further behind than we started. We might rekindle passion for our jobs…our lives…our activities…by seeking not the probable but the possible…not the easy path but the road less traveled.

As another new year begins, toss caution to the wind by stepping outside of your box. We are vessels neither half-empty nor half full waiting impatiently until we can begin to achieve our full potential. Make a resolution to challenge convention this year – to try something different or visit somewhere new – as you bring dreams to fruition by simply asking “Why not?”

OVERCOMING OURSELVES ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS

Pogo (an early 1970’s comic strip) proclaimed, “We have met the enemy and he is us!” More than ever it seems the things we do to ourselves have a far greater impact on our lives than anything another might do to us. We live within a world of compromise – holding little as being absolute. We promote the faults and weaknesses of those around us because they allow us to look more favorably upon ourselves. We choose the path of least resistance when making decisions - being “right” or “wrong” becoming a secondary consideration to being “socially accepted.”

We once stood united in defense of country, philosophies and dreams – fighting selflessly to protect these ideals from any external force that might seek to change our way of life. We focused more upon how those “outside” threatened us – bridging the largest internal gaps with a common good – ignoring our differences to stand together. We fought to advance the whole by elevating all of its individual parts. All received their share of the harvest based upon their individual contribution to its existence rather than simply because they shared a need for the fruits of another’s labor.

Today it seems that more people seek to thrive NOT by elevating themselves but rather by bring others down. While some still seek to succeed on their own merit, far too many seek to rise to the top by climbing upon the broken dreams of others as if they were but rungs to a ladder. When did we begin to measure “right and wrong” through comparison and compromise rather than with an absolute yardstick or an unwavering moral compass? When did we begin to justify and validate our actions as acceptable by measuring them against the actions of those doing “worse?” When did it become OK to bend the rules to get what we want – when we want it – without regard to what others might want, need or expect?

What is it about our human nature that allows us to accept excuses rather than solutions – to lay blame rather than accepting responsibility? Rather than searching endlessly for external enemies, perhaps it would prove more profitable to beware “the enemy within the mirror.” The greatest threats to our existence lie not within what others might do to us but rather within what we might do to ourselves. If we choose to live within a world of comparative justification, how can we expect to find anything more than relative success?

REFLECTIONS ON CAREER ADVANCEMENT

In today’s competitive environment, employees cannot be stagnant within their job…cannot do only what has been assigned…if success, fulfillment and growth are realistic expectations. Looking back (instead of ahead), remaining content with the present (rather than building upon the present as a step into the future), and doing what works (as opposed to seeking what might work better) are all signs of terminal stagnation. To grow we should identify and nurture “the possible” rather than accepting and hiding within “the probable” AND avoid a few pitfalls that could limit your potential!

Continually upgrade your skills...refuse to accept “what is” as “what will always be.” What was once necessary to maintain a life-long job is no longer sufficient in today’s ever-changing world. An HR Professional will not survive without updating his or her understanding of current employment legislation. A production worker probably cannot be blind to automation and statistical process control techniques. Employees who “fail to know” typically fail to grow.
Do not confuse efficiency with effectiveness…or worse, keeping busy with being productive. An e-mail may be efficient, but a conversation could more effectively resolve an issue without extended “replies and clarifications.” Effective employees make sure that every investment of time and/or energy has a direct and measurable impact on their organization’s ability to conduct business.
NEVER believe you are irreplaceable. If an employee feels that nobody could EVER do what he or she does, that employee has probably limited what he or she can accomplish. If nobody else can do your job, then you never get time to do anything other than your assigned tasks. Individuals who believe they are “critical” to the Organization within their limited and specialized role do not foster growth, they simply reinforce stagnation and the acceptance of mediocrity.
Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you know all the answers. Employees who know all the questions are perhaps more valuable than those who feel they know all the answers. One can truly contribute to their organization ONLY after identifying the limitations of current systems, policies and procedures, asking questions as to how they might be improved, then moving forward towards more effective solutions.
NEVER forget (or refuse) to give credit to others…particularly when blame is assigned to others should they fail. Employees who recognize and acknowledge the ideas and actions of those who make things happen – and take the blame if things go wrong – will win loyalty, be recognized as leaders, and become vital contributors to their Organization’s growth.

Take time to plan where you are going, think about how you will get there, and maintain a realistic perspective along the way. We rarely rise to the top without occasionally sinking towards the bottom but will NEVER float upon the surface unless we are willing to enter the water.

THANKSGIVING THOUGHTS

America was built upon the belief that individuals can realize unlimited opportunity through hard work and the effective utilization of resources. Thanksgiving recognizes the sacrifice made by so many AND the relationships developed within a new land in celebrating the sweat equity invested to make the harvest possible. Some farmed, some hunted, some cooked, some served – but all shared in the feast they helped prepare. Implied within this basic tenant is that while we ARE created equally, we possess different gifts, abilities and competencies so we ARE NOT presumed to be equal in our ability to produce or achieve results.

Our “roots” establish within each of us a moral and ethical duty to PROVIDE for all – but that does not mean all are entitled to receive EQUAL treatment. While we all taste success, life is an environment of equitability rather than of equality. Our efforts do not create EQUAL results - they produce results that reflect EQUITABLY against the abilities we have developed, the intelligence we apply, and outcomes we achieve.

Our country has survived many challenges from outside our borders. We have overcome adversity, established ourselves as world leaders in almost any endeavor we chose to pursue, and shared our riches with many having less. If the greatness of our country is to survive, we must brace ourselves to overcome attacks from within – attacks on an individual’s ability to demonstrate excellence, the opportunity to reap the rewards of individual efforts, and the belief that one is limited by something other than his or her own shortcomings – by embracing the freedoms and unlimited possibilities we currently share.

As you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, consider not only the harvest but also the work that went into preparing for it. Celebrate the effort as much as the rewards. Recognize the investor as much as you do the return on his or her investment. Enjoy your time with family and friends but hold dear the hard work that made the dreams of those who came before us reality – and pray our efforts can help them continue for those who will follow.

ARE STORMS BREWING OVER WASHINGTON?

I recently returned from a Healthcare Reform Meeting in Washington – taking with me a plethora of thoughts and considerations. As part of the Aligning Forces For Quality initiative we discussed changing the way treatment is paid for, how insurance can be designed to cover all individuals equally, and what can be done to make treatment information (with outcomes) readily available to consumers. (It is interesting how change can create jobs, advance careers and provide a vacuum in which so many people choose to live.)

I talked to an individual charged with researching “how things are” so that papers can be created saying “how things should be” in an attempt to educate legislators about how to vote – yet the individual vehemently denied having any role in the policy-making process (her organization has increased from 6 employees to 136 in the past two years).

I heard a “reformed doctor” who has “seen the light” after being treated for a serious illness. Much like an individual who has quit smoking, the doctor has seen the “error in his previous ways” and is now advocating that patients serve a critical role in their own treatment.

It seems like most conventional wisdom is leaning towards changing the way medical care is paid for (by bundling payment under a single bill that encompasses all treatment, follow-up and potential complications). A heavy emphasis is being placed on “common” medical record systems that communicate to each other (though everyone currently having electronic systems wants their current system to communicate in a secure way with everyone else’s system) so that a patient can receive “portable” care. Further, more collaboration is being sought – eliminating some of the competitive mindset that healthcare providers now possess by focusing on regional solutions.

Most at the conference have concluded that a “single payer system” is inevitable – but there was very little common ground as to who would administer such a system, what it would cover and whether or not it would be a “base program” to which people could add should they have the means OR an all-encompassing system that would not create “levels” of healthcare. There were many questions with very few answers – but progress is being made towards discussing some of the best practices that are beginning to emerge.

I met with and experienced good people trying their best to wrestle with a problem out of control – but my return to “West Michigan reality” allowed me to reflect upon some thoughts about government, freedom and how things do (and often do not) get done. While I recognize and acknowledge that I am able to seek and publish quotes that define some of the feelings I experienced in Washington ONLY because our country allows us the freedom to express our thoughts and opinions more freely than any other, my visit was measured with a mix of both cynicism and optimism.

I found several quotes that serve to define feelings about Washington that linger from my most recent visit...please pause to consider them!

• You do not examine legislation in the light of the benefits it will convey if properly administered, but in the light of the wrongs it would do and the harms it would cause if improperly administered. (Lyndon B. Johnson)

• The history of liberty is a history of the limitation of government power, not the increase of it. (Woodrow Wilson)

• Nothing is more dangerous than an idea when it's the only one you have. (Emile Chartier)

• When I was a boy, I was told that anybody could become President. Now I'm beginning to believe it. (Clarence Darrow)

• Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even when there is no river. (Nikita Krushchev)

• A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have. (Gerald Ford)

• A Committee - The unwilling, selected from the unfit, to do the unnecessary. (Margaret Thatcher)

AND, a last but hopefully not least consideration…

• Due to recent cutbacks, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off until further notice.

THE ART OF LISTENING

In order to accomplish great things we must listen and learn so we can build our knowledge and experience base to initiate responsible actions. Good listening, however, involves more than waiting patiently to hear your owner's voice (as this now famous RCA dog once did) - it involves asking open-ended questions (as opposed to giving close-ended solutions), encouraging others to expand on a partially developed thought (rather than adding to it yourself), and drawing reserved individuals into the conversation (rather than accepting their silence as support). The only bad question is the question not asked – but we are often too busy listening to ourselves to hear what others have to say. We often “covertly omit” the wisdom of others more than we “overtly deny” it because we cannot act upon that which we do not hear.

It takes courage to listen. We imply a lack of knowledge when seeking input from others. We must accept that gathering information in order to make a decision is not a sign of weakness or of failure. A major failure often made is deciding on a course of action before accumulating all data and considering all opinions on the matter. We should not "question" only to seek validation of our own great ideas - to listen effectively we must wait for input from our inquiries before deciding where we want to go and how we intend to get there. If we act without listening it is better to have never asked - people will not continue to contribute when they see no personal value or gain in their contributions.

Listening involves more than simply hearing. It requires one to communicate openly and honestly, responding not only to what is being said but also inquiring into what was not fully revealed. It requires us to “hear” what is being physically communicated beyond what is being verbally stated. In life, actions speak louder than words. People say, “I care…I’m interested…I’m listening…” yet continue writing or talking on the phone without making eye contact should someone enter their office. We may actually ask the right questions but wait quietly for the answer with our arms crossed, our foot tapping, and a vacant look in our eyes. Our words seek input while our body language screams, “I don’t hear you, nor do I care!” Pay attention to the “tone” of body language when listening – we can often “hear” more with our eyes than we do with our ears.

When we ask, listen, analyze and then act, we are harnessing the collective power of those tasked to make things happen. Talk can be cheap – results, however, are priceless!

ANTICIPATE AND PLAN TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS

One must closely monitor progress and constantly identify obstacles that could hinder the accomplishment of goals if he or she wishes to succeed. Consider carefully changes to established plans or your current situation before acting, but remember that the worst possible alternative many take is unintentional inaction.

The game of chess requires many of the same thought processes as life – well planned, intentional actions (rather than "knee jerk" responses to temporary conditions) that limit potential repercussions. I remember playing chess with my dad years ago when he asked how I could respond so quickly after he had agonized over a move for nearly ten minutes. I told him he was good enough to know the few moves he could logically make that made sense – and since he reacted in a predictable and rational manner I was immediately ready with another move.

We need to plan our lives in much the same way. An individual will never reach his or her full potential should too much focus be placed upon the path taken rather than the prize at its conclusion. To taste significant success one must start with an expectation of significant accomplishment.

A rather shortsighted fellow once told me, “If you never dream, you will never fail. If you set your bar low, you will never be disappointed.” I would challenge that without an endpoint you will never know when you have arrived. While you may never be lost when you do not know where you are going, you will never know when you have found what you seek without identifying your destination in advance. Life without purpose can be eventful but is rarely satisfying. It may be full of new beginnings but is strangely at a loss for successful “ends.”