Ah, the warmth. It feels so good. Is it getting warmer? I’m not sure, but the warmth eases muscle stress. Frees the joints. And it gets warmer.Then, it’s too hot.
It could be the proverbial frog being slowly boiled. Or it could be me in the steam room.
Or it could be any of us in our organization.
How easily we don’t notice we’re not growing anymore. We’re not developing new services for our customer.
We just sort of gently slid into the routine.
Same people. We’re comfortable with them. No one around to upset things with new ideas.
We’re comfortable with the same surroundings. We enter and everything is familiar. We feel like we belong. We don’t notice the things that would turn off an outsider–or our customer.
What was our mission again? I sort of forget. I know it’s printed somewhere. Probably posted on a wall that has just become part of the environment.
It feels so good to be comfortable.
But…
Is that what we are placed here on Earth to experience? Is that what our stockholders or owners expect? Is that what our customers expect?
Or are we supposed to push through comfort? Find that place of discomfort that impels us toward fulfilling a mission.
What was that valuable service to people that gave passion to the founders?
Was it designing and making a product that will bring joy, relief, health to others?
Where are the big ideas that our technology can use to contribute to the growth and development of society?
“There are three types of people in this world: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened.”
Which are you? Are you a change agent? Or are you a frog in the pot of boiling water?
Oh man Gary! Thank you for beckoning us to step up! Beautifully said.
I’m declaring myself a change agent right now.
For those who want their business to be a powerful force for good, there is a young organization worth checking into: The Conscious Business Initiative. It started with a group of organizations formulating a declaration: Humanity’s Team, the Fowler Center of Case Western, The Club of Budapest, and the Goi Peace Foundation.
Whether you are called to join that movement or simply to step up to the full vision and value you can deliver as an individual and an organization, don’t be complacent! Be the change.