“At 99 degrees, water is very hot.
At 100 degrees, it boils.
And with boiling water, comes steam. And with steam you can power a locomotive.
And, it’s that ONE extra degree that makes all the difference.”
-Max Anderson
“Good enough” is often a statement made to condone mediocrity. It is a cover for the reality that I don’t want to make the effort to take it to the next level. My father used to say, “Son, if it is worth doing, it is worth doing well.”
Whatever your position in your organization, the way you do your job and the attitude with which you do it determines the impact that you have.
We forget that work has two primary values: 1) The character it forms; 2) The benefit it brings to others.
Work, a tool that shapes character
I like this quote: “What we become in our work is more important than what we produce.” There are four character qualities that I would like to highlight:
Diligence
The Merriman-Webster dictionary defines diligence as: “steady, earnest, and energetic effort: persevering application” Diligence is applying the “one degree” principle to whatever “my hand finds to do.” Diligence keeps us alert to detail and committed to excellence. It makes our skills very desirable.
Faithfulness
You can count on a faithful person to do what they have said they will do. The faithful person does not look for excuses to justify a broken promise. A faithful person is ruled by principle not pragmatism. A faithful person will stand with you even when there is nothing to gain.
Creativity
The creative person will release the full spectrum of their ability for the enhancement of the task at hand. All to often we allow our creativity to take our mind off what we are doing and send us on flights of fantasy. Those trips usually exaggerate our ability and reduce our productivity. Often misapplied creativity is a trip into fantasy. We need to harness our creativity so it serves the task before us.
Initiative
During the year between graduation from High School and attending college, I worked for my father in the hardware store. Our High school hockey coach and science teacher approached my dad to see if he would release me to run his garage till he could find a suitable manager. I went to the garage thinking my responsibility was to pump gas, check the oil and wash the windows. After about 4 days of work, Mr. Wilton asked me if I had done any cleaning. My reply was, “No, I didn’t think that was expected of me.” To which Mr. Wilton responded, “Duane there is always work to do if you will open your eyes to see it.” I did that in the hardware store but failed to apply it to a “temporary” job. Initiative needs to be a habit of life in every area of work.
Work, a tool for the benefit of others
“What’s in it for me?” is usually the largest motivating factor in our work. Even our philanthropy can be tainted with this selfish gene. Looking at the big picture we need to see that work is a tool that harnesses the resources of our planet and releases them for the greatest good to the greatest number of people. I realize that is a lofty goal. But somewhere that philosophical ideal must become a working reality in the labor of my hand. As a person we are never satisfied when the focus is on ourselves and our personal fulfillment. King Solomon, one of the ancient kings of Israel wrote, “Vanity, vanity, all is vanity.” At that time, he was one of the wealthiest kings in the world. He indulged himself in every possible pleasure, enjoyed every convenience and had massive possessions. Yet inwardly he was a starved, bankrupt soul.
I was in Marrakech running on a road that wound through an olive grove. A man stopped me and asked if I was visiting the area. During our conversation I discovered that his grandfather had planted all the olive trees I could see. The grandfather planted them knowing that he would not harvest the fruit of his labor. He planted them for the generations that would follow. He invested his time and resource for the benefit of others. Work is a tool for the benefit of others.
A number of years ago I was conducting a seminar for a tire company that was located in Vernon. At one point I asked the attendees why they were working for this company. The answers, though varied, had one central theme—the benefit they derived from their employment. I then posed this question: “Do you think your work would have more significance if you could see yourself as part of a network that facilitated the movement of goods and services?” They all acknowledged that such a thought added more value to their work. Work is a tool for the benefit of others.
Unfortunately, debt is a master that drives our need to work. In reality it is an opiate that satisfies an immediate craving at the expense of generational benefit. It reduces our expendable cash, compromises our future and deprives our prodigy of their full inheritance. On the contrary, when we invest our time and resource in preparing others for life, we make an enduring investment that has the potential to keep on giving.
Remember, work is a tool for the building of character and the benefit of others. Who is reaping the benefit of your work?
