I was born
and raised in the Rust Belt. My
parents instilled the notion of working hard and being honest and polite. As I
began working, those principles seemed to be the best way to stay out of
trouble and keep a job.
I spent
years believing those basic principles would somehow lead me to a deserving
future. My reasoning was people would recognize those strengths and somehow my
efforts would be justly honored.
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| Photo used courtesy of: Tony Fischer Photography. |
It certainly
wasn’t the case once I was hired in a factory. Employees were just a cog in the wheel, nothing more. The
expectations were to produce as much as you and a machine could yield. Anything
less in production was grounds for a tongue lashing from the boss and if production
didn’t improve you would be fired. If you met or exceeded expectations- the
only guarantee was more of the same and a paycheck.
Most of the
people I worked with drank alcohol to escape from reality. I was no exception.
It was far easier for people to drown their misery, dreams and future with
alcohol or drugs. Many of my co-workers lived in poverty, didn’t have a GED, or
any hope for a better future. Most of those workers lived on the poor side of
town.
They had
resigned themselves to a dead-end job and a lifestyle of disease and early death- all
for a lowly paycheck! Their kids would become part of the vicious cycle; often
dropping out of high school in order to receive a weekly paycheck at the same factory Dad worked; purchase a souped-up car with big tires and soon marry their pregnant girlfriend.
Will the Circle be Unbroken?
Eventually,
I landed a non-factory job and
received a promotion to become part of management. I thought my hard work had
finally paid-off. I was excited to
implement my ideas and improve the functionality within the area of my
responsibility and possibly further improve employee relations.
My
excitement slowly turned to dust when I approached my boss with ideas and he
just looked at me and changed the topic entirely. After attempting to get his
approval several more times, I learned to do whatever I could change on my own
to improve processes.
The
realization that I was just a cog in the wheel and nothing more led me to believe it was his style of management. Do what you are asked and you will be
rewarded with a paycheck and benefits. If you attempt to innovate, stand-out or
create change, you become a problem.
Sadly, it
has taken me years to understand the true nature of this concept. I was naive
and wanted to believe I could make a difference. I spent years wondering why any
business would operate in this fashion with so much at stake. Why wouldn’t you
want to be all you could be?
What I
learned is the same concept that infiltrated the manufacturing industry was no
different in the non-industrial workplace. The exchange of a paycheck for hours
of conforming was all that is required. Nothing less, nor anything greater
is appreciated. Mediocrity- at it's finest!
I believe we
can do better. We must do better or our
businesses will suffer the same fate of the dying “industrial age.” An outdated
business model that served to pigeon-holed employees to be a “cog in the wheel”
and nothing more- ensures our failure to innovate and implement change within
existing businesses. It negates our ability to create a new working business model that rewards effectiveness and linchpin behavior.
If you are
just working for a paycheck, you’re really not living.
Trading time for pay- solely to exist-
isn’t our future!
Until We Meet Again,
Jim Carver Author: The Legacy of David A. Wells-
Jim Carver Author: The Legacy of David A. Wells-
The Lexington High School “Band of Gold”
Something Meaningful that Matters!
www.successthroughmusic.com
www.bestofvegaswebsite.com
www.paradisefitgranola.com
Something Meaningful that Matters!
www.successthroughmusic.com
www.bestofvegaswebsite.com
www.paradisefitgranola.com
