The Alternative to Being Average



Photo used courtesy of: cliff1066â„¢)

The end of the Industrial age has already brought many changes in the way we do business. The problem is most employers and employees haven’t grasped the change in direction.

Many companies are still run as if they are factories and many employees are being treated the same as if they are factory workers. Worse yet, many of the employees have preconceived notions so ingrained into their brain; they don’t know the rules have changed.

The Race to the Bottom

From the first day of school; compliance, fitting in, and being average were drilled into our heads. Everyone used a #2 pencil; sat in a straight row, bells rang to signify the beginning or end of class, and we raised our hand to ask or answer a question. Formulated measures were used to teach compliance to the masses.

In order to produce more factories and sell more products we were taught that purchasing items would buy happiness. Mass television, radio marketing, and peer pressure were some of the ways used to get us to buy into the idea. Corporations became extremely wealthy. Unions prospered and employees earned a comfortable living style. Everyone was happy, waiting for the gold watch and retirement pension.

Then the unthinkable happened. Someone decided they could manufacture stuff cheaper. Factories moved overseas, many closed or were bought out and relocated. It was always about manufacturing something cheaper and faster. It always will be. That is what produced the Industrial age and it is the reason we can’t compete now. It’s a race to the bottom.

End of the Industrial Era

So here we are. The Industrial age has run its course. Suddenly fitting in, being compliant, and following the manual created an entire group of average people that can be replaced at a moment’s notice, with more average employees. No job security. This is the same type of employee sought after for a fast food business job. Where’s the progression?

The Alternatives

1. Be creative, innovative, and unique.
2. Stand out and make yourself a valuable asset to your organization.
3. Stop trying to fit in, stop being average, and unleash the chains.
4. If the business you work for doesn’t allow you to make a difference, change jobs (Chances are the organization will go the way of the factories anyway.)
5. Start your own business, do something you’ve always dreamed of, become that someone you always wanted to be.
6. Be a leader, not a follower!

Take charge of your life today and do something meaningful that matters.

Your future is only as secure as you choose to make it!

 

Until We Meet Again,

 Jim Carver

Author: The Legacy of David A. Wells- The Lexington High School “Band of Gold”

Something Meaningful that Matters!

 

www.successthroughmusic.com

http://jimcarver.blogspot.com/

Disclaimer- Books and links on this website contain affiliate marketing sources between Jim Carver and 3^rd party companies. I only recommend products, brands and businesses that I strongly support. Photos used on this site are used courtesy of the original authors and in no way endorse The Rust Belt Chronicles or my work. Thank you.

 

What is your Company Culture?

Do you work for a company that operates out of fear? Do you report to work wondering if you will be laid off today? Does the mindset appear to be:  keep your head down… don’t look up… don’t ask any questions or else…work harder? Start a few timely rumors and keep the workers in a flux. This is the ultimate corporate recipe for disaster.

Photo courtesy of : laverrue.

Some companies keep their work force in fear for their jobs. They believe if they control their workers emotions the business will benefit from increased job performance. Too often, Management equates fear with power. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Businesses that choose to operate in this manner eventually burn people out and they seek employment elsewhere. This old fashion industrial-age method increases costs to the employer through constantly hiring and retraining replacement workers. Morale bottoms out and affects everyone, including your customers. Once customer service is affected your company is in the tank.

Fear is never a good motivator for any organization. People loose respect for an organization and lose sight of what truly matters. Anyone can walk into a business and within a few minutes of observing employee attitudes determine if a healthy work environment exists.

Fear erodes your business reputation from the inside-out!

Great businesses stand out immediately and the vibe is exciting, which extends to the customers.

The fact is… if your business operates using fear as the motivational tool; the problems are far more serious and deeper than how your employees are treated!

What is your company culture?

Until We Meet Again,
 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

Just like Dad (A late, but better than Never- Father's Day Gift).

Note: The following are excerpts of a few pages from one of my upcoming books. It is the only way to explain my blog at the end of this story. Perhaps this is the first-ever reverse written blog? Enjoy!

When I was in my late teens I would often remind myself I didn't want to become the man my father was. It wasn't that my Dad was a bad person. It wasn't because he didn't provide for his family.

As a hobby he repaired electronic devices such as TV's, stereo systems and radios, even watches. While building houses, he built his own home entirely. He studied how things worked and learned how to repair cars, lawnmowers, toilets, dishwashers, refrigerators, stoves and plumbing. There wasn't much he couldn't build, fix or replace. Heck, Dad was doing reverse-engineering before the Government.

He charged little, nothing or just the cost of the parts, so he was always in high demand. Little elderly women would call the house if their toilet or sink was plugged and Dad would be a Good Samaritan and fix their problem.

Dad could have been a very successful repair man. He could have offered a variety of services when no one else did so. For some reason he never took the jump.

After he built a local factory owner's home Dad was hired at the homeowners business. A maintenance worker with an impeccable knack for fixing things and being a hard worker was always in demand in those days. Whether he was an hourly or salary employee, Dad was the guy the company depended on. This motivated his self-esteem.

His effectiveness and work ethic meant he would often work 60 or more hours a week. The drawback was the long hours work left little time for his family. Perhaps even worse, when he was home and not busy with yard work, repairing a car, somebody's TV, or tinkering- he was wore out. No time to take me to a ball game, fishing or doing what other children did with their Dad.

No matter what factory employed him the same scenario persisted.

Excerpt-

My Dad represented a factory worker and I didn't like it. The lunch bucket, thermos and Dickie's uniform all represented boring repetition to me. I knew my Dad could do far better in his choice of occupations.

Dad was extremely innovative. I remember him showing me a new huge plastic molding machine that he uncrated and setup. During the setup process he actually would find flaws in the design of the machine and redesign it himself to reduce the chances of breaking down or to simply speed-up the manufacturing process. I was impressed! The company would take out a patent; increase their wealth and all he got was a pat on the back- if that!

The Inventor

He designed an in-ground moisture sensor device in the late 1970's. At that time water was being rationed in many parts of the western and southwestern United States. The device could actually sense when the ground was dry, activating a sprinkler system. Once the ground was saturated the sensor recognized the level of moisture and the sprinkler system would shut off. The idea was perfect for golf courses on a timer system and would save millions of gallons of water to regular homeowners and businesses.

Dad's only problem was a lack of marketing or business skills. Consequently, he did not approach the right people with his invention and became frustrated quickly. He gave up on his invention.

I sometimes questioned why he never went into business for himself and even offered to help him with sales. He basically depended on the Industrial style of work: a secure job, guaranteed paycheck and insurance. Stepping outside of his comfort zone represented a risk.

Another of my Dad's inventions was a razor blade that never needed replaced. The consumer would only have to purchase one blade and with his invention the blade would remain sharp.

Wilkinson Sword invited him to dinner to Pittsburgh to discuss the invention. When Dad learned Wilkinson wanted to buy the idea from him and bury it, to eliminate the threat of losing the business of selling razor blades. Dad wouldn't agree. He later learned someone had a patent from years before, so he scrapped the idea.

Excerpt:

Once he retired, he had one last invention up his sleeve.

For security reasons I am unable to define his next invention in this blog. But you may read about it in my upcoming book. The invention could have changed the world!

Excerpt:

Then, suddenly he had a major stroke and died from the complications.

My actual Blog:

The other night before bed my wife said to me: "You're just like your Dad. You have all these great ideas but you fail to follow through!"

She was right. The one thing I thought I never wanted to be- I had become.

We allow our ideas and dreams to die. We stop ourselves. It's easy to allow fear to keep us from doing something meaningful.

In my final years, do I want to feel like I wasted my life, when I could have made a positive impact on people's lives or perhaps changed the world? My Dad had the opportunity and failed to act in time.

I barely slept. The next morning I wrote my first business plan.

Dad.... This one's for you!

Until We Meet Again, Jim Carver
Author: The Legacy of David A. Wells- The Lexington High School "Band of Gold"Something Meaningful that Matters!
www.successthroughmusic.com