The Rust Belt Chronicles: authority

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Isn’t it Time We Pick Ourselves?

Image courtesy of:

Michael 1952.

When the teacher asked questions, most of the students raised their hands. The ambitious or popular students were usually chosen first to respond with the answer. This situation took place often, throughout the day. If you were selected and didn’t respond with the correct answer, good luck being picked again, anytime soon .

The subtle message was :

1. You weren’t popular.

2. The teacher didn’t trust your judgment.

3. What you thought didn’t matter.

During the summer before a basketball game, it was common for the two most popular and gifted athletes to choose their teams from a select group. The decision to choose the most gifted athletes would be chosen first, usually followed by choosing the most popular or friends of the person doing the picking. Being one of the last two possible selections indicated you weren’t valued as much and if there was any hesitancy as who to choose it didn’t speak well for either of you. Being the last player selected meant you were “stuck” (no pick for you) on one of the team’s roster.

Being last meant:

1. You weren’t very good.

2. You weren’t very popular.

3. You weren’t really wanted.

The same process appears throughout your career in lieu of promotions, positions, hiring and lay-offs. It’s all part of the same system of the Industrial Age. Instead of recognizing and nurturing individuals strength we follow the same rules rewarding the gifted, popular and our friends, while ignoring the rest. For 100 years, it was the only way to ensure fitting-in, compliance and conformity.

Not anymore.

Picking yourself is all that matters. Artists always pick themselves; they don’t wait for permission, acceptance or a christening. We always felt artists were strange, different or didn’t quite fit-in. Artists aren’t concerned with the status quo, survey results or a spreadsheet, their focus is strictly on their core mission .

It's no coincidence artists are the catalyst of change. The system refers to those people as inventors, however; they were artists first and foremost. Ford, Gates or Edison didn’t form a consensus group, become elected or chosen by anyone. Picasso, Tchaikovsky, Dylan and Symon picked themselves. Some said they were crazy and wasting their time, but their determination to succeed came from within.

Art touches our lives, inspires movements and forges technology.

As we sit on the cusp of change in the post-industrial revolution- isn’t it time we pick ourselves?

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/

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Tuesday, January 1, 2013

The Future is up to You!

"Every child is born an artist. The trick is to remain an artist."

-Picasso

We’ve spent 100 years schooling our children and selves into becoming a “cog in the wheel” for the system. We created compliance by asking students to memorize a formula of history, math and science. Instead of recognizing the interests of the people- the system set the agenda.

It told us what to wear, how to respond and what to think. The bigger picture enforced the rules, fostering everyone to get-in-line, wait your turn and don’t question authority. It amazes me how many people in the workforce have relinquished their minds, hearts and souls in an effort to fit in. Trained by fear to perform a repetitive duty and to keep your thoughts to yourself in the effort to earn a living or possibly retire with some dignity.

Is it any wonder we have so many cases of depression, so many needs for medication and so little regard for our workforce or fellow man?

I really enjoy talking with people and presenting my case for the reason of why we are at a crossroads for the future. I’ve avoided playing the political arguments intentionally. To me, it’s not as relevant as understanding the concept that we are engaged in and responding to the current social environment.

We are experiencing a giant cultural shift in how we do business. The current format of the Industrial Age is undergoing dramatic change. Change- that is quicker than ever before. Technology advances are enabling us to move faster than a speeding train. There will be a new breed of people like Henry Ford, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates. In fact, due to new technology some of the next inventors are already here.

What does that have to do with me?

If you want to be a part of the shift this is your free ticket. Recognizing you have been a pawn in the game is the key to breaking out and enabling yourself to be competitive. Forming an alliance with others who understand this new direction will provide you with a powerful network capable of embracing change and quickly adjusting. Merely staying put is a guarantee to end-up like the great Buffalo hunt; that followed the leader over the cliff.

Which would you rather be?

If you can’t jump ship at least realize you’ve been bamboozled. The current ride isn’t going to improve until you change your own thinking. It’s a long ride to the bottom of the sea. Do we really want to go there?

I hope not, we’ve wasted enough time, energy and health in subscribing to a life with diminishing outcomes. Even the so-called recession was a result of the early stages of Industrial restructuring. The “big” stores, factories and other organizations are slowly dying. Jobs that exist today will be gone in 15-25 years and the “traditional” education will be replaced.

So perhaps one of my biggest challenges is to attempt to stay ahead of the curve and hope people will open their minds, despite a life-long indoctrination into compliance, fitting in and being average. Forget the gold watch, retirement party and focus on a more likely scenario:

The future is up to you and better yet; it doesn’t require permission because- you’ve been given a free ticket. Now go make something interesting and creative. It’s your art, your destiny and legacy to do something meaningful!