You are Now Free!

Image courtesy of: Luz Adriana Villa A.

If your team is filled with people who work for the company, you’ll soon be defeated by tribes of people who work for a cause.

-          By Seth Godin from: The Icarus Deception: how high will you fly?

One of the favorite terms of the Industrial Age has been “teamwork.” The word is heavily touted when the slave drivers or gatekeepers want more work from less people or pitch an idea. Teamwork is a requirement on the football field, marching band and battlefield; but it never scaled well with the general workforce.

Ever notice when you are about to be laid-off “teamwork” is never mentioned? If they really believed in their own submission then why not just ask if someone wants to take an unemployment check for the good of the team. After all, we’re a team, right?

 Sadly, it is a word used only when management wants to spin the latest, greatest technique or philosophy. When I think of teamwork it reminds me of “slaves that paddled vessels from sea to land”, a mindless entity that must be given simple instructions to navigate. It also reminds me of the project that keeps being held-up because someone or one group didn’t finish their assignment at the deadline.

Teamwork is a label for mediocrity. Innovation or precision is rarely used to motivate by inept leaders. Failure is easier to swallow, when it’s a team effort or detraction. It’s good enough to use as a drill or exercise, but difficult to ensure has a means to excellence. That would require guts, courage and accountability.

 Few leaders understand the significance of those words and are less willing to take the chance at standing-out from the pack. That would truly mean risk and in a society captivated by fitting-in, not many care enough to stick their neck out. That’s probably why people don’t get too excited by teamwork.

I am happy to not apply for an advertisement that states: “We want team players only” or hear someone say: “I am not sure if you’re a good fit for the team” during an interview. What those expressions imply is the Industrial Age notion of fitting-in, compliancy, not rocking the boat and “do what we say.” You have no mind, soul, heart or the capabilities to stand-out, lead or discover a better way. It sends the message of being a cog and nothing more.

When everyone is committed towards the same outcome because they believe in something, have a vested interest in the idea and care; it’s a beautiful process. When people are told or given a manual to follow the plan it’s boring, repetitive and the results are less than stellar!

For more than 100 years, we believed ourselves to be at the mercy of a few who gave us the instructions, used us like pawns to generate power and financial success. The game is changing rapidly and opportunity awaits you. But you’ll never find it by staying in the Industrial Age.

Like the advert says: “You are now free to walk about the cabin.”

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 third 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.

Change is Coming!



Photo credit: Joel Washing.

 

In less than Sixty years we have witnessed an unbelievable amount of change.

Just to name a few technological advances:

·        78 RPM (monograph) records to MP3's.

·        Mono record players to- iPods.

·        Antennas receiving 3 television channels to digital cable with hundreds of stations to view.

·        Picture tube television sets to HD TV.

·        Television stations to Internet TV.

·        Rotary phone (one neighborhood shares one phone line) to cell phones.

·        Radio station programs to Podcasts.

·        Transistor radios to satellite radio.

·        Dark room photography developing to instant digital photos.

·        Drive-in theaters to home theaters.
Encyclopedias to Wikipedia.

·        Personal movies to YouTube.

·        Joining organizations to social networking via Twitter and Facebook.

·        Shopping centers to online shopping.

·        Books to eBooks.

·        Hand delivered mail to email.

·        Typewriters to keyboards with a brain.

·        Researching information at libraries to searching instantly using Google.

I could go on..............

Can you imagine today's society sharing one phone line? Luckily, technology has advanced with a method to communicate, not just a means of accomplishing the feat. Would you wait in a line to use one computer at your business or school? The technology would have died.

The advancement in communications enables us to perform tasks at any particular moment quickly, and practically for free, 24 hours a day. All it takes is an account, a connection, and time.

Look at the amount of change in the way marketing and business operate. Being employed as an encyclopedia salesman, owning a typewriter store or working within a record company wouldn't have been a wise career choice. Many people employed in those markets never saw change coming. Like it or not, change is constant, undeniable, and certain.

Is your business doing things the same old way? Are you operating as if it's business as usual?

 Is your vision directed down the road ahead of you or in the rear-view mirror?
If so lookout- change is coming!

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 third 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.

Will the Circle be Unbroken?

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.

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-

The Lexington High School “Band of Gold”
Something Meaningful that Matters!
www.successthroughmusic.com
www.bestofvegaswebsite.com
www.paradisefitgranola.com

Mr. Seth Godin

Several blogs ago, I mentioned some cool startup projects seeking funding using Kickstarter. I was happy to be able to contribute to Seth Godin’s unique publishing transformation idea, which sought $40,000.00 in donations to publish his upcoming book- "The Icarus Deception: Why Make Art?" The dollar amount was exceeded within 3 hours on Kickstarter. So far, the project has more than 3,900 supporters and earned more than $267,000.00.

The project funding ends on Tuesday, July 17^th.

Seth’s has built an amazing tribe of followers who are very loyal towards his art. If you get an opportunity to catch his blog or purchase any of his books, do so. If you want to hear him speak at a conference- act quickly; Seth Godin’s lectures sell- out in a matter of minutes.

Why? Because what Seth offers is rare and sometimes free. His foresight and advice in marketing and business is cutting edge. His broad marketing research is undeniable.

Mr. Godin initiates trends and proves their success by accomplishing the act himself within the public’s view. No test run, no survey, a decision is made and without fear, he walks the talk.

Seth is willing to take risks because he knows the art he creates are opportunities.  Opportunity’s are the future and the future is now!

Besides, Seth has created a tribe and a tribe of people can make things happen quickly. He is relentless in his ideology and is always pushing the boundaries. Change is constant so his followers are never bored.

Mr. Godin often states the importance to finish, do it, ship it or simply get it done. Fear is not an option. That’s why he has the Midas touch. The Kickstarter project is an excellent example of this concept.

Congrats to Seth Godin and his tribe!

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

Kickstarting your project!

For those of you with an idea that needs funding to implement-Kickstarter is an excellent choice. Kickstarter allows you to post your project with a description along with photos or a video presentation. Forget about borrowing money or maxing out your credit cards to go into business.

Kickstarter is free to join. It doesn't charge anything unless the minimum funding is reached. You are only charged for what you pledge and guaranteed to be rewarded the prize offered.

You setup the pledge amounts and number of financial backers necessary to fund your project. The backer chooses the dollar amount they will pledge. In return for a pledge, the backer (donator) is rewarded with different gifts. As the dollar amount of pledge increases so does the rewards or gifts to the backer.

If the required amount of money isn't reached within 30 days, you can scrap your idea and move on. Some projects are actually funded above the money needed by 200-300%.

Obviously, getting the word out helps your goal of reaching the funded needed. People with tribes of followers have a strong chance of exceeding the goal. Web presence and social media networking skills are the easiest way to build a tribe.

Best-selling author, marketing guru and blogger, Seth Godin, recently launched a Kickstarter project needing $40,000 to release his next book "The Icarus Deception: Why Make Art?" In less than 3 hours his project met its goal. The project has 15 days remaining on Kickstarter and has earned over $253,000.00 from 3,700 backers.

Seth Godin's goal was to use Kickstarter to pre-market a book before its release changing the way traditional publishing is marketed. You can read about it here.

Another project that blew me away (and like Seth's project above I missed the chance to pledge and receive some really cool gifts) was the funding for a film called: "I'm Fine Thanks." The film is a documentary by Crank Tank Studios, who travelled the country to interview people who created their own success by not settling for mediocrity. (This is the stuff I love to write about and I can't wait to see this motivating film).

The 5-man film crew asked for $100,000.00 in pledges. At the end of the 30-day run on Kickstarter, the artists raised over $116,000.00 with 4,700 backers to make their project become a reality.

Congrats to Kickstarter, Seth Godin and Crank Tank Studios for their successful and innovative ideas!

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.paradisefitgranla.com