Unique isn’t Scriptable!

One of the ideas of the Industrial Age was the use of scripts. Phone scripts, greeting scripts and even answers to common questions became scripted. If there was a way to standardize any form of communication it was scripted and required in the employee manual. I hate scripts.

The company first got the idea of a phone script from an employee who brought it to the attention of the management, who proceeded to think he was a boy genius for copying the idea from various other industries. Soon, this employee grew in popularity and he recommended the use of scripts to other management. They implemented his ideas eventually throughout the business.Years later, the company featured constant scripted messages on the computers.

Ironically, the employee who brought forth the idea of using scripts never practiced what he preached. Meanwhile, the brainwashing continues.

The main reason I dislike using scripts is it dehumanizes the ability of the employee to be genuine. Listening to someone ramble through a script is phony, insincere and nobody cares for it. Why not allow employees the opportunity to be creative or dazzle their customers? A scripted response isn’t genuine and it adds no value to your business.

When an organization uses scripts they are cutting corners towards mediocrity. A script can be memorized by anyone. It sends the message your business is trapped in the old Industrial Age mode of operation. We don’t want mindless robots, we want to see, hear and feel your passion.

When I hear someone reply with a script, it tells me you believe your employees are just numbers and the customers are stuck hearing their ambivalent monotone voice. It’s easy to assume something works when so many businesses do exactly the same thing. The problem is not one of those business distinguishes themselves by following a script.

Wouldn’t you rather stand-out?

Unique isn’t scriptable.

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.

Risk is Now the New Safe!

We see people in the workplace going through the motions, completing task after given task. A few of those folks take the time to add value to their work while most just see the cycle of repetition as a means to receive the next paycheck.  Sometimes it’s due to an overworked environment and less than optimal staffing; other times it’s a case of employees accepting mediocrity.

It amazes me how many employees are habitually lulled to pointless tasks just to appear busy at work. How you can spend years doing the same thing over and over and not somehow feel cheated.

Instead of being productive with your time and life, you allow your boss, company or yourself to trade your mind for a physical quest in exchange for a fee. For compliance and obedience your most valuable asset has been shutdown. This was the way of the Industrial Age.

The message has been sent that you aren’t able to do anything else in life. Accept your role, surrender your dreams and stay in line. It’s all about fitting in and being a team player, don’t make a ruckus, do what you are told, don’t ask questions. Consider yourself, lucky to even have a job!  

This conditioning ensures you will never attempt to break-out of the prison walls. Never thinking of your future, take a risk or recognize opportunity. The parameters become an accepted form of fate. It doesn’t have to be this way.  

We are all capable of doing remarkable feats far more than we ever imagined. If you’re not moving forward you’re running backwards. Don’t waste valuable time trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. We only get one life, don’t waste it on stupid stuff.

Life can be rewarding, fun and prosperous if we step outside the gates. Do what you’ve always dreamed about. Find a way, set goals and make it happen. Don’t wait for permission, do it now. Research your ideas on the internet, seek good advice from entrepreneurs, take a class, but start now.

The Industrial Age is dying. Being a compliant and obedient employee has always been a dime-a-dozen in numbers. That’s not living a meaningful life, nor does it bring success.

Be rare, unique, creative and motivated. That’s what the new frontier is about.

Risk is now the new safe!

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.

Larry Siegfried - Beyond a World Champion!

In the Industrial Age- gatekeepers and permission controlled the scene. If we thought of a new idea, the first question always asked of anyone- what channels we needed to jump through to make it happen. Often we were given a brief explanation of “you can’t" or “it’s too costly” or discovered the idea was governed by a third party and if you had no association; the idea, thought or desire was dead in the water.

We were programmed to believe it wasn’t worth the time to attempt something new, unique or remarkable. Those parameters are slipping away and those businesses are dying- a slow death.

Today, it’s about trust, honesty and caring for the customer. The realization that the heart of the business is the customer/employee relationship is the new approach to successfully running a business. The top-down management theory is dying a painful death across America.

Successful Business Strategy

Former Ohio State/ Boston Celtic basketball player, Larry Siegfried, taught this principle for success 25 years ago after retiring from basketball and offering consulting services to businesses and State Prison inmates. Larry was decades ahead of the times, his total reversal of management style brought back something missing in corporate management and how people are treated. His bottom-up management philosophy produced some very interesting results.  

Inmates who followed his teachings of respect, dignity, and honesty not only remained out of the prison system, many prospered by becoming entrepreneurs. The motivational speeches I had the pleasure of witnessing were stunning, refreshing and contagious. 

Mr. Siegfried’s analogy turned some businesses off, they couldn't accept change. The drastic approach broke down the foundation of the top-down management theory. It basically operated on “The Golden Rule” and Christian based-principles. A simple, effective approach with a solid motive for everyone involved. Control, dictate and fabrication are nowhere to be found in this approach.

The role of management is to accentuate the experience, massage the outcome and empower the employees to do the right procedure based on the principles taught.

This unique and remarkable customer service experience provided is the idea that spreads.

World Champion On or Off the Court

I wish Larry Siegfried had published a book on the principles he stood for, lived by and gave to us. I somehow believe the accumulation of those ideas originated through his Mother, Sunday school teachings,his coach at Ohio State(Fred Taylor), the Boston Celtics organization, family and his life adventures of success. Although he is not properly credited for advancing this philosophy of change, I can’t help but think his idea slowly spread prior to the days of the Internet.

 And Larry is warmly smiling down on us- right now!

Thank you Larry!

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.

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.

 

Are You a Cog in the Wheel?

The Cog in the Wheel

A week-long series by a local paper concerning poverty has led me to observe and re-iterate a few things.

1.     The Rust Belt built its core foundation on manufacturing.

2.     The manufacturing era has been over for some time.

3.     People have not been able to grasp the concept of line #2.

4.      Consequently, many of the people lack the tools necessary to be productive in this environment.

Boomtown

Years ago, cheap labor was the solution to a factory owner’s success. Many of those people were from Olive Hill, Kentucky and moved to Mansfield, Ohio. Working hard to be a “cog in the wheel” meant receiving a decent paycheck and retiring comfortably.  

Performing a repetitive task quickly and effectively was all that mattered. Increasing employee’s pay and marketting to the massest  permitted the factory owners to sell more products resulting into expanding production facilities and increase in revenues.

Corporations and unions maintained the status quo and continued to protect their own best interest. Everyone profited for decades.

Greed

We bought into all the marketing ideas to purchase stuff that wasn’t necessary. Employees never realized they were being slowly duped by buying into the overall concept of the manufacturing era.

We kept up with the status quo going deeper in debt to appear rich. We lived beyond our means mortgaging our future.

Greed within- unions, employees, corporations and government opened the doors to cheaper labor- overseas. Suddenly mass jobs disappeared. Debt replaced our ability to live comfortably. The global economy slowly replaced the need of the local economy.

The global recession, bailouts, and national debt deepened our concern for stability.

The Rust Belt Era

Mansfield, Ohio suffers the same fate as any “rust belt city”. Civic leaders failed to plan ahead and were unable to fill the void with a new industry. Former factory workers continued to long for the “good old days”. They’re gone!

We will never see a large factory open with hundreds of jobs paying $100,000 a year with overtime in our lifetime. The premise has always been about cheaper labor. Once your job is written down in a manual someone else, somewhere else- will do it cheaper.

Where do we go from here?

While attending school is a viable option, many people with college degrees are unable to find work in their chosen field.

Photo used courtesy of: Ralph Bijker.

The trick in today’s workplace environment is to find a void and fill it with a passion and sincere desire to be successful. Merely being a “cog in the wheel” guarantees failure. Multiple skill sets will be needed to standout and be unique. Discovering available options allows you to “get in the game”.

Eliminating and avoiding debt is paramount for surviving and succeeding in the years ahead.

Being able to provide a service or a need at a higher quality verses the mass produced goods from overseas is the best option for success in this new economy!

The question is- when will we as a community and individually decide to become a free agent and move past yesteryear?

Only then- will we begin to prosper again!

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.