In a recent blog post entitled “HR vs. Innovation”, I made
reference to the new world of work and added the comment:
“Adequate performance should be rewarded with a generous
severance package.”
As a follow-up to the post mentioned above, I felt an urge to address the challenging problem of the Middle Class.
As a follow-up to the post mentioned above, I felt an urge to address the challenging problem of the Middle Class.
The mere term “middle class” implies average. A human trait
simply at odds with - and unacceptable to - constantly evolving mankind. I have therefore decided not to support the
concept of a middle class - as it pertains to my own lifestyle and career - i.e. this
general principle of mediocrity has been abolished, gone forever!
From this moment forward, and for the remainder of the rest
of my 25-30 summers on earth (assuming good fortune in health and longevity), I
will be an ideas machine. And my ideas will either be brilliant or pathetic,
with no middle ground.
To this end, the next time I share an idea with anyone I will
expect either one of these two responses:
1. That’s the stupidest idea I have ever heard! or
2. That’s simply genius!
Any other response, like “that’s nice” or "Interesting" or “I like that” is
no longer acceptable. Our minds (or brains if you'd prefer),
technology and the general industry that surrounds us are simply evolving too fast to accommodate a segment called the middle-class, in a thought leadership race.
Mediocrity will lead the race to the bottom! And don't tell me "you'll think about it," because thought is instant, and should not be postponed to some future date.
If you go to work everyday hating your job, watching the
clock trying to get out of there as soon as possible, tolerating your boss - who
happens to be an idiot - all because you need a paycheck… then please fire yourself
immediately. Because sooner rather than later,
if you don’t, your boss will fire you!
For the past, oh, twenty years or so, work has more readily
become what you do as opposed to where you are.
The simple concept of working 9-5 in one place, every day, is as redundant as adequate
performance, in general, unless you work in a mine or a factory. In fact, if I see you sitting at your desk, there's a good chance that you're not working!
The latter (showing up at work every day) was
seemingly acceptable until large companies like Lehman Brothers, GM ($GM), Blackberry ($BBRY) and many more, either crashed and failed, or almost failed!
Why?
Because of mediocrity.
Bosses, much like their direct reports, go to ‘work’ every day pretending to do meaningful work. Really, quite often, they are just wasting their time and lives away!
Today, bosses (and employees) organize meetings where absolutely no work gets done; managers conduct employee performance reviews to e.g. reward autoworkers who are always on time for work, work overtime as required, complete all of their assigned tasks per day successfully, are great team members, etc.
Today, bosses (and employees) organize meetings where absolutely no work gets done; managers conduct employee performance reviews to e.g. reward autoworkers who are always on time for work, work overtime as required, complete all of their assigned tasks per day successfully, are great team members, etc.
Employees at Blackberry were doing the above while Apple ($AAPL) was busy creating an iPhone; GM workers were doing the same while the Nissan Leaf and
Tesla ($TSLA) captured the electric car market; Apple is currently, seemingly doing the above in an
environment of diminishing marginal returns, despite their global leadership position, record sales and a
mountain of cash (reminder: just 10 years ago this last description was one befitting Blackberry).
If you’re adequate, average or middle class… and content
with that condition, you’ve basically given up! The good news is that
it’s not too late.
