When we are so used to having clean water come out of the tap, we can forget that this is a modern-day miracle.
The same is true about democracy. That we all can take for granted that institutional power has a purpose. Because these places didn’t always have it. Now, of course, that power can be abused. No question. But there is a balance in power and accountability that cannot be achieved when complacency takes hold.
Power always goes unchecked when we ignore what is happening.
To the engineer, they think they are producing drawings for the new Ford.
To the factory workers on the assembly line, they may think they are assembling an engine.
To the customer, they may think they are purchasing a product.
Each step along the line something is being produced. Something tangible.
But on Wall Street, it’s often profits. When we look at things through the lens of digits on a screen, we forget what goes into making things.
Money continues to turn into something less tangible. And unfortunately, the user experience can further drive us apart.
Working and living conditions dictate so much of the results one can produce.
If the focus is constantly trying to make things safe, then you have no time to make things better.
The best work is when safety is established. Obviously, physical safety but for most it is the emotional space to be safe when mistakes are made.
It’s easy to fix the negative side of things.
Getting older, for instance, can be a terrifying thought—until you realize it’s also a privilege.
This art of reframing changes not only our feelings but also how we see things.
Don’t say yes until:
You understand the intended consequences.
When you understand, there are unintended consequences.
That you’ve built a system you can rely on when things fall apart.
That you have a process to push things forward.
You realize people make mistakes.
You’ve read the fine print.
If you can’t build any slack in this decision, perhaps the answer isn’t to take a step back. “Not yet” is a way to go until you’re ready.
Isn’t always convenient but it is in despite this inconvenience, we show up.
Professionals understand this. Best friends too.
People are all busy. Excuses are always available. And then what?
With any area we feel insufficient, we can quickly get down on ourselves. We think that with enough willpower, we can turn things around. The hardest part about getting past these areas is the shame we build around ourselves. We know we could do better, and we even try to do better. But it’s the consistency we struggle with. Anyone can stay on a diet for a day. But are we staying consistent for six months? That’s the hard part.
The journey is the journey. Measuring the distance and understanding how long something will take can assist with the narrative. Frodo from Lord of the Rings knew he couldn’t get to Mordor in a day. You shouldn’t expect to get to where you want to go in a day either.
No one meets in the middle without first telling a story of how their side won. Whether they were the ones who took the high road or how they were the ones that compromised. Rarely, do we compromise because our minds changed. Instead, we say our minds our made up. The alternative is to be moved by force. But even in the space of compliance, we tell ourselves how we become the victim of circumstances. The lesson here is that we have a hard time telling ourselves a story that we are not the hero.
Most threats are empty. We say we will do something, but humans are too complacent to follow through. It’s a space reserved for what you “could” do. But once cooler heads prevail, the reason for what you “could” does not make much sense anymore. The question then becomes what should you do instead. The answer then becomes move on to the next thing.
Sometimes, we make one decision under one set of circumstances at one given time—and it’s the right call.
But then things change. You change. The world changes.
And that one set of decisions becomes obsolete because the landscape changes, people change, and circumstances are different now.
The board moves, and you have to move with it.
Josh Allred's Blog 