I am sitting in a restaurant recently trying to enjoy a delicious California Merlot before my entre'. Seated nearby are three people, dressed professionally having a very heated conversation over dinner. This expansive restaurant covering over 2000 square feet of space had four visitors and guess the seating arrangements!
While I am trying to enjoy dinner, these four individuals groan, expostulate, blame and bemoan every decision of their respective organization. These people are desolate.
As I am trying my hardest to enjoy my food but I begin to question and labor these remarks and decisions. It then dawns on me that these cynics are part of the problem they complain. Rather than repair the issues, they rather incriminate.
We all have issues. Things that we want in life never get to us in the manner we desire. We can either say life is unfair or do something about it. Moreover, the reality of dispassion for their job is readily apparent. The real question is not how to repair the firms' infractions but rather, why remain in an environment that is unhappy? Life is too short!
I know a seven year old that recently underwent bone marrow surgery to maintain life. It took Mom and Dad six years for a donor. I know of a family that recently lost its wife, mother and beloved community leader to cancer at 40 years of age. And I know of families losing their homes due to the current mortgage crisis. The difference between these exemplars and my restaurant visitors, the former do not complain. They move on!
They realize that while saddened over current events, there is an entire life left to live and they must be passionate about it.
Work is needed to pay bills and lead a comfortable life. And much time is spent trying to secure and save money to do so. So why not enjoy what you are doing? Stop the whining and do something about it. Apathy destroys the culture of the organization. Loathing manifests and affects others. If your work is distasteful- leave. If your boss is nothing short of a narcissist and a bumble, quit. If your organization dysfunctional; leave. And if your industry in a slump- rewrite your resume. Yet, do something.
The only one to control the displeasure is you. The only one to blame is you. And the only one to change is you. Life is too short, save the whining for the bottles on the rack. Wine is more tasteful that way!
2008. Drew Stevens PhD. All Rights Reserved.
Author's Bio
Drew Stevens PhD is a management consultant and thought leader on strategy with over 25 years of experience. His consulting firm, Getting to the Finish Line, has attracted clients such American International Group, Hilton Hotels, AT&T, The Federal Reserve
Bank, Reliv International, The New York Times, Mercy Health Plans Quicken Loans and over 500 other leading organizations.
His speaking and consulting enables him to travel over 50 days per year to clients and conferences around the globe. In the last several years Drew has provided advice to well over 60,000 professionals. Drew’s prolific publishing includes over 100 articles on sales and selling strategy and seven books including Split Second Selling, Split Second Customer Service and Little Book of Hope. Some of his works appear in Chinese and Hindi. He is interviewed and quoted frequently in the media, with prestigious periodicals such as Personal SellingPower and Sales and Marketing Management.
Drew lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with his wonderful wife and soul mate Christine and his two children Ashley and Andrew.
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