|
Dick Larman
Executive Director
This is the time of year when most businesses and organizations begin to take stock in how things are progressing and how we did the past year. And, some perhaps, will reflect on the vision that created the business or the organization from the beginning. In either case, I find myself alternating between being inspired and irritated. I don’t think I’m alone in this. Perhaps the following quote will help me explain.
“A vision without a task is but a dream, a task with out a vision is drudgery, a vision and a task is the hope of the world.” This quote may be literally “carved in stone” on a church in Sussex, England, built around 1730 AD.
As always my point of view is the economic one. As a result, I think there are a couple ways to think about the quote: First, from a small economic perspective (that of an individual) and second, from a larger economic perspective (that of a company or corporation).
Individuals may or may not enjoy their jobs working for businesses or organizations. The ones who find the tasks that make up their work as drudgery should be thinking hard about why that is. Those of us who enjoy our work and tasks should also be thinking hard about why that is.
Perhaps some of us have been fortunate to discover our personal vision fits nicely into an organization, or business vision. The tasks then become something to look forward to. For most part, the time spent with the organization or business is energizing, exciting and invigorating. We hone, polish, and examine our task to see how we can do better. Not because it is demanded of us, but because we see the vision that our task is building.
Most individuals that own small businesses seem to find their tasks and visions colliding nicely. And, they usually collect employees who grasp a basic understanding of their task and the vision of the company’s future.
At some dark mystical point, however, there seems to exist an opportunity for jobs to become drudgery. Where the willingness to work slides, where creativity ceases and where weariness begins to overtake us. We cannot let drudgery win.
Whatever we build and create as individuals has a larger purpose. And, we should think about that purpose, tell our families and friends, and be proud. We rarely get to know the final result of anything we build or produce. Take our lumber mills for example. Do they make dimensional lumber? Yes. But for the “big picture” view, do they contribute to the shelter, warmth, and lifelong vision of someone’s dream home? It’s very likely. We should think deeper and broader about every service, and product s we grow, manufacture, sell, and deliver. And, we should talk about them often.
If we do, dreams will be replaced by visions and drudgery will be replaced by purpose and hope.
|
