As I am in, according to statistical data, the last quarter of my life, I often wonder what I would say to myself were it 54 years earlier? It isn’t a simple question to answer if one is honest.
When young, we ignore time, we ignore risk and we ignore our health. Finding one’s feet, or one’s vocation becomes more important than ‘finding one’s happiness.’ We don’t seriously analyze our capabilities, the possibilities, and our liabilities. We make assumptions about the future with little knowledge and less information. Worse, we don’t know ourselves yet we plunge into the abyss determined to change the world. Most often, and to our detriment, the world changes us.
Decisions that we make will inform, mold, enhance, or impede our future, yet we tell ourselves that we know what is best and we believe in ourselves. What we do not know, is how men will use, abuse, lie and ignore facts that will have profound impacts on that future, your future. This is especially true as we step off the first rungs of achievement and begin to climb the ladder, whether academic, corporate, or bureaucratic.
We find ourselves falling into the future, partially due to societal and familial pressures, and partly due to the illustration of paths chosen by peers and family. We ignore signs that might influence our beliefs since the change and its acceptance are not welcomed in most cases.
I won’t tell you the specific failures I have made in decision-making for complex problems that change the direction of my life and those I touch. But I will provide some insights into what I should have considered, weighed, and studied to provide myself with the best chance of success, in the forms of questions.
What is Success?
Success is determined as much by our ethics and morals as by our determination. Some would never lie, cheat, steal, use, or abuse others. It’s not in our constitution. We have repeatedly been told that education, a sound work ethic, truth, and trust will lay the groundwork for success. And then we encounter the real world.
The real world comes as a shock to the principled, to the naive, to those who, whatever the challenge believe that they can overcome jealousy, avarice, greed, and liars. Often, this is far from true. Organizational behavior is as much a predictor of organizational success as a good work ethic. Look carefully at the organizational culture you attach yourself to. There are any number of organizations whose lack of ethics or honesty will change those who join them and the perceptions made of those who belong.
It is necessary to define success for yourself. Is it power, is it wealth, is it respect and one’s reputation, one’s integrity? Integrity can be expensive in some organizations where corporate honesty and integrity don’t exist. It is not a futile exercise. One must determine where and when you will draw the line. Should you cross it, you have made an irrevocable choice that will inform your future forever. It is, and should be, a very expensive choice.
Achievement
Achievement is another measure by which we define ourselves. Achievement is tied to compensation. We only believe we are successful if we constantly climb the rungs of whatever bureaucratic or corporate structure we belong to. Many will never measure their skills, ability, knowledge, or their limitations and rise above their abilities. Unfortunately, these same individuals often suffer from narcissism. Only they could control or occupy their position. They believe they are uniquely qualified, even though the measurements they use to define those same abilities are flawed.
Critical Thinking
If I could speak to my younger self, with the benefit of experience and knowledge, I would tell him to focus on critical thinking. What are your imperatives, those things that are ultimately most important? Regularly sit down and analyze your goals. Determine if they meet your needs, and not your wants. Don’t become enamored with achievement, it is a hollow victory. Society has devolved, not evolved. I would tell my former self that the world eats those who are naive, who trust, and who believe that only hard work and competence lead to success.
At every juncture, there are those that will lie, manipulate, politicize, and willfully harm you on the journey. Become a good judge of character and choose your friends carefully. Align yourself with organizations who reward intellect, hard work, attainment of sound corporate or bureaucratic goals and measurements.
Change Management and Conflict Resolution
I’d tell myself to learn flexibility and to ensure that I can adjust goals and accept changes in priorities. Life is what happens while you’re planning, and often it does so without any consideration for those who reside within its control. Seek knowledge and education instead of achievement and financial success. That’s not to say that financial success is not important. One has to be able to meet one’s needs. But needs, not wants should inform your decisions. Compensation comes with competence.
Understand that if conspicuous wealth is your goal, then enough will never be enough. You will find that the attainment of another zero in your bank account doesn’t provide a great deal of satisfaction. Herbert Simon, back in 1956 coined the expression, satisficing. It suggests that meeting a need that is satisfactory and sufficient is usually the best one can hope for as optimal solutions are usually unattainable due to constraints imposed by others, be it an organization, bureaucracy, or simply a lack of resources or their provision.
Learn to Accept Frustration
Frustration in achievement, whatever the goal, can create real unhappiness. Often you will find that success is elusive as you do not control all the levers of power, yet you are being measured against your ability to achieve objectives that are not wholly attainable.
Some organizations, mostly the unscrupulous ones, will build positions into the organization that act as a buffer to power. By assigning responsibility, but not adequate resources, upper management can ensure that they are protected from failure. Some would say euphemistically, that shit flows downhill.
Be Astute
Look at the individuals that you report to and align your expectations with those who are capable, intelligent, and well-intentioned. Often, by assuming that the intentions of leadership are honorable, one is duped into wholly unattainable beliefs. Understand that hierarchy imposes obligation and responsibility where superiors need to be honest, honorable, truthful, and fair. If you find yourself in an organization devoid of these attributes, get out while the getting out is good.
Look After Your Subordinates and Hire the Most Capable People and Empower Them to Act
This is essentially obvious, yet many people will become guilty of acting in the same manner that they detested. Hire competent, intelligent, and rational employees. Hiring ambitious, yet untalented, or those with a disposition towards attainment versus a work ethic will lead to the leader and questioning of his intelligence. Empower people and ensure they have the means to succeed.
Most Importantly, Listen, not Judge
Learning and acquiring understanding and knowledge means listening. You must have all the information at your disposal to make decisions that are logical and engender success. Respect the opinions of others and even though you may disagree, find a way to collaborate, not compete. Success comes when all of these actions combine to create respect, capability, and achievement.
Ciao…
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