RandomCrates

How do we define success? Success is money. Success is power. Success is the big house in the fancy neighborhood and expensive vacations. Or is it?

I define success as doing what you love. If you aren’t evangelizing you aren’t successful.

If you’re a teacher and want to spread the word, want to inspire kids, and want everyone to understand the importance and the benefit, you’re successful.

If you work for a book publisher and love talking about the art and science of creating a book and want to change the world through books, you’re successful.

When I say Evangelist, I’m not talking the religious zealots on late night television that come off more as swindlers than true believers. I’m talking the definition made famous by Guy Kawasaki. Loving what you do and spreading the word because of your passion.

If you aren’t doing something you care to evangelize you aren’t going to be happy. Having a sports car and a trophy wife/husband isn’t going to make you happy. Material success is a numbing agent and only dulls your feeling of dissatisfaction. Like any drug it’s going to take an increased dosage to get the same high. Focus on doing something you love. Want to be a fireman? Put out fires. Want to create video games? Learn art, or programming. Want to start a business? Start a business, any business. Want to work on an assembly line creating M&Ms? Great. But, for the love of all things Holy, do not do something you hate. Focus on determining what will make you happy, and do something about it.

As long as you’re passionate and love what you do, you are successful and most importantly satisfied.

How often do  you hear someone say, “It’s not my problem.” Well, that line of thinking is the problem. A problem for one part of the organization always impacts you.

If you are in sales, do you not think problems in customer service impact you? Try selling for an organization that has poor service levels.

Are you in supply chain? Do you ignore accounts payable issues? Try buying from a supplier that always gets paid 60 days late.

Too much focus is on the task at hand. Everyone in the organization needs a basic understanding behind the theory of your business. By having a clearer view of the interdependencies we can all see that one groups problem is everyone’s problem.  As managers we must enforce accountability, flatten the organization and properly apply empowerment.

Give your folks some latitude and you’ll see an increase in ownership and pride in the outcome.

Am I full of it? Let me know in the comments.