I heard a word last night that really describes what drives me, significance. I've often felt that I was striving for success, wanting to be great at my job. I thought that meant I had to move up the "corporate ladder" and doing each job with ease. As I did this I didn't feel valuable, didn't like what I was doing that much and generally felt lost at work. As I continue to seek the path I most belong in my life, hearing this word, significance, brought meaning to my search. As I look back on my career I find the times that I felt most fulfilled in my work was when I felt significant. In an amazing, smack you upside the head, coincidence, those were also the times I was probably viewed as most successful by my peers and managers. I was chasing after success when I was great at something already. I was great because I was part of a great team and could apply my strengths and my skills to help my team be extraordinary. Really, when you look at most people at work, isn't that all they are searching for? Is that what makes you feel important and fulfilled at work?
I want to take this a step further and look at companies. Companies also strive for success, and more than ever they are trying to carve out their place in the marketplace, something that makes them significant. When you look at great companies the significance comes long before the success. It starts with a vision. Visions are what give companies a basis and meaning, and makes them significant. One of my favorite companies to look at is Disney. The values that the company was founded under by Walt Disney live on to this day. The company has significance in the lives of so many. As the father of two girls, I can tell you that Disney is significant, and the avid adoration by so many children and adults leads to its success.
So as an individual, do you feel significant? What is missing from your job to make it significant and make you feel significant? As a member of your company, are you significant to your customers? Will they notice if you go away? What makes you different than your competition? If you are a manager, what are you doing to help build significance in your employees and your company? I'm willing to bet that if you start at building significance, as an individual or a company, you will find success.
I want to take this a step further and look at companies. Companies also strive for success, and more than ever they are trying to carve out their place in the marketplace, something that makes them significant. When you look at great companies the significance comes long before the success. It starts with a vision. Visions are what give companies a basis and meaning, and makes them significant. One of my favorite companies to look at is Disney. The values that the company was founded under by Walt Disney live on to this day. The company has significance in the lives of so many. As the father of two girls, I can tell you that Disney is significant, and the avid adoration by so many children and adults leads to its success.
So as an individual, do you feel significant? What is missing from your job to make it significant and make you feel significant? As a member of your company, are you significant to your customers? Will they notice if you go away? What makes you different than your competition? If you are a manager, what are you doing to help build significance in your employees and your company? I'm willing to bet that if you start at building significance, as an individual or a company, you will find success.
