In my last corporate role, I remember being on the machine shop floor speaking with a couple of CNC (computer numerically controlled) machining centre operators. They were part of my newly formed business unit and I was getting acquainted with people on the shop floor.
I asked if either of these individuals had ever heard that the most significant investment that most of us make is in our home. They nodded sagely. It was the answer that I was looking for because it gave me the opportunity to suggest that the biggest investment that any of us can make is in ourselves. What investment can possibly yield a greater return than the one that we make in ourselves?
This seemed to catch their attention.
I next suggested that if we could buy shares in our employer (which we couldn’t by the way), then we would likely be interested in monitoring the performance of our shares. This would be a straightforward activity of checking the stock pages in the paper. My next question was something like this: “if we would be concerned about the performance of our hypothetical investment in the company, then why wouldn’t we take a similar interest in our performance at work? I suggested that we would all do well to think of ourselves as our own private company that I called “Me Inc.” What were we doing to maximize the performance of “Me Inc.”?
I indicated that we all add value to the organization, regardless of our function. This must be true, otherwise those functions that don’t add value will be eliminated. I further suggested that we are in the jobs that we are in because of the choices that we’ve made. We make choices all day, every day. We have all made choices about the education that we’ve sought; the skills that we’ve acquired; the places where we have chosen to work. Of course, the list of choices made goes on and on. But when we think about our respective places of work, these were chosen by us. Furthermore, no one is forcing us to remain in these roles.
All of the above leads me back to the idea of “Me Inc.” We’ve chosen to work, where we work. Do we also choose to make the biggest investment that we can in “Me Inc.”, by performing as well as we can in the workplace?
How do we do that you might ask? It is simple enough. Try these:
1. Adopt an attitude of being the best that we can be in our respective roles.
2. Suggest solutions rather than presenting problems.
3. Show up. Be on time.
4. Challenge ourselves. Take risks.
5. Recognize that we are contributing to a team outcome and behave accordingly.
6. Help others to complete tasks.
7. Recognize that our role adds value to the organization and practice wearing a smile.
8. Be prepared to leave if the environment does not support our “Me Inc.”
“Me Inc”. is more than just about financial reward. Ultimately, “Me Inc.” is about looking in the mirror and being happy with what we see reflected back at us.
- Log in to post comments