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dispatches from the new world of work

EXCELLENCE?
Always?
Yes!

(As Far as I'm Concerned.)
(And I'm right.)
(Damn it.)

Brushcutter

I have some fear that you'll read this and accuse me of playing "holier than thou"—the good news is that I know you'll let me know if that's the case.

I went to town earlier today to do some errands—including, yes, getting yet another brushcutting tool.

On the way, I was delayed by a crew doing some roadside tree trimming. One lane of VT Route 30 was closed—and there was, naturally, a Flagman at each end of the work area.

As is my habit ("Tom being Tom" is Susan's term for it), I waved to the flagman—not some big full-body "Hiya," just a little flick of the wrist. It ain't a great job, and a dollop of recognition can't hurt—right?

The guy on the front end waved back—a similar flick of the wrist, and perhaps a little nod. But as I approached the other end, I almost cringed. The Flagman there had as sour-grim an expression as I've seen in a long time. Not aggressively, attack-dog sour, just sour-sour. (Presumably you know what I mean.) I waved anyway, but as expected received no response whatsoever.

Maybe Flagman #2 was fired from a two-hundred-thou-a-year job at Lehman. Maybe Wal*Mart laid him off. Maybe his wife is pissed off at him. Maybe he has a nasty head cold. Any of those things is possible, or a hundred others—plus the job's not exactly a major career step.

Or is it?
(More accurately, could it be?)

I use a lot of quotes in my speeches; but the fact is that I commit very few to memory. But one that is etched indelibly into my synapses comes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:

"If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well."

I'm sure there are multiple interpretations of this, and for awhile I had a touch of trouble with the quote: Did it mean that our street sweeper should aspire to no more than street sweeping? I decided not necessarily. To my mind, the quote means that whatever you are doing for whatever reason can be (ought to be, per Dr. King) turned to a Work of High Art and Fullblown Commitment.

I remember, on a visit to Rome at Easter a couple of years ago, racing at one point to catch a glimpse of a world-famous (!!-true) cop who stood in the center of a mid-city roundabout directing traffic with the same style-vigor-artistry with which Leonard Bernstein conducted a symphony orchestra or John Madden coached from the football sidelines.

It's a truism, as I see it, that a Flagman's job, per Dr. King and our Grand Roman Traffic-circle Cop, could indeed be turned into High Art. Or at least the work could be performed with a positive-vigorous-engaged attitude.

My sour Flagman made me sad—mostly for him, but it also put a wee dent in my day. These are troubled economic times. Some readers are doubtless doing something "less" than they were a year ago—perhaps both their ego and wallet have been dented.

But no one but no one but no one can rob you of your attitude. It's all yours to shape and put on parade.

Maybe tough times make it tough to sport a grin. But tough times are especially good times (!!!) to Stand Out for your Spirit & Determination & Engagement & Comradeship.

Flagman, 7-11 clerk, or bank teller, there's always a promotion right around the corner—or at least something close to a short-term employment guarantee—if you live by the words of Martin Luther King. And if the great attitude is still not enough, you retain your self-respect—which is no small thing.

The bastids can't steal your attitude!
(No matter how hard they may advertently or inadvertently try.)
Your attitude is all yours!
Are you Flagman #2?
Or Dr. King's street sweeper?

[Above, my new Corona Ratchet Action Bypass Lopper RL3560. Below, feeding time in the Peacable Kingdom, West Tinmouth VT.]

Peacable Kingdom

Tom Peters posted this on 05/14/09.

Comments

"But as I approached the other end, I almost cringed. The Flagman there had as sour-grim an expression as I've seen in a long time. Not aggressively, attack-dog sour, just sour-sour"

Obviously he needs to be waterboarded.

Posted by dan at May 14, 2009 5:44 PM

Thank you, TP, so very much. You have touched my heart and inspired me as I have been sitting in Barnes and Noble most of the day writing about my mom who lived and preached the message of Excellence and Love my entire life. Perfection is not its kin. Sitting here writing, I was also reminded of the essence of the President's message to the graduating class of Arizona State University last night. Our body of work is never done as Excellence is not only a lifestyle but a forever pursuit shown in our actions. I am duly encouraged in the ongoing pursuit of Excellence this day!

In LABOREM EXERCENS (On Human Work) Pope John Paul likens man in the likeness of God in the earth doing work that which can only be defined as Excellence and Love, not to mention Beauty. Consider the photo below of nature's beauty. For those who are opposed to God as creator, OK. Please consider the great physicist, Stephen Hawking, someone whom I greatly admire, on the subject:

"One may say that time had a beginning at the big bang, in the sense that earlier times simply would not be defined…One can imagine that God created the universe at literally any time in the past. On the other hand, if the universe is expanding, there may be physical reasons why there had to be a beginning. One could imagine that God created the universe at the instant of the big bang, or even afterwards in just such a way as to make it look as though there had been a big bang, but it would be meaningless to suppose that it was created before the big bang. An expanding universe does not preclude a creator, but it does place limits on when he might have carried out his job!"

Here is Pope John Paul II:

"Work means ANY activity by man, whether manual or intellectual, whatever its nature or circumstances; it means ANY human activity that can and must be recognized as work, in the midst of all the many activities of which man is capable and to which he is predisposed by his very natures, by virtue of humanity itself. Man is made to be in the visible universe and image and likeness of God himself."

ANY work that is born of Excellence is born of Love. God is love.

Posted by Judith Ellis at May 14, 2009 6:04 PM

TP - inspiring insight - I see it like this:

1. Once we have happy Trevor on the front line - as a street sweeper and/or flagman - then & only then shall we truly be free :>).

2. The King quote is appropo for wandering/wavering/quavering souls like Judith - a six pack short of a case - but trying their darndest :>).

3. Beware the pyscho's out there though in these trying times - if they look crazed - they may very well be - safety 1st!

Posted by C Love at May 14, 2009 6:45 PM

Ahhhh memories Tom – thank you. I recall on those old audio tapes back in the 90’s and you talking about someone called Paul (sorry I forget the surname) who parked cars so perfectly symmetrically it was a sheer joy to behold. I recall, in my healthcare career, a friend who was a post mortem room technician called Chris who as a bricklayer had been badly hurt in a building site accident requiring him to find a less physically demanding job. Chris loved his job so much my eyes would become moist as he explained his empathy with relatives of people who had died and the joy and pride he felt when families came to view the 'beautiful' deceased person in Chris’s hallowed Chapel of Rest at our hospital. There will always be hope for society while people celebrate excellence in their work even though some may feel ‘mundane’ is a word that might be used to describe that ‘work’. They key, as far as I am concerned, is that the people like Paul and Chris do not see their tasks as ‘work’ – they see it as a performance of joy and they are their own biggest critic. I recall a quote about endorsing your work with your own signature. A beautiful post – thank you.

Posted by Trevor Gay at May 14, 2009 6:47 PM

'C' - thanks as always! I'd LOVE to be a street sweeper and/or flagman. Pure front line joy. Producing real practical tangible evidence of outcome! Maybe I can get that job in the Republic of Contrairestan? Happy Friday from 'Bardland' - that wonderful County in mid-England :-)

Posted by Trevor Gay at May 14, 2009 6:54 PM

I am reminded of Tom talking about the lunchroom lady who took such pride in her seemingly mundane work, stating how important it was because "Sometimes this is the only hot meal these kids get all day."

We should all learn to better appreciate the tasks we have been given to do, and remember that "The seeds of depression can not take root in a thankful heart."

Posted by Dan Gunter at May 14, 2009 8:01 PM

"The King quote is appropo for wandering/wavering/quavering souls like Judith - a six pack short of a case - but trying their darndest :>)."

If only I drank the stuff! And, yeah, C's so solid and secure, right? Perhap he needs to try again, as his "darndest" fails frequently frantically...backwards, no failing forward there! :-)

Posted by Judith Ellis at May 14, 2009 8:11 PM

One of the greatest soccer club managers was a guy called Bill Shankly. He managed Liverpool and turned them into a truly major club, establishing a "production line" of players and coaches along the way. He was a legend. I saw him interviewed once and I remember him saying (and I've never been able to find the exact quote so I paraphrase a little): "It doesn't matter what your job is but you do it to the best of your ability. If your a streetsweeper you make sure your street is the best swept street." It's an attitude that's always stuck with me. [He also said: "It’s the greatest thing in the world, natural enthusiasm. You are nothing without it."]

Posted by Mark JF at May 15, 2009 2:05 AM

Yes, Tom. In all and all EXCELLENCE FOREVER. Great quotation by Dr. King. Thanks!

Posted by Andres Agostini (Andy) at May 15, 2009 2:37 AM

I got a clearer vista of it, among other thing, with your milestone books. I got the luck to have them all as a goldmine. I revisit them. As excellence is spoken of, said book is canonical milestone indeed.

Posted by Andres Agostini (Andy) at May 15, 2009 2:39 AM

A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Posted by Andres Agostini (Andy) at May 15, 2009 2:45 AM

All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Posted by Andres Agostini (Andy) at May 15, 2009 2:46 AM

Great stuff. I have personally been very inspired by Kahlil Gibran saying something similar:

"Work is love made visible.
And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy."

Check out the whole poem for what it means to "work with love".

Posted by Daniel Clark at May 15, 2009 6:01 AM

Thank you Andres and Daniel for those quotes. They're much appreciated. Gibran's work I SO value. I appreciate Mark's story as the essence of Dr. King's quote and the "attitude" comment also made in another recent post by TP.

TP's most beautiful picture below, though the one above has a utilitarian purpose and that must be good too :-), not to mention the value of what that kind of work does internally and externally, I came across this quote yesterday morning on a coffee cup:

"Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart."

--Unknown

Peace is gained internally in spite of what's occurring externally. TP's photo represents this peace born of love and confidence.

Peaceable Kingdom...

Man's knowledge of his surrounding is forever "expanding." It is his forever arrival of what has already been.

Posted by Judith Ellis at May 15, 2009 7:25 AM

Great post Tom, thanks for the reminder that excellence is an inside job.

"I love the man, that can smile in trouble, that can gather in strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection."
Thomas Paine

Posted by Chris Lilley at May 15, 2009 8:36 AM

Should those Vermont animals be pasture co mingling like that - or are we asking for a radical new HNV5 exotic pandemic flu? :>)

Posted by C Love at May 15, 2009 5:04 PM

LOL.

"Dogs and cats sleeping together... mass pandemonium." -- Bill Murray, "Ghostbusters."

Posted by Dan Gunter at May 16, 2009 11:51 AM

Chris - That's a real beauty. Thanks!

Posted by Judith Ellis at May 16, 2009 1:05 PM

THE FORMULA IS:

EXCELLENCY = PERPETUALLY OPTIMIZING PERFORMANCE

Posted by Andres Agostini (Andy) at May 17, 2009 3:02 PM

I find this such a simple lesson yet so difficult for many to execute. As an executive coach, I spend a lot of time observing people and I am often amazed at the many business leaders who forget how much impact their attitude, positive or negative, has on the people around them.

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In these difficult times for many business owners, I try and get them to focus on what they can control and one of them is their attitude. I'll be passing this long as a reminder to all of them!

Posted by Beth Miller at May 17, 2009 4:09 PM

Where in this quote does it say you have to have a 'happy expression' while you work?
As for attitude, a rich famous guy who drives by a flagman and waves and expects a happy wave in return also has an attitude problem.

Posted by dan at May 20, 2009 12:59 PM

"As for attitude, a rich famous guy who drives by a flagman and waves and expects a happy wave in return also has an attitude problem."

Where in THIS quote does it say you HAVE to be the 'rich famous guy' to be happy?

Perhaps the 'rich famous' guy is going home to an empty mansion or condo, or working until 1 a.m. with no real joy, while the street sweeper is taking his well-earned pay home to spend (along with his 'happy' time) with a nice, 'happy' family???

Happiness is a function of attitude, not money or fame. I would say "Just ask all the rich, famous actors and celebrities who for some reason committed suicide," but we can't rightly do that, can we? Guess they weren't happy enough to even want to stick around.

Posted by Dan Gunter at May 20, 2009 1:36 PM

The rich famous guy I was refering to is Tm Peters.
He's the guy who wrote a post about a grumpy flagman.
He's the guy who I think also has an attitude problem.

Posted by dan at May 20, 2009 1:41 PM

Throughout the many years I've followed Tom's work, he has shown tremendous respect for and toward people in all walks of life. And I see no ambiguity in his statements. The point I take from Tom is that no matter WHAT your job, you should seek the joy and beauty in it. You should find a way to turn it into more than just a dull boring job. Find a way to capitalize on it by tapping into opportunities to turn it into something "Wow!" Find a way to make a bigger contribution to the bigger picture.

I've never heard Tom say "being a flagman sucks." Or a school lunchroom worker. Or working for Baltimore Gas & Electric. What I HAVE heard him say is that the joy comes from differentiating yourself AND what others see as just a job.

I maintain that the person who would rather be grouchy, grumpy, and disgruntled (and that very much IS a choice) instead of seeking to make something cool out of the job is the person with the attitude problem.

Posted by Dan Gunter at May 21, 2009 5:04 PM

"As for attitude, a rich famous guy who drives by a flagman and waves and expects a happy wave in return also has an attitude problem."

dan - I appreciate the premise of this. However, it can also have the reverse effect, one of brotherhood and commonality.

Posted by Judith Ellis at May 21, 2009 5:23 PM

If the flagman WEREN'T there and the "rich famous guy" drove off into an open trench or through some sticky tar, destroying the paint on his stretch Rolls Limo on his way to the grand gala for the "rich famous" smiling, waving people, I guess the "grumpy flagman" would suddenly find laughter and joy, is that it?

Then again, there are SOME "rich famous" people who would make miserably "grumpy" flagmen, waitresses, cashiers, CEO's, actors... whatever their situation was.

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Somehow I think these words will be falling on some "grumpy" deaf ears. I'm neither the "flagman" nor the "rich famous guy." I simply choose to smile and wave anyway.

Because it's my choice. And I can. I will.

Without having to decide which of the above two people I more closely approximate.

Posted by Dan Gunter at May 21, 2009 5:34 PM

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