The Opportunity to Make a Difference

Quick tour note: Got to Birmingham fine, long day and very humid. After I took my helmet off, my hair almost immediately fuzzed up like Gilda Radner's - give me the desert back!

When I interview people, they often say they want a job where they can make a difference, where their work will matter.

THEN, most people get to work, fall into patterns, and fail to make much of a difference at all.

Is it the job or the person?

It's not likely the job. There are a few jobs that are so poorly designed that they offer no opportunity to make a difference. I would hope that these jobs become fewer as our businesses improve. Most of what I see is not due to the job.

So is it the person?

No.

What?

No, it's not the person.

Let's not categorize people, here, because it is not helpful. Everyone has the opportunity and the capability to make a difference. Sometimes we do and most of the time we don't. Let me be clear about what I mean - most minutes, hours, and days are not spent making the kind of positive difference we all talk about when we interview for jobs.

Each moment, we have a choice. We can push the automatic button or we can push our engines into turbo. Turbo is where big contribution occurs.

Turbo = catalyzing, facilitating, provocative, evocative, butterfly flaps-flaps-flaps, focus and methodically relentless, how we are when we are at our best (amazing).

Should we be on turbo all the time. No - we would burn out.

Should we be in turbo charge more? Likely, yes. Just a few minutes at peak performance can make big things happen.

So the next time someone tells me they want to find a job where they can make a difference, I will respond by saying, "well, we are looking for a professional who does. Good luck with your job search, come back to us when you have some amazing stories to share."