metacool Thought of the Day

"There have been several times in my life when I owned something so special that I worried I would lose it or it would be stolen or be abused by the kids. A pen knife collection that my Dad gave me was one such treasure. So I hid it. I didn’t want anyone to use it or steal it so I found a hiding place for it. The problem was I forgot where I hid it. It took years of searching and I finally found it again hidden in the garage. There have been other times where I have hidden something from the world and the one who couldn’t find it was me, the one who couldn’t enjoy it was me and the one who was in misery because something so nice was lost was me.

Forget football, forget my pen knife collection - think of what you might be hiding at work. No not, those gummy bears behind your printer, I am talking about your skills, your ideas, your special qualities that you hold back thinking you will wait until the better job comes along or until you get paid what you are worth or until they get real cream for the coffee or until…

The only one that suffers from holding back is you and your career. Imagine Steve Jobs or John Chambers or the Google Guys holding back. Those innovation ideas or process flow improvements or your creativity and sense of humor should be brought forward now, not next time. Next time may be too late. The more you add the more you will see. Too often, people hold back and stuff the value they can add in the lower right desk drawer waiting for a better time. That time is now. Get the recognition now, get the satisfaction that you made the place better now."

- Richard Moran

Comments

[Travis Dahle]

Great suggestion Richard! Too many of us wait because we're not sure if we'll succeed and we're scared about sticking our necks out...but you say it right: the time is now!

Thanks for the pep talk!

Travis Dahle

[Michael]

Every employer and employee ought to remember we are all volunteers even if we're getting paid.

At the end of the day we volunteer our best or hide it.

Thanks for stirring things up.

Keep creating...work worth doing,
Mike