Blue Elevator Blog

Excellence As An Ideal

Something’s amiss.  Sometime, in a galaxy far, far away, something changed.

As far back as I can remember, we were equipped for excellence.  The pursuit of perfection.  Excellence as an ideal.  I seemingly and simultaneously straddle two generations: The Baby Boomers and Generation X.  It depends upon who you ask.  It depends upon what chart you look up.

I was born in the summer of 1965 – my birthday often falling on the last day of the school year.

Things were different back then.

A Look Back

Before we look back, I remind myself of this trustworthy saying:

Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?”  For it is not wise to ask such questions. – Ecclesiastes 7:10

I’m not saying those days were better.  But, life was different.

Work History

This is my work history.

Pre-teen years

• I collected papers, bottles, and aluminum cans from the neighbors and recycled them for money.
• To expand that “business,” I took up dumpster diving at an apartment complex at the end of the block.  It beat going door to door.  I went from dumpster to dumpster.  The treasure was so great, I decided to avoid the heavy newspapers.  I would focus exclusively on more compact treasure: recylable bottles and aluminum cans.  When I came across something recyclable, I would stuff my finds into large plastic bags.  Then, I would carry them on my back for the walk home – suffering the dripping beer and soda.
• Because my mother’s family were farmers from Arkansas, I was elected to carry on the farming tradition in sunny, southern California.  As a young kid, it was my job to plant a garden during Easter vacation (without pay).  I would first have to clear the large plot of land of bermuda grass, weeds, and such.  Then, break up the soil.  Then, add soil amendments, furrow the rows, and plant the seeds.  For several years, this was all done by hand.
• One year, I was afforded the privilege of receiving some technology.  My mom bought a used, ginormous gas-powered Briggs & Stratton roto-tiller.  Things were looking up.  The dirt was so hard, I can remember “hiring” my younger brother to stand on top of the roto-tiller.  I needed the weight of his 60-to-80 pound body to help the blades break into the surface of the dirt.  Otherwise, the roto-tiller just crawled across the surface of the ground.

Early Teens

• I then folded, stuffed, and threw newspapers 7 days a week for the Orange County Register.  Rain or shine.  During the week, this happened right after school.  And on the weekends, I did this before the crack of dawn.  The papers would have to be assembled, folded, and stuffed into two large canvas bags on either side of my bike handlebars.  Then I would set out, dodging telephone poles, oncoming traffic, and ferocious dogs.  Often times, the weight of the papers were so much, I was unable to pedal my trusty stead (e.,g., er, 10-speed Schwinn Varisty bike) up some of the hills.  And then, once a month, I had to knock on doors and collect the $7.50 per month subscription fee.  And after my monthly visit from my route supervisor to collect all the subscription revenue, I would net about $65 per month.  This was good money back then.
• I would then become a trap boy.  I would climb into a square hole in the ground.  And, for hours on end, place clay pigeons on a large metal machine.  Someone 25 yards away would hold an electronic switch.  He would push the button when a shotgun shooter yelled “pull.”  I became adept at loading the birds quickly because I wanted to get my hands out of the way before the large metal blade whipped around and smashed my hand.  And, occasionally, a neophite “puller” (the person who pushed the button) would lose concentration.  He would hold the button down, inadvertently making the machine blade continually whip around a couple of times – busting my hand and bird (clay pigeon).

I could go on and on.  All of that was before me high school years.  The world was different back then.  Or, was it?

Our Parents (Or Maybe Your Grandparents) Used To Walk Five Miles To School – In The Snow

My parents, mind you, used to smile when I lamented of my hardships.  You see, they had it even more difficult.  We used to laugh at their stories of having to walk to school for miles – in the snow.  After all, I had it easier.  I rode a bike to school in the rain.

Today’s generation is different.  They accompany mom in her Mercedes as she stops into Starbucks for a round of lattes on their way to school.  Different times.

Ease Or Excellence

If we go back in time, seemingly, each generation had it a little tougher.  And if we go forward in time, seemingly, each generation had it a little easier.  And, isn’t this by design?  We can all recall hearing stories of how parents “didn’t want their kids to have to endure what they did.”

But somewhere along the line, something was lost.  The struggle and the pursuit of excellence has been replaced by ease and existence.

I forgot where I heard it, but credit is due for the person who penned something along these next lines:

The goal is to prepare children for the road ahead.  And not the other way around.

School Yard Justice

Back in the day, the best athlete got picked first for kickball.  If you couldn’t field ground balls, you didn’t make the baseball team.  And, if you couldn’t sing, you didn’t make choir.  If you had no rhythm, you didn’t make the band.  And if you couldn’t spell none too good, you didn’t write for the school newspaper.  And the nerds everyone laughed at would go on to be the founders of large organizations like Apple and Microsoft.

The world wasn’t cruel.  It was just the way of things.  What would otherwise appear as cruel rejection, was providential circumstances helping lead you along life’s path.

The way of things helped us focus on the intersection of two things: a) to find something we enjoyed, and b) to find something we were good at.  And, once we were in that space, we would work hard at it – to be excellent.  How cruel is that?

Empathy vs. Excellence

But along the way, in an effort to prevent children from the hurt feelings of being picked last in kickball, we’ve morphed into a society that focuses on people’s feelings and individual rights.  Excellence has seemingly taken a back seat.  And, it isn’t society’s fault – it’s our fault.  Society didn’t raise the Millennial generation.  We did.

As the saying goes, But wisdom is proved right by all her children. – Luke 7:35

We are only experiencing what our wisdom told us was best.

Have We Adequately Prepared Business For The Millennials?

And now, as Millennials are making their foray into the business world, we are tempted to perpetuate the same conditions of the petri dish they were raised in.  Namely, to mold business around them.

Now, we will see.  Have we prepared this next generation for the rigors of the business world?

There are businesses and blogs whose missions are to equip companies to better understand the motivations and mindsets of these Millennials.  They help organizations set up work places to accommodate the preferences of the Millennials.  Is the focus “preparing them for the road”  or “preparing the road for them”?  There is a difference.

Effort, Excellence, And Entitlement

The earlier outline of my pre-teen work experience wasn’t an attempt at self aggrandizement.  It was to make a point.  For the most part, this younger generation has been accustomed to a different effort quotient.  For them, it has been a “point and click” world.  Instant gratification.  Participation trophies.  When obstacles arose, they were removed by guardians and caretakers.  Even the smallest modicum of effort has been conditioned for recognition.  Excellence, not so much.  When their feelings were hurt, it was the fault of the “measurement” or the “measurer.”  Seemingly, it was not the fault of the performance or the doer of deeds.

For the record, I am against cruelty, bullying, and all sorts of other ills.  But, I am not against the struggle.  I am not against the pursuit of excellence.

This article is not a lament.  And, it is not to cast aspersion on an entire generation.  I have generalized the Millennial mindset with broad brush strokes.  But, there are plenty of exceptions.  And I mean plenty.

The purpose of this article is to encourage all of us to pursue excellence as an ideal.

The Struggle Of The Butterfly

Maybe you have heard it, but the very process of a butterfly struggling to get out of its cocoon is part and parcel to its survival.  It’s the laborious struggle of emerging from the cocoon that helps push fluid from the body into the wings.  Sans the struggle, there is no flight.

Straight Talk to Millennials

If you are a Millennial looking for your life’s mission …

1. Find out what you enjoy doing.  As the saying goes, “If you like what you do, you will never have to work a day in your life.”  God willing, make the world a better place.  And, you might as well have fun while doing it.  So, be encouraged to focus on what excites you.
2. But also, find out what you are good at.  In your upbringing, your efforts have been celebrated.  And, excellence, maybe not so much.  Ask and receive objective feedback.  If you can’t carry a tune in a bucket, all of the practicing in the world probably isn’t going to make you the next American Idol winner – no matter how much you like it.  Remember William Hung?
3. Pursue excellence.  And, here’s the twist: embrace the struggle.  Life is not “point and click.”  You will have to invest time to master your trade.  Despite some of the various videos you’ve seen go viral overnight, success in business isn’t exactly the same.  It’s the long road.  And, the road can be hard at times.  It’s a road pocked with potholes, flat tires, mechanical problems, and tow trucks.

If you do the above, God willing, you will stand out from among your peers.  Work hard.  Pursue excellence as an ideal.

Straight-Talk To Business Owners

They are out there.  Shining stars.  Despite the general malaise I see among young people, there are some real gems.  Some Millennials are not self-focused.  Some are very hard workers.  They are smart.  And, they know life is not all “point and click,” sans the struggle.

They are easy to spot.  There’s not a lot of them, so, when you see one, you will know it.  They are well-groomed.  On time.  Hardworking.  Bright.  Trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, and courteous …  Sound familiar?  Veritable Boy Scout stuff.

So, if you are the leader of an organization, be encouraged.  Be encouraged to …

1. Establish excellence as an ideal.  Mold your organization and its performance to be the best it can be.  Your mission is to make the world a better place.  To move the needle.  To boldly go where no one has gone before.  Don’t mold your company around your employees or team members.
2. Give up trying to mold people into your ideal.  They either fit the suit or they don’t.  Communicate the expectation and ask if it is something your new hire can get excited about.  If they do, great.  If they don’t, you should both move on.
3. Solicit input from Millennials.  Stay firm on your ideals, but be flexible on ideas (e.g., the methodology).  These young minds are capable.  And, they just might have a better way of skinning the cat, so to speak.

There, you have it.

Let’s all pursue excellence as an ideal.  Contact us.  We’d love to hear from you.