And in those days, behold there came through the gates of the city, a salesman, from afar off. And it cam to pass, as the day went by he sold plenty.

And in that city were they that were order takers, and they that spent their days in adding to the alibi sheets. Mightily were they astonished. They said to one another, “What the, how doth he getteth away with it?” And it came to pass that many were gathered in the back office, and a soothsayer came along to see them. And he was one wise guy. And they spoke and questioned him saying: “How is it that this stranger accomplished the impossible?”

Whereupon the soothsayer made an answer: “He of whom you speak is one hustler. He ariseth very early in the morning and goeth forth full of pep, he complaineth not, neither doth he know dispair. He is arrayed in purple and fine linen, while ye go forth with pants unpressed. WHy ye gather here and say to the other ‘Verily, this is a terrible day to work,’ he is already abroad. And when the eleventh hour cometh, he needeth no alibis. He knoweth his line and they that would stave him off, they give him orders. Men say unto him “Nay” when he cometh in: yet when he goeth forth he hath their names on the line that is dotted. He taketh with him the two angels, Inspiration and Perspirations and worketh to beat hell. Verily, I say unto thee, ‘Go, and do likewise.'”

—Author Unknown

The medicine for mediocrity is meaning.

If you haven’t seen the movie Invictus. Don’t walk, run, and get it, or Netflix it, or whatever. Watch it now. When it came out, I watched it on Saturday and the next week shut down the office and took our entire team to see it. The South African soccer team was average until they were inspired to play for a greater purpose, leading me to surmise that the medicine for mediocrity is meaning.

We who are leaders must infuse the work we lead with meaning—the Greater WHY—in order to motivate our teams. When the WHY is evident, the HOW becomes more obvious.

Attitudes produce Actions

Actions produce Achievements

Achievements increase Capability

Capability results in Accomplishment.

…….it all starts with your attitude.

Speaking of attitude, is yours like a diaper? Is it stinking up the place? Does it need to be changed?

I’ve been reflecting on retirement and how I think its a bad idea. I’ll write more about that later. But the thought was a natural segue into why people choose the careers they do. It got me to thinking about the only advice I ever received on career selection.

Twenty-nine years ago, in 1981, I was an 18-year-old college student gathered with a group of about a dozen other student leaders in a conference room of the Rodeway Inn in Jefferson City, Missouri. Dr. Larry Case, then of the Missouri Department of Vocational Education and now the Executive Director of the National FFA Organization, said “Pick a job that you’d rather do than go on vacation.”

That advice seemed a little silly at the time. What kind of work is better than non-work?

Through the years I’ve come to understand Larry’s wisdom. But I think it falls short. The second commandment should be like the first: Pick a job that you’d rather do than retire from; a job you never want to quit doing. Now THAT’s a career decision!

Many of us took a job because it was offered, or the pay was better, or we were pressured into it by parents or friends. Few of us ever just stopped and asked ourselves “What would I get such a kick out of that going to work everyday would be like a kid walking into a toy store?”

“Unreasonable,” you say? I don’t think so. I just think so many of us made so many bad vocational choices and are now stuck with them because of obligations like kids, marriages, and mortgages, that we don’t want to admit the truth.

Ever once in a while it is wise to go back into your mind and ask yourself “Is this really what I want to be doing with my life?” Then, act accordingly.

I am.