Here I Come To Save The…Wait, What?
10.11.2005 | Chris Bailey | Focused on Career,Work
Can you just hear Andy Kaufman singing along right now?
So, I’ve been back from my association’s annual conference for a couple of weeks now…yet, I’ve found it difficult to rediscover my writing groove. These past two to three weeks have been tinged with plenty of anxiety as it was made very clear to me by my association’s leaders and volunteers just how much is riding on my work. As in: THE FATE OF THE ORGANIZATION RESTS IN YOUR HANDS. Okay, so cue me, dressed as Mighty Mouse, singing, "Here I come to save the day!" I also have to admit that I can easily get caught up in playing the savior role, even though I try to eschew it.
Yes, I know what you’re thinking…it’s the same thing that I’m thinking: I can’t do it all by myself. I have a good staff here and a supportive CEO. I have allies in some of my Board leaders. And as I look back to the hyperlinked article above, I find myself meditating on the very notion that my work as organizational manager and leader is not to save anyone, but to help them be their very best.
Which gets me thinking about something perhaps more important…I’m being challenged right now to be true to my passion for bringing passion and soulfulness to my work and help others find it in their own work. That takes a great deal of courage. That’s worth repeating: PURSUING SOULFUL WORK TAKES GUTS. Lot’s of it.
Friends, thanks for indulging me. The one thing that this blog helps me with is getting past my own crap and seeing things for not only what they are, but what they can be. My hope is that my journey is helpful to you, as well. So, let’s feel free to enjoy the adventures of Mighty Mouse and remember…he’s a trained super-rodent – we don’t need to try his stunts in our own workplace.
3 Responses to “Here I Come To Save The…Wait, What?”
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“I’m being challenged right now to be true to my passion for bringing passion and soulfulness to my work and help others find it in their own work. That takes a great deal of courage. That’s worth repeating: PURSUING SOULFUL WORK TAKES GUTS. Lot’s of it.”
I must comment on this wonderful statement. Since a majority of waking hours are spent at work, if those hours are miserable, life itself is miserable and the unhappiness can spill over in other areas of life. For some people, discovering their passion is easy but for a few unfortunate others, it can even take an entire lifetime and is therefore an act of perseverence and courage. Pursuing soulful work really takes tremendous guts. Great post. Keep it up.
If you have read Covey’s 7 habits you can probably relate to the “Big Rocks” example. It sounds like you might be suffering from “Fireman’s syndrome” where putting out the little fires is taking up most of your time. You might want to refocus on those “Big Rocks” and rediscover your passion.
I have to do that almost every week on my job just to remember what is “really” important!
Great Post!
John
Hiren, welcome and thanks for the kind words. I really think acts of courage are taken lightly these days. Having the strength of conviction to take a stand and actively create a full and well-integrated life is probably one of the hardest, but most spiritual action we can take. Be well.
John, yes, I can relate to the big rocks of Covey and the feeling of being junior fireman. I think I need to hunker down and reconfigure whether my own priorities for my work match those priorities of the organization.