The Way We Work – Standards of Dancer Concrete Design
Have you ever noticed those lone carts in the parking lot of your grocery store? The ones where someone brought the cart from inside the building, loaded up their stuff into their car and then drove off? I’m sure you would never do this…but let’s take a quick look down this path.
I noticed on a cold snowy night a few weeks ago that the parking lot was littered with carts. It seemed that the snow added a new element of resistance and people decided that because it wasn’t easy, and it was cold, they could forgo their basic duty as a grocery shopper to return the cart. In their selfish interest, the cart attendant can’t keep up on collecting carts, as they are littered across the lot. As I walked in the grocery store, no carts were available for new guests.
Some people think it’s ok to do this. You roll up to a grocery store parking lot filled with carts. Since everyone else is doing it, it builds up some idea that it must be ok. “Everyone else is doing it,” “I’m cold,” “It’s the cart attendants job” you might say or think. What you are saying with actions rather than words, is “I’m weak,” “I’m a sheep,,” I can’t think for myself or do what is needed despite some minor external circumstance.”
We all know the right decisions to make in life. Little decisions like this seem inconsequential, but if you choose against this, you decide to be passive. You are being negligent. You think its no big deal, but every time you make a small decision against this inner voice you welcome shame and guilt into your life, and then it builds, it builds and it builds. We face decisions like this all the time. Every single day…
Do you choose to get by? Or do you decide to do your duty, to do your work, to work to the standard despite an inconvenience, to work beyond just when you feel like it? Anyone can show up and put the cart away when it’s sunny, and if the sun is shining, it’s an enjoyable experience. But in life, conditions change, circumstances adjust…sometimes it’s 5 degrees out, and there are 12 inches of snow on the ground, then what do you do? You say screw the cart corral; you walk that cart all the way to the front door. When the situation gets tougher – you get even tougher.
This is not about getting mad or frustrated with other people not doing their job. Cursing or getting angry about other people won’t change anything. Show up for yourself. Get mad at yourself for your own passivity. Results don’t show up from doing what you feel like doing. Fight that resistance to be passive, to choose weakness. Instead – Get After It. Put Your Cart Back.
Heard. Watched. Read.
- “Anyone can find ‘peace’ in a peaceful environment. The test of consciousness, the test of enlightenment is to be at peace when your surroundings are in chaos. The test is to find your own inner peace. To choose your emotional state, whatever that might be, rather than be impacted by others.” – David Christopher
- We look for conditions to be right to move towards our goals. Maybe we are in control of more than we think. A quick 3 minute read from Derek Sivers on finding our own resourcefulness.
- “If you cut wood, you get sawdust.”