A Fine Line

Terry Starbucker stops me dead in my tracks with two essays.

 

• One

• Two

On one hand:  "...but this is my job.  It's not my life.  I don't define myself by this."
On the other:  "That target of teammate job satisfaction has only increased in importance to me as my career has progressed, because I have seen time and time again what it produces - real business success.   This has been a great learning experience for me.  And this difference making is personally rewarding, because I simply love what I do and I would like nothing more to have all my teammates feel the same way."

Can a person separate the two?  Can a person feel so much passion at work and have it not carry over to the life outside?

For twelve years I've been crawling, scratching and inching across the desert in search of a tall, cold glass of iced tea...in search of being able to say, "I simply love what I do!!!"  A partial definition of that position would have me writing about it on my Web site.  Another part would have me encountering some other being within the course of a work day who I could talk to about Gen X & Yers', marketing, social networking, design, personal development, emotional intelligence, writing, etc.

So in my mind, success would seem to have me melding work more with life.  Presently, the twelve foot thick steel door shuts, closing work off from my life.  Except when it doesn't.  (Thanks Ted!)

I was so severely burned and scarred years ago when I made the mistake of talking about my online life at work (which was about work but not my company) that I vowed to never do it again.  The degree of severity can be understood when, if you were to combine how I write here with a finite focus to help individuals within my industry develop, learn and grow.  It was all good.  No line crossing, no giving away company information.  Heck I only mentioned the company's name once, on the last day of our site's existence.

But Terry has caused me to open that door a wee bit with his Smiles essay...

So, I've had the word manager in my title for nearly thirty years, twenty-three of those in my present industry.   Here is what causes each corner of my mouth to reach out and grab hold of my ears.

I work with technicians.  They work on complicated machinery and controls.  If this equipment is not working properly companies can lose millions of dollars, by the hour.  If this equipment is not working properly people's lives can be critically affected. 

The technician's work results in either keeping a piece of equipment in a fine tuned condition or restoring one to this condition.  In either case, the result is pure art. 

Although I have never been a technician, I have the ability to recognize and appreciate a finely tuned piece of equipment.  I also have the ability to appreciate and acknowledge the level of pride that a technician has in his work, in his art.  You wanna talk about seein' some big ole smiles!

So as a manager, that is what brings smiles to my face.  It is not the bottom line, not customer service (though there is great satisfaction in pleasing one), and it is not awards.

In no way does this change anything, but after reading what brings delight to Terry, it feels pretty good to tell you what brings delight to me.

 

Comments

[dave]

As a footnote, the company that I presently work for is NOT the same one that caused me so much grief.

It is also the best company that I've ever worked for in the biz.

[Terry Starbucker]

Hi Dave - thanks for the links, and good on you for putting your thoughts on the page about what brings you joy at your workplace.

I find my writing these things down very cathartic, in that acheiving such clarity of thought and purpose only adds to what you refer to as delight.

I think we're on the "same page" on that one! Thanks again, and all the best.

[DaveH]

Mr. NYT, tear down this pay wall.

[Africa travel]

Someone once said that when you find a job you love and enjoy you will never have to work again because work becomes like play.

[dave]

Thanks for weighing in AT! Still lookin' for some play...