In her book The New American Dream, Penelope Trunk says to choose interestingness over the pursuit of happiness. Penelope:
"...my career is useless if it doesn't allow me to have the personal life I want. A career is what gives you the ability to try out what works in your life and figure out who you are and what you want."
Ms. Trunk has performed extensive research on the work/life/career relationships of Gen-Y, Gen-X, and the Baby Boomers. (She's also dialing into Gen-Z and what it will require of the workforce once it becomes of age). Penelope observes that people are no longer putting off life until retirement age. They are living a life of interestingness now and some have found companies that support this pursuit. In The New American Dream, she tells us what attributes to look for in these companies, what training will be of value to us and what characteristics define the modern day star worker.
Are you an owner and or manager? Are you concerned with the blazing rate of change in the business world around you? Do you find dealing with young people difficult? Do you agonize over finding good workers? Do you stay up late at night trying to figure out how to keep these irreplaceable people? Do you wonder how to separate and distance your company from the competition?
You could hire a pack of consultants. You could spend a couple of years pouring over help available online. You could spend a couple more years reading all the books and magazines on the subject of hiring and keeping people. Or you could read The New American Dream.
While Penelope Trunk lays out a blueprint for the individual to follow and achieve success, this same rendering, albeit from a different perspective, is a perfect, perfect prescription and cure for the owner-manager's case of find-n-keep-great-employee-itis!
Simply take Penelope's direction and invert it. For instance:
"Look for a company with people who love to learn." Build a love of learning culture in your company.
"Teamwork should be highly valued." Make sure teamwork is part of your culture.
Penelope recommends people to look for self-awareness and communication coaching in perspective companies. Provide it.
Ms. Trunk says to look for mentor, flex-time and entrepreneurial opportunities. As an owner-manager, what do you think you should do?
This isn't rocket science folks. These cultures, behaviours and programs are already working successfully. The problem for prospective employees is that beyond some of the Fortune One-Hundred best companies to work for, too few companies are emulating them. To me, this is a huge neon sign that screams opportunity! If I were an owner / manager I would embrace this mindset, differentiate my company and let those with little vision wallow in the mire of their own stagnation.
Here's another reason why The New American Dream is so appealing: At fifty-three pages, it's brief. It's the perfect elixir in just the right dose. If you can get better with one pill, why take ten?
