Whether it’s a partner, business, or an employee, when it comes to straightforward futures, the past will hold the answer. If the boyfriend can't be trusted with credit or tax forms, how could he be entrusted with the friend’s daughter and with making a lasting commitment? It’s not a question of money and means, but one of commitment and responsibility. The author suggested his friend ask to see the boyfriend’s tax returns and a credit report. The friend had a daughter whose boyfriend had proposed, and he was unsure if he should give his blessing to the couple. What does this mean in practice? Let’s consider how the author counseled a friend who approached him for advice. So look to the past if you want to predict possible futures. But how do we know when an ending is required?įor starters, past action is a good indication of future behavior. He went back to school and found a second successful career in investment.īut how do we work out what’s worth fighting for? We’ll explore that next.Īs endings can be painful, we do everything within our power to avoid them. Blair understood that so he folded his business. Of course, it’s possible to fight and persevere. He was faced with the inevitable reality. He invested more money and searched ceaselessly for new potential customers. He used to be in the chemical manufacturing industry, but as technology advanced, his line of work became obsolete. But as soon as we see endings as normal, there’s no reason to be afraid and run away from them. It’s common to think of endings as negative occurrences. In order to make the most out of endings, you have to normalize them. Under Welch, GE’s market value skyrocketed from a “mere” $14 billion to an astounding $410 billion. That meant cutting unproductive business initiatives, conducting annual layoffs, and paring away red tape. Welch pruned to push his business into the top two in the market. In business, too, a little pruning is required, even when you have annual growth targets.Ĭonsider Jack Welch, the former CEO of General Electric. You might need, for example, to pare down a professional or personal relationship that’s getting a little invasive. You might prune so that you have the energy to march out happy and contented each day. The question is, how's your metaphorical rosebush going to look? Ask yourself why and to what end you're pruning. The gardener pruning his rosebushes has a clear goal in mind: healthy buds and vibrant colors. We'd never reach our goals or actualize our dreams. Without them, we’d all be unhappily married to our high school sweethearts, stuck in our first jobs, or burdened with unreliable employees. Maybe you’re too reliant on your parents’ support, for instance. Just think about your behavioral patterns or harmful habits. But your relationship with yourself is harder to see. Endings are inevitable, but they mean we can move on.Īn unsupportive relationship or friendship prevents us from blooming, and a dysfunctional or violent relationship or an unhealthy friendship is worse still. What’s true in business is also true in our personal lives. Why keep someone around if they aren’t living up to their promise? That's the time to find a better replacement who will help you achieve your long-standing objectives. Sometimes, even employees have to be let go. Flared corduroy trousers might have been all the rage in the 1970s, but the current low demand means that there’s no point producing quite so many pairs anymore. Even design classics like the Walkman cassette player had to be put to bed eventually. Perhaps a new technology has rendered those efforts unprofitable. They are, in fact, necessary.įor instance, there are times when it’s best to draw a line under a business venture or a product line. They mean we will eventually thrive in professional and personal settings. But it’s important to remember that endings serve a purpose. It’s a universal experience, and it can be galling. We’re facing the end, and there’s nothing to be done. At some time or other, we’ve all hit that wall.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |