The culture we are currently navigating tends to be laden with many points of division rather than points that unify. It appears that points which divide are elected not because they are in the best interest of society but rather because they exist on the path of least resistance. When selecting the easy path, it comes without any self-reflection and self-control. It discounts respect for all humanity and places self-gratification at the center of the decision-making model.
As we approach the end of the 2nd quarter of 2021 this is a good time to pause and evaluate the ebb and flow of the business. 2020 was filled with new unknowns as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 2021 is rolling forward in the midst of coming out of that set of unknowns into a new marketplace which has new and different expectations of our clients and customers.
Technology, science, knowledge have brought forth many unbelievably valuable things into our culture. One such aspect of these contributions is the open availability of opinion. We as members of the culture we live inside of must use these same elements of technology, science, and knowledge to evaluate and bring truth and trust to the opinions they created.
I was recently asked to come into an organization because they were looking to perpetuate the asset to the next generation of family members. I had no prior knowledge of the business or family dynamics. That is not necessarily uncommon but is always a critical part of determining if JKL Associates can bring the proper value to the opportunity or if the prospect would be better served by an alternate provider.
In a time when it is easiest to point or redirect issues toward our culture and blame it for what is going on around us, we need to recall that we are the ones to hold accountable for our culture. Our culture reflects both the good and evil in our society and as members of the community we are personally responsible for the culture we live inside of.
This coming Monday our nation celebrates those individuals who gave the price of ultimate service to the people of this country protecting our freedoms both on foreign lands and here at home. We have our share of differences and are still trying to work out the best ways to approach our future as a nation. We can never forget those who fought for the freedoms we currently enjoy allowing us choice, input, appreciation and hopefully understanding.
May your Memorial Day 2021 be a time of remembrance of those who believed so much in our future of the nation that they gave so much for it in times gone by.
Our culture ebbs and flows between ultra-positive times and some pretty low moments. Time and history give us a great opportunity to reflect, respect and remember those moments of our past. As we look at those elements of our culture which are not always viewed through a common lens, kindly take the time to first appreciated and then to understand the full set of circumstances associated with it. If we only select those parts, we want to embrace we discount an important part of the story of our culture.
The first step is to acknowledge that bias does exists. Not just in your business but in society and in the heads of each and every person that is on this planet. Bias is not something new. Bias has existed since the beginning of time.
Let us start with a definition – Bias as defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is:
an inclination of temperament or outlook : a personal and sometimes unreasoned judgment : PREJUDICE
The deep richness of our cultures is the result of multiple layers of wonderful imagination having been incorporated over the years. Each day our imagination cultivates new and expressive ideas which become part of our bountiful history. Let your imagination run wild with greatness so our culture will thrive into the future.
For the past few weeks, we have been looking at key priorities to operate a Best-in-Class business. We started with the foundation of a solid Purpose which your People are engaged in. We also looked at how time, energy and resources, when utilized at the proper Pace, directly support the Purpose and People of the organization. We then explored the Perception of where your business lives with respect to creativity, innovation and embracing change to support a growth mindset for the future. Today we finally get around to a topic many of you might have felt precedes all the prior elements – that of Profit.