We have disagreement in this country. Last week's election surely highlighted that.
There are some who are more fearful for our country's future than
ever before, while others believe we're on the right path. Those in the worry
camp maintain they are witnessing unhealthy patterns of behavior and dangerous
swings in societal beliefs and attitudes. In fact, many feel that a cultural
"tipping point"—in the wrong direction—has been reached.
And that maybe as a country, we are on a slippery slope.
Example: Once upon a time, the message from adults to children that hard work, applying yourself, and doing your best will “help you get ahead” would put hope in young hearts. But it now seems fair to wonder if a missive like that attracts people or scares them away.
And this: The GM of a store representing a national chain tells me that his greatest people challenge is ... getting them to show up.
What? With 8% unemployment?! Clearly, at 54, I'm missing something.
I know some people who resist broad, sweeping, dramatic statements such as, “This country is going to He-- in a hand basket!” or “There’s just no personal responsibility anymore!” So maybe sharing a few more specific examples would be helpful—especially to those who believe in QBQ! The Question Behind Question.
But first, let’s make sure we agree on what QBQ! is all about. The reason to do so is this:
I believe even some longtime friends and fans of QBQ! think it's a feel good idea that helps us all get along. The word "Kumbaya" comes to mind. Actually, QBQ! is much deeper than that. At its core, it is a viscerally powerful tool used to bust blame, eliminate entitlement/victim thinking, and purge procrastination from our lives. Also, there are several undergirding principles to QBQ! that must be mentioned here:
And that maybe as a country, we are on a slippery slope.
Example: Once upon a time, the message from adults to children that hard work, applying yourself, and doing your best will “help you get ahead” would put hope in young hearts. But it now seems fair to wonder if a missive like that attracts people or scares them away.
And this: The GM of a store representing a national chain tells me that his greatest people challenge is ... getting them to show up.
What? With 8% unemployment?! Clearly, at 54, I'm missing something.
I know some people who resist broad, sweeping, dramatic statements such as, “This country is going to He-- in a hand basket!” or “There’s just no personal responsibility anymore!” So maybe sharing a few more specific examples would be helpful—especially to those who believe in QBQ! The Question Behind Question.
But first, let’s make sure we agree on what QBQ! is all about. The reason to do so is this:
I believe even some longtime friends and fans of QBQ! think it's a feel good idea that helps us all get along. The word "Kumbaya" comes to mind. Actually, QBQ! is much deeper than that. At its core, it is a viscerally powerful tool used to bust blame, eliminate entitlement/victim thinking, and purge procrastination from our lives. Also, there are several undergirding principles to QBQ! that must be mentioned here:
- Personal
accountability.
- Service and
contribution.
- Work ethic.
(Pausing for a moment, I believe it's worth asking, are these
principes alive and well in our society today?)
So, by identifying those specific behaviors that are “anti-QBQ!” we QBQ! believers can better avoid them and practice healthy behaviors (taught in QBQ!). This is how and when we can each lead our children, employees, and friends by our example. Then maybe we can begin to push the point of tipping in our society back to a better time and place.
But where will our examples come from? The "old guy" writing this QuickNote born before indoor plumbing? Nope!
Karen and I have seven kids—and now I know why. As a self-employed author who's worked out of his home since 1986, I stay connected to the organizational world through our oldest four, all in their twenties. They’ve worked for universities and churches, as well as marquee corporations in home improvement, specialty coffee, general merchandise, and finance. Trust me, all names you would know. They also have friends from high school, college, church, and Facebook. So what I’m about to share with you comes from them—the twentysomething generation.
Some things to ponder as we consider the question, "Is our society on a slippery slope?":
So, by identifying those specific behaviors that are “anti-QBQ!” we QBQ! believers can better avoid them and practice healthy behaviors (taught in QBQ!). This is how and when we can each lead our children, employees, and friends by our example. Then maybe we can begin to push the point of tipping in our society back to a better time and place.
But where will our examples come from? The "old guy" writing this QuickNote born before indoor plumbing? Nope!
Karen and I have seven kids—and now I know why. As a self-employed author who's worked out of his home since 1986, I stay connected to the organizational world through our oldest four, all in their twenties. They’ve worked for universities and churches, as well as marquee corporations in home improvement, specialty coffee, general merchandise, and finance. Trust me, all names you would know. They also have friends from high school, college, church, and Facebook. So what I’m about to share with you comes from them—the twentysomething generation.
Some things to ponder as we consider the question, "Is our society on a slippery slope?":
- A 21-year-old bank
teller complains that if his girlfriend gets more hours at her place of
work, her food stamps allotment will be reduced.
- A colleague on the
job only 90 days can't understand why she isn't allowed two weeks off to
go to Europe.
- Employees bemoan
the fact the company won't build them an on-site health/fitness center.
- A mom-to-be voices
her frustration because she can’t have a year of paid maternity leave like
a friend in another country.
- The same woman
laments her husband’s employer doesn’t give him paid paternity leave to go
along with her maternity leave.
- One employee, given
the QBQ!
book by his boss and asked to read it at home, wouldn't do so unless paid
for that hour.
- Two team members,
taught to “collaborate in the workplace,” are caught in the storeroom
engaging in too much collaboration and are terminated. One begins legal
proceedings.
- An associate states
candidly, “Of course the company should pay for my next degree. Why
shouldn’t they?”
- A school district
employee is irate because she now has to contribute to her healthcare.
- An hourly co-worker
says he has bills to pay but on slow days is the first one to raise his
hand to go home early—to his parent’s couch.
So, what do you think? Do any of these random examples worry you?
Or are they no big deal? You see, I am
concerned. But it’s okay if you aren't. It’s healthy to agree to
disagree.
And am I even right to be worried? I don’t know, because I can’t find my crystal ball. But I will say this:
And am I even right to be worried? I don’t know, because I can’t find my crystal ball. But I will say this:
I haven’t invested 17
years of my life teaching PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILTY coast to coast so it could all
be in vain.
Personally—to the best of my ability—I plan to stand strong on everything QBQ! represents, for I believe it’s the best way to live. When I exist to serve and contribute, demonstrate humility and generosity to those around me, strive to not make excuses and blame, and take personal ownership for my life choices and outcomes—I am simply a better me. And if that rubs off on others, I have no problem with that.
How about you? Where do you stand on all this? No matter how each of us voted last Tuesday, I hope we can find agreement here: It's good to practice and pass on the values of hard work, doing our best, and being excellent in all things. Will you stand with me? If so, let's each take The QBQ! Pledge:
I promise to practice
personal accountability in all I do, working tirelessly to model this success
principle for all around me.
Meanwhile, at QBQ, Inc., we pledge to continue to write, tweet, post, share, train, and speak so that we can fulfill our mission:
Helping People and
Organizations Make Personal Accountability a Core Value
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