The invisibleness of a physically noticeable world is what feeds shame into the hallow halls of unapproachable fame.
That’s nothing more than a poets description of how Henry Ford masterminded a daily work ethic based on honoring the best while ignoring the rest. Tiny collections of the companies top dogs lined up to be recognized as well as rewarded for their efforts of success while triple the amount of coworkers stood in far away corners watching...and losing.
Henry Ford believed in the identification of penetration—forging through massive amounts of doubt and fear by hiring masters of the fine art of salesmanship. But we all know, if there’s a top there’s going to be a bottom and everything located in the middle is what makes or breaks the difference between attaining and restraining.
By making public contact with the builders of his foundation Mr. Ford heightened the ego of the hard working, loyal and determined process by giving them room to celebrate and to remember everything that goes with it—because tomorrow is a brand new day and beginning and its going to require more of what you already have to continue leading this hourly battle to rock the top of the business world ladder.
Research shows…while the best of the best stood straight as an arrow and shock hands with the mighty man for their endeavors achieved in a past that no one could change—what Mr. Ford didn’t see was fear. The fear of being able to live up to what he set out to accomplish. Mr. Ford also didn’t recognize the faces of the others in attendance whose impeccable presentation was just as worthy but maybe not as profitable—within their grips, they too held fear but in a more destructing way of loosening up the beams that hold up the four corners of a building assumed bright beautiful and unforgettably strong.
My radio mentor Andrew Ashwood once shouted into the dimly lit radio station conference room, “Do you know why we don’t have contests? Most of you are eager to admit we can’t afford it. False! When you honor someone you in essence are knocking down thousands behind him. One winner equals nine thousand losers. I am not in the market to create enemies. In my book we will walk the same level of achievement and that means we will serve this station and community by way of making every one, not just one…a winner.”
Had Mr. Ford looked out across that giant auditorium and recognized Mrs. Ellerby for her typing skills and Macon William Holloman for tidying up the restrooms late at night so the early birds could have a comfortable place to stare into their soul before taking on the world—Ford might not have been taken over by a foreign country in 2009.
We waste too much time honoring the top dogs. The only reason why a CEO at a bank is awarded millions in bonuses has nothing to do with his or her personal efforts put into the pie but everything to do with the people hired to do the job—those who walk away each day with just enough pay for dinner and maybe a spoon full of ice cream.
Research may show companies need to reach out of the box to hit their expectations or stockholders will scream, scratch and cry like children whose parents refuse to let them play with toys at school but during the process of pencil drawn growth the physical conclusion is the destruction of what made a profit worth reaching for—a collected gathering of several departments and heads that give up their lives for eight or more hours a day and maybe 1 percent of them go home feeling like a winner.
Is it worth it? The average American has proved time and time again they’d die for the companies they work for and because of a constant push to pick up the strength of ten men and women or walk…mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters are falling and not getting back up.
My Grandpa Bakken passed away while pushing a load of heavy tools onto an elevator of a nearly completed building on the university campus in Bozeman, Montana. My Mother is nearing 70 and has never felt the retirement vibration. Stare into the eyes of a Wal-Mart greeter and the vision you’re handed back is the image of a survivor not someone who loves their job.
Who honors the poor, the getting poor and too embarrassed to admit middle class?
Nobody…because bosses with bosses who have bosses aren’t interested in the best you’ve got unless its shattering records set by Michael Phelps, Michael Jordon and Joe Montana. Every business in this country is treated like a professional sports franchise and without a doubt the employee roster is blanketed with more endorphin rushes than history can document. You push your mind, body and soul beyond its well built limits only to learn that it’s never good enough to sit in the front row during an awards banquet.
You have the power to make a change. You have the ability to rise above Mr. Ford’s inability to capitalize on the full circumference of the entire circle of life by taking the time each moment you get and thank Barbara Stanway in Accounts receivable for always bringing sweet smelling flowers to work with her because it brightens up your day. Thank Kevin the office comedian for his jokes because it takes the sting out of having to reach, reach and reach. Look at your manager’s manager and hold out your hand while saying, “I hope your day is as great as mine and if not…what can I do to make it part of your continued success?”
It’s time to make a point in America…saying thank you has the power and total impact to affect the next seven generations.
Jimmy Buffet recently spent some time recording in South Africa--walking into a local pub he took note of the posters on the wall...Bob Marley and a late 70's shot of himself. In his heart Jimmy realizes his music hasn't won major awards...to some writers and performers that's the ultimate blow to the ego. To Buffet though, knowing people in a different part of the world felt like hanging a poster of him next to Bob Marley was the greatest honor given to his well written chapters.
If we learn to quit today—I can’t imagine the USA in 2115. The difference begins today and continues tomorrow, then the next day and the next day. You don’t need a millionaires pat on the back to feel worthy…if that’s the case, your computer has put you on the wrong web page.
arroecollins@clearchannel.com
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