When was the last time you made time to daydream a little and imagine something you would like to create?
What was it like to pause? How did it make you feel? What were you imagining?
Or perhaps, you didn’t do any of that and the last weeks (or maybe even months) went by in a blur.
How does that make you feel as you read these sentences?
Am I making you smile, making you reflect, touching a nerve, or perhaps even pissing you off?
Funny intermezzo. My spell checker suggests I replace ‘pissing you off’ with ‘making you angry.’
I hope I made you smile and reflect.
You take the time to read through this insight, so at least you understand the value of investing time to read for three minutes and get provoked a little.
Let’s continue our imagination.
Imagine you are part of a company where you can ultimately be yourself, don’t have to worry about the consequences of your words, and where fear is entirely absent.
Imagine you are part of a company where you can schedule most of your time as you like and work there where you’re needed and most productive. Because you feel trusted by your boss, and they know you will deliver.
Imagine you’re not wasting your time in endless back-to-back meetings where your opinion is not valued, and you’re basically there to fill up the room.
Imagine you are part of a company where teamwork truly exists, and everyone loves the collaborative spirit.
Doors are open, people meet spontaneously, and problems are solved within teams, not through the boss’s directives.
Imagine a company where your boss truly listens. He (or she) doesn’t pay lip service. He truly listens and considers what you have to say.
Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
How engaged would you be?
Seriously, how engaged would you be?
Now…
Imagine…
Imagine you’re the leader of such a company.
How would that make you feel?
Seriously, I’m asking, how would that make you feel?
Can you please pause for a second and answer my question, or do you not have time for this bullshit?
Be honest.
[Pause]
So much for my little dialogue.
But do you know what? This stuff is not bullshit (my spellchecker gave up).
This is why ‘Imagine’ in my playbook is preceded by ‘Pause,’ ‘Be,’ and ‘Dare.’ You need to have the guts to pause, look in the mirror, and think the unthinkable.
It’s not bullshit because these companies exist, these leaders live, and these teams exist.
So, if I touched a nerve, then please do something about it. You’re wasting your time, and life is too short.
Yes, you are, and yes, it is.
These companies exist because somebody used their imagination at the start of the process.
Somebody made culture and people a priority at the very start of the process.
For companies like Netflix and Zappos, culture is their first priority. Because they understand that culture is what drives future success.
Netflix connects its culture to talent density. Netflix understands that only with the right amount of true talent, the culture will prevail.
Zappos connects its culture to being obsessed with the customer. Their ultimate purpose is to deliver happiness to each customer. And that can only be done in a culture that embraces happiness for its own people.
It’s likely that I still didn’t convince you (‘But Erik, these are big American companies’), but that’s says everything about your imagination and not my ability to convince you.
Netflix and Zappos both started with the imagination for a few people.
Your turn: When was the last time you made time to daydream a little and imagine something you would like to create?
Do more of what makes you happy!
Erikjan
NB. This is the fourth publication in a series of ten connected to the 10 cues in my playbook “MIND.SET.GROW. – 10 life-changing cues for success and significance”.