In my travels of late, I’ve been paying close attention to the work ethic of employees in various companies. Whether it’s a hotel, airline, restaurant, or retail store, there is definitely a clear distinction between those who work as minimalists (i.e., those who do the minimal, if not less, of what’s required of them) and those who choose to provide services beyond expectations for their customers.
I’m sure most of us have come across people that really are apathetic and uninterested in their “jobs”. These individuals are not really interested in hearing what you need as a customer. In fact, some will lie to you if it means that they don’t have to do more work. For example, I’ve come across retail employees who clearly lie about what’s out of stock or the process of finding a product. In the past few weeks, I’ve come across several of these employees both near my home as well as out of state.
Nevertheless, there are others who choose to make it more than simply a job. To these kinds of employees, it actually becomes a vocation (a word that comes from the Latin word for calling). As I was considered the differences between these two kinds of employees, I was reminded of a great book I read a few years back entitled, “The Fred Factor” written by Mark Sanborn. In this book, Sanborn describes how his postman, named Fred, would go out of his way to make sure he got the best service possible (e.g., placing the mail in a different location at the house whenever Sanborn traveled so that it would not give the appearance that no one was home; thus protecting it from potential burgulars).
Who doesn’t love a person like this? Who doesn’t see a company in a brand new light when such things happens?
So, here are some questions for you…
- Why don’t more people work like this?
- Do you have any insights into what it may take to move someone from being a minimalist to someone who lives like Fred?
- Are you a minimalist? If so, what are some of your greatest struggles to break out of this?
- Are you a former minimalist? If so, what helped you to move beyond that perspective?
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this matter.
Life Scribbles is a new blog category I created to jott down quick notes about various topics and personal interests. These notes (including questions) are meant to be short, thought-provoking, relatively open, and purposefully unresolved. I’m hoping that these Life Scribbles will challenge or refine perspectives, create meaningful conversations, and lead to further inquiry about the topics presented.
Life Scribbles: The Death of a Minimalist
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Life Scribbles: The Death of a Minimalist
New Blog Post – "Death of a Minimalist" at http://bit.ly/5wWZA // Are you a minimalist?
Life Scribbles: The Death of a Minimalist
The Struggle most people have and have to overcome is their own interests over their responsibilities it seems like. When our own considerations are taken higher than that of whom we are working for we seem to want to do it our way and usually this isn’t the company way, now it is possible that our own way can improve the company way but also can deteriorate it as well. Another minimalist characteristic seems to be ignorance of the requirements, when you don’t know how to work at the standard set how can you improve upon it. You can’t fire blindly at a target. This minimalist ignorance is not usually anyone’s fault except the minimalists themselves because it is their duty to understand their position in the company. Much of the time minimalists are not only minimal in their work environment but also in their entire life as they often tend to lack discipline, and the necessary structures to gain, maintain and improve both skills and knowledge. I think these observations bring some light into the minimal life.
Life Scribbles: The Death of a Minimalist
Thanks for your thoughts Dale. Good thoughts about ignorance as being a factor.
I think it’s important for both the employee and the employer to set clear descriptions of expectations. Nevertheless, you’re right…a lot of that responsibility to know what’s going on lands on the employee. Part of this is that many problem don’t look at their jobs as impactful. That’s too bad because most positions can become a position of great influence.
Life Scribbles: The Death of a Minimalist
Today I spent the day with my mom at Mayo clinic in Rochester. I am a nurse and my mom has worked in heathcare for 20 years. We are both people in our jobs who I believe would not be ‘minimalists’. I was absolutely blown away by the amount of care that was taken with her in a very efficient way. I felt as though every person we dealt with (I can count 10) literally went over the top in making us feel listened to, cared about, and that we were given the very best options. I pondered on my 2 hour ride home what was so different about our experience today. I came up with this. Mayo is a special place, it is world renowned, people respect it greatly, people are PROUD to work there. It is a well oiled machine, everyone has a place and a role and seem to know thier job well, they seemed a cohesive TEAM, even though it’s a massive team. It is a REWARDING place to work, people travel the world to come to Mayo, there is a sense of relief in patients eyes (literally, I thought), the employees at Mayo seemed to recognize this and it showed in thier care.
Being a nurse I feel I see the ‘minimalist’ more often than not. Overhearing a collegue speak to a patient in a rushed or uncaring manner is truly disheartening. I was inspired to be a better nurse today through my experience. I wonder how catchy it is at Mayo? Does is spread? Going the extra mile?
So why are people minimalist? I can only speak for myself, I minimize in my nursing care when I am spent. Not on purpose, but because it’s just not there. When my brother has died, my mom has been diagnosed with cancer, and my kids were restless and sleepless in the night. I know what it feels like to be doing a job, an important job, and only being able to give the minimum. It stinks.
On days when I am feeling spent but aware enough I pray ‘God please give me an assignment I can handle today’. It helps. God grace always comes through on those days. I often chuckle on the way home thinking ‘boy that’s a bit more than I thought I could handle’.
My own weakness, grief, anxiety, and heartache can turn me into a minimalist, but it can also turn me towards God and in His grace give more.
It was interesting reading your blog tonight after the day spent at Mayo. I don’t want to be a minimalist.
Life Scribbles: The Death of a Minimalist
Thank you so much for sharing Steph!
The Mayo Clinic is a class act. I’ve heard great things about their work.
You make a great point about being “spent”. I think it definitely creates an environment in which it becomes difficult to go beyond minimal expectations. So many people are tired…life can be so draining. I love how you respond through prayer. What a refreshing way to reengage life.
I’m so glad you came across this blog tonight. May your soul be encouraged and may God continue to provide the energy to go on…not only go on, but live fully.
Life Scribbles: The Death of a Minimalist
Interesting post, Charles. It reminds me of when I was in high school and my siblings and I were rotating through endless “monkey jobs” as my dad called them – fast food and retail chains, ice cream and coffee shops, movie theaters and ice rinks. My parents used to say, “minimum effort for minimum wage” which I used to justify my minimalist attitude in these positions. However, I was raised with a strong work ethic so my “minimum effort” still earned me credit over other teenage employees who would show up late or not show up at all. I agree with Steph, though – in the jobs where I felt proud of my company, and part of a team, I worked much harder. Also, when I received tips or a higher wage, like at Starbucks or Golden Spoon, I tended to work harder.
Another factor for me is if I believe my employer is “loyal” to me I will be more loyal to them. The company I work for now really takes care of their employees and I feel a fierce loyalty to them, even though my actual duties are often less than stimulating.
Additionally, if I feel I’m “going somewhere” with a job, or getting something from it besides cash, I will give more than the minimum. When I was in college I was the assistant to the Head of the Psych. Department. I worked for 2 years for minimum wage with no chance of a pay increase, yet I gave myself fully to that job because a) I knew my boss cared about me and my personal/professional growth and b) I knew I was learning heaps of valuable information from a successful and experienced counselor and professor.
Also, as my relationship with God has deepened over the years, I have felt a lot less comfortable with the idea of “minimum effort for minimum wage”! Working with YWAM for a couple years also helped cure me…they expect you to work hard for NO wage, and to have fun doing it!