What is the Status Quo Doing to Your Life?

Every day I talk with people both young and old from all races and backgrounds and all corners of the globe.  If you have not figured this out by now, in my work as a leadership consultant, I have worked with thousands of leaders and have heard just about everything under the sun (nothing phases me anymore.)  I have been witness to both the highs and the lows, the groans and the cheers and the voices of people whose lives are being severely affected by the status quo…you know…the people and organizations who want life to stay exactly as they are…be average, live in the middle, don’t be different, and for God’s sake…don’t ever make waves!

I believe that many people (my prediction is about 75% of all people) in our world today are just plain stuck. They are afraid to do things like ask for a raise, fire an employee who is heading south quickly or even write a blog (I hear that one a lot), but most of all, I see people being afraid to do one thing…be great! The reason for people not living into their greatness has a great deal to do with the fact that their environment (including their physical space, people, beliefs, photographs, and literature) are as stuck as they are…not just a little bit stuck but stuck in a deep, sinking hole.

I spoke with a woman last week who told me she spent two hours cleaning out her rolodex, removing the many business cards of people who had died.  She said she removed 50% of her rolodex. She then told me that she looked around her office, and she noticed so many bits and pieces of information, nick-naks, even pens and pencils that were old or worse…broken. This “junk” as she called it was just sitting around her…the “junk” had also died, but she was having the hardest time letting go not necessarily of the “junk” but the memories attached to them.

One year ago this week, the book Millennial Leaders was published.  As I have traveled around the country over the last year speaking to audiences about the book, I have been both inspired and saddened. Inspired by the companies who are embracing Generation Y and working day and night to prepare them to lead their companies into the future.

I have also been saddened by the business leaders who don’t seem to care that we are in a generational shift or who are digging their heels in to say “I am NOT going to change my company to make way for this next generation of entitled kids.” Of course, I have had a few choice things to say such as “If our kids are entitled, that’s not their fault…it’s ours, and we need to help the situation out and stop being so damned stubborn about this situation.” Needless to say, about 20% of the people I speak to hear this and seem to get it…the other 80% have been asleep or so distracted by their own problems that they don’t have the bandwidth to think ahead.  And…the thought of having to make way for this new generation makes them spin into paralysis.

If you are reading this blog today, I would encourage to ask yourself this question “Is the status quo affecting your business or your life?” If so, “What do you plan to do about that now…before it’s too late?”  Are you listening to the nay-sayers and to the people who have thrown in the towel?  If so, you can take steps today to start moving again in the direction of great things to come in the future.

If you are someone who is being affected by the drone of the status quo, I have one suggestion to make, and it’s this: Get to know (and I mean really get to know) five new men and women between the ages of 18-30 over the next two months. Ask them what they see for life, get to know them, and see what you can do to bring this generation more into the center of your life. They are here, and they are making a positive impact on our world and can change your life…but only if you are open.