Deconstruction

The late 80's were the high point of my skateboarding career. Skateboarding for me was the perfect combination of athletic ability and creativity. There was nothing else like it. At the time, Matt Hensley was the greatest skateboarder in the game. At the height of his noteriety he stopped skating professionally.

The greatest running back in professional football, Barry Sanders, retired long before his ability had been maxed out.

Bobby Jones quit golf to become a lawyer.

More recently, the Great Marshawn Lynch left the Beast Mode on the field in an effort to keep his brain intact.

...And so we understand that those who are outstanding in a given field, have the ability to be outstanding in a variety of life pursuits. There are those who fear change because they think themselves incapable of achieving an alternative skill set.... more disappointing are those who do not change because things are steady......

......Steady Sucks.....

People are born with talent. The perfection of a skill has to be earned. You can be gifted but you have to put the work in to make your dream a reality.

Change is consistent: if you are relying on the standard, your ability to evolve is in danger.

The Difference Between Complaining and Evolving
I always tell the students I teach that they are allowed to challenge any idea as long as they have a better one. Raising your hand to refute instruction for the sake of disruption will put you on the complainers list. Commercial Insight emerges when you challenge the process with an intent to progress.

The Myth of Disengagement
We've seen all the surveys that indicate that 70% of the workforce are disengaged. It's bullshit!

Look around you. Can you honestly say that 7 out of 10 people in your organization hate their job. Of course, not.... and if they do, your odds for getting promoted are pretty damn good!

I don't have to jump for joy, greet every co-worker or attend a company social outing to love my job. Participation in age-old tradition does not measure engagement. Whether I have a best friend at work has nothing to do with my ability to do my job well.

Matt Hensley was the best skateboarder in the world... he was creative, athletic and daring. He didn't win a lot of contests but that has no reflection on his ability to perform at a mind-blowing level.

One's level of engagement may not be in lock step with what a survey determines. Let's face it, most surveys do not reflect to whole story.

The Gift of Creativity
Process is predictable and predictability can be the father of results. But it makes no difference.

Why would you want to do work that wasn't making a difference?

Disruption does not guarantee progress. Deconstruction is the result of dismantling the system of predictability in an effort to create something better... something different.... something more inventive... something less standardized.

You don't have to tear down walls to build news ones. You can find an abandoned field and build something where no one else thought to.

Don't Forget to Remember!

Dave