Main Idea
Is Independence Day a good idea? Do you truly want to be completely independent and not rely on anyone else? Can you have a business when you are the sales person, the production person, the bookkeeper, the janitor and the customer service person? What happens when you are sick?
Expansion of Idea
On July 4th, we celebrate our nation’s independence. That is a great thing. Most of us are proud to be Americans. We are not perfect but we try to do the right thing. It is good that we have our freedom to worship God in the manner that we would like. We have freedom of speech. We have a truly great theoretical system. (The actual system is less than perfect, but no system is perfect.) But independence should not be the end goal of our society.
Five years ago, through a series of coincidences, mismanagement on my part and just plain bad timing, I was left at my office with one employee (Stacey) and she primarily worked during tax season. This left a two to three-month period where I was the only one in the office. I was independent, but for some reason I felt more tied down than at any other time being in business for myself. I was in control but it was hard getting work done. It wasn’t much fun. And I did not have a business. Instead I had a job. I now have a much better team that helps me service clients. Or is it that I help them service clients? I am dependent on them, but they are dependent on me.
Mutual interdependence is where we should actually aim. We are social creatures and we need social interaction. Businesses do not need 20 isolated employees but a finely tuned team of 20 people that can work together to serve their customers. We can accomplish so much more when we use our individual gifts and abilities in conjunction with our coworkers to really help our customers or society. HAPPY MUTUAL INTERDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!
Areas to Look At
Make a list of who is dependent on you
Make a list of who you are dependent on.
Make notes on how you can strengthen those relationships and the systems
Read Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, especially the 4th, 5th, and 6th habits.