After being apart for a month while my wife was back in England nursing her mother, we decided it was time to chart a brief escape together. Thanks to the kindness of friends, we were able to come aboard under a Friends & Family rate, so the out-of-pocket cost at the start of the year was mercifully light — making this short cruise a welcome chance to reset our compass and enjoy some fair winds.
Come join us — at least in your mind’s eye — and I think you, like me, will notice some interesting observations about the workplace.
Innovation
Watching young children jump and dance carefree, oblivious to how uncoordinated their moves might be, made me think about IDEO — a global design and innovation firm based in Palo Alto, California, closely associated with design thinking.
One of their core values is to remain curious like a child and to keep learning. Some of the greatest contributions IDEO has made came from metaphorically dancing with an idea unabashedly, even when others initially giggled at what seemed like a childish notion.
Worst Score Also Wins
The only place where the loser also seems to win a prize is on a cruise ship. During one quiz, the host awarded a prize for first place and another for last place. This bears little resemblance to the working world. Only one person wins the job. Only one company wins the contract. Shareholders sell when a company sinks to the bottom. Upon reflection, though, one karaoke singer was so bad that he became the night’s top entertainment. I even high-fived his low performance.
The Sunset
Watching a gorgeous sunset in San Diego made me think about how we have no need for the sun’s rays and warmth as it goes to sleep for the night. Looking around the ship, most of us have gray hair. Many have either retired or are not many years away from doing so.
The modern working world often discards the wisdom that comes with those years, whereas many of my fellow cruisers still have so much to offer. Chit-chatting with a few fellow silver sneakers inspired me to reflect on the contributions many continue to make through altruistic and charitable work, having chosen to retire from one career into other meaningful volunteer pursuits. Their sun has not yet fully set.
Think Like an Owner
We were disappointed with the lack of service in one of the specialty dining areas — it wasn’t that special. We waited at the spot marked by a “Please Wait” sign, watching servers slowly move around an almost empty restaurant while we lingered even longer.
When we were eventually seated, we waited some more as the supervisor seemed far more interested in having a laugh with his co-workers than in supervising those of us hoping to be served before rushing to a show.
I couldn’t help but wonder how different this experience would have been if the staff and supervisors actually owned the restaurant, rather than being hired hands — most likely weary from endless back-and-forth trips up and down the Mexican Riviera.
Chicken Nuggets
I’ve never seen so many continents’ culinary offerings represented at one buffet. The choice and opportunity to explore, try, taste and evaluate dishes from around the world of food, glorious food, was just dizzying. Imagine my surprise when the adult couple at the table next to me piled their plates with chicken nuggets.
In the working world, it likewise astounds me how some employees never seem to want to grow, take on new responsibilities, or explore opportunities in another department or elsewhere. I guess some people metaphorically just love eating chicken nuggets at work, too — but why, when there’s a whole world of professional opportunities to relish and feast upon?
In Summary
The workplace, like a cruise, is full of opportunities for those willing to explore, take ownership, and step beyond the familiar. Stay curious, embrace challenges, and don’t settle for chicken nuggets when there’s a whole buffet of growth waiting to be sampled. Those who do, leave the biggest mark — just like the memories of fair winds, sunsets, and even a hilariously bad karaoke performance.
Let’s sail on.
Paul Butler is a Santa Clarita resident and a client partner with Newleaf Training and Development of Valencia (newleaftd.com). For questions or comments, email Butler at [email protected].
