At Thanksgiving, we are reminded to reflect on what makes us thankful.
Some are thankful for family and friends, for their health, for their faith. Other things to be thankful for are sufficient food, a roof over our heads, and clothes to wear to keep us warm. However, I read a story the other day (which I cannot retrieve – I’d be thankful for a better memory!) about a man who attends a party at a billionaire’s mansion. He comments to a friend there that he’ll never know what it’s like to have such wealth. His friend replies, “But you’ll always be richer because you know what’s ‘enough.’”
The concept of “enough” and its relationship to thankfulness
In recent years, the growing wage divide between hourly workers and CEO executive compensation has been a frequently hot topic of debate, and I think the concept of “enough” plays into its perpetuation. Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson, Larry Ellison, Elon Musk, and others will never be able to spend enough money quickly enough to deplete their fortunes. But the need to amass more money and lay claim to the “Richest Man in the World” title seems to fuel their ambition. I’d truly love to know what they would name in terms of what they are thankful for.
The concept of “enough” and its relationship to societal contributions
Societal contributions have been one of the Baldrige core values and concepts since their inception if I remember that correctly. I’ve always liked that the Baldrige Excellence Framework had an underpinning that asked organizations to consider how they give back to their various communities – their environmental, social, and economic systems. I also like the note that suggests that organizational involvement in support of key communities might leverage their core competencies.
Making it personal
The principals at BaldrigeCoach have talked for years about giving back to our community by donating time and expertise (our core competencies) to a local non-profit or two. After seeing them step up to the increased needs of the food insecure in North Texas, we decided to reach out to the North Texas Food Bank. We’ve begun discussions with them to see how we could apply our Lean expertise to their warehouse and distribution operations. More efficient operations in a non-profit means more of the donated funds are used to purchase more food for those in need in support of achieving their mission.
What can you do – an attitude of gratitude
Whether you’re a leader in an organization or an individual contributor, here are some questions for your consideration (and some observations of our own).
1. What are the areas where you have “enough?” (After 1-1/2 years in self-imposed isolation and “virtual” work, I know that I have more than enough shoes and clothes. We’ve both done some serious purging of closets and drawers and have several bags ready for pick-up for donation during the first week in December.)
2. What are the areas where your organization has “enough?” Your support of key communities doesn’t always have to be monetary in nature. Do you have meeting space to offer a non-profit? Do you have “virtual” meeting webinar capabilities that you could share with a non-profit? How about printing capabilities? Project management expertise? Tech support?
3. What are the areas where you are still seeking more? (I’m a voracious reader and addicted to books. Now when I get a new book, I’m consciously choosing to donate one or more to a local senior center or nursing home.) Can you define an end state when you’d have “enough?”
Finally, we’re thankful to you, our readers, colleagues, and fellow travelers on this performance excellence journey.
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