PASSION AND PROTOCOL

Protocol covets what passion uncovers.

Some companies deify decorum though spontaneity might better serve. In doing so, they subject inspiration to order and passion to protocol. What they ignore, however, is the value of both. Embraced, order sustains inspiration and protocol prolongs passion, multiplying its power. Alone, however, order depletes.

Observe, for example, any workplace meeting and watch as participants deny themselves in an effort to appease others. Each says not what she thinks but rather what is expected. In doing so, however, she lets decorum deprive. Until she is willing to be genuine she denies her genius, because genius is always passionate though protocol prohibits.

People, not systems, are insidious.

The division of labor deforms lives. Of course, no rational person will deny the benefits of work apportioned properly. But this segmentation aside, many people under-achieve because of being misplaced. Most in fact fail, slain by potential designed to prosper. Unfortunately most jobs don't employ our excellence. They hire our hands and feet but not our faith. They reject this faculty so much that today's workforce is febrile.

Examine, for example, the average office and you'll find a fragmented worker doing frustrating work. Like a dog or domestic he blindly obeys, seldom transcending his orders. Competence not excellence is his character. To this soul even hobbies profane. Exploited, however, hobbies impart the fulfillment that our jobs don't. Yet drained by work they die of neglect.

Meanwhile others watch us as we grope through the day and mope through life seeking solace. In truth, it isn't even a matter of being all we can, but rather of being who we are. Anything less exhausts. That's why success seduces. Those who achieve it are alive to life. They use their hands and feet but aren't confined to these. They are innovators and executors, resilient and resourceful advocates of excellence. They pursue their dreams, defy their limits, and don't let labor's division deform their lives. (9/5/00)

FROM THE AUTHOR

Once I decided to write this book my frustration with work became fertile. Incidents that routinely annoyed suddenly inspired. Heeding the popular proverb, I decided to make lemonade with my lemon, which is what my job represented. So, rather than venting vainly I decided to record my anguish on these pages. Things that I usually said in passing would now be compiled for publication. Doing so made sense but I couldn't see it before. I was complaining anyway, so why not write? Why not compose my complaints and put them into print.

This book blossomed from my efforts. It differs from the philosophical stuff I normally write. At least I sought to make it so. I wanted these words to be a narrative, ranting revelations of insanity. So, I have restricted but not revoked my philosophical license. I have also struggled to be honest. Yet I am not always as disgruntled as I appear. I am by nature intense. I expect greatness of myself and of others.

Moreover, while writing I found myself wanting to be fired. I imagined casually leaving some of the more pungent pieces on my desk in hopes that my boss would see them. He would, inevitably, call me into his office for an explanation. I, of course, would have none, nor would I seek one. Like the kleptomaniac, I too wanted to be caught. But I never got fired because I couldn't convince myself to display these pages prematurely. Discretion discouraged this folly.

So here I stand for all to see (and censure). But that's okay, because I've reconciled the present and now embrace the future. In it, I will be released from work and pulled into my purpose. I will no longer let bills bully my talent. After all, if I don't fulfill my vision I'll spend my life fulfilling someone else's.