In a New York minute – everything can change. That was a song by Don Henley, which I really liked when I was young. During my recent business visit to New York, I remembered the song, and as I thought of it from a workforce angle – there were some nice takeaways.
Ready Steady Go …
It’s all about focus and action. Start early, commute, walk, get the coffee, get to office, get to work – get things done, do a quick lunch, do the meetings, take micro breaks, leave on time, early dinner, travel back, get home. Action, energy, focus – you can ‘Do more in life’ is a great example of their work model.
On time….
The way their system works every minute matters. The train starts at 7.58 not 8 they can easily round it off to 8 but they don’t. Meetings start on time, end on time. In many ways the design of work life demands On Time performance and that way planning and expectations seem to be managed better.
Straight talk ….
Are you ready for direct conversations, well it doesn’t matter if you aren’t because they are – they call it as they see it. Being direct without intending personal offence – it’s such an art. The Art of Straight Talk is certainly a struggle for me and I hope to learn to do it.
I know my stuff…
There is a poise and self-assuredness that you notice with most people in the business setting, from the junior most onwards. It’s not cocky behaviour just a natural confidence that they seem to have. And for me it shows up every time they say ‘I don’t know’ with such ease. Somehow saying ‘No’ and ‘I don’t know’ are such uncomfortable things for me.
Life is about expression…
The city, its people its workforce have a strong vibe of ‘Be your best self and don’t be shy about it’. Running, outdoors, sport, music, dance, theatre – on an average people seem to have some passion or the other that they follow and the fact that there is more to life than work – is just so on display, that you can’t miss it.
If there are people who don’t know life beyond work, there are those who are addicted to entertainment. Is the pursuit of entertainment our purpose in life?
I don’t know why but many times we just want to compare and judge everything from a critical perspective. When I drop comparison and look at a new situation from a point of view of ‘what I can learn from it’ or just simply ‘what’s good about something’ – there are certainly some nice take aways.
Can we just open up? Like in a New York minute, there are so many things around us that can inspire us.
Stay Present, stay Inspired.
Let’s connect: Happiness@Work