Few things in life are free -- but with just a little foresight, they can be a lot cheaper.

Most anything's achievable, it's just a question of sacrifice.

 

Everybody wants to accomplish something.

This week's tip:

Turning society around:

So you want to improve things? First off, WHY would you want to do that?

Does something really need improving

or do you just want to see how big a dent you can make?

Forget the crap you learned in school. If it didn't prepare you for dealing with people & emotions, it's not going to help. THIS is the REAL world! You are NO LONGER bulletproof, money beats hunger, nobody owes you anything, everyone has HIS OWN agenda, and there's NO reason for "them" to be diplomatic when you step outa line.

If you can't get along with people, NOBODY cares how many books you've read or what your GPA was.

 

If you decide there's a real NEED to change something,

there's a right (and relatively painless) way to do it.

POSITION YOURSELF:

Even a zoo's feeding schedule is rarely influenced by

people carrying placards out front.

Now, if you were in-charge of feeding ----

So you have to be patient enough to learn enough about the problem

to present a good case to the RIGHT PEOPLE.

Simply put, you're best-off INSIDE the problem area!

Cut your hair:

Years ago companies posted signs "Long-hairs need not apply". So Hippies got haircuts, got the job,

THEN began to learn it wasn't about hair, it was about attitude. Today we're a lot more subtle.

The signs are gone but the policy is worse.

You still get frowned-at for long hair but now if it's too short you're a skinhead!

Doesn't matter if it's hair, attire, posture, profanity, religion, promptness or dedication,

your boss is a generation OLDER than you, and as long as he hands-out checks,

HIS ways will prevail and YOUR paycheck will reflect his image of you, Period!

I lost a job once, because the "project was done", only to learn 2 weeks later they thought I'd been writing on the bathroom walls. After I was gone, they repainted and the writing continued. But the job was still gone.

Good job too. Bummer.

NEVER underestimate the local priorities.

Now I hafta kiss butt?

No, you have to fit-in.

Let me 'splains a little reality: Your peers can sympathize with you

(and cheer you head-long into trouble) but they lack leverage.

 

Your boss has leverage, but he's no more than a reflection of you in a few years and he's busy!

And rightly so, cuz if he's ANY good, he's being groomed for the next level.

"Your boss is EXPECTED to do HIS boss's job", and so forth, right up the ladder.

 

In a properly-run society, ONLY the CEO, (mayor, chief or whoever the top person is,)

should have time to golf.

And don't under-estimate golf,

millions of very significant deals have been finalized by the 4th hole.

 

So the boss's SECRETARY ( staff, cabinet, or equivalent) is the key to change!

Secretaries have everything you need to accomplish change so GET ALONG WITH THEM! Why?

Secretaries have power, connections, leverage, initiative and probably DO the boss's job for him!

Watch how well they communicate with your boss's boss.

Part of their duties could very well include

keeping an eye on the very guy they work for!

And when 2 or more secretaries get on the phone, things move!

Secretaries have affected more careers than bosses ever did

(indiscreetly, of course) so use your head!.

 

How can I get things moving in my direction?

The first thing you need to accept is:

nothing significant changes fast.

As an aggressive, world-twisting young rebel, I refused to believe that. But I learned!

After madly & vainly whipping society's horses for awhile,

I remembered that in order to move a big sled,

you have to first break loose frozen runners.

The more I learned about sleds, horses, power, harness, runners,

weather, friction, inertia, momentum, leverage and initiative, the sooner that sled moved!

 

In social terms, the best way to DO that is to go stealth!

Infiltrate the very institutions you hope to change,

study them top to bottom

until you understand them better than THEY themselves do!

Society changes like this:

An idea is submitted, a committee is assigned to review it,

if it has merit ( can make-or-save money ) it is THEN presented to upper-level .

 

At this stage, BECAUSE it's in the hands of power-brokers, the idea is most vulnerable:

subject to whims, distractions, moods, competition and every ugly thing that can shoot-down a change.

IF it is worthy of consideration, it MIGHT be discussed among THEIR families,

friends (golfing buddys), casual acquaintances, clergy or whoever.

And finally,

it might strike someone's fancy and a comment might be made IN-FAVOR of it.

If 2 powerful people accept it, an "verbal" agreement might be made.

(nothing is in writing, not at this level)

A handshake, then maybe a phone call, then more advocates get involved,

and finally it's dumped back in the committee's lap.

 

Having survived the "power test", lower-level people are contacted in writing.

Details are worked out, schedules & prices are determined, and once it gets rolling,

everybody tries to take credit for it.

 

What about the rumors? Oh fer crise' sake -- ignore them!

These folks aren't as discreet or disciplined as their bosses, so rumors start.

Sometimes rumors are purposely leaked to see how the idea plays "in the shop",

(your ideas can still be shot-down by the realities of the committee's report,

or second-thoughts by upper-level)

Often rumors are outright lies to improve production.

So by the time a rumor hits the shop, the only certainty is that it has

already been analyzed by everybody who could affect it!

If it turns out to be true, nothing can stop it.

If untrue, it never was worth your time.

If it really bothers you & you've lived right,

you COULD discreetly ask your boss's secretary ---

 

By this time you'll probably realize that

1) your original ideas were a bit (or a lot) naive anyway, or

2) one of your peers will have beaten you to the punch.

If your idea ( and not your ego ) was REALLY your focus,

3) it get's installed & put into action,

and you've accomplished change!

You've won either way so relish the moment!