To many times in our lives we give in to frustration. Life throws us a curve ball and we back up in the batter’s box or completely give up our entire at bat because we’re frustrated.
Frustration is a funny thing though, it stems out of confusion and misunderstanding, and can grow to be an insurmountable demon. But the best part is, it doesn’t have to.
Recently working on a project, I could see a growing frustration on faces and the general atmosphere just wasn’t right. When I spoke with both parties involved I could understand where the frustration came from. Within one conversation we had agreed that the frustration was due to a lack of communication and could easily be interpreted as a challenge.
Our world would be much better off if instead of getting frustrated with a problem, we look at it as a challenge. Challenges get you going, they’re the fire under your ass, they’re the reason why sports are so interesting and they could be your solution if you are feeling frustrated.
So what do you do when you’re feeling frustrated?
Photo Credit: Kim Jay Photography
The Flynn effect states that since the 20th century, IQ test scores on average increase by 3 points every decade. A person taking an IQ test in 1930, scoring in the average, would be considered mentally handicap compared to today’s IQ standards. As civilization progresses, so does our average intelligence level. When the knowledge base increases across the board, strange things begin happening. We get smarter.
Something I’ve noticed as of late is that pyramid schemes as business models are still around. In the past month, two friends have been invited to “recruitment” seminars, which I am proud to say they both, within minutes discovered the pyramid business model and left in disgust.
Now the proper term is “multi-level marketing” (MLM) but it’s the same theme, you make commissions on your sales and on the sales of the people you’ve recruited as sales people. You can already begin to see the problem. If I’m selling, then I get you to sell, we are now competing for future sales. Doesn’t make sense does it. Not anymore, but it did for a very long time. What surprises me more is that their is actually a list of companies still around using this as a business model.
As communication worldwide increases over the internet, so do conversations. Within three minutes of researching MLM I came across a startling figure that 99.9% of all participants end up losing money by joining the organization. When in history have we been able to verify a businesses legitimacy within five minutes?
Maybe we’re smarter (our IQ’s would say so), maybe we’re just better at finding information which make us seem smarter. Either way this new generation isn’t dumb, business models such as these are now a joke around the water cooler. There will always be people who join for unknown reasons, I just hope that if you are ever proposed on a seemingly to good to be true scheme you’ll Google first before signing up.
Recently I have been asking a lot of people how they like their job and it didn’t surprise me that the vast majority said they were unsatisfied. The more I asked, poked and prodded about their career, the more positive it became. Then it dawned on me, sure there are some better careers than others, but our generation enjoys complaining. Let me explain.
If you have what most people would call a “boring” job (accounting, office job, the majority of the crown corporations) you probably have great security and make an above average wage. You complain about how board you are at work because they block you from using Facebook and Twitter but your paid four weeks of holidays and have “earned days off” so it’s worth it for now.
If you have what most people would call an “amazing” job (entrepreneur, creative director, manager at a small company) you probably have great flexibility and actually enjoy the majority of the work. You complain about how you’re underpaid and how it must be nice to collect a check every two weeks. You struggle but your passionate and an office job just isn’t your style.
So why must we always complain? Our generation is never satisfied, we want the greener grass and the internet has only made it easier to see the grass, touch it, tweet about it and then determine if we like it or not. Is their a solution? It’s an opinion so let me know if you disagree.
You need to stop comparing yourself to others. If you tell me how much money you make it’s because your job sucks and thats the only good thing about it, save it, I don’t care. Instead of comparing and complaining ever try making your job better? Possibly making work “fun” for a change? I know sounds weird doesn’t it.
Finally, I think managers in general need training on the “generation Y” employee; their expectations, their motivations and what they want out of life. Complaining gets you no where, start thinking of innovative solutions to making your job better, what have got to lose?
When a cab driver goes out of his or her way to make the trip more enjoyable do you tell them how much you appreciated it? When someone holds the door for you, do you say “gee, thanks a lot!”
Too many times we have positive experiences at the expense of someone else and we never tell them. Why? Maybe we’re scared, maybe we think it will mean nothing, maybe it has never been brought to your attention until now.
I had teacher in grade eleven that told us;
“If someone ever does something nice for you, you should always tell them thank you, otherwise they may not know how they made you feel and may not ever do it again.”
We all like to be appreciated so why not show others when we are appreciative? Even a small compliment on someone’s hair can go a long way, but generally speaking, our society doesn’t hand out compliments very easily. But why not?
So how do you start? The next person you see with a bright pair of shoes on or a finely tailored suit, walk up to them and say, “Wow! I sure like those shoes, they look wonderful!” Then just walk away. You can be sure you just made their day. My favorite is the little old ladies, I think they are just the cutest when you give them a compliment. So go on try it out, and let me know how it goes.
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