In our frenzied business culture, the tendency is to fly through. We do this thankful we made it on time to the next meeting. But what about the forgetting? You know, the thing you thought was spot on. This happens way too often to leaders at every level of the organization. Kind of makes sense when you think of all that comes at us.
If we're not careful, we'll find ourselves scratching our heads wondering what happened to our work and lives. We'll find the unimportant to be great and the important to be good. Turned around to be sure.
Is there a way to cease from the madness? One way is to have a set group of values and become a slave to them. For example, let's say your kids are your #3 value, but your career always causes you to miss the important events. In this case, I would recommend you find a different career. Your values should have good alignment with your employer-really. Anything less is a mirage.
I see the following as great practice for the art of not forgetting:
- Your spouse has stuck with you for ten years-good times and bad. Who else has done this for you? Once a week for the next three months, spend five minutes reviewing all the ways he or she has been there for you.
- Maybe you're super successful in your career. Success is almost a given for you. Do same exercise as in #1 and think about when you needed help double-bad.
- Maybe you have friends that surround you. Everyone wants to hang around. Do the same exercise as in #1 and #2, and think about how many people would stick around if all you had was your name.
The above will create a habit of not forgetting, and maybe more importantly create an attitude focused on humility. Isn't that what you want?
I started to write this post as a one sentence remembrance to those who lost their lives on 9/11/2001. The sentence went like this:
"I haven't forgotten 9/11/2001 or the people who lost their lives."
Seems the art of not forgetting is more important than I first thought.