Hosing Off The Driveway

As I was finishing off the yardwork this weekend, I came to the realization that the entire process of maintaining and caring for the yard is capped off by a simple activity - hosing down the driveway. That simple, non-stressful, therapeutic process - controlling a stream of water to methodically move a line of dirt and debris down toward the gutter - brings a sincere sense of closure to the day's events. You stand back, look back on your handiwork, and have a sense of satisfaction that you have completed a task. YOU finished the job, and are proud of the results.

Unfortunately, many people in corporate jobs - especially those involved with the endless parade of corporate initiatives - do not get that same pleasure. More often than not, the payback of devoting two or three years of focus and effort on the latest fad, becomes less exciting to the sponsors, and they lose interest. Some other book hits the market, or a conference highlights another "big thing", and the butt-ostriches decide to try something different. Result: You end up never completing the job, and moving on to yet another "empty calorie" initiative.

But sometime, you may find yourself fortunate to break out of the cycle, and take an assignment that has real, tangible and meaningful deliverables. And when you do, you need to reflect on the accomplishment - you've just been able to hose off the corporate driveway.