Credit: Paramount Pictures
Lackadaisical is defined as without interest, vigor, or determination. Lackadaisical is lazy, listless, and lethargic.
When Forrest Gump was in basic training for the U.S. Army, he was fully present and engaged when learning to assemble and disassemble his weapon. Bubba, on the other hand, was dreaming of catching shrimp and becoming a shrimp boat captain … he was assembling his weapon in a lackadaisical manner. He didn’t perform his duty with vigor … his interest was elsewhere. His mind, his actions, and even his communication lacked urgency and determination.
In the summer of 2011, lackadaisical is no longer good enough.
In today’s economic climate, lackadaisical will not get you a new job.
In the business of serving others, lackadaisical will get you fired.
In our world of instantaneous communication, lackadaisical will leave you talking to yourself.
Here are three ideas to help you fight off the lackadaisical, lackluster blues:
1. Become a Determined Thinker
So, what is a determined thinker?
A determined thinker is someone who has resolved and decided to think for himself.
Determined thinkers think regularly and often.
Determined thinkers use thinking as a way to gain control of their world.
Determined thinkers don’t like reacting to events.
Determined thinkers like to act … after thinking.
Determined thinkers know their mindset keeps them from being lackadaisical.
2. Act with vigor
So what does vigorous action look like?
Vigorous action is being fully present.
Vigorous action is single tasking … not multi-tasking.
Vigorous action is contained concentration.
Vigorous action is joyous … whistling while you work.
Vigorous action is performing as an artist or craftsman.
Vigorous action gets things done with moxie.
3. Communicate with interest
So, how do you communicate with interest?
Communicating with interest focuses attention on the other person.
Communicating with interest uses listening as a way of understanding others.
Communicating with interest seeks first to understand, then (and only then) does it seek to be understood (Stephen R. Covey’s Habit 5 of 7).
Communicating with interest is done in the spirit of giving … not taking.
Communicating with interest is always encouraging.
Communicating with interest is graciousness personified.
Lackadaisical worked (or at least was enough to get by with) when we had a predominately manufacturing economy. All you had to do was show up on time and do your job. The manufacturing economy with factories, time clocks, and highly specific jobs is a thing of the past. Or at least it’s a shrinking workplace and a mindset that is outdated.
The future is the communication, the knowledge, and the experience economies. Determined thinking, vigorous action, and communicating with interest are the future.
Are you thinking?
Are you acting?
Are you communicating?
… or are you living the lackadaisical, lackluster blues?
Next Blog Title: The Gump Way to Overcome Fear
Next Blog Date: August 22, 2011