You probably spend quite a bit of your time watching people perform and noticing some people tend to do things really well while others tend to do things poorly. At least from time to time, you probably think about people making changes and improving…learning how to make fewer errors, figuring out how to have more-positive attitudes, etc.

But, do you ever step back and consider the question – Who wants to improve?

You know some people do want to improve – you see them seeking out motivational speakers and courses. These people want something and recognize the status quo isn't going to bring that something.

You know some people don't want to improve – you see them more or less doing the same things day after day. They discount or ignore the advice they receive (regardless of how it is delivered). Sometimes, they blame others for their predicament...as victims do. For example, you may have heard people say things like, “I like being poor. I am supposed to be poor. I have no desire to change anything.”

But - is that actually true?

I mean - do many people truly/sincerely have no interest in improving? Or, is that just what they say...their way of victim-speaking...their way of justifying lassitude/laziness/lack of ambition…their way of blaming Fate or Destiny for their shortcomings?

Certainly, some people have this mindset: life has beaten some people down.

Other people believe in the overarching control held by Fate or Destiny or other beyond-our-control things that place limits on people’s accomplishments.

Whether we agree with these sorts of beaten-down or fatalistic mindsets or not, we can understand how other people can think that way. For example, we can understand how lingering, serious health problems can wear down the spirit and cause people to give up on life.

However, aside from extreme cases that provide reasonable justification, are people being sincere when they say they do not want to improve?

Guess who's paying attention to detail?

Better still...

Don't leave it to guesswork.

***

When it comes to succeeding with the details, there's a delicate balance between laziness and perfectionism. At that balance point between these two extreme logic-acuity and emotional-savvy exist in perfect harmony... thoughts and processes are clear and comfortable. The right things are being done the right way at the right time by the right people. 

But, who brings about the balance?

Who does that?

Who takes attention to detail seriously enough to think in advance and cover the key facets of work and decisions...without over-killing things or going down ill-conceived rabbit holes?

Who has pre-planned processes for tackling problems?

Who is skilled at resolving 'people issues' efficiently and effectively without going behind backs?

Are you that person?

The question unwritten but embedded below…see yellow highlight

Question: How often does sense of adventure actually make sense in [or fit] the Situation known as working at the office?

Answer: [unless we are a Google wannabe] Not too often. Certainly, in most roles, in most businesses, it cannot be a ongoing daily mindset. In 'normal-productive' office Situations, if we want people to be off on adventures then we need to think in advance and set some boundaries…otherwise, there will much such wandering and who knows where people will end up!

[please...this is not to be construed as an argument against Curiosity]

Sense of Urgency - Sense of Adventure

By Rick Baker
On Jul 23, 2014

The topic 'Sense of Urgency' arose during a conversation today. 

Got me thinking...

Sense of Urgency DEF'N: that's wanting to take prompt action when you know the right thing to do.

But, what about when you want to take prompt action and you aren't sure about the right thing to do - you simply have the urge to take action? Doesn't that also qualify as a Sense of Urgency?

No - I don't think simply wanting to take action satisfies the minimum standard associated with a meaningful Sense of Urgency...i.e., when Urgency is meaningful like the type of 'Urgency' Stephen R. Covey taught about in his Urgency-Important lessons.

[And, if we are not talking about that sort of meaningful Urgency, an Urgency that requires us to use Sense, then what kind of Urgency are we talking about?]

2 Related Points:

1. When we know the right action to take in a given Situation and we feel that action should be initiated sooner rather than later...that's a Sense of Urgency...that's a good thing...that's closely linked with identifying Opportunities and acting quickly to seize advantage. That's the stuff of entrepreneurship. 
2. When we want to take prompt action without believing/knowing that action is the right action to be taking...well...that's a Sense of Adventure!

Sense of Adventure is a good thing too. 

Sense of Adventure is a different thing.

Sense of Adventure fits certain Situations.

Sense of Urgency fits other Situations.

Perhaps we need to communicate more clearly when we are driven to take prompt action?

We wouldn't want other people to mistake our Sense of Adventure for a Sense of Urgency...would we?

We wouldn't want other people to mistake our Sense of Urgency for a Sense of Adventure...would we?