johnmaconline

Today we stopped for lunch at a Chipotle in central Virginia. It was a disaster.

I knew it would be as we drove in because it was a brand-new store. I envisioned long lines, underprepared staff, and sparse or wonky ingredients.

The drive from eastern Pennsylvania to western North Carolina takes about 10 hours. That’s a long day, but we’ve done it many times. It has a rhythm, and it’s no big deal as long as we stick to that rhythm.

But not today. Today we were derailed by a Chipotle. I was right on all accounts, by the way. Not only did it take too long, but they didn’t have the vegetables or pico de gallo!

Oh, the horror!

I was so frustrated that I was simultaneously staring daggers into the staff and mansplaining to my wife about their obvious lack of ability. If only they would just listen to me!! (You’ve done this also, haven’t you?)

What the hell is wrong with me (and you, by extension)?

Expectations, of course.

Expectations of service.
Expectations of convenience.
Expectations of getting what I want (like a toddler).

Chipotle only has itself to blame. They fell prey to their own achievement. They’ve built such a ubiquitous and outstanding fast-casual eating system that we instantly experience discomfort when it’s out of whack.

So what was the problem again? Right, there wasn’t one. Unless you count the one in my own head.

You can eat nothing but Twinkies, but should you?
You can smoke two packs a day, but should you?
You can run ten miles a day, but should you?

It’s also…

You can vote for what benefits you most, but should you?
You can speak your mind, but should you?
You can donate to their cause, but should you?

It’s also…

You can use bots for sales calls, but should you?
You can advertise on a billboard, but should you?
You can impose a new fee on your customers, but should you?

It’s also…

You can buy out every last toilet paper roll from the store, but should you?
You can install an eight-foot fence around your entire property, but should you?
You can buy an EV, but should you?

Every day in our personal and professional lives, we face choices between what’s legal, available, or within our power and what’s right. The choice is difficult because we recognize the “right” choice is always subjective. 

When we’re on our game, we choose by using tools such as critical thinking, experiments, beliefs, and personal experience. 

But the easy path is a powerful force. The easy path is always what’s legal, available, or within our power. The easy path is usually defensible as well. 

Don’t get sucked in. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. 

You want to be on the hook. We need you on the hook.

Only those on the hook make a difference, make a change, and make an impact. 

And when a group of people on the hook come together, the sky is the limit. A group of people on the hook can create a life-saving C02 filter, a website platform for everyone, and the Bill of Rights.

Many people shun the hook.  

Let’s face it. It’s easy to pass on the hook. The World is full of people looking to avoid it or give it to someone else. They’re worried about the downside. The World sells downside.

It can go bad when you’re on the hook, and it might be your fault. Even if it isn’t your fault, you may take the fall. 

That’s the downside — this might not work, and you might suffer.  

That’s the ontology of the hook.

But what’s the alternative?

Someone needs to be on the hook, whether it’s your country, your church, your company, your over-40 hockey team, your kids, or the guy looking back at you in the mirror.  

Next time the hook comes around, grab it and get on it.

My wife and I have a little inside joke we use when one of us relates a story about someone unknown to the other, and that person’s age may be relevant.

It goes like this:

“If she hears the word “bizarre,” does she think strange or church bake sale?”

Because, of course, bizarre and bazaar sound the same when spoken. If you think church bake sale, you immediately give yourself away as “older.” 

The bizarre/bazaar homophone is an overt flag that helps us understand the person, their perspective, and the context of the conversation. 

If we pay attention, these little overt perspective flags fill our culture — tribe affiliation, bumper stickers, masks, hairstyle, clothing, car, yard signs, social media posts, music, etc.

We explicitly, if not always purposefully, use each of these flags to identify and communicate something about ourselves and our perspective. 

But what about the hidden flags? What parts of our perspective do you and I try to keep hidden or maybe only show in specific company? 

It may be harder to discern another’s hidden perspective flags, but it’s worth the effort. Because if you and I have these hidden parts, so does everyone.

The person standing at the front of the room has the power.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing. This model provides plenty of efficiencies for the collective in the room — information dissemination, entertainment, teaching, legal judgment, etc.

But the only reason that person has the power is the people sitting in the rows agreed to relinquish it. If you wanted to, you could instantly arrest that power.

It’s just a decision to disagree.

Simple pleasures is a cliche. A nostalgic throwback reserved for the get-off-my-lawn generation. 

What kid wants to play with sticks and leaves if they have an iPad? Physically going to the store? How quaint. Why would we play a board game when we have access to MOMGs?

Every once in a while, if you’re lucky enough to be present and paying attention, a simple pleasure will strike deep within your soul and burn itself into the zeitgeist of your being.

And it makes you a better version of yourself. 

It’s easier to google it, but is it better?
It’s easier to order Door Dash, but is it better?
It’s easier to vote straight-ticket, but is it better?
It’s easier to stick with your current job, but is it better?

Often it is both. That’s a win. With the thousands of choices we make every day, we must outsource to easier in most cases. Our energy budget requires it.

Sometimes, however, the path that takes more time, effort, or emotional risk pays off in spades. The stories from your personal journey that you remember and shape who you are today rarely include the easier path.

Sometimes harder is better. The key is to spend your limited energy budget on those times.

The planet just crossed 8 billion.

I was born in 1969, so I’ve been alive for all of the billion milestones since we crossed 4 billion in 1974. In my time here, our population has doubled.

I can’t help but think about the wide range of differing views on childbearing we encounter today. Some believe that procreation is our fundamental human purpose and the ultimate gift. Others believe that having kids today is irresponsible, and how dare we. Some don’t give it much thought at all. Still, others would sacrifice anything to participate. 

With 8 billion people come 8 billion opinions. Diversity is a gift. Creative tension is inevitable. Discourse is helpful. 

To filter and make sense of those 8 billion opinions, we find our tribe and use labels. However, let’s not waste the gift of 8 billion humans by allowing the tribes to set the agenda and define the labels. 

Wherever you find yourself today, thank a fellow human. Because without the two that came before you, there would be no you.

Our youngest son recently registered his summer landscaping business as a Limited Liability Corporation. The process is simple and, dare I say, convenient — a couple of clicks, electronically pay a fee of $125 with your credit card, done. 

It took us about 20 minutes on Sunday at 7:30 am.

Then we tried to register an EIN number. Stymied. One can only submit the internet EIN application on a weekday during normal business hours.

The travesty! How inconvenient!

Isn’t the internet 24x7x365?

Life today is more convenient than it was ten years ago. Life ten years ago was more convenient than life 50 years ago. And so on.

Many of the largest companies are built around convenience.  
Whole industries exist to provide convenience. 
Some of the biggest technological advances are fundamentally about convenience.

But…

Convenience can skew perspective.
Convenience can foster entitlement.
Convenience can serve as a proxy for choice. 
Convenience can disconnect us from each other.
Convenience can disconnect us from our basic human-ness.

Convenience makes life existentially better, but let’s not forget the price.

Skilled plumbers don’t consider handy homeowners with a workshop full of tools a threat.
Skilled baristas don’t consider home espresso machines a threat.
Skilled software developers don’t consider offshoring a threat.
Skilled surgeons don’t consider machine-learning robots a threat.
Skilled artists don’t consider Fiverr a threat. 
Skilled teachers don’t consider Udemy a threat.

Technology, cheaper labor, and democratized platforms do and will continue to affect job market dynamics. 

There is, however, a path to bulletproof yourself. That path travels through “skilled.”

So what does skilled mean?

It means “good at what you do,” yes, but it also means adaptable, unique, proactive, responsible, caring, curious, current, and willing.

Are you willing to jump down out of the stands and get into the ring with the bull?

You control your level of skill.