4 Things that Don't Matter

4 Things that Don’t Matter
By Sean Alexander

If you have followed this e-Newsletter for awhile, you know that I have an affinity for Results over effort; Accomplishment over work; Objectives over activities. I have frequently said something along the line of “only Results matter.” A few days ago I made that very same statement in a discussion about a training program. But then I wondered, “Well, what doesn’t matter?” It’s almost a silly question, but if you get into it a bit there is some gold to be mined here; some insights that may help with one puzzle, problem, position or another. I’m sure such musings are most meaningful for each of us individually, but here are 4 things that I think “…don’t matter.”

1. The number of mistakes we’ve made. Who cares? The older we are the more screw ups we have trailing along behind us. In fact, the greater the number of mistakes we’ve made, the greater has been our attempt to accomplish meaningful results. Sometimes we are successful, sometimes not. The real key is to keep trying. On the other hand, don’t keep doing the same thing and expecting different results.

2. Anyone’s opinion about what we can or cannot do. This isn’t about bosses directing our days, or families deciding on a vacation destination. This is about potential. Nobody knows another’s potential. As bosses we must evaluate and judge employees’ potential in certain, specific environments, but if an employee is found lacking in one area, there may be—in fact, probably are—any number of environments within which that employee will excel, even lead. As employees, it is our responsibility to determine our own potential, and it is our mandate to reach for it.

3. Age. When young we tend to believe our elders are too slow, too clueless, and that they just don’t’ get it. Back in the 60’s the phrase was, “Don’t trust anyone over 30.” When old we tend to think the young are too impulsive, too arrogant, and that they just don’t get it. I’ve known 20-year olds who were more mature than many 50-year olds. And I’ve known 80-year olds who were sharp as a tack, and made some 30-year olds look embarrassingly slow and plodding. Certainly age has some impact, but there are so many more elements that define a person and their capabilities. As pertains to projects, what’s important is what the person can do. What are their strengths and weaknesses? What drives them? Stymies them? Age is rarely the meaningful indicator.

4. IQ, pedigree, or place of birth. There’s an old story about a not very bright salesman, raised in a very poor mountain village, who never graduated from high school, but who consistently took the top honors for the most sales in his company. Upon investigation, management discovered that the salesman was simply sitting with the Customer’s, turning pages in the sales catalogue and asking the question, “Do you want to buy this?” If the answer was “No” then the salesman turned the page and asked the question again. Sooner or later most Customers bought something. IQ didn’t matter, persistence mattered. Lack of a diploma didn’t matter. Where he was born and raised didn’t matter. Dogged determination mattered. Showing up mattered. Asking the question mattered. Goal accomplishment matters. Find the best person for the job, no matter their IQ, pedigree, or place of birth, and let them get on with what they do best.

While it is imperative that we know what matters, it is equally important to know what doesn’t matter.* Judging capabilities and success based upon meaningless criteria not only disrespects the person being judged, but it diminishes the judge, too.

* It was Anne Frank who wrote, “The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!”

Interestingly, while I can talk all day about what does matter in terms of accomplishing goals, results, objectives, as soon as I start talking about what doesn’t matter I start referring to the characteristics of people. That may simply be a reflection of my own struggles with bias for or against certain situations. Or, it could be an indication of a perceived tendency within the human condition to quickly dismiss things that don’t fit a pre-determined portrait of acceptability. Some of that tendency is taught to us, some we learn on our own, some may even be inherent in our DNA, but it is a tendency that limits our ability to find the best in each other, and even within ourselves. To fight that tendency of exclusion, to see the real, nearly infinite potential in others and ourselves is to finely sharpen The Vital Edge of life and living.

To Your Vital Success,

Sean Alexander

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Sean Alexander is President of VitalThought, a boutique consulting company that focuses on Results-Based Management. His monthly ezine, The Vital Edge, helps executives, project managers and team members discover project and personal success with results-based strategies and tactics. If you're ready to energize your projects and yourself, investigate the possibilities at www.vitalthought.com.