I'm furious. Not only have I run a course the whole day with a bunch of Moaning Minnies, but I've just found out that one of the delegates has short changed us by R100, typical! Typical what? Who gets the blame, ethics or culture?
Its got me thinking about my own ethics and culture, perhaps I'm one of a dying breed of people who do whats right, act with humility and consider those around me.
Dictionary.com defines ethics as "moral principles, as of an individual" and culture as "development or improvement of the mind by education or training". I think my issue is leaning towards the latter of the two - a lack of improvement of the mind. You know better but you just don't choose to consciously develop your awareness, there are dying breeds out there and I miss them!
Save Their Souls
1. Gentlemen - This is a generalisation but its also the most obvious dying breed. I know of far too many men that don't keep up what they started in the early months of dating (chivalry and romance) leaving their wives and girlfriends scratching their heads. True gentlemen don't have to pretend.
2. Cashiers that tell you not to worry about that R2 - Don't laugh! You know how many poor souls are left scrounging around in their bags for a 2-bucker while sigh's from the que them behind get louder and louder.
3. Car Guards who smile anyway regardless of whether or not you've tipped them - like I need to say anymore.
4. Colleagues who go the extra mile - nothing sweeter than a bit of support and its not often a colleague will go out of their way to fill in on your day off without being instructed to or tell you to take a break while they man the phones. Fortunately I work with a couple people who would sacrifice their own time in a heartbeat before being asked, just because they are good people.
5. Managers/Business Owners who give for the sake of client services - I remember being a child standing by my fathers side at the teller of a local cafe. My father had forgotten to buy bread but had already cashed out. The manager leaned over to the bread cutter and handed my father a loaf of freshly cut bread. No transaction was processed, no insisting on my fathers part - just good old neighbourly love. Perhaps we've made society the way it is by constantly apologising when we should be accepting the kindness of others.
6. People who navigate without a GPS - I'm not saying its unnecessary for a person who has the inner compass of a birds nest not to use a GPS but I am saying that we've lost the ability to navigate without them. My mother is currently visiting me from KZN and while staying with us in Bryanston, often has a panic attack every time I explain to her how to get to the local Spar which is all of 2.5kms away. She'll whip out her GPS and I'll frustratingly try and coerce her into just listening and understanding what I'm saying because its easier to just be told what to do by a voice named Cartman.
7. People who care about their jobs - wow this is a biggy. I can't believe how many people I've seen who have no sense of urgency or loyalty to the clients they serve or jobs they do. The course I'm running today is a prime example as the girls slowly meander upstairs back to the lecture that started 10 minutes ago. Hello!?
8. Well mannered children - I blame parents. I hold accountable the individuals in our society who don't think about the balance in their children's lives. They are the parents that make excuses for their child's lack of respect toward others or even the parents themselves. I will never forget going to St. Peters school in Paulshof about 2 years ago for work. As I walked down the school corridors I was greeted by every single 8-10 year old that passed me as they stepped aside to make way for me. "Please and thank you's" are the building blocks for our youth that will ultimately have to run our country when we're pensioners - think hard about that.
9. People with a genuine interest in people - Its as if we all work with people with low self esteem and critical eyes, the up and down scan just kills me. People are tired, busy individuals and I get it, but the world could use a bit more intention and a little less resistance.
10. Enquiring minds - this is my personal fav of them all. I was horrified recently when I asked someone a question during a conversation about something they were supposedly interested in. They shrugged their shoulders and apathetically blurted out, "Ugh I don't know and I don't care".
If its not part of their job description or they don't care to grow as individuals, they will choose to stagnate where its warm and cosy and like moss will grow hair and nothing else.
I'm sure I could list another 10 dying breeds - if any come to mind I'll let you know, of course.
Its got me thinking about my own ethics and culture, perhaps I'm one of a dying breed of people who do whats right, act with humility and consider those around me.
Dictionary.com defines ethics as "moral principles, as of an individual" and culture as "development or improvement of the mind by education or training". I think my issue is leaning towards the latter of the two - a lack of improvement of the mind. You know better but you just don't choose to consciously develop your awareness, there are dying breeds out there and I miss them!
Save Their Souls
1. Gentlemen - This is a generalisation but its also the most obvious dying breed. I know of far too many men that don't keep up what they started in the early months of dating (chivalry and romance) leaving their wives and girlfriends scratching their heads. True gentlemen don't have to pretend.
2. Cashiers that tell you not to worry about that R2 - Don't laugh! You know how many poor souls are left scrounging around in their bags for a 2-bucker while sigh's from the que them behind get louder and louder.
3. Car Guards who smile anyway regardless of whether or not you've tipped them - like I need to say anymore.
4. Colleagues who go the extra mile - nothing sweeter than a bit of support and its not often a colleague will go out of their way to fill in on your day off without being instructed to or tell you to take a break while they man the phones. Fortunately I work with a couple people who would sacrifice their own time in a heartbeat before being asked, just because they are good people.
5. Managers/Business Owners who give for the sake of client services - I remember being a child standing by my fathers side at the teller of a local cafe. My father had forgotten to buy bread but had already cashed out. The manager leaned over to the bread cutter and handed my father a loaf of freshly cut bread. No transaction was processed, no insisting on my fathers part - just good old neighbourly love. Perhaps we've made society the way it is by constantly apologising when we should be accepting the kindness of others.
6. People who navigate without a GPS - I'm not saying its unnecessary for a person who has the inner compass of a birds nest not to use a GPS but I am saying that we've lost the ability to navigate without them. My mother is currently visiting me from KZN and while staying with us in Bryanston, often has a panic attack every time I explain to her how to get to the local Spar which is all of 2.5kms away. She'll whip out her GPS and I'll frustratingly try and coerce her into just listening and understanding what I'm saying because its easier to just be told what to do by a voice named Cartman.
7. People who care about their jobs - wow this is a biggy. I can't believe how many people I've seen who have no sense of urgency or loyalty to the clients they serve or jobs they do. The course I'm running today is a prime example as the girls slowly meander upstairs back to the lecture that started 10 minutes ago. Hello!?
8. Well mannered children - I blame parents. I hold accountable the individuals in our society who don't think about the balance in their children's lives. They are the parents that make excuses for their child's lack of respect toward others or even the parents themselves. I will never forget going to St. Peters school in Paulshof about 2 years ago for work. As I walked down the school corridors I was greeted by every single 8-10 year old that passed me as they stepped aside to make way for me. "Please and thank you's" are the building blocks for our youth that will ultimately have to run our country when we're pensioners - think hard about that.
9. People with a genuine interest in people - Its as if we all work with people with low self esteem and critical eyes, the up and down scan just kills me. People are tired, busy individuals and I get it, but the world could use a bit more intention and a little less resistance.
10. Enquiring minds - this is my personal fav of them all. I was horrified recently when I asked someone a question during a conversation about something they were supposedly interested in. They shrugged their shoulders and apathetically blurted out, "Ugh I don't know and I don't care".
If its not part of their job description or they don't care to grow as individuals, they will choose to stagnate where its warm and cosy and like moss will grow hair and nothing else.
I'm sure I could list another 10 dying breeds - if any come to mind I'll let you know, of course.
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