“Curiosity…is insubordination is its purest form.”
– Vladimir Nabakov, Russian – American author (1899 – 1977), in Brian Grazer’s, A Curious Mind: The Secret to A Bigger Life
Final post in this series on curiosity, and I like it for one simple fact.
I hate rules. I get it, I get it, we have to have them, but I’ve believed ever since Moses came down with shiny hair and two big stone tablets, that it will be pretty much impossible to improve on the list. And, while I’m not a fan of anarchy or open insubordination, I also don’t subscribe to the belief that ________ got promoted to that manager job because he is the smartest SOB ever born. (Even if he is, would it be so wrong to creatively look for a better way?)
Back to rules…
I think corporations largely put rules in place to keep smart people from making good decisions. By doing so, they don’t have to hire the best, brightest and intellectually capable folks. They can, instead, provide cue cards, policies and lots of commands starting with the word, “Don’t!”
“What if we DID guarantee the outcome?” “What if we did replace a warranty item that was only two weeks out of warranty?”
Many of you have seen the social media rant about the fast-food clerk that refused to take $5.25 for a $4.25 ticket because, “We don’t do that sort of thing here….”
Nordstroms gets it. Target, by and large, gets it. Luxury car companies, by-and-large, get it. Sparky at Herman’s Service back in The ‘Burg gets it.
Do the right thing, and as often as not, exercising our curiosity is the best first step.
(By the way, in case, for whatever reason, you didn’t click on the better way link above — here’s another chance — and a great moment for the day is yours…..FREE!)
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