Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

We are often the way we are because of our situation, not by a choice. Sometimes our situation forces us into “good.”

Slim and trim are good. At least being slim is seen as good by most of western society at this time in the 21st century. Obesity is not good. Again, that is the current opinion of western society.

How many people around the world are slim by choice, i.e., diet and exercise? How many people around the world are slim by situation, i.e., they simply don’t have a lot of food to eat? I think that most slim people on planet earth today are slim by situation, not by choice.

New technology companies in the last half of 2020 are working from home using Internet tools and skimping on expenses of office space. Choice or situation? The working from home part is mostly from the situation, i.e., our reaction to the coronavirus. The Internet tools are also stemming from the situation. Some commentators comment that this work-from-home and saving on overhead expense are great for new companies.

A good choice or simply the situation? I believe that most of these good business choices are simply results of the situation.

Is it good to lose choice and be commanded by situation? Well, the chooser doesn’t have to spend as much time choosing. There is more time and energy remaining to decide other issues. That must be good, huh?

We go on down this path of choice or situation to no end. What is the result? One result is that managers should understand if they are choosing something or merely being pushed into something. Understand the impetus. Understand what is happening. Use the situation to the good of your colleagues, your endeavor, and yourself.