My kids will tell you I’m a big cornball who delights in their innocence and silliness.
I have a special fondness for 80’s pop ballads. (Whether you love them or hate them, I don’t think anyone can deny it was a unique time in history that could produce such an insane amount of glossy synth-soaked pop velveeta.)
One of my favorite places on earth is Disneyland. There are plenty of reasons to be upset with the MousEmpire, but I love this place because of its systemic unwavering optimism about life and its obsession with artisan details that create powerful cinematic experiences. As someone who identifies as both entrepreneur and creative, the first episode of The Imagineering Story is one of my favorite hours of television, ever.
A couple days ago, a new friend (quite correctly) labeled me “an idealist” within about 2 minutes of hearing me tell my story.
Yes, I’ll admit it — I’m sentimental, nostalgic, romantic.
I’m unrelenting in my belief that we can build a better world — that humans not unlike me or you built the current one, and therefore it’s not just “sane” to think we will create the next iteration; this is absolutely how it WILL work.
In fact, it’s happening now.
Every time I speak about “Energizing Change” I proclaim a vision for a future that doesn’t suck. You know I mean this literally — that we deserve a future that brings us energy, life, and meaning, even at work.
Actually, especially at work. (Where else do you spend most of your waking adult life?)
But this future isn’t going to just magically “happen.”
I know this, because whenever I speak about Energizing Change, invariably someone comes up to me after and says something like: “Wow, you really made me think! I should be doing more things at work that energize me!”
Which is great!
But then they continue…
“I just feel bad for those people who have to do the “crap” jobs…”
Welp, gotta stop you there.
My friends, this statement is complete and utter bullshit.
I’m pretty sure I respond more kindly in the moment, but this statement fills me with a kind of internal holy rage I’m pretty sure only a Social 8 can know. (IYKYK)
Let me explain…
First, what you think are “crap jobs” are very likely to be jobs someone else loves. This means, if this statement comes out of your mouth, you’re almost definitely being insensitive, close-minded, and disparaging. So, stop it. (NOTE: Are there actual “crap jobs” that exist out there in the world? Sure! But frankly, those jobs are not the jobs my audiences are talking about.)
Second, your B.S. (ahem, Belief System) is causing real, actual systemic harm to your organization. Why? Because your belief that certain jobs are “crap” when they’re not is corrupting your hiring process. Meaning: how can you possibly find someone to kill it in a job you think is fundamentally horrible or pointless? Your “crappy” mindset is tainting the whole freaking process, and your limiting belief is ensuring you won’t find the best person for that role.
Third, let’s entertain for a moment that there are jobs that no humans want to do. Well, in that case, we have never lived in a time in history when it’s been more possible to release humans from drudgery — yup, I mean it’s time to build an A.I. agent, y’all.
If you don’t think this is what A.I. ought to be used for, then, well, you’re probably a billionaire. (Also, how did you find this article!?)
My friends, we need to be diligent and persistent on this point — A.I. is going to do many things. The very next things we should do with it is train it to do tasks that feel like drudgery for humans.
There’s simply no excuse anymore for humans to be doing anything resembling “crap jobs.” The only thing that’s limiting us moving forward is our own bias and our own “crappy” imaginations.
At the 1964 New York World’s Fair, inside the General Electric Pavilion there debuted a ride called the Carousel of Progress. It was relocated from Queens to Disneyland in 1967, and stayed there until it was moved to its current home in Florida at Magic Kingdom in 1975.
I got to experience this “carousel” for the first time in 1993, and it’s still vivid in my memory.
You don’t get to enjoy a ride like this without an accompanying soundtrack, of course, and the tune for this ride is one of my absolute favorites: “There’s A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,” written by the fabulous Sherman Brothers and performed by Rex Allen.
I recommend listening to this version of the song, and wanted to share the transcript of its intro monologue, as I couldn’t find it anywhere online (the speaking starts at 2:10):
Welcome to the General Electric Carousel Of Progress. Now, most carousels just go round and round without getting anywhere. But on this one, at every turn we’ll be making progress. And progress is not just moving ahead — it’s dreaming and working and building a better way of life. Progress is the sound of a motor. The hum of a turbine. The heartbeat of a factory. The sound of a symphony. The roar of a rocket. Progress is people getting released from drudgery, gaining more time to enjoy themselves and live richer lives. And as long as man dreams and works and builds, this progress will go on in your life and mine.
There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow
Shining at the end of every day
There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow
And tomorrow’s just a dream away
Man has a dream and that’s the start
He follows his dream with mind and heart
And when it becomes a reality
It’s a dream come true for you and me
So there’s a great, big, beautiful tomorrow
Shining at the end of every day
There’s a great, big, beautiful tomorrow
Just a dream away
Obviously this tune needs approximately 100% more gender inclusivity, but its spirit resonates fiercely with me.
The line about “people getting released from drudgery” is just so what we need RIGHT NOW.
Yeah, I’m cheesy and sentimental and optimistic.
But that doesn’t mean I’m wrong about how the future will get built.
What can you do to help make it a big, beautiful one?