As a young man, I
faced a career decision that set the path for the rest of my life. I found myself in a place where I had three choices for employment: After a few years as a teacher, I could return to education. Or I could enter into the world of non-profit work, or I could step into the business world and take a position as a professional salesperson.
At the time I was mostly interested in the details: Income, workload and benefits. It never occurred to me that I was making a decision that would have life-long consequences on my character and my development as a human being.
I chose the sales position. Prodded, I believe, by divine
intervention.
At this point in my career, with the benefit of retrospective clarity, I believe that decision to choose a career in business had a great deal to do with the kind of person I became, the character that I would eventually develop, and the destiny I would embrace. I am not unique in that. There is something
about the pressures and dynamics of the world of business that shapes the character of everyone who makes a living from it.
Let me explain. In business, we must produce. We must learn what is expected of us and discipline ourselves to behave in ways that meet those expectations. If we don’t have the necessary
skills, we need to acquire them. If we don’t have the right attitudes, we need to change them. If we don’t have the right work ethic, we need to modify that. We must be productive, or we won’t last long.
Granted, there may be pockets in the folds of larger businesses where a person or group can get by
under the radar screen, contributing little to the corporate purpose and dragging down the company’s profit and purpose. But these are the exceptions and typically temporary. Sooner or later the demand to produce catches up with even the most invisible.
