When we look at work it
is inevitable to get away from the physical and emotional aspect of it. On one
hand we are doing things because they need to get done, on the other we’re trying
to embrace and communicate the ideas of our company to the customer. Many
times we feel reluctant to take on a simple task that requires either emotional
or physical work. This is a natural feeling and a great designer by the name of
John Maeda explained it best. If you offer a child the ability to pick between
a big cookie and a small cookie their choice will be obvious. They will pick
the big cookie. However, offer them a choice of a big stack of laundry to fold
and a small stack of laundry and their choice is obvious once again. They will
choose the small stack of laundry because it requires less work. The idea here
is that these things are the total opposite for one reason and one reason only.
The choices are based exclusively on the amount of joy that each will provide
for the person choosing. If we want to get our employees to want to do the work
it requires to build a successful company, we need to start by giving them
beliefs that will create enjoyment upon execution. If your process is lame and
unappealing then your employees will choose not to do it and your company will
fail. Offer your employees the big cookie by making your process innovative and
fun and your employees will love you for it.
-Marco Adrian Ortiz
