Many years ago, when I worked as Director of Public Affairs and Annual Fund (which, upon reflection, was a very silly combination) for my alma mater, Franklin College, I would hear professors talk about taking a sabbatical.
Frankly, at that early point in my life and career, I wasn’t quite certain what a “sabbatical” really was — until one teacher explained to me the concept of providing a professional in academia some time to reflect and accomplish something — such as writing a book — that would enable the individual to return to his or her position both refreshed and with a greater depth of knowledge from which to teach.
(As I was just starting my work at the college, at that point it sounded to me like a fancy way of saying you were taking a year off work.)
Now, however, I realize there is more to the sabbatical than my youthful self realized. Taken, as Wikipedia tells us “from Latin sabbaticus, from Greek sabbatikos, from Hebrew shabbat, i.e., Sabbath, literally a ‘ceasing.’”
Often, I remark in my presentations we “get so busy DOING what we do, we fail to take time to THINK about what we do.”
Reading the Steve Jobs biography, I was struck by how much time Jobs spent in thought and contemplation. Don’t get me wrong — I realize if you’re running a small business like my Dad and Mom did with their small town grocery store, you just do not have the luxury of extended “navel gazing,” as one hard-boiled manager once put it to me.
However, if all you’re doing is what you’ve always done — especially if you must do it cheaper and faster — I’m not certain you’re doing yourself any favors.
It’s fascinating to me it’s the outsiders who often are the industry disrupters. For example…as I mention in “Collapse of Distinction”…it wasn’t Folger’s or Chase & Sanborn who came up with the revolution that is Starbucks.
The critical question is, “Why not?” Folger’s was focused on coffee all day, every day. Why couldn’t they come up with the concept? They were already buying coffee beans…
It wasn’t Nokia or Motorola that revolutionized mobile phones. It was Apple. Why couldn’t the ones working every day on it come up with a perfect smartphone? Why was it an outsider?
The answer is too obvious: Because the companies working intently on coffee and mobile phones didn’t have the perspective an outsider would.
As we approach the end of the year, and many of us in our respective traditions and personal beliefs are celebrating the holidays, my hope is you can also find a bit of a sabbatical.
Use this time to refresh your spirit and recharge your batteries. Maybe it’s a time to contemplate and plan for the coming year. Perhaps you can gain some perspective that is often missing when faced with the crush of day-to-day activities.
Most of all, here is hoping you take the opportunity to “cease” your labors, reflect upon our abundant blessings, and refresh your mind, body, and spirit.
————————————————-
If you would like some assistance and direction in guiding your plans for the coming year — both personally and professionally — check out our audio program (complete with priorities workbook and program handbook) — “Just Say Yes!”
For more information, CLICK HERE!
Comments on this entry are closed.