just try it. please!

Here’s a very serious look at developments in the workplace of today. I think I've passed along the idea of the level of competency in the work force being shockingly low. I know Phil has a saying that the bar out there is quite low; it doesn’t take much to impress across the broad spectrum of employment. For the moment we can dismiss brain surgeons, lawyers, engineers, etc. Some fields require a much deeper level of scientific or philosophical training to even get in the door – I don’t wholly excuse those fields from the discussion because I’m sure they have similar issues.

What brought this on is my current assignment to turn some outlines and lesson specs into a functional learning tool. The ins-and-outs of how this process works, or the subject matter, aren’t important. The theory should be that if two different people are going to work on a project; i.e. one starts the outlines and completes the research, and the other puts it into a finished product, then the first person better be minimally competent. If they are thinking about passing along some product that isn't comprised of intelligent research and some actual work…then don’t pass it along. I have no desire to fix someone’s poorly conceived idea of work. It seems like the critical mass of alleged experts (or workers, or developers…) are completely stuck in antiquated era of what passes for skill. The best parallel I can draw upon is how people use to high jump way back in the day. All these yahoos working today are still competing with some scissor technique, eastern cut-off, western roll, or straddle technique of high jumping. This is how they still look, as if trying to win a blue ribbon during their 3rd grade field day:
Listen, some of us have figured out better ways to do things – they aren't even better ways, they are just ways, for crying out loud. Unfortunately, 80% of those workers getting paid good money refuse to develop beyond that old crappy method of jumping, because in their mind it’s functional enough to get by, why actually get better? The worst part of the whole scenario is that it has nothing to do with how much work someone does; that has no effect on producing something usable. Do you want to know how I know? Because people here spend days and weeks working on a project and it’s still garbage. Not because they can’t do it…they simply choose not to. Seriously, it’s just like that effort from 3rd grade; here’s a nice green ribbon for just for being you! Put a check in your little Excel spreadsheet, you're done with the project!

Here’s how people that actually give a crap about competency high-jump:
That’s right, Dick Fosbury! He figured out a better way to do something and then practiced and perfected the skill.

Teach a man to jump and he’ll jump. Teach a man the Flop and he’ll kick ass.

T.