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Ken Chapman & Assoc. |
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Article
Exceptional
Performance In 1924, English artist William Wolcott came to New York City to record his impressions of that metropolis. One morning he was visiting in the office of a colleague when the urge to sketch came over him. Seeing some paper on his friend’s desk, he asked if he could use it. His friend pointed out that the paper he wanted to use was not sketching paper; it was just ordinary wrapping paper, the sort of paper we use to wrap meat or fish. Not wanting to lose that spark of inspiration, Wolcott took the wrapping paper and pointed out to his friend that nothing is ordinary if you know how to use it. Then, on that ordinary wrapping paper, Wolcott drew two sketches. Later that year, one of them sold for five hundred dollars and the other for one thousand dollars, rather large sums in 1924. In fact, in 2004 dollars, those two sketches sold for more than fifty thousand dollars. Ordinary wrapping paper in the hands of a great artist became a masterpiece. Abraham Lincoln said, “Whatever you are, be a good one.” It doesn’t matter how large or ineffective an organization is, an individual can still make a difference. You can make a difference. A mediocre employer can hinder exceptional performance, choose to ignore it, and not adequately recognize or encourage it. Or an employer can train employees to achieve exceptional performance and then reward it. Ultimately, though, regardless of the circumstances, only the employee can choose to do his or her job in an extraordinary way. The bottom line: Nobody can prevent you from choosing to be exceptional. For more information about Ken Chapman and Associates’ Leadership Development Programs, contact Ken Chapman at 205.366.0265 or email Ken at kchapman@leaderscode.com. <End> |
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