A Holiday Greeting to my GBA Friends and Colleagues
BUMBLES BOUNCE (and other practical business lessons from holiday season shows)
Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA) members, like myself, routinely find business knowledge and inspiration in the materials and conferences provided by the association. I was reminded this week of a much less obvious source for business guidance and motivation; the shows of the holiday season. The best of these productions include lessons that are useful in life, including our work.
As a holiday greeting to my many friends and colleagues in the GBA community, I offer this reflection on some of the lessons from holiday season shows that are applicable to our success as geoprofessionals.
Harmony through Engineering, from A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965 TV special): The tree Charlie picked out for Christmas was distressed and de-valued, just like many of the properties with contamination, geologic hazards, or challenging soil conditions that call for geoprofessional expertise. It took the ingenuity of Linus’s engineering, using his blanket and Snoopy’s dog house lights, to bring function and beauty to the tree with the added value of creating harmony in the Peanuts’ community. Appreciate the fact that so much of our work also helps to create or restore community infrastructure for the benefit of enterprise, society and yes, harmony.
Resourcefulness, from Rudolf the Rednose Reindeer (1964 TV special): Rudolf remains my favorite holiday show because a geologist named Yukon Cornelius stars in a supporting role. It also provides a reminder that we are not all blessed with the skill and capabilities to get every job done. There are times when circumstances require us to be resourceful. The solution often is just under our nose in the form of partnering with a colleague who has the capabilities we need. This may require us to look beyond titles and our preconceived ideas about what that colleague can do. Many who are perceived as “Bumbles” really do “bounce” when given the chance to fully utilize their skill and passions. We’re all misfits in some capacity, but the key for us is to engage in continual identification and development of our skill sets and interests. Nothing in this regard should remain hidden.
Servant Leadership, It’s a Wonderful Life (1946 Frank Capra movie): Among the fantastic lessons in this movie is the contrast between George Baily’s servant leadership approach and the entitled leadership of the greedy Mr. Potter (the curmudgeonly businessman who is #6 on the American Film Institutes’ list of 50 Greatest Villains) . What motivates a person to take the lead? A strong desire to help others? Or, a personal need for attention, power and wealth? Most GBA firms know the value of employing professionals capable of leading, informally and formally, with care and respect for others, driven by a desire to assist. Wealth, as so well depicted in this movie, is comprised of far more than the dollars that we earn. There should be no compromise in doing the right things and being compassionate in our pursuit of wealth. This commitment, over time, has proven to be very profitable for those who have followed its path.
Sense of Wonder, The Polar Express (2004 animated movie, starring Tom Hanks): Are we really condemned to losing our sense of wonder as we age? This movie’s metaphor of being able to hear Christmas bells as a gauge of childhood exuberance is an important reminder that we must not let our relative maturity stand in the way of belief in the possibilities that our life and work present. A dynamic component of scientific, engineering and technological innovation is a healthy, child-like curiosity in what could be. This, combined with a relentless desire to understand how and why things work, provides the essential ingredients for a lifelong advancement of our professional selves. It should be noted that most children also have more fun in their pursuits. It is OK, some say essential, to have fun at work. Get on the train, ring them bells and release your inner child in your endeavors, not just at the holidays but throughout the year.
I wish you and yours, health, peace, happy holidays, merry Christmas and cheers for a new year with the hope that we can gather together again soon in the camaraderie of a GBA conference.
- Kurt