Hey,
I just listened to this phenomenal podcast and I just thought I would share it with you. I am sitting on the fence at the moment as to whether I should try to organize an interview with Rick, about this issue because we spend majority of our time alive and awake at work, and it’s very important.
But the ultimate decision is up to you guys: Should I interview him, shouldn’t I?
That aside, regardless of your religion, and in spite of how you make a living, listen to this podcast because it has some great ideas.
[audio:Work.mp3]
Final Thought: Definition of a Genius
I have always searched for a context to share this, but since the context did not present itself, I thought I would present it anyway. One of the definitions of a genius is:
Someone who focuses and takes action deliberately and consistently within a certain area of the human experience.
You don’t even have to produce Einstenein results in order for you to be labelled as a genius. Just reflect on and do things in a particular field, day after day after day.
This will make sense within the context of the podcast and is definitely something worth thinking about when you buy into the misconception that all genius is born and can never be manufactured, created or worked toward.
Tomorrow, my interview with the one, the only Kirk Nugent (check out some of his tracks on his Myspace page here )
Be blessed and bless others,
Mwangi
Tags: career, Erwin Mcmanus, leadership psychology, life purpose, Mosaic, purpose driven life, workplace
That’s the definition of a hard worker. Perhaps more important than genius but not the same thing.
@Evan: But don’t you find that a lot of people, though physically at their job are actually psychologically quite disengaged from the job and the outcomes of the job. Youtube and Facebook wouldn’t be as popular as they were if it weren’t for the hard workers who aren’t geniuses, me thinks………….
Absolutely true. Hard work may be more important than genius. They’re just not the same. There were and are many hard working physicists but only a few of the calibre of Einstein, Bohr, Feynman, Gell-Mann et al.
@Evan: Interestingly enough, that definition of genius is an actual dictionary definition that I heard……just a sec while I check if answers.com confirms that one………nope, it was just a Jay Abraham audio course where they were reading out definitions from the dictionary that gives that definition.
Hard work coupled with true, deliberate, consistent engagement takes you a long long way, on that we are 100% together.
My comments on the audio.
Gen.1 gives no hint that work was intended. It was the result of the curse. His exegesis skips Gen.3 – something of an oversight, no?
The gifts of the spirit are not the same as work.
Ie. his exegesis is shoddy (to put it as kindly as possible).
I don’t hear this speaker as pervaded by the spirit of Christ. Do you?
As to what is useful to work at. Bureaucrats making the lives of the unemployed miserable by working in Centrelink? Taking money from the poor and transferring it to the rich by interest, from working in banks? There is much to be discussed here.
Great advice on how to nurture child prodigies.
Australia doesn’t have a culture of tipping.
Learning can happen most easily in a supportive environment. I don’t think they understand the experience of flow. They also don’t understand motivation.
I think almost everyone is under used. A few years ago I ran some retreats that helped people find their gift. They were very enjoyable for all of us (I did them basically for cost) but I basically exhausted the market and couldn’t find a way to make money from them (build another market in a way that didn’t take years). There is much to be done about this I think.
What is missing from this perspective is a social analysis. Jesus drove the money changers from the temple, Paul said that a workman is worthy of his hire. In 2Cor Paul tells the churches to engage in internation aid for the sake of equality. This is usually left out of these kinds of talks – I have some ideas why that might be (but they aren’t terribly charitable).
I think there are a few worthwhile nuggets in there (esp. about developing expertise and treating child prodigies well) but the leaving out of the social dimension just drives me nuts.
Sup man, I will make it a point to listen to the podcst. The other day I saw Timothy Ferriss being interviewed in the news. It was nice to jua that I had somad his book ( It was nice to know I had read his book). The other day I was wondering where we kenyanese bloggers will be 5 years from now.
@Evan: I have been a long time fan of Erwin Mcmanus. I will definitely admit that his style of faith and proliferation of Christianity is definitely different from how a lot of people do it, but he is definitely guided by the spirit of Christ, his need for approval from other people, and his love for people. Please give further details on what you mean by social analysis and the initials Gen. 1 and Gen 3.?
@rags: I think it definitely makes a huge difference the way you look at and appreciate someone like Tim, when you know him via the here-say of other folks vs reading his book and listening to his interviews. I am now on the section of the book where we talk about how to create cash flow muses so we’ll see how we go.
I think the Kenyan blogosphere will go as far as we want to take it. From what I hear, the Kenyan blogosphere, as an engaged community, is way past it’s prime and peaked some time around a couple of years back and is actually now kinda tapering of.
I think unless we are willing to expand and try out new things with this wonderful communication tool called a blog, we just may be seeing the slow decline of the Kenyan blogosphere ( though of course tDA is intended to be about way more than just Kenya but rather a community for all children of the African soil wherever they may be).
Hi Mwangi,
There is no hint in Gen.1 (or 2) that work was intended. There were no weeds and the curse in Gen.3 specifically brings in sweat (ie. sweat – hard work was not intended before this). The vegetarian diet (the main point of which I think is that God did not intend violence) meant that what people needed was provided without work (no weeds remember).
Work is part of the curse. This leads to the need for its redemption. The glory of the nations goes into the new Jerusalem.
For me the starting point for the redemption of work is that: work is made for people, not people for work (based on Jesus saying about the sabbath in Mk.2). As has often been pointed out the Christian ethic is a communal one – as Basil pointed out: how will I learn patience if my brother does not annoy me?
My view is that Christians are intended to model a lifestyle for others to follow. This is one where social distinctions (of gender, race or wealth) are abolished. In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, male or female, bond or free.
My own conviction is that this lifestyle is to embrace sustainability – one reason for Israel’s exile was not observing the land’s sabbaths and the whole of creation longs for the revealing of the children of God. ‘Heaven’ includes a redeemed heaven and earth.
As to current work arrangements. Paul is clear that equality should prevail among Christians. There are chapters devoted to this in 2Cor.
While it is surely true that people should work well at what they do there are a number of things not addressed. For instance while volunteering is ethical it doesn’t necessarily pay for accommodation or food. This perspective doesn’t mention how these people will eat. My own view is that government and charities should guarantee the necessities (food, housing, education, health) to all people. My own experience is that people want good work and are willing to put in lots of work on what is important and meaningful to them.
The perspective of ’employees should work hard’ does not mention that employers have a duty too. It is not christian for employers to abuse people by providing mind-deadening work in lousy conditions.
My own experience is not that people are usually not lazy or selfish. In most work places you will find that people have lots of ideas about how they could be improved (they want to work better). If you ask people how much they would want to be paid for doing what they love, the income is usually a modest one. So much of the focus on money is due to its being compensation for lousy work in rotten conditions.
As you can see I think this is a big topic that brings together lots of different issues and perspectives.
I hope what I have written makes sense. I’m happy to keep discussing it.
i am yet to listen to the podcast, but I have read the post and the comments.
I’d like to think a hard worker can be a genius in their own ways. You do something well and consistently, you become a genius in that.
A good read. Refreshing break from all the light topics I keep reading on most blogs.
@Evan: It suddenly clicked as I read your second comment, by Gen., you meant Genesis. Then it made sense.
I agree that his theological justification behind this sermon was quite quite weak. To be honest I have never ever asked or reflected on why God created work. I think I already took work as such a given and already believed so strongly in the “if you don’t use it, you lose it” school of thought that I never even bothered to ask whether or not it was a curse.
As for how society and the work place should be organized, there I must say I have very little insight as I rarely reflect on it nowadays and so I thank you for sharing yours.
Christians indeed should be the model citizens for all to follow. And to a lot of Christian’s (not all, of course) credit: they are.
@savvy: I have seen you around the comments threads on other blogs. I strive to always try and put out useful information that can be put to practical use so thanks for the kind words.
My hope is that after reading this article, people will either begin to or recommit themselves to deliberately applying themselves in their vocations to the point that they bring the most value wherever they are.
Oops. Apologies for the confusion.
@Evan: No biggie, the train finally arrived at the station 😀