In the modern corporation, there
is no place for free passengers, only contributing members. Restructuring,
re-engineering, shrinking profit margins have made the workplace increasingly
intolerant of the unskilled and non-performing members. The only defence
against the pink slip is personal excellence and constant growth. This can put
a lot of pressure on the individuals. Flatter organisations celebrate
individual performance. There is no place for anyone less capable to hide in
the crowd. This can be a challenge. It could also be a test, which many will
fail. Constant competition with peers can be very tiring. The only way out is
innovation, through uniqueness, through entrepreneurship and intrepreneurship.
Alvin Toffler’s prediction of the
electronic cottage (people networked and working from homes) and small office
home office (SOHO ) is becoming a more and more
visible reality. The customer is no longer interested in mass produced
products. He demands choices. No more Henry Ford promising, ‘You can have any
colour car you want provided it is black.’ Paint companies allow you to even mix
your own colours. This can be an opportunity and a treat depending on the
entrepreneur’s attitude.
Maslow’s self-actualisation
principle—the individual’s capacity to be transformed into the individual God
created him to be—is a possible destination for all.
Einstein, Time magazine's ‘Man of
the Twentieth Century,’ warned:
‘The concern for Man and his
destiny must always be the chief interest of all technical effort. Never forget
it among your diagrams and equations.’
The revolution of rising
expectations, fuelled by the global perspective, provided by the media and
internet creates unrelenting stress.
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