P U B L I S H E R ’ S D E S K
WHEN 'CONTENT' SHOULD BE ENOUGH
Are you happy in your business? Do you always feel like you need to do more? Is it never enough? You may have
contentment issues – like most of us.
Words have always amazed me.
The power and expression they can
harness and their ability to impact
on our or other lives in unimaginable
ways is astonishing. In fact, it really is
only limited by the individual’s understanding
of that particular word and/
or their perception of it internally, and
conversely, that of the person it is
conveyed to. Although these two can
also be chalk and cheese according to
the life ‘conditioning’ of each.
And because of that - just like people
– words are the same but they are also
so different to each individual. We’ve all
been shaped in different ways as the
tide’s rolled over us day-in-and-out -
smoothing the often jagged edges of life
through time.
But one word that has held particular
gaze for me of late is ‘content’, or as
a quick google search in the adjective
says, “In a state of peace or happiness”.
The thing about this word is that it does
not register with me in the location of
nirvana or that of any happy oasis. It
doesn’t belong… or fit. To me it means,
“I’m okay”. Not great, not bad… just
okay. Content. You know?
Now clearly, ‘not bad’ is not the primary
description for the term. It actually
means something much more powerful.
But why is that? Why is the literal so
different to the perception?
Firstly, the word has been smashed
from all angles. We are taught, “Never
be content with…” and the furthermore
of not to rest on our laurels; to never be
satisfied… strive, grow - progress.
But is that really what we should be
doing? Since researching the word –
and its rarified air for me to put so much
work into one word – I’ve opened my
eyes toward it and because of it.
Being content – in business or life – is
actually okay. It doesn’t mean the
machines won’t run because you’ve
rested on your laurels. It doesn’t mean
that your business will have an ‘Out of
business’ sign on it the moment you
perceive yourself to be backing off.
Actually, what it might really mean is
that it provides you the peaceful knoll
to reflect on achievements… to be
thankful… to appreciate. Be content to
stand still, for a month or a moment,
then move forward.
“To be content doesn’t mean you don’t
desire more, it means you’re thankful
for what you have and patient for what’s
to come.” The quote tickled a desire
to understand more, but it wasn’t until
I read a fellow scribe on the matter that
things hit home.
This got me bolt upright with an
effortless delivery, probably through a
forked-tongued and a smile: “Don't try
to be happy. We're programmed to be
dissatisfied.
“Perpetual bliss would completely
undermine our will to accomplish
anything at all – that’s why perfect
contentment has probably been evolved
out of us.”
Progress has left its mark, but my
colleague wasn’t being all pessimistic
on it. He was leading to a point that I
can now deliver for him.
We’ve all started a sentence with the
phrase “Won’t it be great when…” (I
go to university, get a dream job fall in
love, have kids, lose weight, get fit etc).
Similarly, we often hear older people
start sentences with this phrase “Wasn’t
it great when…”.
But think about how seldom you hear
anyone say: “Isn’t this great, right now?”
Surely, our past and future aren’t
always better than the present. Yet, we
continue to think that this is the case.
I think there are some valuable
business lessons to be learnt about
planning ahead but not operating
ahead, while also being reflective of
the past but not allowing the past to
dictate the now.
We are all busy people and usually
what time we have is not for ourselves.
We get caught up in a business world
that has many more objectives than the
sum of the parts. Sometimes the clutter
can be too much and we lose sight of
the trees for the woods.
But maybe for you – and me too –
content starts today. Together we may
have just found a new favourite word.
Allow yourself the now.
Greg Robertson
Publisher
REN294
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