Don't Let Others Attempt To Crush Your Spirit And Passion

I was listening to a tape I have that is a speech given by Frank Peretti, author of several great books, who was talking with students and parents about a book he wrote called The Wounded Spirit. He gave this speech at a conference a few months after the Littleton, Colorado school tragedy. The focus of the speech: He told his personal story about how he grew up in school with kids picking on him, bullying him, and even years later, the hurt and pain that wounded his spirit still affected him to a degree. I could relate to him so well since I suffered through many wrongdoings from kids as I grew up and even today, there are incidents in the workplace that can affect a person. Sadly, it still seems to continue in the workplace.

I have a whiteboard in my cube where I write things that come to mind or things I read that inspire me.

Today's message is: "A man's spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?"

Its message is primarily to those at work who believe they can tell me how I should behave, what I should think about, and how I should act so I please them. Do you want to know one reason why some people rebel or go up against people who insist they need to like certain things? Because many of those who rebel have a wounded spirit that they still carry with them. NO ONE should have to put up with others, no matter their title or rank in a work setting, who want to see someone do things that they feel this person should just accept. Each person is unique in how God made them and we should be accepted for what makes us tick, what makes us passionate, and what career path we want to take.

People say you learn what your purpose is in life over time as God reveals it to you. As I listened to the tape of "The Wounded Spirit" speech, I could sense something tugging at my heart. Yes, I can relate to the topic of people trying to run you over at work since I have lived it in the last 6 months at my company. My spirit has been crushed numerous times by those who insist they are only doing it to help me succeed and/or for my own benefit. Explain to me how putting me in front of HR and saying that I have been out of line in suggesting ideas for how we could benefit from interacting with customers is right. Explain to me how having your boss and his boss constantly watching your every move and getting on your case every time you talk to someone or share something that relates to your passion is right. Explain to me why certain people in the company who believe they have all the answers or are the "experts" feel it is right to call you out and make it public knowledge that how you are doing things is wrong.

I have been in marketing for over 8 years now and I know that in marketing, the main mindset engrained in people's minds is that our main objectives are to push marketing messages out to people we feel would benefit from hearing about our products and keep doing this same practice. Do it via direct mail, TV ads, radio ads, website content, magazine ads, brochures, etc. Just keep pushing our message out there about why people need to consider our brand. We don't want to hear from our customers about your true needs. We know your needs and you NEED to get our product is the company's perspective.

I may be a weird, unique person in a marketing role who has a different mindset that has come into play over the last 2 years. This new mindset is one reason why I have struggles at work and conflicts with those who insist my way of thinking is wrong. It is part of my DNA to help people in life. As social media has come onto the scene more and more, I have seen the tremendous value and benefits of embracing the tools that enable social communication to happen. I can see with clarity the value of using tools like Twitter, blogs, social networking communities, etc. to reach out and connect with customers who own our products. We have people who LOVE the equipment we sell with a passion like none other. Much like Harley owners, they want to wear our brand name and proudly proclaim they are tied to our brand. So, the question I keep asking to people at work is WHY are we not reaching out to them, allowing them to share their stories, and sharing their love for the brand so others can see that our company cares about what its customers think and feel. I want to so badly be in a role to reach out to these passionate customers, talk with them, and allow them to share their stories.

I read an article the other day that was so right on the money. Before you introduce or try to persuade people in a corporation to consider new technologies (social media, etc.), first there has to be openness and willingness in the company culture to try new things. Resistance in company culture is the number one reason why many well-meaning, passionate individuals are shut out and or told to shut up about what they love to share. Until management embraces these new technologies and really understands the true value of the tools out there to connect with real customers, the same "we have always done things this way" mentality will continue. And the spirit of those who really want to help companies move into the next frontier of two-way communication with customers will once again be crushed.

No matter the HR meetings, constant discussions about my perceived "behavioral problems," and meetings about how I am tarnishing the department or my superior's self-images, I would not do anything any different. I am only expressing what is true to me and who I am. I will not allow others to attempt to crush my spirit.