Doing the “cannot be done.”
“Tell me something about your company.”
“Well, we are a company with over 6000 employees.”
“Wow! Nice!”
Compare the above with this.
“Well, I am a one-man band working out of my home.” There is a pause, a smile, and maybe, “nice.”
Why is “big” more impressive? Why is working in a large company usually the goal?
“How big is your company?” The question gets in the way of “How exciting and good?”
Walmart is vast, and it is everywhere. Customer service is nonexistent, stores are cluttered, and employees are unhappy. Publix is just in a few states. It has excellent customer service, a pleasing store environment, and high employee satisfaction.
Many giant corporations began as small, no-rules startups. Original team members are mostly gone. Working there now is the same routine every day. Think Google and Facebook, and others. These companies often want to operate as small businesses for innovation, agility, and leaders without hierarchal authority.
The thing about working for big organizations is that they have lots of layers. And these layers are there for many reasons, but one reason they’re not there is saying “YES” to your innovative idea. It is easy to say “No” and dismiss new ideas. You often hear, “Don’t waste your time. It has never worked. It cannot be done.” People saying this are the naysayers. Innovators in these companies often walk around with targets on their backs.
The thrill of working at a small to medium company is to be an innovator and a leader without hierarchal authority. The cultural norms are fundamental, and establishing insights addressing risk, failure, why this all matters, etc., is still essential. If your “cannot be done” is groundbreaking, not everyone will support it or value it (at first). You will almost certainly encounter naysayers, and they will jeer. But, your idea will get the serious attention of the C-levels.
So ask yourself, “Am I part of an organization where I can do the “cannot be done?”
Working in a small to medium company is more than the beginning or stepping stone for many. It is a destination in itself, as long as it is sustainable and profitable for a comfortable lifestyle. The right size for the company to work for could be four people, forty people, or four hundred.
I would love to hear about your experiences! Please share your stories at satishmehtausa@gmail.com. Please forward this knowledge letter to those who could benefit from it. They can subscribe to it here or by clicking on the link below.
Thank you,
Satish Mehta
Author, Speaker, Coach
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