Diversity: A Tale of Two Mindsets

I would like to share with you two interesting stories that I am going through right now.

In my business I work with a wide range of individuals. Individuals who are looking for new opportunities. 

The people on a daily basis have differences in age, ethnicity, ancestry, gender, physical abilities/qualities, race, sexual orientation, educational background, geographic location, income, marital status, military experience, religious beliefs, parental status, work experience plus any other way you would like to categorize the word “diversity”. 

In his book “Cultural Diversity in Organizations" Taylor Cox writes about the importance of "planning and implementing organizational systems and practices to manage people so that the potential advantages of diversity are maximized while its potential disadvantages are minimized”.

I support that 100%.

That’s the classic definition of the word diversity in todays workplace.

However, my personal favorite definition of diversity is the one Webster uses. 

Webster defines “diversity” as : 

an instance of being composed of differing elements or qualities: an instance of being  diverse 

And here is where the Tale of Two Mindsets starts……

Young Blood

The first “ mindset” I am working with is a young, well-educated, super motivated, incredibly talented and passionate young man. 

He has a few years experience in the med-tech world and is looking for his next role.

Ah, yes, did I also mention he is a “millennial”?

He has been pursuing a very specific market in a very specific geography in the med-tech space.

In my expert opinion, for his years of experience, the company that eventually ends up hiring him will be getting one of the best values for their investment that I have seen in the past 3 decades.

He has interviewed at no less than 6 different companies and he has not received an offer as of yet. He has come “close” but still no brass ring. 

He is from the Middle East and his name speaks to that.

Even though he has not had his desired outcome he remains ever so positive and resigned to the fact that he will find the right company and role for himself.

It is a forgone conclusion he will drive his way to what he wants. 

He has decided that he is the owner of his future, its not the market, its not the rules, its not his ethnicity nor his age. 

Seasoned Veteran

The second “mindset” in my story is a more experienced individual who has 30 plus years in the med-tech space and has been looking for a role for some time as well. He is a fantastic individual.

He has held executive roles in a number of organizations and has interviewed for a number of roles and has just not landed the right opportunity for himself just yet.

He has shared with me that he strongly believes it is because of his age, his geography and his type of experience that he has not received an offer that is acceptable to him.  

The Choices We Choose

I am not in either of their “shoes” and I am incredibly empathetic to both of these individuals. 

What I do know is that one of them is betting on “what is possible” and the other is betting on “what is probable”. Enter my preferred definition of diversity.....The "diversity" of the differing elements and qualities between the two.

Life, careers, relationships, health and all that we experience are all daily struggles. They are all predicated on fighting the good fight. 

Choices are made daily.

Choosing to have excuses as to why something didn’t happen for you is not a winning strategy. It is not empowering.

Individuals who simply have outcomes and then adjust, re-tool, respond to the market……ALWAYS have better outcomes than those who choose the victim role.

Best Days and Worst Days

You only have one best day in your life and you only have one worst day in your life. 

Everything else is in between. 

The ability to have a mindset whereas you only have outcomes and not destinations is key to being able to persevere in the face of what appears to be less than optimal for you. 

Over the years as I have coached people, I ask them to “ feel” what is more empowering?

How do you feel if your self talk is "defeated" after something is interpreted as a loss? Versus how do you feel when you allow something just to be an "outcome" or as pure data?

The former is disabling and the latter is empowering.

Deciding what can you do right now in order to keep possibility on your side is paramount.

I am not suggesting being a robot and having no feelings. 

I am suggesting though that you feel the highs and feel the lows for sure. 

However, don’t spend too much time in either area if your goal is to keep driving towards excellence.

Shit Happens

Shit is going to happen. 

That’s what makes these journeys each of us are on so amazing. 

Our personal journeys leave our fingerprints on the universe. 

Leave your smudgy prints everywhere my friends.

Peace.