Drive Your Career: Learn from History

Labor Day.??One of those holidays I tend to forget about until it creeps up.??Right around the end of summer and start of a new school year, I have fond memories of gatherings with friends and family for BBQ's and more than one rainout. All whilst I find time to sneak into my office for a few hours to organize, read, and plan to stay ahead of my work.??

This year I find myself reflecting more intently on the history and meaning of the celebrated "day off". Labor Day was one of the results of the labor movement during the Industrial Revolution in our country’s history. At that time, the average American worked twelve plus hour days, seven days a week, with minimal pay. Labor unions began to grow as manufacturing began to surpass farming as the primary source of American employment. Young children and immigrants worked in hazardous conditions without access to sanitary facilities and breaks. Organized rallies began, with protest on these poor working conditions. On Tuesday, September 5, 1882, ten thousand workers took time off without pay to protest and march from City Hall to Union Square in New York City, holding the first Labor Day parade in the history of our country.

Although there is speculation of who first proposed the holiday be made rule, Peter McGuire, a carpenter, and Matthew Maguire, a machinist, are both mentioned as likely initiators.??The day was officially made a national holiday in 1894. There were many years of marches, rallies, and debate on the how to address the inequality of workers before the creation of this national day off. The initiation of the union and the vast impact it had on the safety and security of American worker are largely credited.

March ahead to 2021 where we are noted to be in our fourth Industrial Revolution . The path forward allows us to take lessons learned through history to help us navigate our future. The current era is marked by digitalization, automation, personal connected devices, data analytics, AI technologies, and IoT. The pace of which our workforce dynamic is evolving has never been seen before. The skills sought after today, and moving forward, have potential to widen workforce inequality .

Staying close to demands to day and expectations of tomorrow has never been more important. This Forth Industrial Revolution is changing how we live, work and communicate. It has the opportunity to improve healthcare, education, commerce, and beyond. However, any revolution bears strength, and a darker side we need to keep in check. Our labor force has evolved based on anticipating future needs and stepping up to meet them, with brain, braun, and heart. If we are considering the future of our labor force, we must ponder how we leverage our intelligence and capabilities, and stay on the side of good vs. evil.

Today we honor the contributions of the American system of workers to our prosperity and the economic strength of our nation. Their efforts pushed back on the exploitation of the workforce to create balance. Workers want to earn a living. Businesses want to make money. Friction is not to be feared, but embraced, as on the other end of collaboration has created incredible opportunity.

As we navigate our own career, allow us to respect the value of our own contributions and those we achieve working together. Knowing there will be friction, yet that is where growth occurs, for the individual, the business, and our country. We have demonstrated we have the resilience to gather together, with varied socioeconomic status, to achieve higher ground. For some, this may be just another day off, but perhaps for you, it is the start of a new season of prosperity.