“I deserve to be in that lane, and why are you trying to be in my lane”

I experienced this exact issue today on my way to work. Why, as a human race, we feel that we are entitled to everything. This is sooo prevalent in our younger generation. The entitlement factor is strong. It is every where and it is affecting how we treat each other. People act that other people are just “servants” to them, talk poorly and show no respect to another human being.

Today’s youth show entitlement more than I have ever seen before. I have a son who plays hockey, and the end of every hockey game, I watch as 14 year olds, just drop their hockey bag and sticks in front of their parents, and expect them to carry it to the car. The saddest part of this, is that the parent’s actually pick up the stuff and carry it to the car. Where does it say the parents must carry the equipment for the child, when it is not the parent’s stuff.

What give us, today, the thought we deserve everything should be given to us and it is not our fault. Where did this thought come from: the booming nineties, the “me” generation, or is it we are too influenced by the non-reality shows and advertisements.

My wife worked “back stage” during my daughter’s dance recital. He job was to insure that the dancer’s were safe and to lessen the confusion in the back by keeping parents and other guests from going to the back. While performing her duties, a mother and her dancer arrived to the recital an hour into the performance. My wife asked if she misunderstood the time and how she could help. The mother replied,” we had another more important engagement than this to attend”. Does that mother know she affected the whole dance class because of this? Why can they ignore the rules and do whatever they want? This has always intrigued me. So what can we do.

First, realize that we are all human beings and that we have to give respect to earn it. On the other side of the conversation is a person with emotions, feelings and thoughts. Secondly, realize we must work at everything we get and nothing is given to us. Our hard work, our efforts will provide us what we need, and if we want something we must earn it.

We are entitled to certain things. One is we are entitled to be talked nicely to, to have situations figured out fairly, and to give back to our community and the world. We are not entitled to have someone else’s opinion thrust down our throat nor are we entitled to have people treat us poorly. Why is it that our problems are always caused by someone else? We must stop that thinking. I think it is time we looked in the mirror and entitle ourselves to act properly.

Do yourself a favor and treat someone nice, and work to get something you want.

I don’t mind change, I just dislike being changed

Boy isn’t that the truth! A majority of the people I talk to state that they like change, are change agents, or drive change in all of their life. Yet, when under review, not many of those people have changed much or have changed themselves. Driving change is hard to do, for we have to admit there is an issue, and then begin to change ourselves.

Looking at the business world, there are many people who will “consult” your organization through h a change. There are groups that will help you with “change management”. But when the rubber meets the road, there have been only a few businesses that have really driven change. Apple is one that is changing cell phones and how we listen to music. That is real change, and really cool. DeBeers back in the 1940’s changed the perception of the diamond. “A Diamond is Forever.” became the new slogan and changed the view on the engagement rings--forever.

Barak Obama states that he is the candidate of “change”. People embrace this type of change, for the perception is that someone else is being “changed”. If Barak stated that he is the candidate that will “change everyone” would he be as popular? I really don’t mind someone else changes, but I don’t need to change.

In talking with some business, they state that they cannot make payroll, cannot get paid and it is all because of the software and or billing service they are using. Yet, when they view a superior product or service, they are reluctant to make a change and improve their business.

For this to be different, I think the title of the book by John Ortberg fits perfectly, If You Want to Walk on Water; You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat. We have to take risks, we have to make decisions. I tell people all the time, “No decision is a decision”. Wait; think about it, you have decided not to decide. So why can’t we change and take a risk once in a while. Our fore founders of this country were not afraid to change and take risks. Wallowing in complacency has lost the innovation and drive which once made this country great.

We must embrace change and like being changed to move forward. Each year a tree buds with new leaves, reaches for the light, changes the colors of the leaves, then lets them drop, only to grow again next year. Do you hear them complain? (If you do, I have a few names of great therapists for you.) People who embrace change are the ones driving innovation and success of many businesses.

So, take the chance every now and then. You never know what may happen when you do. It may be the next IPod or a Diamond or even walk on water for your organization.