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Content v Complacent

Jimmy loves his job. He looks forward to virtually everything about his daily duties because no situation is ever exactly the same. There are a few aspects of his current role that he doesn’t enjoy, but he realizes they are necessary for him to perform at the level he aspires to. Jimmy doesn’t watch the clock. Overtime doesn’t exist. He works until the job is done - and done to the standard he expects of himself. Jimmy looks forward to seeing his team every day. Learning from them, helping them grow, and having people who fill in for his weaknesses allow Jimmy to perform at a higher level than he ever could on his own. He and his team are always looking for a new edge, or angle, to stretch themselves. He loves what he does and who he does it with.

Jimmy is content.

Johnny loves his job too. He looks forward to his daily duties and enjoys almost all aspects of his role, mainly because he’s comfortable with them. The ones he doesn’t enjoy he does anyway, usually without complaint. Johnny checks the clock every now and then, but he’s not ruled by it. He works until the workday is done, performing at the standard expected of him. Overtime does exist and Johnny does it when he has to. Johnny likes his team but most of the relationships have run their course and are nothing more than coexisting work partnerships. Johnny and his team believe ‘if it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it’ so they stick religiously to the way they’ve always done things. He enjoys what he does and who he does it with.

Johnny is complacent.

Why Should We Care?
As you read through those paragraphs, there are subtle differences in Jimmy and Johnny’s approach to their work. Let’s take a little closer look at the differences.

Jimmy and Johnny both love their jobs, but for two different reasons. Jimmy because he is consistently being stretched and Johnny because he is comfortable. For Jimmy it’s not really work, it’s what he does. For Johnny, it’s most definitely work - he’s good at it, but it’s still work. Jimmy works to the standard he expects of himself. Johnny works to the standard others expect of him. Jimmy sees the differences and unique contributions of his team. Johnny sees the similarities and limitations of his team. Jimmy is constantly stretching. Johnny is constantly shrinking.

Contentment is misunderstood. It’s happiness and satisfaction. It’s appreciation. Contentment recognizes the benefit of the work, the value in the struggle and embraces them as a vital part of the road towards excellence. Contentment doesn’t push us to tire of these things, but further validates them as foundational in our success.

Complacency does none of this. It takes the work and struggle for granted, looking to minimize them while still maintaining an acceptable level of performance. It wants to avoid struggle yet maintain success. Complacency diminishes the process while still desiring the same outcome. 

REAL TALK - Action Steps
Ah, to avoid complacency and find contentment - that would be the goal, wouldn’t it? Here are a few ideas to guide you on that walk.

Growing Contentment

• Love the Process 
  
  • Contentment is found in the process, not the outcome. Think about it - where do you spend most of your time? In the process. If you don’t enjoy and appreciate that, then how could you ever find contentment? The outcome simply doesn’t last long enough. I mean, as soon as you produce the outcome, where do you go? Right back to the process in search of the next outcome. Learn to love the process - or find something to do in which the process is the joy.
    

• Define Success
  
  • Stop letting others decide what success is for you. It’s not their decision, it’s yours. Contentment is guaranteed to escape you until you make this switch in your perspective on success. If you’ve experienced moments of contentment, reflect on those times and see how you were defining success. I’m sure you will find it was on your terms, not someone else’s.
    

Reducing Complacency

• Stop Comparing
  
  • It’s easy to find people you are performing better than and justify that you could still be doing better than other people if you did less. And, you would be right. So, what? Is that who you want to be? A constant, minimum comparison with the next person? I’ve got bad news for you … you’re the minimum comparison for someone else. You’re the justification that they can do less. It’s a wheel of death. Run your race, but in order to do that you have to know what your race is. Take some time to know yourself.
    
• Stop Measuring
  
  • At least stop keeping score the way you’re used to keeping it. While most leaders acknowledge that what we value we measure and what we measure gets done, some of the most important things in life can’t be measured - trust, love … contentment. Just because we can’t put a number to it doesn’t mean it’s not important. As a matter of fact, there’s a good chance it’s more important. 
    

Contentment is a critical part of excellence while complacency has no place in it. 
Complacency is a thief of the soul, and contentment Robin Hood. 

Checkout Surrender the Outcome on Amazon and order The Score That Matters with Ryan Hawk & Brook Cupps. The latest blog from Blue Collar Grit can be found here!