How do you measure a nation’s strength? By
the size of its army? By its wealth in natural resources? By
its balance of trade?
Sure. But a more meaningful metric might
be found in the vibrancy of its workplace. A nation that
values its talent and creative energy can only strengthen its
world position, while a country that clings to a complacent
job culture is sure to lag behind.
In some corners of the world, there's a
stigma attached to high achievement. The taller a flower
grows, the faster it gets pruned.
How sad. Where I come from, ambition meets
an entirely different fate: The taller a flower grows, the
faster it gets recruited.
A Nation Obsessed with
Work
Pound for pound, Americans are the most
productive people on earth. We work longer hours and take
fewer vacations than anyone else. But it’s not because someone
holds a gun to our heads.
We work hard because we generally love
what we do. And with Blackberries and cell phones as enablers,
there’s practically no limit to our collective obsession with
getting ahead.
Is a manic work ethic healthy? Probably
not. But for better or worse, it’s wired in our DNA. When we
love our jobs, we work like crazy. And if we happen to hate
them, so be it—we work all the harder to make a change.
Maybe Americans take the pursuit of
happiness too literally. If a job doesn't satisfy, we feel
it’s our right—if not our duty—to move on and find another.
And with increasing regularity, they're found with the help of
recruiters.
A World-Wide
Trend
Recruiting isn’t just a Western
phenomenon. From Kiev to Dubai, and Bangalore to Beijing,
recruiters are increasingly woven into the fabric of
achievement. Like an army of bumble bees, we cross-pollinate
the tallest flowers in our respective fields. A million times
a day, we wage war against occupational inertia and unrequited
goals. A good shuffling of the deck tends to reward
meritocracy and punish the status quo.
Recruiters turn dreams into reality and
ideas into action. We help narrow the distance between the
drawing board and the production line, between research and
development, and between proof-of-concept and corporate
profitability.
Economic
Patriotism
Not long ago, a recruiter called to cry on
my shoulder. “I work really hard,” she said. “And I get so
little recognition in return!”
“That goes with the territory,” I said.
“But never forget: your work is extremely important.
“Every time you make a placement, a
candidate becomes happier and more productive. A family’s
economic situation improves. An employer becomes more
competitive in the global economy. And ultimately, your
success—and the success of your many clients—makes us all a
little stronger.
“So go ahead,” I said. “Hold your head
high. Take pride in your role as a recruiter, and for your
service to our country.”
And in the blink of an eye, the crying
stopped as her love of job and country were
joined.
Happy Independence Day,
everyone
Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover card accepted.