"Out Of Work and Homeless Again". . .

A story of reconciliation for the "sleepy"...

It was just another Sunday morning
when i was invited to visit
a local subsidiary of LifeBlood Inc.

Now understand...
LifeBlood Inc.
Isn't just about "Work or a Job"...
It’s About "Relationships"...
Family... A Home...

i've been involved with LifeBlood for 25 years
as a volunteer and i was even unfortunate
to have had held a paid staff position...

But to be honest...
i wasn’t really looking for a position
or even to be involved again...
i felt "The Company" had become totally ineffective
in the training of its people and reaching new markets
But my friend said this "one" was "different"...

There was talk of change
so this talk of change interested me...

"First Impressions". . .

my first impressions were like all visits
to LifeBlood Inc.
The friendly "workers" were very Accepting and Loving.
They obediently did their part as they were trained.

Now the "manager" seemed to be struggling
and was refreshingly honest in sharing
that he was burned out
and tired of just going through the motions
of "putting on a show"...

"So Far So Good". . .

The "manager" was talented, honest
and had worked hard to establish his position.
He was respected and had gotten a reputation
as a "rebel"...
a mover... a shaker...

Every subsequent visit
The "manager" continued to confess he was struggling
and wanted to change how things were done
though he would say he didn’t know what
or how to do it...

Not long after my first visit
A "manager" from an "out of state" division of LifeBlood
came out to spend a week to give a workshop
and cast a "Vision For Change"...
He even called for "Revolution"...

One night He even modeled "something different"...
Granted... the model has been used for 10 years...
It was still was "very different" for our area...

So Far... So Really Good...
i was Hooked...

"Talk Of Change... The Plot Deepens". . .

Because of our talent, ideas, support
and willingness to volunteer...
my friend and i were offered "positions"
with the Chicago division...

Celebration Programmers and Marketing Development...

Now like i had said earlier...
i personally wasn’t looking for a position
But these were very generous offers
with great responsibilities....

First...
The Owner of LifeBlood’s whole Vision
for The Company was developed
around Celebrating LifeBlood...
The Owner...
and The Power of the Company...

Second...
Training and Developing the Workers
to be "Co-Owners of The Company"...

And Third...
Developing Marketing Strategies
to recruit "New Workers"...
"New Family Members"...

So my friend and i started to work
and to develop the friendships
that are necessary for building the teams
to bring about "The Change"...

"More Talk Of Revolution... The Plot Deepens Again". . .

A working relationship between
The manager, his assistant,
the board of directors
and my friend and i began to develop...
It became apparent that there still was no vision,
hence no direction for this Division of LifeBlood...

As the "manager and his assistant"
were searching to find "who they were"...
And figuring how to reconnect with
The "Owners Vision"...
Minds and direction changed weekly...

Talking with the "board members"...
i soon realized they were
loyal to the "manager"...
But were not committed to
The "Change or Growth of The Company"...
In fact...
The "board" confessed
they were "afraid" of Change and Growth...

i would be the first to say
this was frustrating for me...

i Love to talk...
But it's a waste without action of some kind...

So i resigned my "position" in the hope
that by withdrawing "my ideas" for change,
it would make it easier
for the "manager" and my friend to choose a direction.

Because i believed at this point,
Any change is good change...
i offered to help in any way...

As the months progressed
many of us continued to talk of
"Change and Revolution"...

Then a bizarre turn of events...
The "manager" had begun to publicly rebuke and humiliate
The workers and my friend for not
"Celebrating" correctly
and decided to take back sole leadership...

Needless to say...
my friend,
who was talented, dependable and loyal,
was crushed by this...

As you can imagine...
When people are commited to
"The Owner and The Company"
and begin to "Cast A Vision For Change"
Friendships and Teams begin to form...
When something like this happens
"workers/friends" will talk about it
and what can be done...

"Talk...Talk...Talk...No Action Just A Reaction"...

Now the "manager" finds out about
the "workers/friends" meeting together and talking
and even though much of the talk is still about
"The Vision Of Change and Revolution"
"some" of the talk is "critical" of the "manager"
and the constant change of direction...

So what does he do ???

The "manager" calls a meeting
and using a part of "The Manual"
About being "divisive"...
Brings my friend, his assistant and myself
before the board
and asks us to leave... "The Company"...
A "gag order" was even put in place...

"End Of Story??? i Don’t Think So". . .

This happens between
LifeBlood’s managers and workers often...

Instead of serving "The Company and The Owner"
Many "managers" use "The Manual" to promote their agendas
and shirk responsibility and accountability...

Many prefer and often choose
"yes men" as council or board members...

Loyalty over Truth Telling
is desired by many leaders...
EveryOne knows...
Leaders Can't Make Mistakes...
If they do... Just forgive and follow anyway...

"A Word About Division". . .

Division in context...
The division referred to in "The Manual"
concerns workers "following" managers
and not "The Owner of LifeBlood"...

A "divisive person" is one who
tries to get workers to follow
The "Rules of The Manual"...
instead of
Following "The Owner/Leader"
in "Absolute Freedom"...

So...
i’ve been fishin’ with "The Owner"
in order to see if "HE" would like
some of us to start a "New Company"
Or
Keep trying to bring the "Old One"
Together...

HE said...
"Business ain't over till we Come Together"...

"Revolution Is Funny...
What Do You Think" ? ? ?

And Yes... "The Boss" Loves The Beatles...
He Inspired Much Of Their Music...

And the Chicago LifeBlood Inc ???

Last i heard...
The "show" must go on... ;>)