McDonalds CEO Shares Blunt Career Advice

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Own your actions, choices and career. We all have an example of an under performing or undeserving person who was given a job or a promotion. You may even be that person now wondering why did my career vanish when things got tough and you crumbled under the pressure, or when you just didn't meet performance expectations. While the practice of performance metrics is considered unfair/unjust by some, there are actually many folks who support an approach of favoring the 'mediocre or unqualified' as justice for alleged 'discrimination' in the past or a call to communal living.

A couple of thoughts for consideration. First per the CEO's comments, to depend on someone's favor, good will, or ideology to protect/boost your career is risky and a weak approach to managing your career. You know what I'm talking about don't you? The backstabbing, conniving, scheming, undermining, cliquishness, sucking up, sneakiness, deceptiveness, lying that is hurtful to others more deserving but may be rewarding to the perpetuator In the near term. Unfortunately this slimy approach will corrode your conscious if you have one and Is unacceptable if you are walking with God. To be clear, this approach is not to be confused with a positive collaborative business approach where everyone's best interest is the goal and is served. Remember, no one cares about your career more than you do so own it. There will likely be situations where knowing the right person improves or protects your career track, but hard work and consistent excellent performance (being one of the best) will truly propel your career. Also be aware that being connected to the 'right person' may turn out to be a liability if he/she leaves the organization or their agenda changes.

Second, thinking that 'rewarding' a person for mediocre performance or for failing to meet expectations in order not to offend or demoralize them is psychological hocus pocus. The person may be temporarily uplifted, but more failure and disappointment is likely in their future due to their confused motivation and lack of skill...not to mention the demoralizing impact on co-workers and teammates which must be considered. Let's take a football team for example even though all sports, business, arts, and academic fields could be used as an example. All the players on team A practice and work hard. A few of the players simply have bodies developed for football, are faster, have more natural gifts/talent, possess football intelligence, AND believe it or not WORK harder In practice. They would be deemed ' real starters.' BUT, on game day, the coach (authority to make all playing decisions - choices Impacting others) decides to allow players on his team who are just mediocre performers and/or who have little to no game experience to start the game against the other team (B) who has all their best (earned their position) players starting (Hmmmm maybe his choice was made to appease others who simply hated his authority or doubted his knowledge/experience or just couldn't accept that mediocre/failure wasn't rewarded but whatever). To be clear, other than a one off situation where a disabled child Is allowed to run a play In the middle of a live football game (orchestrated by everyone on and off the field) in order to acknowledge the child and lift up everyone's spirit, there will be significant consequences to the coach's choice in this very competitive, want to win (winning is the point...not just playing the game) situation:

1. The un-deserving players who will now be starting the game will be surprised with most of them knowing they shouldn't be displacing the real starters (oh a couple of them might say I actually 'deserve' to start since I have been under valued in some way - victim mentality). Some will be fearful of the challenge and the potential failure. Some will do the best they can do but fail. A couple may meet the challenge in the moment and have limited success in the game. Pain and a crushing defeat by team B may build character for some of the individuals on team A but the TEAM loses when they could have been competitive and possibly won the game. For most, this will be a negative memory not a positive one. Some will use the experience to motivate themselves to do their best and deal with the challenges life brings BUT some will blame others for their failure and struggle to recover (victim mindset).

2. The 'real starters' will be disappointed in the choice with some managing the disappointment better than others. Initially there may be anger, but as team players they will initially support the coach's choice. They will encourage the other players even though they are aware of the pain and the likely beating coming their way. The 'real' starters become dismayed and more discouraged when the coach doesn't put them in the game in the face of the players on the field failing miserably. Instead the coach doubles down, justifying and covering for the un-deserving players lack of experience, lack of knowledge, and poor decision making in order to not offend them and their supporters. Instead of admitting fault, the coach blames those challenging his decisions by calling them privileged and self-serving.

   
   

The takeaway from the second part of this post is don't look for handouts or try to figure out the easy road to success. Earn your way into a job or promotion. Everyone is NOT created to be a 'real starter', but everyone can still be a valued contributor. Work hard and go the extra mile for your customer, boss or company. Be committed, disciplined, and accountable. This approach is more likely to provide personal and financial dividends.

Please consider the following - business practices that ARE NOT merit/performance based may appear to embrace diversity and be more Inclusive but in reality these practices are nothing more than a wolf in sheep's clothing with the wolf being socialism/communism. The subtle goal of ANTI merit/performance based principles is to appease and appeal to the middle class/working class/poor people with promises of fairness, affordability, free necessities, sharing the wealth, promotions, and the warmth of collectiveness. Quite an enticing offering don't you think? Well...in a few years time the population will wake up one day realizing they are trapped in a minimally subsistent, mundane, no frills life with no opportunity to change their status while elites lord over them. As a reference, you are encouraged to please check out the history of all the socialist/communist countries around the globe.