The Pursuit of Happiness at Work Place

Abstract

Happiness is perhaps one of the most important concerns for humans since we have been living in this planet. In order to achieve this existential goal, humans have created religions, gods, philosophies and activities that can bring meaning to our existence with the main purpose of being happy. This paper examines happiness from the eyes of different authors from different cultures and backgrounds. The different 'faces' of happiness - unhappiness in organizational research: Wright, Larwood and Denney (2002) come up to the topic from the job performance perspective and give interesting findings regarding happiness and job satisfaction. From the other side, Sources of happiness: A qualitative approach by Luo and Jian, (1997) explain the top nine sources of happiness in a heterogeneous group in China. Luo and Jian show differences and similarities of happiness between east and west.  The pursuit of happiness at work place is a shared goal of companies and employees and it is challenge for this century.

Keywords: happiness, work, job satisfaction

 

Introduction

Happiness is considered the most important goal for humans. Since capitalism has risen as the dominant doctrine in the world, people spend most of their time at work. Seeking happiness should no longer be an isolated activity from the rest of human activities. The pursuit of happiness at work place is perhaps the most important challenge for companies and employees to find self-actualization. This paper gives a brief overview of the relation between happiness and job satisfaction. 

Different cultures around the world have different views of the concept happiness. For western cultures happiness is an individual duty, for people in the east, happiness has more to do with collectivism. Happiness and human needs evolve and our purpose is to meet those needs in order to obtain satisfaction and thus obtain happiness.

 

Pursuing Happiness at Work Place

Happiness is perhaps the most important goal for human beings. The pursuit of happiness is more than an inalienable right written in the declaration of Independence; it is the only reason that gives meaning to our existence. Kerfoot (2012) say that “It should be intuitive that happy people produce better results than unhappy people” However data show that people are not happy at work Kerfoot (2012). We spend more than eight hours a day at work. Looking for happiness should not be an activity that people develop after working hours. I consider that happiness should not be reduced to family and personal life; it should be an integral part of every human being. The great challenge to corporations in this century is to contribute to this purpose. Corporations are composed by people and people are the most important asset for them. Happy people are more productive and engaged to their goals Kerfoot (2012). The objective of this paper is to give corporations important key points to increase people’s happiness and contribute to human development.

Job satisfaction and happiness are related each other, the more people are satisfied with their job the more happy they are with their lives. Akhtar, (2010) introduced various point of view of happiness, For example for Freud  "what we call happiness  in the strictest sense comes from the (preferably sudden)satisfaction  of needs which have been damned up to a high degree, and it is from its nature only possible as an episodic phenomenon". For Helene Deutsch “Happiness is an endogenous, narcissistically determined ego-feeling; it materializes when the boundaries of the ego have been expanded by the establishment of unity between ego and the world as a result of object cathexis, sublimation, or the attainment of unity in the ego itself. (p. 721)”. 

Akhtar, (2010) consider that happiness seems to be comprised of four types of experiences: (a) pleasure, (b) joy, (c) ecstasy, and (d) contentment. These experiences have the potential to occur at the same time. Based on these experiences, this paper will focus on these experiences and the way to develop them in the work place. Psychology, religion, family are sources that have contributed to human happiness. Corporations have done very little in the pursuit of happiness. A good salary is very important, but it is only a part of job satisfaction. Reducing job satisfaction to the payment of a salary is reducing happiness to a simple economic transaction. It seems that this has been the corporate view of many companies in the world and that is one of the reasons why people are not satisfied at work. Kerfoot, (2012).

The four experiences of happiness mentioned before are the starting point for corporations and employees to develop a common agenda in order to increase happiness at work place. Next two articles have contributed to this common purpose.

The different 'faces' of happiness - unhappiness in organizational research: Emotional exhaustion, positive affectivity, negative affectivity, and psychological well-being by Wright, Larwood and Denney (2002) 

Researchers examined emotional exhaustion, positive affectively negatively affectivity and psychological well-being with happiness/unhappiness in organizational environments. For this study, the authors have formulated four hypotheses:

Hypothesis 1: Emotional exhaustion will be negatively related to job performance.

Hypothesis 2(a): Positive affectivity will be positively related to job performance.

Hypothesis 2(b): Negative affectivity will be negatively related to job performance.

Hypothesis 3: Psychological well-being will be positively related to job performance.

Emotional Exhaustion refers to the state of physical and emotional depletion that occurs from excessive job demands and continuous stress it describes a feeling of being emotionally overextended and exhausted by one's work. Positive Affectivity is “the disposition to experience positive feelings” Wright, Larwood  & Denney (2002). Negative Affectivity is is “the disposition to experience negative feelings” and Psychological well-being “people's emotional and cognitive evaluations of their lives, includes what lay people call happiness, peace, fulfillment, and life satisfaction .” Diener, Oishi and Lucas (2002).

The researches’ method used in this study was to investigate the role of emotional exhaustion, positive affectivity, negative affectivity, and psychological well-being and how they correlate of job performance. The researchers asked 90 employees from private and public companies in western United States.

Data showed the following results: for Hypothesis 1 a negative relation between emotional exhaustion and job performance. This prediction was not supported.  Hypothesis 2, neither positive nor negative affectivity were related to job performance. Hypothesis 3 proposed that psychological well-being was positively related to job performance. This prediction was supported; psychological well-being was related to job performance.

This study gives corporations important arguments to confirm that psychological well-being is very important for them to achieve better performance. I consider that corporations should focus on this aspect in order to improve job satisfaction and corporate results.

Thomas A. Wright is a Professor of Organizational Behavior at the University of Nevada, Reno. He received his Ph.D. in organizational behavior and industrial relations from the University of California, Berkeley. Professor Wright's research has focused on business ethics, employee commitment in organizations, turnover, job burnout, affect and emotion, creativity, whistle-blowing and the role of time in organizational research. http://www.unr.edu

Sources of happiness: A qualitative approach by Luo and Jian, (1997).

The authors of the study conducted a qualitative research where they wanted to study the top nine categories of happiness among 180 reported sources. The sources were They were (a) gratification of need for respect, (b) harmony of interpersonal relationships, (c) satisfaction of material needs, (d) achievement at work, (e) being at ease with life, (f) taking pleasure at others' expense, (g) sense of self-control and self-actualization, (h) pleasure and positive affect, and (i) health. Luo, Jian, (1997). 

Perceived sources of happiness differ between west and east. Western conception of happiness emphasizes on intrapersonal or internal evaluation and contentment, whereas the Chinese conception of happiness focuses on interpersonal or external evaluation and satisfaction. Luo, Jian, (1997).  

When the authors ask themselves the question what is meant by happiness? They say that most people answer  two states of happiness: experiencing a positive emotional state or being satisfied with life. They also cite Andrews and Wthey (1978) that happiness has three components a) positive emotion, (b) life satisfaction, and (c) the absence of negative emotions or psychological distress. Ryff (1989) added a new important component to the three already mentioned and that is the purpose in life and personal growth. 

The method used by researchers was a qualitative research. They interviewed 54 community residents of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. A sample of adults between the ages of 18 and 60 was taken. The sample consisted of 26 persons aged 18-29 (48.1%), 16 persons aged 30-39 (29.6%), 12 persons aged 40-49 (22.2%), and 10 persons aged 50-59 (18.5%). The questions asked to the sample were What is happiness?" and (b) "What sort of things will make you happy?" No time limit was set” Luo, Jian, (1997).

Conclusion of the study showed that Chinese and the Western conceptions of happiness do have some similarities, such as pleasure and positive affect The conception of happiness as harmony in interpersonal relationships conveys a desire for solidarity and loyalty, especially within the family or clan. Satisfaction of material needs and achievement at work are two means of serving one's family and glorifying one's clan. Luo, Jian, (1997).

According to this statement, people and corporations should have a different approach to the topic depending where they are located.

Luo Lu is a professor of the National Taiwan University her research topics include Organizational behavior, human resources management, occupational health management/ stress management, culture and self-subjective well-being newweb.mangement.nyu.edu.

The different 'faces' of happiness - unhappiness in organizational research: Wright, Larwood and Denney (2002) 

First article written by Wright, Larwood and Denney (2202) about the different “faces” of happiness, used a non-probability sampling procedure. The method used by the researchers was the convenience one. One of the researchers asked mental health case workers (N=90). The employees worked at a public sector agency located in the western United States.  From 90 people he interviewed, he received actual data from 66 employees (73% rate of response). All respondents were employees of the same department and had similar responsibilities. The mean age was 47 years and the mean tenure was 17.7 years. Wright, Larwood and Denney (2002). The authors selected this sampling procedure because; these employees had available measured information about emotional exhaustion, positive affectivity, negative affectivity, psychological well-being and job performance. This characteristic was mandatory for the researchers to proceed with the correlations they wanted to research. About the validity of the procedure, the authors chose measures scales performed and validated by previous researches.

The researchers identified four dependent variables emotional exhaustion, positive affectivity, negative affectivity, psychological well-being and one independent variable, job performance. Basically, the researchers used previous researches about these topics and connected them with job performance. One important thing about validity is that the authors used previous tested and validated measures and scales in order to reduce validity threats.

Sources of happiness: A qualitative approach by Luo and Jian, (1997).

The researchers chose a heterogeneous sample from Kaohsiung, Taiwan. A total of 54 people were interviewed. Adults between 18 and 60 years were chosen for this study. I think the researchers decided to use a long range of ages, gender and social and cultural status, because they wanted to see if there were a relation about happiness and these demographic and cultural factors. The method used is non-probability procedure and the selected method is convenience, they interviewed randomly volunteers of the city. 

Like the first article, the authors relied on previous researches categorized as reliable and valid. Internal validity is supported by previous studies of well-known authors from east and west. External threats are also reduced by using these previous researches and randomly selection of the people who were interviewed.

The researchers have selected the Oxford Happiness Inventory (1989) which is a valid and reliable study accepted by the community. Based on this study, the researcher narrowed the sources of happiness to the top nine. In this qualitative study, the authors identified the following variables What is meant by happiness in traditional Chinese culture and how can happiness be achieved, Luo and Jian, (1997). At the end, what the authors wanted to see and compare are the differences and similarities of happiness between east and west.

The different 'faces' of happiness - unhappiness in organizational research: by Wright, Larwood and Denney (2002) used a non-probability sampling procedure, the method selected was convenience. The survey was conducted by 66 employees whose data about the topic of research were already measured and available and I think that is maybe the main reason researchers have decided to choose this type of design. Authors defined “a sample size of at least 40 is required to detect a squared correlation of .25 with power equal to .75 and alpha equal to .05. Thus, the obtained sample size of 41 used in the regression analysis is adequate for testing the relations investigated in this field research.” Wright, Larwood and Denney (2002).

Sources of happiness: A qualitative approach By Luo and Jian (1997) performed a simple  probabilistic procedure and the method was simple. The decided for this approach in order to obtain a well-diversified heterogeneous sample. “previous research has indicated that sources of happiness may be heavily influenced by the individual's lifestyle or age group” Luo and Jian (1997).

Predictors of Job Satisfaction among Emerging Adults in Alberta, Canada by Nurullah (2010)  explores the aspect of satisfaction with jobs and career, and the predictors of job satisfaction among the emerging adults in Alberta. Data were obtained in 1030 adults in the region Alberta, Canada using a cluster sampling technique. The question the study wants to answer is what job satisfaction for emerging adults in Alberta is. The research considers the following job predictors which are self-esteem, happiness, work-reward preferences, valued job characteristics, income, education, occupational categories, and other demographic variables.

“The findings indicate that self-esteem and valued job characteristics are direct and strongest predictors of job satisfaction among the emerging adults. In addition, happiness and income positively predicts job satisfaction. The variable 'work-reward preferences' does not directly predict job satisfaction, but is rather mediated through self-esteem and valued job characteristics.”  Nurullah (2010). This study reveals that in fact job satisfaction is positive correlated to job satisfaction, which leads me to conclude that happiness at work place should be focused to satisfy self-esteem and self-realization.

Abu Sadat Nurullah is a PhD Student at Alberta University in Canada his topics of interest include Sociology of Health & Well-being Alcohol & drugs; Social Problems; New Media & Society; Cybersociology; Sociology of Religion; Culture & Identity.

Folk Theories of Happiness: A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Conceptions of Happiness in Germany and South Africa by Jan Pflug (2008) makes a comparison between students from Germany and South Africa about this fundamental and simple question “What is happiness to you?” The researcher selected 57 German students and 44 black South African students. The data were collected in free format essays. Researchers found that satisfaction, contentment, positive affect, social relationship, freedom and the opposite of unhappiness were the main topics described by the students in their writings. South African students associated happiness with collectivism while Germans associated with individualism. However, strong culture-specific factors, such as the influence of philosophical traditions, material living circumstances and linguistic influences, were also found. Jan Pflug (2008).

This study gives good evidence that happiness has sociological and cultural influences on everybody’s opinion and idea of being happy. It is also important to consider these factors in job satisfaction and globalized corporations with people from different cultures and backgrounds. 

Conclusion

The topic of happiness will always be controversial and will always have different approaches and points of views depending on the origin, background, education, wealth, social position etc. What these articles have brought is that happiness at work place is related to job satisfaction. To obtain job satisfaction people need big doses of self-esteem, because happiness is not a constant state of human behavior. Happiness is a hard goal that needs to be achieved by every single person with its given resources. It is our responsibility to be coherent with our thinking, speaking and doing in order to be happy. Companies and employees should be aware that not every company meets their needs and not every employee meet companies’ needs. Under this fair and freely binding agreement should work companies and employees in order to transform work places into happier life’s plans.

References

Akhtar, S. (2010). Happiness: Origins, forms, and technical relevance. American Journal of Psychoanalysis, 70(3), 219-44. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/ajp.2010.13

Diener, E., Oishi, S., & Lucas, R. E. (2003). Personality, culture, and subjective well-being: Emotional and cognitive evaluations of life. Annual Review of Psychology, 54, 403-25. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/205753091?accountid=33575

Kerfoot, K.M. (2012). The pusuit of happiness science, and effective staffing: The leader’s challenge . Nursing Economics, 30 (5), 305-6, 260. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/1112217893?accountid=48385

Luo, L., & Jian, B. S. (1997). Sources of happiness: A qualitative approach. The Journal of Social Psychology, 137(2), 181-187. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/199809079?accountid=33575

Nurullah, A. S. (2010). Predictors of job satisfaction among emerging adults in alberta, canada. International Journal of Business and Management, 5(3), 3-15. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/821542963?accountid=33575

Pflug, J. (2009). Folk theories of happiness: A cross-cultural comparison of conceptions of happiness in germany and south africa. Social Indicators Research, 92(3), 551-563. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11205-008-9306-8

Wright, T. A. (2006). The emergence of job satisfaction in organizational behavior. Journal of Management History, 12(3), 262-277. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/17511340610670179

Wright, T. A., Larwood, L., & Denney, P. J. (2002). The different 'faces' of happiness - unhappiness in organizational research: Emotional exhaustion, positive affectivity, negative affectivity, and psychological.. Journal of Business and Management, 8(2), 109-126. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/211508979?accountid=33575

Ethics in an Evil System

During this eight weeks journey I have learnt a lot of US Bank history, regulations, the role of the state and The Federal Government and how banks and government are so close related. Money, as one of the most important factor in our daily lives and Banks as the most important intermediaries of money supply, need to be and must be highly regulated and controlled. The direct access banks have to money and the temptations that are implied need people with strong ethical principles and behaviors. I also have learnt the dark side of the coin; the Madoff case was an excellent opportunity to observe how greed turns an intelligent competent person into a criminal.

I can split this course in two big blocks: a technical and an ethical one. In the technical I have learnt the most important regulations that rule bank industry in the United States. As an international student, this information was new to me and it caught my attention from the beginning, because of the differences with our system in Colombia. All banks in my country are national chartered and all control agencies are national as well among other differences.  

Something that arise my attention is bank failures and Ponzi schemes in the US and in my country. We have had several bank failures in the 20^th century and the responsible of those failures left the country without a penalty. In 2008 like in the US we had the biggest Ponzi scheme DMG (David Murcia Guzmán) a Madoff similar case which fooled people during six years. He was a blue collar worker without a college degree. The man would have continued his Ponzi scheme if he would have not fought with the sons of the President of Colombia.  This case was another shame of Colombian justice. At the end the guy was sent to the US convicted of money laundry. A lot of politicians, drug dealers and common people were involved in the fraud. One of the reasons why he was extradited to the US was to shut him up and diminish the consequences of the politicians who were involved. With this example I just want to point out that no matter the nationality or background there will be always people thirsty for money.

One of deepest reflections during this course is that banks are legalized and controlled Ponzi schemes. If we, as depositors all around the world decide to withdraw just half of our money, banks would not be able to pay and they would collapse.  In order to keep monetary system rolling and working, it was necessary to keep this industry under strong and regulated controls in a way that all borrowers always have the feeling of trust and never withdraw their money. This leads me to the following question, how can we have trust in a system that by definition is not fair? (I mean, it is clearly a regulated Ponzi scheme for the benefit of a few people). One of the reasons people involved in banking always do incorrect things is because they know the business is evil and they do not care because easy money will be always a corruption factor in today’s society.

Trust is based in a two ways directions relationship and both sides must be fair and clean. The challenge for the future is to answer the question: how can we have trust in a system that by definition is not fair?  and build a new sustainable model, more balanced and honest for the people. I have said in the discussions and in my papers: “A man has to do what a man has to do” I am 36 years old and I know what is right and what is not. So Let ‘s do the right thing.

La Capilla del Sagrario

“La Capilla del Sagrario”, The Shrine Chapel

Art history in west civilization came to the new world at the beginning of the end of the gothic period and the beginning of the renaissance. In those times Spain was still living in the dark ages of inquisition and the new ideas and style of the renaissance came late to this country. When the Spanish came to South America and begun the evangelization of the natives, they put all the efforts and resources to expand the catholic faith in the new world. In spite of there was not a genuine renaissance movement in America, we had developed an American baroque with natives elements in architecture. A lot of churches were built during 1600 and 1700. A very important and beautiful was the Capilla del Sagrario, a small chapel located in Bogotá in the Bolivar   Square. In the next paragraphs I am going to present this iconic building of the Bogotan society. The chapel does not only reflect the history of our country, but it is a mix of styles and an important religious center. If someone comes to Bogotá this church must be a destination.

I have chosen La Capilla del Sagrario, one of the oldest churches in Bogotá, Colombia. This church is a vivid example of what it is called the Neo Grenadine Baroque. The Chapel is located at the west side of the Plaza de Bolívar in downtown  Bogotá. (see pictures 1, 2) Its construction begun in 1658 and it was finished after 40 years. The name of the architect was Alvaro Saenz Camacho. The building like many of the artistic manifestations in Colombia is a mix of styles, which combines the European baroque with the Spanish colonial style and natives elements. The Façade is made of stone with high relief and a big door in form of Romanesque arch.  The Chapel is a Roman Catholic temple and it is still used. The form of the chapel is a Latin cross (see Picture 3, 4) and has a dome in exactly above the cross of the nave and the transept. The floor is made of marble and the walls are decorated by paintings of the famous New Grenadine painter Gregorio Vasquez de Arce y Ceballos. (see picture 5) In this last picture we can see the form of a Latin cross and the dome in the middle. [i]

According to Sanz de Santamaría, 1968, priest and guide of the Chapel: The Temple of one nave and two transepts  has the widest light built in cover pair and knuckle in Bogota: 14 castellan yards (12.18 m). Such cover is hidden by a ceiling built at the end of the last century, which completely distorts the interior of the Church. Externally, the Church lost the original main façade and currently has a recent Tower. The adjacent cloister was built in two stages. Its ground floor has semicircular arches cantered on the usual columns in the era of Santa Fe (old name of Bogotá during colonialism), called doric-toscanas. This type of structural support was so commonly used in the interior of New Granada, which constitutes a typological constant.(see Picture 6) However, the upper floor of the cloister was made with broad buttresses and wooden lintels, resulting in an abnormal set in which a light arches holding a heavy high floor.[ii]

Ibañez (1854-1919) in his chronicles of Bogotá, described the Capilla del Sagrario as follows:  

“The temple is of stone, consists of a nave and two side chapels Latin cross-shaped; It has elegant façade of Doric order, portico plateresque ornamentation carved in stone, it reveals the advancement of the art of the stonemasons in those years; on well tooled columns bears the coat of arms of Spain, one of the few which were not destroyed a century ago, in 1813, when Nariño declared absolute independence of the country. A round window gives light to the choir, and crowned the façade, on wide cornice, two cattails that play the role of the Tower, and  reveal free space between them including the elegant Orange Middle Temple, built by the Bogotan architect Nicolás León. This beautiful cover contributes to severity and beauty to the East side of la Plaza de Bolívar. On the door read, in letters of gold, these inscriptions”[iii]

“SERVIR A DIOS     REINAR ES” SERVING GOD IS REIGNING

“HONOR Y GLORIA SOLO A DIOS”  HONOR AND GLORY ONLY GOD

Although it has been difficult to find electronic information about this beautiful architectonic monument, it has been a challenge to search printed books and talk with people about this iconic church that has the past of colony with strong catholic beliefs and then the transformation from a colony into an independent nation. This Church like in many European countries represents the spirit of a people and has been a witness of the most important events of my city and my country. It does not only represent the faith of people, it represents us and it is a treasure that needs to be preserved.

The more I have studied and researched this beautiful architectural masterpiece of the pre-republican times, the more I have found treasures of our past. Like St. Peter´s Basilica and other important churches in Europe, La Capilla del Sagrario is a masterpiece in which so many artists had contributed.[iv] Alvaro Saenz Camacho was the architect of the temple, Nicolás León designed the dome, its interior is adorned by the paintings of the famous painter Gregorio Vasquez de Arce y Ceballos and the baldachin was built by Miguel de Acuña.[v]( see Picture 6,7)

Talking about the Capilla del Sagrario without taking into consideration the history of our country is impossible. At the corner where the Chapel is located and close to the cathedral, is the famous “casa del Florero” (House of the Vase). The Chapel was witness of these events of the 20^th of July 1810 and the proclamation of our independence. This day was the beginning of what later (it would) become the revolution of our independence. The last battle against the Spanish regime was the battle of Boyacá, the 7^th of august of 1819. This battle was the final confrontation between the New Grenada Kingdom (Today´s Colombia) and the Spanish Crown. In order to commemorate the victory over the Spanish army, a mess was celebrated in the Capilla del Sagrario, as Sanz de Santamaría (1968) related in his guide of the Chapel.

Many of our important events of our recent republican history have occurred in the place where the Chapel is located. Just to mention the most recent. Just a few blocks from the Chapel a famous politician Jorge Eliecer Gaitán was shot the 9^th of April 1948. (There still gunshot in the façade of the Chapel). In 1989 the M19, a guerrilla group took the palace of justice which is located in the north side of the Bolivar Square. The Bolivar square is the heart of the city. It is the iconic place for Colombian people to do demonstrations or celebrate. The square is the place where cultural acts happen and it is also the place for people to go and pray the Lord.

The Chapel of Sagrario is just an old church for the majority of the people in Bogotá. Thanks to the research and the analysis I have made, this little chapel is not just an old building, it represents the spirit of many artists and devote believers that put their best to build a beautiful building that reflects the passion and the mix of cultures of the people of my city.

List of References

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[i] Ortega Ricaurte, Carmen, (1926), Diccionario de Artistas en Colombia

[ii]  Sanz de Santamaría. (1968). Guía de la Capilla del Sagrario de Bogotá, pp. 6.

[iii] Ibáñez, Pedro María, (1854-1919);  Crónica de Bogotá, Chapter XV, Retrived from http://www.banrepcultural.org/blaavirtual/historia/crbogota/14.htm

[iv] Roberto Pizano (1926): "Gregorio Vásquez de Arce y Ceballos". Camilo Bloch, Editor, París,. Roberto Pizano Restrepo - Pablo Argáez Valenzuela: "Catálogo de las Pinturas de Gregorio Vásquez de Arce y Ceballos". Camilo Bloch, Editor

[v] Acuaña, Luis Alberto (1964), Diccionario biográfico de artistas que trabajaron en el Nuevo Reino de Granada. Ediciones del Instituto Colombiano de Cultura. Bogotá

Sobre las tareas a los niños

Cuando tenía la edad de ir al jardín me acuerdo perfectamente que iba con mi tío de mi misma edad desde las 12 del medio hasta las 4 de la tarde en la escuela 28 de febrero en la ciudad de Cúcuta. En aquella época ir al jardín infantil era una experiencia divertida y relajada. Para empezar no teníamos que pegarnos esos madrugones a las 5 ó 6 de la mañana como los niños de nuestros tiempos. Al jardín nos íbamos caminando, saltando y corriendo y la preocupación más grande era no ensuciar el uniforme ni llenar de tierra los zapatos. Los niños de hoy, a parte de que salen de noche de la casa, medio dormidos y con un frío tremendo se enfrentan desde ya al tráfico y a la contaminación.  Si todavía no han llegado al jardín y todo lo que ha pasado en la vida del pobre infante.

Yo me acuerdo que sólo iba a colorear, plastilina, juegos, cantos, recreo, siesta y molestar con mi tío y los demás. Cuando nos recogían a eso de las cuatro, llegábamos a la casa a ver tele y luego a jugar en la calle con el resto. Nunca supe sobre las tareas en esa época.  Los de ahora, si claro hacen plastilina y colorean, pero además ya les están enseñando a sumar, multiplicar les dejan un montón de tareas que nunca quieren ni pueden hacer. Al final son los padres quienes terminan haciendo las maquetas de la fundación de la ciudad, los recortes, la escarcha, la acuarela, el tejido en palillos y cuanta cosa se les ocurre en los colegios. Los padres además de un día de trabajo en vez de llegar a hablar y consentir a los pequeños se encuentran con que tienen que salir de urgencia a comprar materiales para las tareas y bueno esas es otra historia.

 Yo me pregunto, ¿Qué no vamos a tener toda una vida llena de tareas y responsabilidades? Yo me resisto a este tipo de educación a tan temprana edad.¿ Al final para que aprender tanto desde tan niños? ¿ para que perder el tiempo en estupideces que a tan corta edad no le aportan nada al niño, en cambio generan stress y carga emocional?. La verdad invito a los que son padres de niños de jardín a que en vez de hacer las tareas, se pongan a jugar con ellos, les cuenten una historia, los abracen, los mimen, les digan los mucho que los quieren y sobre todo, les enseñen que  por saber o conocer más no van a ser más felices. Esos dos a tres añitos que dura el jardín no los harán más genios o más sabios por la cantidad de tareas que hagan con ustedes, pero si los hará más felices cuando pase el tiempo y ese quizás sea el único recuerdo feliz de una existencia que cada día se pondrá más complicada y con menos tiempo para expresar lo que sentimos de una manera tan fresca y limpia. Para los niños el futuro es hoy y no mañana. No se lo dañemos tan temprano

Para triunfar en la vida y en los negocios

  (tomado de Alfonso Rosales, viejo mamador de gallo, querido y sabio)

Debe ser o aparentar porcentualmente los siguientes puntos.

1.       Gozar de buen humor                    15%

2.       Fluidez verbal                                15%       

3.       Permanente hipocresía                   15%

4.       Saber dar bueno consejos              10%

5.       Ser muy cumplido en todo              10%       

6.       Con disimulo ofrecer y no cumplir   10%

7.       Usar cara triste en ocasiones            5%

8.       Usar cara alegre en ocasiones          5%

9.       No demostrar ambición                    5%

10.   Saludar con alegría                           5%

11.   Despedirse con cariño                      5%

Cumpliendo estos porcentajes es muy posible que triunfes en la vida y en los negocios

Presión

Presión.



Hoy quiero referirme a este punto porque realmente muy pocos conocemos el verdadero significado de este término. Métale presión, ejércela presión, presiónelo. Todos estas expresiones son muy buenas y funcionan rebien cuando lo hacemos con animales o metemos la carne en la olla a presión. Las locomotoras funcionan excelentes con buena presión.

De un tiempo para acá existe una idea de management y que hasta aparece en los perfiles de búsqueda de candidatos de muchas empresas. Palabras más o menos publican lo siguiente “debe trabajar bajo presión”. A mi lo único que me provoca este requerimiento es una profunda risa que se confunde con un deseo inmenso de mandar al carajo el más absurdo y estúpido de los requerimientos para un perfil de cargo de alto ejecutivo. ¿Qué es esa vaina de trabajar bajo presión? ¿Será que es aguantarse al jefe al jefe y a los clientes cuando no tienen la razón, trabajar más de 10 horas al día, sacrificar el tiempo de la familia por el de la empresa? ¿Que carajos es trabajar bajo presión? Si una cabeza con presión lo único que puede producir es un dolor de cabeza que no me va dejar pensar ni razonar y con mucha suerte podré conciliar el sueño.








Es que yo me pregunto, si Arquimedes se estaba bañando cuando se le cayo el pedazo de metal y pronució su gran “eureca” al descubrir que el peso de un cuerpo, dividido su peso aparente al ser sumergido en agua, es una propiedad que hoy conocemos con el nombre de densidad. La única presión que esta persona ejercía era la que le hacía a su pluma para escribir sus pensamientos y teorías.

Isaac Newton estaba pensando libremente sin presiones, cuando de repente le cae una manzana en la cabeza y este sencillo y singular evento se convierte en el disparador de lo que después se conocerá y se conoce aun en nuestros días como la ley de la gravedad.

Señores reclutadores de talentos y ejecutivos, si siguen buscando gente que trabaje bajo presión, lo mejor es que se consigan unos asnos para que resistan los golpes y los juetazos y caminen y obedezcan, pero eso si, olvídense de las buenas ideas. La supuesta presión no es otra cosa sino la reacción irracional cuando no existe ningún tipo de argumento para responder a una situación adversa. Una condición básica para el pensamiento es la tranquilidad, para que esta a su vez se pueda transformar en concentración y de esta forma se pueda articular un par de ideas que unidas se conviertan en una buena idea.

Cuando alguien me vuelva a hablar de trabajar bajo presión, voy a contestarles “pensé que ustedes necesitaban buenas ideas”.

Si nos comparamos con Europa

“Ay no, pero es que si nos comparamos con Europa…” Bueno, en un benchmarking las empresas se comparan con las mejores del sector para copiar las mejores prácticas y lograr mejores resultados. Si las empresas se compararan con las peores, pues sencillamente saldrían ganadoras siempre y no habría nada que mejorar. Un día después de haberse comparado con todas las empresas mediocres hasta llegar a la peor, entenderá que solo le queda dos caminos: desaparecer, porque es la peor del sector o empezar a compararse con las mejores para empezar un camino de mejoramiento.

Parece ser que para el colombiano, es mejor comprarse con Haití o Somalia (con el respeto que merecen todos los países, la situación por la que atraviesan este par es lamentable); en ese benchmarking ganaríamos siempre y no habría nada que mejorar. Una típica Colombianada más.  Yo si pienso que no sólo podríamos compararnos con Europa, sino que es un deber hacerlo. O será que es mucho pedir que el estado cubra la salud, la educación, proves medios de transporte masivos decentes, una pensión digna. Finalmente el estado somos todos, representados es un grupo de personas que se encargan de que este tipo de cosas se lleven a cabo.

“Ay no, pero es que si nos comparamos con Europa… podríamos vivir mejor”

El afán de perpetuarse.

Desde que la raza humana descubrió la forma de hacer referencia al pasado, ha desarrollado un gran cantidad de habilidades que le permiten revivir momentos y experiencias que ocurrieron antes de que ellos hubiesen nacido.

La forma más primitiva que desarrolló el  humano fue el lenguaje oral. Le sirvió para comunicarse  y expresarse, pero ante todo para transmitir lo que ya se había experimentado anteriormente por los antepasados.  El lenguaje oral evolucionó al escrito en forma de pinturas rupestres que inclusive hoy día después de veinte mil años siguen siendo una fiel representación de la conservación de un pasado remoto.

Probablemente la mejor invención del mundo antiguo fue la escritura. Con su creación los humanos lograron perpetuar y reproducir fielmente gran parte del conocimiento y experiencia adquirida en el pasado. Lastimosamente, al principio la escritura y por consiguiente la lectura era un privilegio de unos pocos que se creían con más derechos que otros para dominar los recuerdos y memorias del pasado. En lo que concierne a la escritura, la gran revolución surge cuando se inventa la imprenta y empieza la producción en serie de libros. Nunca antes había sido tan fácil tener acceso al pasado y a nuevos mundos.

La época moderna se caracteriza por presentar su realidad desde los ojos de sus propios habitantes en forma de libros, pinturas y dibujos. La visión y las palabras son detalladas minuciosamente en grandes libros y pinturas de un realismo impresionante. El pasado era ya una circunstancia dominada y el camino hacia la perpetuidad ya no era un sueño.

La historia avanzó durante muchos años siglos al ritmo de la pintura y los libros hasta que en el siglo XIX aparece la fotografía y se convierte en la mejor reproducción de la realidad de los hechos y las historias de la gente de esa época. Justo al final de ese siglo, los hermanos Lumiere logran darle movimiento a esas fotos y crean el cine. Sólo bastaron unas pocas décadas para que esas fotografías con movimiento pudieran hablar y tener sonido. Con el cine el pasado y el presente fue contado por las personas de la época con un toque de fantasía y de surrealismo. Ya el pasado no era una preocupación. El presente se convirtió en la obsesión de los habitantes de mitad del siglo XX. Perpetuarse ya no era una cuestión del pasado, el hombre moderno se perpetua desde la perspectiva de hoy y mirando al futuro. La propaganda es el mejor ejemplo de esto. Perpetuarse se convierte en una actividad presente en la que se influencian las masas para obtener un resultado en el futuro cercano. En el documental “The Century of the Self” de la televisión británica se ve claramente como la perpetuidad se logra con el dominio de las mentes en el presente y para siempre, pero ese es otro tema del que no se hablará hoy.

Gracias a las nuevas tecnologías, cualquier persona puede dejar un legado de su pasado sin la necesidad de poseer talento para la escritura o las artes visuales. Una cámara de vídeo es lo único que se necesita para capturar el mensaje, el momento y plasmarlo para siempre. Y aquí les pregunto a todos ustedes. ¿No es acaso ese afán de recordar del pasado en forma de fotos, escritos, vídeos, audios, una forma de evocación del tiempo pasado con algo grato?

Quién vive y habita esta tierra, tiene la capacidad de perpetuarse en el tiempo transmitiendo su vida y la de los suyos en archivos o discos de video digital. Podría decirse que se ha llegado a cierto nivel de la democratización de la escritura. Ya la gente que no tiene la paciencia, desocupe o lo que algunos llaman talento para contar historias en obras literarias, cine o fotografía,  lo pueden hacer contando su propia historia. Aquí la cámara de vídeo se convierte en la pluma del ciudadano común y corriente. Cualquiera empieza a contar historias con los momentos más felices que quiere preservar. ( ¿quién no tiene el vídeo de la primera comunión o matrimonio, grado o similares?) El pasado plasmado en las historias propias en forma de vídeo. ¿Para que leer las historias de otro si yo también puedo hacer las mías? Se podría decir que se convierte en uno de los grandes interrogantes de las generaciones actuales.

El conocimiento y las experiencias de todos los humanos armónica y anárquicamente compartidas en un espacio de libre acceso y demanda. Desde los primitivos trasmitiendo su experiencia en los relatos orales, la escritura en tipos de la imprenta, la fotografía el cine la televisión internet. El pasado y el presente ya no son temas del hombre de hoy. El futuro y poder viajar hacia él, es el próximo paso para que la humanidad se perpetúe, entonces ya las barreras del tiempo y el espacio habrán desaparecido y la experiencia humana será entonces eterna.

Tradición

Después de una larga ausencia regreso y no por tradición o costumbre, sino precisamente por todo lo contrario. Esta vez quiero hablar de la tradición, pero no para defenderla ni para crear una tradición que debemos cuidar nuestras tradiciones. No. Quiero atacar a esta tradición que se volvió una tradición aceptar todas las tradiciones por la única y simple razón de ser tradiciones.

Según el diccionario de la real academia española tradición significa “ Transmisión de noticias, composiciones literarias, doctrinas, ritos, costumbres, etc., hecha de generación en generación.” Un apersona tradicional, entonces es alguien que se ha limitado a transmitir lo mismo que le transmitió su generación anterior. La tradición va muy de la mano con conservación de las costumbres y ritos que la gente ha aprendido y le ha sido impartida desde muy joven. Una persona tradicional se puede decir que es una persona conservadora en todo el sentido de la palabra, conserva sus costumbres, su cultura, sus ritos, su lengua y así mismo los transmite.

Hasta este punto no hay nada de malo en las tradiciones y en los conservadores (en la política son los sujetos que han conservado la misma forma de hacer las cosas y las mismas viejas tradiciones). Yo me pregunto si realmente nos preguntamos del origen de las tradiciones. Yo creo que no. Y la respuesta es muy simple. La tradición está ligada con lo sagrado, con lo que no tiene explicación, con lo sobrenatural y muchos eventos a los cuales nuestros antepasados rindieron culto con un acto, cuento, celebración o rito que después sus descendientes se encargaron de seguirlo y perpetuarlo. Aquí los ejemplos sobran a montones. Pero les voy a dar un par para que me digan a que se debe la irracional tradición. Matar a un toro a cuchilladas ante una multitud ebria. Las religiones y todo su cuento mágico basado en unos libros sagrados que escribió hace un montón de tiempo y quien sabe de qué forma a través de quien. Ganarse el pan con el sudor de la frente. Las familias reales, peor aún sus súbditos. En muchas culturas las castraciones de las mujeres.

Hay una infinidad de estupideces que hacemos a diario por tradición y sin saber el origen y la explicación lógica racional del evento. Algunos dirán que ganarse el pan con el sudor de la frente, no es una tradición irracional; por el contrario dirán que es dignificante. Bueno yo digo que si fuera cierta esa tradición existiría trabajo y el sustento para todos en el mundo, pero no es así. En otro sistema y en otras condiciones todos tendríamos nuestro sustento sin trabajar. (Pero ese es otro tema del que no voy a hablar ahora).

Tradiciones para todo. En un mundo que se cree tan liberal (libre) y tan desarrollado,  desafortunadamente por la falta de pensamiento crítico y científico la gente hoy en día cree en la nueva era, aliens, ovnis, monstruos,  astrología, numerología y una infinidad de pseudociencias carentes de cualquier fundamento científico. ¿Por qué? Yo pienso que es más fácil creer en esas pseudociencias que pensar por uno mismo y tratar de encontrar el conocimiento o por lo menos aproximarse a el. La forma de lograr nuevos conocimientos es apartarse de las tradiciones y dejar de transmitirlas para poder lograr un verdadero conocimiento y una mente libre.  Para finalizar quiero dejarlos con una máxima de George Bernard Shaw que ilustra como funciona la tradición.

"Tradition is a lantern, the fool holds fast to her, the smart ones will light the way."

I turned 35

Llegar a 35….

Para muchos es el comienzo de la vida, pero en realidad para muy pocos en este mundo es sólo llegar a la mitad  de la existencia en la mejor de los casos de las estadísticas.

Hoy me levanté de la cama y bueno miré al techo y pude comprobar que aún estaba vivo. Puede ser un poco dramático para muchos, pero para mí era como coronar otro peldaño en esa gran escalera de la conciencia terrenal a la que hemos llamado por unanimidad vida.

Sé que han sido un montón de días y ahora más noches que días, de pronto porque ahora vivo más en las noches de lo que lo hacía años atrás o porque en las noches vienen más recuerdos que en el día. También sé que han sido más los momentos agrios que los felices, pero por una alguna extraña razón esos momentos de felicidad han aplastado los momentos de menos gozo y alegría.

Si pretendiera llevar un inventario de los momentos buenos y malos en estos 35 años de ser o estar, seguramente los malos ganarían, claro, siempre y cuando se tratase sólo de hacer un inventario de días buenos versus días malos. En mi caso por lo menos, y creo que soy una muestra representativa de la humanidad, los días malos comparados con los días de felicidad se encuentran en gran desventaja numérica.  

Gracias a mi fe, credo, religión o eso inexplicable que me vuelve tan humano y da tantas ganas de vivir y de querer tener un mejor futuro, no hago esos balances tan matemáticos y tan exactos. Gracias a esa fuerza de querer repetir cada uno de esos días de felicidad que se encuentran en desventaja frente a los malos, y por apostar a lo que nadie apostaría con la intención incierta, pero esperanzadora de encontrar lo que quiero y deseo. Es por eso que 35 años no son sólo 12800 días…son el aprendizaje de poder disfrutar esos pequeños momentos de alegría que con el tiempo se ven disminuidos en días, pero son grandes en esperanza placidez.