Grumbling Brits and the economy

Thought I'd share some reading for you today. I've recently become engrossed in the work of philosopher Mark Rowlands, a Welshman who teaches in the US. Which might help us understand why Santander's chief exec recently complained about "grumbling" Brits and why they may be undermining the economy.

Rowlands' book from earlier this year, Running with the Pack, is a reflection on why we run - long distance running in particular. A couple of passages draw attention to the differences between the way Americans and Brits consider any form of endeavour.

He concluded that Americans are driven by optimism (they can achieve anything if they work hard enough); faith (we must have immovable faith in ourselves) and work (work is inherently ennobling).

Rowlands dismisses them all. Optimism is misplaced because whatever happens we will get worse. Faith is bogus because, actually, it's the loss of faith that makes us grow stronger. And work?
"But my murky European spirit tells me that work is not inherently ennobling at all: to work when you do not have to is stupid rather than ennobling. And there is no evidence of any reliable connection between hard work and realisation of dreams."

And then there is this: "...I'm still enough of a Brit to recognise the age-old tradition of taking an activity that someone does and finding ways to denigrate it - ideally by casting aspersions on the motives or character of the person doing it. I appreciate this tradition for the cultural art form that it is - even when I am the person whose motives or character are thus aspersed."

I hate to say. As a Brit that helped me understand and define myself a little better.

Fear is the key & mavericks in the workplace

I'm in an introspective kind of mood so thought I'd draw your attention to a couple of things I've written for Financial Director on psychology and the workplace. I'm an amateur psych in this respect but become easily engrossed in the subject. Perhaps because I am a little preoccupied with being happy at work. Why would you want to go through your working life not wanting to get out of bed in the morning? Though to be honest, my recent reading suggests it's the fundamental "instrumental" nature of work that is the reason (this leads me to the conclusion that somehow you have to trick yourself into thinking it isn't work at all. How many of us can do that, I wonder).

Anyway, I've been reflecting on the death of Moritz Erhardt, the Bank of America intern who died with reports claiming he had been up working for three straight days without sleep.

So here are my thoughts around that for FD: Fear is the key

And, just in case you missed them, here are my musings on workplace mavericks. In my experience most employers steer clear of people they instinctively feel they cannot control. I came across some research though that suggests this may be self defeating. Sometimes.

Maveriks, they're everywhere

Let me know what you think.