Leadership Soup

A Matter of Marginal Utility

As I finished my fifth MBA class and continued my fight against thought atrophy, my near drowning in economic theory left my mind wandering (actually, more like running) from GDP, fiscal policy, and supply and demand.  My sincere apologies to Professor Platt for straying, but I found that some of the concepts applied to everyday life in ways that the textbooks most likely didn't intend.

'Marginal utility' is basically the measure of how much satisfaction, or how much use, you get out of having more and more of something.  In economics, it's about a consumer's demand for a product or a service as more is available (and as expected, there is even a formula)...but I started to suspect there is more to it than that.

There was this example about eating your favorite ice cream, and how, if given another one right after you finished the first, you'd enjoy it much less.  As I read on about 'diminishing' marginal utility and the fact that satisfaction and pleasure eventually decrease with availability, I wondered whether this could be the root to some of the boredom and apathy and unhappiness in our lives.

In our jobs and our daily activities and our relationships, there is a repetitiveness that can stagnate.  Remember the first few months of a new position at work or the first run outside after a long winter or getting to know someone new?  There is an excitement that seems to fade over time, or in the case of utility, diminishes as you get more.  Sure there are times when you should get a new job, find a different hobby, or end a relationship, but there are plenty more times when you should find freedom in the familiar and work hard to keep it fresh.  When it starts to feel like a chore, it's time to act.

As the routine of a job kicks in, when you think you've mastered it, recognize the opportunity the mastery offers to push the envelope and make major change...or maybe, you've only scratched the surface of the learning.  When you look at your running shoes and feel unmotivated, find a new running route.  If there doesn't seem like there is anything to talk about with your old friend or your spouse, celebrate and remember what brought you together and how there is so much more to learn about them.

Having more can make you a little lazy.  This works its way into all sorts of things. This week, make the effort to see the familar in a new way (or simply take a moment to appreciate it the way it is), and you may be surprised to find that you can't get too much of a good thing.

A goose a laying (sitting, actually)

We have lived on Hopeville Pond for almost six years, and there is never a dull moment out among the wildlife that congregates in our backyard.  This fall, the geese came and hung out.  As the pond started to freeze, I could still hear them out there chattering to each other in the middle of the night, wondering when they'd fly to someplace warm.  One particular cold spell hit, and it appeared that they had finally given in and that the pond would be quiet for the winter.

There was one lone exception.  As my husband and I looked down on the water, one goose remained.  We became preoccupied with the fact that he wasn't flying or swimming; he remained in one spot, occasionally releasing a curdling squawk.

Convinced that the water had frozen around him and that his screams were due to his torturous entrapment, the rescue plot began.  As I threw a half loaf of bread onto the ice, hoping it would somehow stir him free, we ran through our options...surfboard, kayak, paddle boat...until the reality of all three of us frozen at the bottom of Hopeville Pond shook us out of it, and, instead, I called the Department of Environment Protection.

Me: 'I believe that there is a goose stuck in the ice in back of my house.'
DEP guy: 'He isn't stuck.  He's sitting.'
Me: 'Well, he's squawking and not moving and I think he's stuck.'
DEP guy: 'He can't get stuck; his body temperature is too high. Sometimes they just sit.'

I woke up the next day, and there was no goose.  What a relief; apparently he was done sitting.

Then, that afternoon, my husband breaks the news to me...'The goose is dead. He is down by the dock.'  For some reason, my heart broke.  I cried and cried in some terrible goose mourning, regretful that I wasn't able to save him.  I was given a stiff warning that I shouldn't go down and look simply to be further tormented.

The following morning, of course, I looked.  And looked.  No goose.
As I scanned the location of the death, I saw lots of animal tracks.  I concluded that a scraggly fox (or some other scraggly, hungry animal) had carried off the goose and found relief in the fact that the circle of life had presented itself in full glory. 

Later, As I shared my circle of life story with my husband, I began to suspect that the death was a bit more speculated than I had thought.  In fact, there was no real confirmation (for some reason I had visions of a goose laying on it's side with its tongue hanging out) just a long analysis of non movement through binoculars from our deck.  

One afternoon not long after, I pull in the driveway and spot something down by the dock.  It didn't take but a second to realize what, or who, it was.  Standing there, very much alive, was the goose (and I swear I could almost make out a little smirk).

I shared this story with lots of people (and my apologies to those that find it repetitive) because there was something in the experience that struck me as so powerful, indicative of the year that passed and the decade ahead.  I see it these three words: 

Stuck - We all have moments where it appears we're trapped, not moving fast enough or in the right direction.  Courage comes in the form of accepting when it's time to sit and knowing when to stop sitting.  Being stuck is often an illusion.

Feeling - We all have our own way of experiencing happiness, sadness, excitement, fear...sometimes wildly overblown and sometimes not nearly deep or wide enough.  The importance is to feel it, learn from it, and not beat yourself up when it's too much one way and not the other.

Hopeful - It's appropriate that I live on Hopeville Pond because I am hopelessly hopeful.  Without it, moments of despair become days and weeks and months of despair.  Without it, when we are disappointed in ourselves or others, the meaning all gets lost.  Without it, we can truly be stuck.

Happy New Decade! 

There were 49 people in line at the Dairy Queen...it must be spring.

I started this post on March 20th (the first day of spring), and it was called 'Spring Feverish'.

I have a bad case of spring fever.

That's as far as I got.

This weekend, when I started where I left off, my 'originality test' found that people love to write about spring fever and that 'Spring Feverish' was a completely uninspired title.  In fact, the phenomenon that's making me and hordes of others want to put on shorts, clean the garage, exercise, walk to dog, have a yard sale, leave work early and play golf is pretty cliche so I decided to leave it alone.  But then, as a sign, my husband calls and says 'I'm in Willimantic, and there are 49 people in line a the Dairy Queen...it must be spring!'

How could I resist?

The whole idea of new beginnings, rebirth, renewal, rejuvenation, fertility...it's all very tempting.  But comparisons to forsythia, daffodils, and hibiscus (blooming all of ten days, one week, and one day respectively...never mind allergies) or religious symbols or bunnies isn't going to do it.  Like New Year's and it's resolutions, this concept that there's a clean slate or a starting over just doesn't resonate.

But then I found Hipparchus who discovered the equinox.  The March equinox (first day of spring for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere) is one of the two points in the year when the sun shines directly on the equator and day and night are equal all over the world.  This moment of equality is an astronomer's frame of reference...and I found something that resonates.  A point in time that is common to everyone on Earth is profound.

It's not about new beginnings; it's about a frame of reference, a level-set, finding our bearings.  

So I have a bad case of spring fever.  After a long winter in New England, I am happy to see the colors returning, but I suspect there's more to it via Hipparchus. 

All things being equal...
It's easy to get out of balance and lose our bearings.  There is always a point in time the offers a way to readjust the course and get back on track.

A shared point of reference...
It's easy to forget where we sit.  Being reminded that there is a common ground (even if only for a moment) is a humbling way to reposition so we don't fall victim to that dangerous loss of perspective.

Hop in line at the Dairy Queen and enjoy.

Airlift out of Manila...

Since my business travel went international several years ago, I have been lucky enough to spend some time in the Philippines.  I quickly came to respect the beauty of the country and the diverse, dedicated and loving people I met there. 

In February of 2006, I was in Manila during the 20 year anniversary of People Power Revolution.  It was a historic event that translated into activities of celebration as well as those of protest.  To ward off a rumored coup attempt, the Philippines president declared a State of Emergency. 

At some point, my husband, Brian, who had difficulties connecting with me given the time difference and my schedule, called with an unrecognizable panic asking, 'Are they getting you out of there?' 

As I looked out the window of the Shangri-La hotel down on the city and the normal bustling of Manila (no explosions or riots from that view), I questioned his discomfort and chuckled a bit at the image his question conjured...me being rushed to a military helicopter, head down, as they airlifted me out of Manila.

Little did I know that, back in the states, CNN, MSNBC, World New Tonight, and the Connecticut news stations, were all broadcasting the situation in the Philippines.  The 'State of Emergency' back home had been translated into a volatile political upheaval that threatened the well being of anyone within the borders of the country.  My family had spent some long hours wondering if I was caught in the middle of all of this and if I would be extracted and delivered to safety.

Now, those of us traveling together were aware of the events, the caution exhibited, and saw numerous signs that there was some unrest, but there was not panic, disorder or much disruption to what had become our traveler's routine.  Yet, after mildly dismissing Brian's concern, I began to process what he had experienced and what he must have been feeling; I began to coordinate some communication back home for our group to assure our friends, families, and coworkers that we were safe and that it was business as usual.

Three years later, as I reminisce about the experience, it occurs to me that this type of disconnect happens all the time in varying degrees.  I wasn't escorted out of Manila, and the trip continued without incident, but I took a basic step towards understanding and celebrating differences.  I came to recognize that stories, news and experiences are unintentially, intentially and innately skewed by the following:

Where you sit - The environment, including physical surroundings, people you are with, and level of exposure all play into the experience.  Whether 8000 miles away, in a different city, or two offices down, there is a difference.

Who is telling the story - Personal history, past experiences, and intent add flavor.  Though I had my thoughts on the events in Manila, I recently came upon a blog by a Filipino woman that made it clear that my story is just that...'mine'.  Whether you telling or being told, there is a difference. 

Versions of the 'truths' -  There isn't a single truth.  As much as I played down the risk of being in a foreign country during such an event, I recognize that there was truth embedded in both the stories my husband was seeing as well as my own take on the situation.  The day of the anniversary, there was a tank parked in front of the hotel...

As you go into meetings, interact with your family, watch the news...you'll be surprised how much easier it will be with this in mind.