Hello,
Good Will Hunting is one of my favorite movies.
So much so that it’s become a part of my ideology.
If there are many levels in any organization, but if everyone were paid the exact same salary, what type of people would gravitate to which roles?
CEO, CFO, CTO, HR, Sales/Marketing, Accounting, R&D,
and
the Janitor.
There are many reasons I’ve associated myself with the janitor role in any system, and I’d like to share a few today.
First, the janitor generally has all the keys. In a metaphorical system, that’s good.
Second, the janitor tends to be able to come and go as he pleases. That’s appropriate to my personality style.
Third, in a system where gratification has been removed from monetary sources, and it’s been replaced only with the satisfaction that comes from the type of work done on a day-to-day basis, then in a janitor role, I feel like the priorities are essentially:
- Make sure everything’s running smoothly.
- You’ve automated most everything that needs doing, and you’re applying your know-how and humanity to the people in need around you.
- Keep everything nice, tidy, and effective – even if it doesn’t include cleaning.
Now, when I think about all of this in relation to talent pools, I love the story of Good Will Hunting because the story itself denotes how rare talent can come from anywhere.
One person can be a diamond in the rough.
A needle in the haystack.
So, no matter where you come from or what your background is, given the quality of your mind, you can make your own choices of your own free will.
We learn from the experience, know-how, and details behind the most complicated inner workings of vast systems. From simple to complex thinking, some believe that higher education is the answer.
It’s true, we learn how to adapt to and work within systems. We learn how to set up goals and timelines as we narrow down (or expand) a nerdy thought that spawns from a simple idea or an epiphany.
Good Will Hunting mentions an equation, but the director wants people to think beyond the equation.Discipline vs talent or intelligenceHe may be discussing deeper issues. Even higher education or the upper demographics of the population may not be able to solve the problems facing the world. Talent can come from anywhere….I think is what the director is trying to say.
A Student
Have a nice day,
Paul
The Janitor