Getting to Work in the Community
This weekend I did a job I had never done before. I’m not talking about a job on the other side of the shop, or org chart. I’m talking about completely new and different work to me.
I went to work with people whom I had never before worked, materials I had never handled, technologies I had never seen, and processes that were invisible to me when we started the day. It was as if I had traveled to a foreign land.
The wonder, excitement, nervousness, and danger were all present. Uncertainty was the order of the day, in addition to the blistering summer heat of New England. We do not handle the heat well here, but we manage it with dignity.
As I do, I embraced this opportunity with curiosity, passion, and preparedness. I was also myself, I’m done hiding who I am for someone who is asking me to help them do a job. Yes, I can help you. But it’s me who will be helping, not some idea of me you have in your head.
Throughout the day we worked hard. We solved critical problems innovatively using everything from communication, to conflict management, math, electricity, carpentry, hazmat handling procedures, regulation guidance, and design. We coordinated with local authorities to ensure the safety of the community and ourselves.
And then the show, 18 minutes orchestrated flashes, booms, oohs, ahhs, and ohhhs while the shot caller conducted the suite. The community was delighted. Another annual fireworks show in the books.
I used all of these skills, some of which I hadn’t used in over 30 years if ever; physical labor, math, design, electrical and mechanical connections, basic carpentry, first aid and safety training, community safety organizing, team collaboration under stressful and dangerous situations, entertainment and the business of joy, tradition, and innovation.
What I learned could fill servers of storage, and would never be of value outside of my head. The lesson is clear, we must get out of these prisons we created for ourselves if we are going to survive hell on earth.