Musings at Altitude

“I’ve given my heart and soul to this company.”

I’ve heard it a lot over the last several months.  In some cases, it was said by those who were being let go and would no longer be part of that company going forward.  In other cases, it was said by folks struggling to make a difference in a company they were still part of.  And yet in other cases, it was said by owners of a company that were still chasing that dream, a dream so visible on the horizon and yet so challenging to reach. 

Regardless of the circumstance, when it was said, even with the very different situations, it was said with a gut wrenching emotion that made it incredibly clear that their time with the company was so much more than just a job.  It was a bond that far transcended a paycheck, and it was a connection that made any change or potential change in the relationship something inconceivable because of the devotion rendered and the commitments made during the time that the individual and others in that company shared a journey together.

As I think back on each time this has been said, I can say without hesitation that each individual did indeed give their hearts to their companies. 

The needed and required commitment brought sacrifice:

• in time with their families and time for themselves
• in pay because they could have made more elsewhere
• in goals because they subordinated their dreams to chase together the dreams of the company

The needed and required commitment brought pain:

• when folks were let go because of the changing economic conditions or strategic direction of the company
• when things were done wrong and tough decisions were made in response to those wrongdoings
• when dreams were crushed and the pursuit terminated for things sometimes outside the control of any of the team members

And yet, the needed and required commitment created memories:

• through successes that came in pursuit of the dream
• through relationships developed as the teams expanded
• through challenges overcome as each individual developed and grew in their roles

Each individual did indeed sacrifice.

Each individual did indeed suffer pain.

And yet, each individual did indeed find those cherished memories.

It’s never easy giving your heart to an organization, because when you do, you commit to the sacrifice that is needed and you open yourself up for the pain that inevitably comes.

But those memories, whether or not the dream is achieved, trump the sacrifice and the pain.

I know this personally.

I bet you do to.