Play the Game

I have always commented that in life and especially in business, it's important to "play the game". The game is essentially referring to the way that your boss wants the world to run. This means that sometimes you have to just grin and bear it...sometimes you have to say what you should rather than what you want to...sometimes you have to not say anything at all. It seems that lately I have conversed with friends and family about the game more than any other time. So, I reflected upon why it is that so many people are "playing the game" lately. The realization that I've come to is that, with as scary as it seems, we are all (as Beyonce tried to tell us) replaceable. There are numerous people fighting over few positions. Many employers can refer to their large stack of qualified applicants to fill the position of someone who decided to 'buck the system'.

Now, I know that this seems a little glass-half-empty, but it's reality! If you want to keep your steady paycheck, you may have to look to the great philosopher, Kenny Rogers: You've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away and know when to run. So, my fantastic friends and family, I urge you to keep your jobs by doing what you know you're supposed to do...now may not be the best time to challenge the establishment or blaze a trail. There are bills to pay, there are homes to keep, there are friends/family members to send birthday gift cards to on October 25th! (Oh wait...did I say that?)