Wow, it has been an entire month since the last time I updated this blog. Hey, that is ok. It is after all, my blog.

I have been spending all my creativity at the office, and how many people can say that? Probably not many. How many people go to work dreaming of the day that they can start their own business or move to another position that better suits their passions; probably most. I get to do what I am passionate about nearly everyday. Yeah, there are days that are slogs, but most aren’t. Also, I work on a small team that trusts me. That means that a lot of the time, it is my vision, or I have a big say in what is created.

I have had the opportunity to do some jobs that are completely up to the client, and the final product isn’t what I would have done, and that is pretty excruciating. I can only imagine how hard it is to be the art guy at a t-shirt shop or somewhere where you spend your days creating the imaginings of customers who have limited or no vision. Ewww.

I am always impressed with the people who can do that without blowing up and becoming so frustrated that they lose their job. Or, maybe I pity them because maybe they have just given up; passion gone, just turning the wheels.

If you are there, I challenge you to sit down and make a list of the things that you are good at and you absolutely love and start making progress towards crafting your job to look more like that. You are surrounded by people who are passionate about the things that you hate. Give those jobs away. Find ways to be a part of the things you love. Ask to help out. Donate your time to fulfilling pursuits. You will find that over time, you will start having to donate your time less and less as you become an expert.

I am an artist at an organizational development company. We help companies develop their talent. Most companies like ours don’t have an artist on staff because they don’t believe that they can afford them. In the past, that was true. Now however, the cost of computers, cameras, software, and other tools of the trade have dropped so much in price they may be surprised at what is possible.

Ten years ago, I would have had to work at a magazine, television station, or design shop to do what I do. Not anymore. The real surprise here is that since I am not on a huge team of creatives, I have huge variety in my job and I get a major say in what it looks like.

I have a degree in Transportation and Logistics. I should be in the trucking industry. I am not passionate about that. I have no official training in art. (Though at times that would be handy…) I just started to do what I was passionate about more and more and started dropping the things I wasn’t passionate about. I got noticed and hired. Now I am in my own personal bulls-eye. It is possible. Do it.

The Strengths of Being Small

There seems to be an almost universal drive in business to grow and become big. It seems like a laudable goal, but growing large just for growing large’s sake could be a recipe for disaster for your organization.

There will always be a need for large organizations. But, there is also a need for small, nimble organizations that can turn on a dime and affect change quickly. In fact, large organizations, which have long since lost the ability to move quickly, need smaller organizations to reach important side goals.

The Leadership of companies need to look long and hard at whether becoming large is a goal that is in the best interest of their organization. The fact that your company is fast on its feet may be the most marketable product you have to offer. Growing to the size of your competitors could thrust you into a market where you are no longer noteworthy.

There is a reason that the military has small special forces units. They are quick, mobile and easy to deploy. That is nothing to be ashamed of; it’s actually a point of pride.

If You Are Big, Be Big

The biggest danger in this conversation is when organizations forget their identity and try to act outside of their nature. If you are a part of a large company, embrace it. There are advantages to being big. Leverage those advantages and outsource those quick moving goals to organizations or teams that can move quickly.

If you are part of a smaller company, leverage your strengths. You can move fast and meet the dynamic needs of your clients better than anyone else. This is competitive advantage that will make you money. In other words, if you are in a bass boat, be careful of trying to land a whale whose needs could pull your boat under and destroy your business altogether.

I’m not saying that growing to be the biggest fish in the pond isn’t a great and desirable goal. What I am saying is, be careful of what you wish for. You may find yourself in the middle of a large organization that has morphed into something that is completely different from your original vision.

Look at the problem or need that your organization addresses. Is that need better addressed by a large infantry or a small specialized force? If the answer is special forces, set your sights on becoming the most nimble specialized force out there.