Definition: Idea Trucker

All right, the first thing that we have to do, is break down the two words individually. I think these should be pretty straightforward:

i·de·a -noun
any conception existing in the mind as a result of mental understanding, awareness, or activity.

Good enough, pretty much anything in your head. Easy. Everybody should be able to get this one as well:

truck·er -noun
a person whose business is trucking goods.

Hmmm... goods. I think we are about to see a little theme here in truck land. I thought trucking was a verb, but in the interest of thouroughness, I looked it up too, and what do you know? That theme I was talking about?

truck·ing -noun
the art or business of conveying articles or goods on trucks.

Trucking is an ART! I knew that they were under appreciated, but how do you think most truckers would react if you called them artists? Labels sure can do funny things, huh? But I digress... So if you are conveying or moving articles or goods (objects) you are a Trucker. But how about if you are conveying or moving things that are not quite so material? Things like ideas? Now we get to the compounded definition for this phrase:

i·de·a truck·er -noun
A person whose business is conveying any conception existing in the mind as a result of mental understanding, awareness, or activity on trucks.

Hmmm... Not quite perfect. Can't get ideas onto trucks (they're slippery little buggers), besides, this is a little wordy for a dictionary. Let's try a few slight changes:

i·de·a truck·er -noun
A person whose business is conveying any conception from one mind to another.

There we go. And I hope I just made my first delivery to you of many. Please sign here.

ROWE - An Alternative Business Model

After reading about Best Buy's experiment with a ROWE (Results Only Work Environment) on Tim Ferris' blog yesterday (Part One, Part Two), I started thinking about my job specifically. It started on my commute to work, and when I got in to the office, part two of this article had been posted, and I had messages from 80% of the team that I work with saying that they would be working from home (WFH) for today. Well, it WAS a Friday before a long weekend, but that is not really relevant to this...

I then had the following IM conversation with my (ostensible) supervisor, who is a peer (except maybe on an org. chart):

Me: Why am I here?
Me: And I don't mean that in the metaphysical sense!
My supervisor: hahaha you must be all alone
Me: Why is my meat in this specific chair, today (right now)? Almost everyone that I interact with has sent out a WFH message, and this is not going to change one iota the amount of work we get done as a team today. That's pretty cool, but why am _I_ still sitting in a chair in the office? Maybe the answer to that question, from [My Boss], would be better than a raise?
My supervisor: [Co-worker] isn't in yet?
Me: Don't think so, but then I just got here.
My supervisor: hahaha ok
My supervisor: yep
Me: I was already thinking this on the way to BART. I saw myself, walking a meat bag to a transport system to go put my butt in a chair, miles from where I slept. And all I could think was, "I could already be at "work", so why I am I transporting all this meat to the city?"
My supervisor: lol
My supervisor: you are in the transport business and didn't even know it!
Me: Well, I am, but I know I am an "Idea Trucker". Why do I have to be a meat trucker as well?
My supervisor: yup
My supervisor: you need mudflaps

I really like the idea of mental mudflaps, though I have no idea what they would look like.

So, 41% increase in productivity, after letting go the people who are not the best fit for the team, by empowering and respecting your employees. In exchange the company get improved retention and productivity. Why isn't every company doing this?

Oh, and the "Idea Trucker" concept will be the subject of an upcoming post.

Discuss

Art, art, and more art. We NEED more art!

Crazy, crazy Netherlands performance art:

Is this where my community has gotten off to?