Are you a courier or a creator?

Firstly, this post is not meant as a diss to couriers.  They play a key role in moving things forward.

But too many of us go through life acting like couriers.  We wait for an instruction and only act when given specific coordinates.  We react rather than act.  And when we do act, we don’t change the package but just pass it along.

Creators change the package.  They challenge, embellish, alter or even discard it.  They are proactive, positive and inspired.  They want to make a difference and don’t just go with the flow and accept the status quo.  They are not easily dis-empowered by others.  They are comfortable in their skin and recognise that they must sometimes take power even when they were not given it.  (And when companies don’t give you permission to fail, you can give yourself permission.)

There are far too many couriers in the office, home, ngo, sport’s club and village council and not enough creators.  The reality is that each of us gets to choose between waiting on an order to come down the assembly line before we act or being the assembly line.

Are you a courier or a creator?