How do I get out of this chickenshit outfit?
Ever have one of those days when you feel like Hudson from the Aliens movie?
Gorman: Any questions?
[Hudson raises his hand]
Gorman: What is it, private?
Hudson: How do I get out of this chickenshit outfit?
Apone: You secure that shit, Hudson!
- From Aliens (1986)
Merlin Mann talked a bit about bringing change to a company in an episode of Back to Work. Promoting change in a work environment can be tough, especially when corporate culture is so ingrained. What companies need to realize is that innovation doesn’t come by setting policies that will mystically create innovation. Innovation can’t be created per se. Instead, innovation is a by-product of people actually doing stuff. Some of the things people create stick and become successful and, as such, others may call it innovation.
But unless you promote an environment that allows people to go against the grain and do something different you’re never going to repeat the same level of innovation that you had once before. After all, isn’t that by definition what innovation means? Doing something that hasn’t been done before? A company can’t expect great results unless they’re willing to embrace people who know well enough when to step outside the restraints of corporate culture, think outside of the box, and create stuff that challenge the status quo and lead to innovative results. If a company can’t do that then, well, I guess their just another chickenshit outfit. Stack, repeat.
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