Coincidentally my father, who was on his second hybrid, had decided it was time for him to purchase a new car. His current hybrid, 4 years old, was going to be traded in for a sporty little number with a little more power and a lot more luxury. He had contacted me the week prior, and asked if I wanted to purchase his hybrid. My immediate response was “Thanks, but without a doubt, no.”
I love cars, I drive a lot, and I enjoy the experience of driving. The thought of a slow, less agile, clunky hybrid was not in my future. But, life happens and the plumbing in your kitchen springs a leak and does a tremendous amount of damage to your house, just a few days after your beloved car goes to Car Heaven. So the financial reality sets in and used hybrid here you come. Sigh.
How did it go? Well, after my first week of driving it, I became aware of some of the really thoughtful features it had:
- This hybrid is a hatchback with a bar that runs across the back of the rear windshield. Thus, I don’t see the angry drivers behind me as I try to get up to speed on the freeway onramp. I drive blissfully unaware of their frustrated faces, and rude hand gestures, because the bar blocks any view I would have of them from my rear view mirror.
- Should I need to increase the power of my hybrid, all I need to do is plug in my phone. Some people call that “turbo boosting.”
- The air conditioning stops working to save power when the car is stopped (yes, really). Thus when driving in California’s constant stop and go traffic, I am reminded of how lucky I am to live in one of the warmest states in the U.S. When I told my friend that this happened, she told me to “go have it fixed.” After I told her that the car was set up that way on purpose, she laughed out loud at me. See, I’m make the world a happier place. Bonus.
- To ensure that the car is not heavy, and thus maximize its efficiency, there is not much insulation. This results in a lot of “road noise.” It also allows me to hear the kind words of those passing me on the freeway onramps. Freeways are definitely places to make friends.
- The “speed” (I use that word loosely) indicator background changes from blue to green. It is green when you are driving fuel efficiently. Alternatively it turns blue, when the car wants to guilt you into driving slower. It’s like having my father right there next to me telling me to slow down – all the time.
- There is an economy mode on the car. A cute little button you can push which… well frankly, I haven’t pushed it. I can’t imagine what it does. Does it drop the bottom out of the car so you have to use your feet?
- When I try to go over the speed limit, a voice comes out of the car and asks me politely, “What are you thinking?” Hal, is that you?
- If my tire goes flat, I can take one from my bicycle, throw it on the car, and I am good to go.
The above was just a little fun, so I will share some of the real perks, as yes, I’m getting over it.
- I really am saving a lot on gas. I go to the pump every two weeks now and when I fill up, it’s half of what I used to pay. The fact that I don’t have to go to the gas station as often is also a bonus. Take that SUV drivers!
- The inside of the car is pretty nice (despite the cloth seats).
- It drives better than I had expected.
- Parking is a breeze in this tiny little thing, and I easily slip into spaces that I would have passed before as they would have been too small.
- It really will get up to speed and go as fast as I want (eventually).
- With the money I’m saving on gas, I’ll get some cute seat covers.
- This will be a great car for my daughter when she starts to drive, and Mom gets a sporty little luxury car.
So how does this relate to business or H.R.? We must remain agile, limit pre-conceptions, and keep a sense of humor as we are confronted with problems. In business, the most successful of us are those that can respond to any set of circumstances without shutting down, refusing to move forward, and becoming ineffective. We can get so caught up in the things going on around us, and spend so much energy complaining and focusing on the unfairness of the situation we find ourselves in. What a waste!
Like my vehicular situation, I give you permission to spend a small amount of time lamenting your circumstances, but then it’s time to get over it and move on, looking for hidden possibilities and working toward positive outcomes! Roll with the punches and keep a sense of humor. It’s so much better for your well-being and the well-being of those around you. Additional bonus – it’s a great way to exemplify leadership. Laugh in the face of adversity! There really is no problem that can outwit you or is beyond your capabilities – unless you let it be.
The ability to overcome obstacles is a great example of your leadership skills, and one truly desired by employers! So focus your energy on moving forward, not stagnating and wallowing in the problem. You never know what hybrid solutions you will find that are good resolutions to your problems after all, some of which might even land you with unexpected benefits after all is taken into account. All you have do is have a sense of humor about the situation, keep positive, and stay open to unexpected possibilities, but most of all keep moving forward. Don’t make those of us behind you stop – it turns off the air conditioning.
