You may have heard this saying before (or not) – “One hand for yourself and one hand for the ship.”
This statement is worth thinking about in our daily lives today as much as when sailors on ships first used these words as a reminder when going topside and working in the ships rigging.
A sudden gust of wind or change of course would have you toppling down 50 ft. or more unless you kept one hand holding on while the other hand worked on the task of the moment.
In more recent shipboard life, Navy ships with their narrow and steep ladders (think stairs you landlubbers!) keeping one hand for the ship means to hold one of the handrails, especially if you are carrying something. A sudden change of speed or course and you go headfirst right down the ladder.
This applies today in so many situations!
Maybe you are thinking of one or more right now? Go to the comments area and write these in so we all learn from you.
One example might be in your career. You should be all in at your job and for your company – agreed. Does this mean you should not network and stay on top of your industry and other opportunities?
Another example might be in your daily life. When you go for a short drive do you wear your seatbelt? It is not only the law, it is the same concept. Yes and the facts are many accidents take place within a short distance from home, and a high percentage of people do not use their seatbelts when they go for a short drive! Even though the use of a seatbelt has proven to reduce injury and death in most accidents.
A third example would be when on the job, your specific job, do you follow the process and procedures designed to protect you and those working alongside of you or nearby? Take this to any type of job you want. A police officer positioning themselves correctly to backup their partner. A construction person securing their tools properly when working aloft. A lifeguard running down the beach to cover the next chair as each chair slides down when one or two or more guards are making a save. You still need to watch the others in the water.
Okay – possibly none of these examples apply to you.
Have you ever walked in from your car or from the street and you are carrying way too much stuff already? Then you see a box or the mail and instead of making two trips up the stairs you are certain you can just move things a little this way or that way and you balance your way up the stairs? Maybe once or twice you have done this and felt yourself losing your balance and feeling like, “Oh no, I’m going to fall backwards and break my spine!” Then you regain control and you say to yourself, ”Never again, next time I’m making two trips!”
Do any of these examples have you thinking about how you have structured your work day? Think about it.
Mitch Tublin runs a boutique consulting firm where adding value to individuals, teams, organizations and companies is the mission. The main focus is typically on establishing effective communication, setting clear and concise goals and strategies and developing leaders throughout all levels.
