40 vs 8 — Ep3: Complaint (with special guest)
“40 vs 8” is a weekly newsletter where a generation gap meets literary exploration. Join me, a reader with four decades of life experience, and my curious 8-year-old daughter as we share our favorite reads and uncover captivating stories together.
Today we have a special guest, a 6 years old with his favorite quote at the end.
40 years old
“During meetings, she talked more than the others, occasionally coming up with a brilliant idea, but more often complaining about how the other companies she had worked for did everything better than DecisionTech. It was almost as though she were a spectator or, better yet, a victim of circumstance, at her new company.“
- from the book “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” by Patrick Lencioni
Reading Patrick’s book is an enjoyable experience. The entire book is one story: a newly hired CEO grows the team by identifying five dysfunctions and providing solutions. He writes the story vividly, making you feel like you’re part of the scene, while also accurately describing people’s inner thoughts and emotions. It’s like watching a movie with a director’s commentary.
Back to complain. People complain when they observe problems within their team and care about the team’s success. It is very easy to be a spectator and point out flaws here and there because the world is just not perfect.
Regardless of your level, whether you are an independent contributor, leader, or C-level executive, complaining is ineffective. However, it is human nature to complain. If you really want to complain, bring two or three solutions along with the complaint. This way, we can at least try to solve the problem and make the world a little bit better place.
Remember, “If you’re not part of the solution, then you’re part of the problem”.
8 years old
“Let’s remember our duty and perform it without complaint.”
- from the book “The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank
I asked her why?
Because it sounds confident and I don’t like people complaining. When people is complaining, it’s whining, shouting and screaming:
“I don’t want to do this!” “I don’t like it”!, “No!” “I cannot!” “No way!”
That’s noise and I don’t like too much noise except for music. What they should do instead is “JUST DO IT” like Nike.
6 years old
“… Camping… It will be just like an outdoor slumber party.”
- from the book “Pony Scouts: The Camping Trip” by Catherine Hapka
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