Of American Idol, Work and a New Way of Doing Things

I don’t watch American Idol.  I did.  But as a college friend said many years ago “mean people suck.”  And I agree.

I think American Idol, particularly the audition shows, has been intentionally mean in the past.  From Simon Cowell to the producers to the promotion people.  Yes you get some simply seeking their 15 minutes of fame and you get those that will embrace the mean comments of Cowell and the horrific way the producers choose to portray them and they will make lemonade like William Hung.  But more often they are crushed.  The contestant honestly thought they could sing, went for it and found out they suck (shame on those close to them for not being semi-honest about it).  And they didn’t find out in any sort of a nice way.

I wouldn’t want to be treated that way…I wouldn’t treat another that way…I will not watch it.  Mean people suck.

That is true at work, too.   And I have been guilty of staying too long at companies that treat people poorly (myself, included) because I didn’t know where else to go.  But that was wrong…you see we as a group can only change things collectively.  Which might be happening sometime soon:

What It Means: Job Dissatisfaction and The Conference Board Numbers

Job Seekers Creating “Black Lists” Of Employers

I also don’t think profits at all cost make sense.  I recently launched a job board promoting companies that have people working flexibly and would be willing to speak with candidates who are interested in more work-life flexibility.  I will not put just any company on that board…I don’t care how much money they want to pay me.  They do not get to promote themselves as a flexible workplace on this site without answering some questions, first.  I don’t think profits at any cost are worth it.  And I’m sensing more businesses are feeling this way as well:

How Much Will It Cost Google to Exit China

A New Approach to China

Yes, I am sure I am naive – after all I’m guessing American Idol doesn’t miss me.  But I’m also hopeful and idealistic that change can occur in business and the workplace if people say “enough is enough.”

I’m not sure when this change will occur and I know plenty of people right now feel they need to stay right where they are…bad companies or not.  But that will not always be the case.  And no matter which hat you’re wearing, consumer, employee, TV viewer, or citizen…let’s stop the mean people by voting with our feet.  If we do that collectively things may change.

And full disclosure – I know this is hard…my husband and I have tried to not buy Chinese-made products for years…until almost everything in almost every store was from China and we really couldn’t anymore.  And last night the building I live in was on American Idol – I know from friends/family who called & told me.  It would be fun to go on to hulu.com and see…but then I’m not really voting with my feet and I am allowing mean people to continue being mean.