What is it about fall that makes me draw inward--search
inside myself? I feel as though I always
become a bit more pensive this time of year, and often my mind drifts toward
past SEARCH retreats and thoughts that are a bit deeper.
A recent lesson--a Career Advancement Seminar, we call
them--gave me pause. The aim of the
lesson was to expose my students to the Eight Components of a Mission
Statement--for a company, of course, but I couldn't help thinking: How long had it been since I'd considered my
own mission statement? If you've ever
gone on a SEARCH retreat (*Catholics
cheer*) then you know what I'm talking about.
The following are the eight components of a company's
mission statement:
·
Relationship to Customers
·
Market Location
·
Products and Services
·
Use of Technology
·
Care for People and the Environment
·
Major Advantages
·
Company Values
·
Growth and Profit
Parts of the mission statement that follows were written on
subway platforms, or in a courtyard with Pullman (holla!) Hotels looming over
me as I sipped an iced cafe au lait
and ate a croque monseiur, with the
classic rock song "Low Rider" playing in the background. It is not always easy to put Shanghai in a
box, and I think the same can be said for people, including myself.
But how was I going to take these eight components and shape
them into a personal statement?
Well, Market Location was kind of
easy: if I could be considered a
"market", then I am worldwide, baby!
I've lived in three countries outside the States. I'd like to consider myself a global citizen.
Major Advantages: What
makes me ME? The sum of my
experiences--living overseas, close relationships with family and friends. Genetics.
Pets. Books I've read. Dealing with homesickness and
depression. My values (see below).
Company Values: What are
my personal values? My
family. My cat. Nature.
My faith. Writing. These are closest to my heart, and they can
feed me in ways that no food (not even a croque
monseiur) can.
Care for People and the Environment: The afore-mentioned lesson stated that most
international companies now have some kind of social responsibility piece in
their mission statements. I feel I've
always been close to this. In spite of
my complaints about Shanghai, I've flirted with countless chubby-cheeked
babies, to the delight of their parents, especially if I use a mix of Chinese
and English. I really enjoy my students,
my co-workers, and people that are becoming good friends.
As far as the environment goes, I try to keep my A/C at a
decent level (it's off most of the time these days), and I reuse plastic bags
(since you have to buy them at the grocery store here) and plastic bottles
until they get soft! These things aren't
hard to do, and they save me money as well.
I've also been pleased to see that "That's
Shanghai", the ex-pat magazine, regularly lists pet rescue, shelter, and
adoption events. I see sweater-wearing
dogs here now, being walked by everyone from scruffy old Chinese men to
foreigners to young, petite Chinese girls.
I never would've guessed, 25 years ago, that it'd be possible to see
such things in China--tears of joy!
Growth and Profit: I
don't have any delusions about getting rich as a teacher. At the same time, I still do feel called to
this profession. I read once that
teaching is the highest tribute to learning--basically, I'm showing respect to
the teachers in my past by teaching in the present.
My Chinese is growing, slowly. I take a two-hour class once a week, and some
Chinese co-workers are teaching me a little Shanghainese (one of the Wu dialects). Shanghainese is different than your standard
Beijing Mandarin.
I'm learning that even if the little green man at the
crosswalk says go, that I still don't
have the right of way--scooters always
do, and even rogue cars get away with running lights. Patience pays off--I've had near misses, but
I haven't been run over.
Relationship to Customers:
I guess my customers are my
students and the people I interact with.
I'm not always awesome to people--sometimes I do shove my way off the
subway, because if I didn't, I would miss my stop. I'm not always patient, either--with myself
or with others. Especially if it's a
slow-moving person ahead of me who's glued to their smartphone or yet another
young girl wearing heels and dragging an overloaded trolley behind her,
blocking the stairs and giggling. That
being said, I think my relationships with others are pretty good overall.
Use of technology: What
is technology, really, but a resource used to improve our lives?
The resources I've got: Some things I need/can work on:
this blog/Skype/FB church/prayer/meditation
good food yoga
Facebook reducing
alcohol consumption
walks patience
and kindness toward the self
family and friends
Products and Services:
What do I produce or provide?
Laughter. I have a great time
laughing with a couple who lives in my apartment building, and my co-workers and
I can be pretty funny. I don't have your
typical American perspective. I've spend
enough time living overseas and working with at-risk youth to know the American
dream--green grass, nice house, etc.--does not exist for everyone. I was born luckier than most, but it doesn't
make me better.
I am wacky.
I encourage people to try, and keep trying.
