Like boy scouts we are driven by badges. Our lives are filled with badges.
I got my MBA. I’m married. Husband. Father.
Ran 5k. Ran a Marathon.
Manager. Sr. Manager. Director.
We aspire to collect as many badges as possible. It’s a great motivational tool. It inspires us. Drives us to work hard.
Winning a badge doesn’t mean much if there isn’t a sash to display them.
Family get togethers were a good sash. Bumper stickers that says “My child is a honor student” are a good sash. Facebook is the latest sash.
Problem is, in our quest for the next badge we forget our obligations with the current badge. We become helicopter parents. We start to coast at work. We don’t realize why we got the badge. Ultimately we fail to cherish what we have.
While it’s important to strive for the next badge, it’s more important not to lose what you have.
For one, not too many have what you have in the first place. Ask any cub scout.
