Basic Skills / Fast Company / Journal Project, Will R. Yliniemi  September 30, 1999

Fast Company # 11, The Philosopher  Tom Morris, by Anna Muoio, July-August, 1999 Issue Fast Company, Page 140

Summary

I will skip all the credentials of the object (Tom Morris) of this story, and delve into the content of what Mr. Morris says about excess, success and How Much is Enough. Morris contends that the greatest case of mistaken identity in modern society relates to the four marks of public success: money, power, fame, or status. If acquiring money or fame is your goal, how do you know when you had enough? He says that that everyone who has a little, as well as those who have a lot -want more. Aristotle warned that the problem with desire is that it feeds on itself.

Mr. Morris states that people who are satisfied with their income or position are people who treat those things as resources  not as goals. He cites Roman orator-philosopher Seneca who wanted people to distinguish their needs from their desires by suggesting that people spend one day a month living on bread and water and sleeping on the floor to realize how little you need to survive. Seneca wanted people to know what represents enoughness.

Morris states that there are two types of dissatisfaction in life: dissatisfaction of acquisition and dissatisfaction of aspiration. Acquisition centers on the drive to have more things and its caused by a void that can never be filled, making it a very unhealthy dissatisfaction. Morris contends that dissatisfaction of aspiration is a healthy dissatisfaction, because its about what you want to become, therefore causing you to grow, expand your horizons, be more loving, and more effective at what you do. The most elusive key to satisfaction is not getting what you want  its wanting what you get.

Morris states that one way to figure out whats worth striving for in the future is to assess your satisfaction with the present. He accomplishes this by having people make lists of what they like and dont like about their life and jobs. Such lists give people the opportunity to enhance and preserve the good, and get rid of, or change the bad.

Morris states that success should never be confused with wealth or power, but should be linked to excellence and fulfillment. Success is about who you are, not what you have. People really need help with understanding reality, not inventing appearance. We dont need to develop our personality. We need to cultivate our character. The people who are most likely to enjoy success are those who most enjoy seeking it. These people are able to find satisfaction in the journey, not just at the end of the road.

Reflection

I enjoyed the article and believe that Mr. Morris has connected with the code to understanding what enoughness is really all about. I am a bit disappointed that the article did not illustrate with enough clarity that it is not only those that are financially secure that wrestle with this issue of satisfaction, but also, all humanity is confronted with the dilemma. From the impoverished, to Bill Gates, all must find satisfaction in the journey, because each life must have meaning and potential.

Fast Company tends to resort to focussing on a select few, and never relating to the masses. I understand that they have identified their audience, but this narrow view of problem identification only widens the chasm of understanding/compassion between economic classes, and fails to give objective meaning to those that are struggling with making ends meet. I truly am not a bleeding heart liberal, but am really getting fed up with the context of the magazine. I find that there are issues of Fast Company that are so distasteful in article content, that I have difficulty finding an article that relates to any values in my life. Of the last three issues of Fast Company, the only issue that piques my interest to any sustainable degree is the July/August Edition.

Discussion

In a recent discussion with an Extension colleague, we examined this topic of gaining meaning from life. We talked about how determiners of what represented excellence and fulfillment changed as we entered each new phase of life. It was interesting to note during the conversation, that the financial aspects of our lives were not paramount, and that the discussion centered upon the attributes of people and character. This is quite understandable, since our acquisition abilities are rather limited as Extension employees. It is therefore completely logical that we concentrate on the other aspects of satisfaction.

-- Anonymous, September 30, 1999