Performance

It was only this morning that I realized that reviews at work are called “performance” reviews.

Performance has 2 meanings – an act of staging or presenting a play, concert, or other form of entertainment and the action or process of carrying out or accomplishing an action, task, or function.

While the second definition is what we think of when we think of work, I am sure you and I know of people who come into work and act as if the only performance they know is the first kind. They prepare incredibly hard for their meetings, show up on time (you can’t be late on stage), bring their whole beings to their work, care for the experience of the people around them and try to make the world better with their work.

Sometimes, I think every word works a bit like the word ‘performance’ – there are always two meanings. You can work or you can “work.” You can be a friend or you can be a “friend.” I realize these differences don’t have as much effect in writing as they do in my head. But, there are those who approach work or friendship as everyone else does. And, then, there are those who just do it differently. Suddenly, work or friendship isn’t what you are used to.

That’s magic.

The magic of a Steve Jobs product launch was that he didn’t treat it as a product launch.