I follow Seth Godin's blog. He inspired me to write this one.
This recent post of Seth's talks about the critical path. For those not familiar with waterfall project management, the critical path is the list of tasks that control the overall delivery timeframe of the job. While all tasks need to be completed, certain tasks that cannot start until the project is at a specific stage, and therefore some tasks are are more critical than others.
An individualistic approach is to try and avoid ever being on the critical path and thereby avoid the pressure and stress associated with being critical to the success of the team. To look after myself, and my own tasks, so that I'm OK.
The team-based approach is to work on the critical path at all times. This might mean helping the person with responsibility for the current critical task, or preparing for when I have responsibility.
What is the critical path in your city, your neighbourhood? What's the key task that needs work in order for your city, your neighbourhood, our society to thrive?
I'm willing to guess that property is the current critical task that needs to be worked on for many of us. And if it isn't, it's time can't be too far away.
So are we working on it? Are we working on it personally? Or are we looking after ourselves, and relying on a distant 'other' to deal with it?
If property is on the critical path for our society to thrive (and I'd suggest it is), we have a responsibility to help those working on it.