Them

Automotive Design & Production, Sept, 2004

Some of you may have caught the 1954 movie titled Them!. The pronoun refers to giant ants that resulted from, ah, radiological mismanagement. They were rather difficult to deal with, not readily quelled. A picnic? Forget it: They were around.

I unavoidably thought about Them! while reading Who Are "They" Anyway?: A Tale of Achieving Success at Work Through Personal Accountability by BJ Gallagher and Steve Ventura (Dearborn Trade Publishing; $14.95). The essential message of the authors is that of another figure from days gone by, one who became comparatively well known in the 1960s: Pogo. As the possum observed, "We have met the enemy and he is us."

As they write in this charming little book, nearly half, inexplicably, in a layout that resembles poetry more than prose, "'There are problems that need attention. Success is at stake ... Our jobs are at stake! And they need To do something! Don't you see? I've got to continue My search for them.'"

But there is no Them. Sure, there are bosses and managers and executives. There are people who are seemingly in the way between you and what you think needs to be accomplished. The authors suggest, "If you have a problem, the key to solving it is asking yourself this question: 'What do I want?'" Note, it isn't "What do They want?" If you want something, don't search for Them. Like in Them!, you really don't want to find 'em.--GSV