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Dysfunction Squared

This is hard to talk about and I really don’t wish to divulge too much, but I need to point out that the more I interact with people (and I do interact with lots and lots of people from all walks of life and in very different circumstances and venues) the more I am noticing that a large segment of the population around me is dysfunctional. And I don’t mean slightly dysfunctional. I mean dysfunctional on steroids. Double-dose dysfunctional. Dysfunction².

I was recently assisting a lady who sought me out for career assistance. She sent me her resume and a photo. Her resume needed work; but her photo made me think she was at least presentable, as she had nice make up on, a charming smile, shiny white teeth, professional attire. But when I met her in person for a consultation, I quickly noticed she had black gunk in between her teeth – totally unlike the photo. Further, she was a chain-smoker and had to interrupt our 90-minute consulting session to go out and smoke a cigarette – not once, but twice. Oh, and she was hacking and coughing continually during our consulting session.

I don’t know how this person survives month to month. I suspect she is going to have a difficult time holding most jobs. Her hygiene habits are clearly holding her back. I don’t think she is going to follow my advice on what it will take for her to succeed in this world.

I have three other people in mind as I write this, but it’s simply too depressing to detail here. Suffice it to say that there is a sizable portion of the population who seem bent on self-destruction. Dysfunction seems to be the order of the day.

Sad, but all too true.

Ara Norwood is a multi-faceted and results-oriented professional. Spanning a multiplicity of disciplines including leadership, management, innovation, strategy, service, sales, business ethics, and entrepreneurship. Ara is also a historian, having special expertise on the era of the founding of our republic.
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