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Just Because: Is Your Business Stuck in Old Ways?

Audio / Produced by The High Calling

Transcript

At his new job, Barry saw something funny. The company used odd-sized stationery—about half an inch shorter than standard. When Barry asked why, from intern to executive came the same blank stare and a shrug. “Because that’s how we always did it.”

Barry persisted, finally going to the company’s longest-term employee: Myrna. In the early days—the lean days—Myrna explained, the company owner got a deal on odd-sized envelopes . . . and trimmed the stationery a half-inch to fit. The company eventually got more envelopes but the habit stuck.

This is Howard Butt, Jr., of Laity Lodge. “We’ve always done it that way” can be a poor reason to still do it that way. What are your “just-because” habits? . . . in the high calling of our daily work.

Image by Andrew Schär. Used with permission. Sourced via Flickr.