#Verge
There’s an interesting double meaning to the words “On the verge of…”
“I was so near — on the verge of the biggest deal of my career”
OR
“I was on the verge of tears, it really got to me.”
Here’s a quick look at Wikipedia’s definition:
On the verge can be used to describe something amazing or terrible but ultimately it means something didn’t quite happen — for good or for bad
In trying to keep a theme to my blog posts* on here, I use just one word hence saying just the word #Verge. Yet it’s very difficult to say this word without on the…
Lately I’ve experienced a few “on the verges” though.
A client, friend and hero of mine on the verge of a mental health breakdown chose to share a blog post about their experience. Showing a huge amount of vulnerability, bravery and honesty in the process. Another step towards being on the verge of de-stigmatising and being more open about mental health issues.
Another friend and contact who shared their sensitive relationship issues and talked openly, again, of being on the verge of losing everything else close to them.
A collaborator, a partner, a mentee being on the verge of a whole new career dawn.
And I’ve been on the verge a bit too so I’m recognising how important it is to be aware, mindful, present about being on the verge.
It’s both a place of unbridled excitement and potential danger is on the verge.
I’m reminded of the story Bob Chapman — CEO of US-based engineering company Barry-Wehmiller — told of his company during the 2008 financial crash.
Bob was out in Italy securing a big deal for the company and then the news came of the slump. Bob’s Italian customers pulled out of the deal. So he called back to the US and heard a similar story of other orders. So Bob flew back early to the States and on arrival began to look at the options. However he looked at them, Barry-Wehmiller was on the verge of something bad, maybe even total bankruptcy.
Bob himself admits, he was on the verge of doing the usual thing: last in, first out. Cutting numbers. Laying people off. But he sense he was also on the verge of proving to himself and the people of Barry-Wehmiller (BW) that they were something different.
So instead, he went on a tour and told the story of how BW was on the verge of some catastrophic developments and action was needed. He said to his people — “…you decide. You help us know what is best to do”.
And so, people on the verge of retirement, took a package or reduced hours. People on the verge of parenthood were rallied around by their colleagues who all took a hit so they didn’t have to.
In fact every one of Bob’s people took a temporary freeze on pension contributions recognising they were on the verge of collapse if they didn’t.
And Bob then tells the story of how in a short space of time — a week or two, these actions made significant savings and they carried on without compulsory redundancies.
And then, in 2010, BW posted it’s record year.
Bob swears that being on the verge of a predictable decision and altering it saved the company. Because when BW’s people realised they were on the verge of something bad, they rallied to each other’s cause.
So I guess this post is — again, like most of my posts: Not about HR per se but about people and the philosophy of work — and so this post is written to flag up thoughts of when YOU have been on the verge. Good verges and not so good verges.
For it seems that when you ARE on the verge, the decisions you take then are probably the most important ones you’ll make.
On the verge of tears, meltdown, a new partnership or the greatest opportunity of your life, it’s very much recognising when you’re there (on the verge) and making sure you are at your most mindful and decisive.
I’m on the verge, it’s uppermost in my mind and it’s giving me a real sense of what’s next in the story of me.
I hope you can see what’s on the verge for you and your wisdom sees you through.
*I put the start after the words blog post because a piece of writing such as this is a post on a blog site — the word blog is a shortened version of the words web and log a weblog. You don’t write a blog you write a post on a blog site.
