IS THE GLASS HALF FULL?

This is a question we ask all of our candidates during interviews because it’s important to us that our employees have positivity as a talent theme.  I know I’ve been asked this question before too, and I’m sure I always gave what I think most people consider the requisite answer: “I see the glass as half full”.  I mean, that’s what you’re supposed to say, right?  No one wants to hire a glass half empty person.  Or do they?

 Recently I started thinking on this question deeper.  Whether you see the glass as half full or not isn’t really the point.  It’s how you feel about the glass being half full or half empty that really matters.  If I’m being honest, I think I see the glass as half empty.  And it’s not because I’m being pessimistic.  Actually, I think it’s quite the opposite.  Years ago, a mentor told me, “good is the enemy of great”.  Let that sink in for a moment.  You see, once we think things are good, we tend to settle in there.  Life is good.  My job is good.  My family is good.  That’s a nice place to be.  But it isn’t great.  But once we accept good as the answer, we are less motivated to go for anything beyond that.  We stop striving and get comfortable where we are.

Saying the glass is half full to many people is like saying it’s all good.  It’s looking on the bright side.  Sure, it’s a bummer that it’s only half full, but at least we’ve got that half going for us!  But to me, I prefer to be more focused on that other half – the half that has yet to be filled.  Of course, I’m happy that I got the glass half full and I’m grateful, but I’m far from satisfied.  That’s optimism, isn’t it?  Believing that the rest of the glass can be filled!  And knowing that you deserve for it to be.  

So, instead of looking at it as empty, I look at it as a space that is full of opportunity.  Imagine all of the ways that we can fill that remaining space!  There’s lots of room to create.  That is where all the great successes begin if you think about it.  Apple could have stopped with computers, that was certainly filling at least half their glass.  But they kept going.  

Seeing the empty part also forces you to look at what’s happening here.  Why is the glass only half full?  The answer is what will elevate you.  We never would have gotten from computer to iPhone without someone asking that question.  And I bet if you asked Apple today, they’d tell you their glass still isn’t full.  They’re not stopping yet!   

So, the next time you are asked how you see the glass, really sit with it.  And push past the obvious answer to find out what that answer really means to you.  Even if you see the glass as half full, don’t settle for that.  Recognize there is an empty space that remains to be filled and use your greatness to figure out what you’re going to fill it with.