The definition of currency is “the fact or quality of being generally accepted or in use”.

In ancient times currency took many different forms (for example salt, shells and bamboo) and in early days the First People of our land used whale’s teeth, fur pelts and wampum as currency. In today’s world the almighty dollar is what we chase however I think there are other forms of currency being valued in our world.

I know an organization where the currency is emails. Before meetings and after vacations there is always talk of how many emails you receive in a day, how full your inbox is and how many emails you came back to after your vacation. The more emails and the larger your inbox, the more important you appear and the more deference you are given. No one asks how many emails were relevant or required follow-up.

Another organization I know trades in face time or bum-in-seat currency. If you are in early and stay late clocking hours at your desk your value rises. There is no mention of ineffectiveness or time spent staring at the screen or reading the news. Remember the guy who left his desk staged to make everyone believe he was working but did not actually go to work for 6 years! http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/man-skipped-work-for-6-years_us_56c1d32ae4b0b40245c72512

In my Momma world the currency is kids and extra-curricular activities. If you are ferrying  kid(s) between multiple events, eating in the car in between activities and only cross path with your partner (if you have one) on a Saturday to exchange gear then you are looked at as extraordinary and given both sympathy and kudos.

My friends and I had a conversation a few weeks ago about work/life balance. When asked to name people we knew that did a good job of keeping that balance the three of us were hard pressed to identify three names. I can tell you my name was not on the list. For the record I don’t think I am the worst at keeping my life balanced but that is more a credit to Toad and not really my doing.

Take a look around you. Listen to the words that are used. What currency is driving your world?