Memo Writing Sample 3-Professional Communications

Memorandum

TO:  Jay Baldwin, Instructor

FROM:  Cassandra Tuenge, Student

DATE:  April 7^th, 2009

SUBJECT:  Overworking Ourselves To Death

In a country experiencing such tough economic times, threatened by the obesity of McDonaldization and in danger of becoming “Flattened” by technology and globalization, we need to reevaluate our priorities, renew our definition of America, and recover from this “time famine” from which we suffer by joining The Slow Movement.  Joining the slow movement will create a healthier, more productive, more efficient, and certainly stronger United States of America as it improves our lives, our organizations and our ability to move with change.  “The Slow Movement began with a protest against the opening of a McDonald's restaurant in Piazza di Spagna, Rome that sparked the creation of the Slow Food organization. Over time, this developed into a subculture in other areas, such as Slow Travel, Slow Shopping, and Slow Design” (Wikipedia).

“Time Famine”

To increase efficiency and productivity in an overworked culture we need to join The Slow Movement.  The process for developing into a slow culture is as follows:

Ÿ  Reevaluate our priorities

Ÿ  Renew our definition of America

Ÿ  Recover from time famine

The Slow Movement

Have you ever noticed how productive you are when you don’t force yourself to adhere to a strict schedule?  If you were given the choice to work a shorter work week, do you think you would find a way to be more efficient to get extra time off?  If you had less than a 10-12 hour work day, do you think you might answer personal emails when you get home, skip checking your Myspace and just get your work done with the idea that you’ll still have some of the day to enjoy your family?  I would.

Reevaluate

This time deficiency is the source of our problems, and how do we look for a solution when we have a problem, we look for the source.  We need to reevaluate in order to rediscover our priorities because right now we simply cannot afford to work only to consume material things.  In America, we live in a culture where being overworked is a status symbol and it is that need to be busy that is compromising our health, our families, and American society.  Instead of feeling troubled by the hurting economy and letting it consume us, let us realign our priorities with the days when living meant something more than the objects we possess.  Cahn, from TimeBanks USA, describes the movement as being about how we value things rather than how fast we can consume and how much we can accumulate. 

Renew

We need to renew our definition of America and renew our way of life.  “Opposed to the culture of fast food, the sub-movement known as Slow Food seeks to encourage the enjoyment of regional produce, traditional foods, which are often grown organically and to enjoy these foods in the company of others” (Wikipedia).  This concept will likely act as a catalyst for improving all areas of life, including organizational life. 

CNN’s report on the Slow Movement provided a list of organizations who encourage individuals and businesses to save time. They include:

Ÿ  Long Now Foundation, San Francisco, California was established to provide an alternative to a "faster/cheaper" mind set and promote "slower/better" thinking.

Ÿ  Take Back Your Time, a nonprofit group based in Seattle, Washington, is leading a national campaign to address time famine by using conferences and teach-ins to wean people off their need to be busy.

Ÿ  John de Graaf, national coordinator for Take Back Your Time, says the nonprofit group is calling for legislation guaranteeing at least three weeks of paid annual vacation for all workers, paid leave for all new parents and workplace rules limiting the amount of compulsory overtime.

Recover

Graaf says that, “Companies will actually profit more if they don't overwork employees because they will become healthier and more productive, he says. He points to the robust economies of Western European countries, which treat their workers to more vacation time and shorter work weeks than their counterparts in the United States.”

Graaf also says that, “slowing down won't only save lives; it'll save democracy…democracy can’t exist without informed citizens…people need time to pay attention to the news, attend city council meetings and keep elected official accountable.”  His organization is pressing for laws that would allow people to have election days off.

The answer this country is searching for is a reevaluation, and a renewal, and it may find the recovery it so desires.  We tend to look past the simplest solution because it is often the most difficult to swallow, but getting back to our slower days will give us the energy we need to press on and move forward with the changing world.  For suggestions on how to combat “time famine” at home or at work, I would be happy to offer suggestions.