Mark-Odean Grant

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤-𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩🎯
Educator • Coach • Founder @thevisiohq 💼
DM “LEAD” to work together

[Mark-Odean Grant @wellmarkodean]

👩‍💼 Future of Work 101
AI can analyze. AI can optimize.
But AI can’t:
✅ Inspire teams
✅ Build trust
✅ Make values-based decisions

Leadership isn’t becoming obsolete. It’s becoming more human.

The best leaders of the future? Tech-savvy, emotionally intelligent, and adaptable.

[Mark-Odean Grant @wellmarkodean]

@ClydeWilliams46 Thanks, I understand what you mean.

I hope as a nation we can create a sweet spot: the optimal structural conditions AND accountable people operating with the work ethic that enable productivity.

[Mark-Odean Grant @wellmarkodean]

This is a great and timely conversation, Sir Clyde! I have a few thought, let me know what you think.

1/4
We often call out Jamaica's “work ethic” and productivity but we also have work design, leadership, and value creation problems. So, carefulness about how we frame this is vital.

If we’re using a “billable hours” lens, global trends show that even in high-performing economies, people are typically only producing deep, high-value work for 3–5 hours in an 8-hour day. The rest is spent on "work about work" (i.e., coordination, admin, and cognitive recovery). In my experience, we're in the 3-4 range.

But, from an problem-solving angle, I'm not sure addressing Jamaicans work ethic and underperformance is the best level for change. I'm more curious about how our work is structured AND what conditions enable of block productivity.

[Clyde Williams @ClydeWilliams46]

We don’t like to talk about it, but Jamaica’s work ethic & productivity often gets a failing grade. Too many of us do not treat each paid hour as 60 minutes of deliverables.

Big law firms are the best example I can draw on. Every lawyer has targets. The bottom line is billable hours. There is really no true nine-to-five. Using an 8hr day example, an associate may be expected to bill at least 6hrs, while those aiming to progress and earn serious bonuses often target 14-16hrs.

Not only quantity, but standards matter. Quality control is strict because reputation is everything. Delivering high-quality work under serious time pressure separates the best.

So using the billable-hours model, what do you think is Jamaica’s average “billable” portion of the workday?

[Mark-Odean Grant @wellmarkodean]

4//4 Nerding out at this point.

I believe this quote is from Garvey, discussing the productivity of the Jamaican worker, almost a century ago. More recently, some other great resources on this include:

- McFarlane & Morgan (2024): Work-addiction and work-related depression in Jamaica: What is the cost of too much work?

- Cowell (2004): Is work a four-letter word? Work attitudes and the myth of the lazy Jamaican worker.

- Carter (1997): Why Workers Won't Work: The Worker in a Developing Economy: a Case Study of Jamaica

[Mark-Odean Grant @wellmarkodean]

3/4 From a consulting and leadership POV, sustainable productivity is less about squeezing more hours out of people, and more about designing systems that enable focus, capability, wellbeing, and meaningful output.

If we want to improve Jamaica’s productivity, we may need to focus less on monitoring time and more on:
-Designing better workflows
- Building skills for higher-value work
- Strengthening leadership and accountability
- Protecting cognitive capacity and wellbeing

That may lay the foundation we need for productivity to compound.

[Jonathan Shedler @JonathanShedler]

Therapy influencers don’t know you, your history, inner experience, or the people in your life. They have no relationship with you.

Many speak with authority, as if they do. Influence without relationship, accountability, or skin in the game is marketing, not professional help.

[Mark-Odean Grant @wellmarkodean]

Fascinating! I appreciate how you've framed the complexity of the link. In my work with high-performing leaders, I often see the conscientiousness as both a trait and coping mechanism, especially for those who tie their worth to performance or responsibility. So, when depresion hits, their energy drops as well as the structure that once made them safe. Your point about the guilt captures that so well!

Have you seen any research teasing apart adaptive v. maladaptive conscientiousness relating to depression? Not to mention how guilt/moral responsibility might mediate...

I wonder how we might help conscientiousness people reframe that guilt as evidence of care versus failure. Sort of a pathway to healing...

[Mark-Odean Grant @wellmarkodean]

@sbkaufman Thanks! I shall find my way to register for your class to get it IRL! Cheers! And all the best for the semester!

[Mark-Odean Grant @wellmarkodean]

@sbkaufman Totally, makes sense! And I think that’s what makes these tests so interesting; the quirks at the different levels of analysis that spark the exact kind of discussion you are modeling for your class.

Your students are lucky to have you!

[Mark-Odean Grant @wellmarkodean]

@sbkaufman Nice, thanks for sharing!!

[Mark-Odean Grant @wellmarkodean]

If you’re overwhelmed, it’s time to prioritize energy, not just tasks.

Productivity is a byproduct of energy management.

[Mark-Odean Grant @wellmarkodean]

@sbkaufman This hit hard. Thank you for naming how we can be victims not just of our circumstances, but of our own inner world. It’s a reminder that healing often begins with reclaiming authorship over our story.

[Mark-Odean Grant @wellmarkodean]

@Theholisticpsyc Fathers can make a lasting impact on a child’s mental and emotional well-being; it’s foundational for shaping future generations.

[Mark-Odean Grant @wellmarkodean]

@Lovandfear Wow, I really needed to see this today :)

[Mark-Odean Grant @wellmarkodean]

@GregoryMcKeown This came home for me most compellingly when I learned that decision making literally means cutting off other options. It compels intentional action over just words...

[Patrick Bet-David @patrickbetdavid]

Don’t hide behind your faith and family as an excuse for playing small.

If they truly matter to you, they should be the reason you give your absolute best, not the excuse for settling for less.