The Biz Coach

A Special Edition...

2009-03-30T12:10:00.004-04:00

Well, by the time the package arrived, I had literally heard enough about vampires, watched more than my fair share of cheesy entertainment shows with the cast of the latest popular movie made from a book series. What I will say is this, even though I had the pleasure of seeing Twilight at Randolph in the luxury seats, I was pretty sure that seeing it at home would be more enjoyable. My wife, Heather, who had literally bought all of the series over the course of a long weekend, and had finished them in just under three days, purchased the movie, a two disc special edition from Amazon.com so that we could have it delivered to our home when it was available for everyone to buy. She was actually out of town during the day, so she made sure to call every hour to see if the mailman had delivered the goods…which to her excitement had occurred early in the afternoon. She would be returning to the house with the plans of watching every minute of the special features, which included an additional disc with commentary that surprisingly was not bad compared to other feature films of late. The movie itself, well developed, though reportedly not as good as the book was entertaining in light of the surprisingly silly special effects.

Does anyone really think that anyone can move like that in a densely overgrown wood?

Haha…hopefully the new movie will have a larger budget for special effects, even though Jacob Black has reportedly gained 40lbs of muscle to appear more like the book version of his character. Overall this was an excellent movie, even if from the perspective of a teacher, it was entertaining and fun to watch.

2009-03-04T08:49:00.005-05:00

A funny thought occurred to me recently while I was teaching one of my college classes. While one thing was significantly similar, all the students in class had the desire to attend college, but in this particular case they were all in different stages of their life. As an example, one student was in her mid twenties, while another was in his late fifties. While they shared education as the goal, certainly their reasons must be different. And so I asked the question, even though I expected the answers to be varied, I was surprised to find out that they were similar. The reason these two different target markets were attending class was simple. They enjoyed the way learning makes them feel, the sense of accomplishment when they get a good grade and are recognized for successful work. Remarkably simple in reality, but not at all expected. The younger student explained that after several years in the workforce, she missed the chance to interact with other students while accomplishing some task. In her professional role, she rarely worked in an environment where other employees were interested in the common good of the job or company. She further explained how this has led her to be unsatisfied in her job and actual pushed her to return to school to find a more satisfying career. The older student shared similar concerns and further explained that in his role he saw more often that employees were unhappy with their inability to improve their job options based on education limitations, and so he decided to return to school to complete his degree. Now for the funny thought. Why do we stop going to school in the first place? In a society where education is revered and rewarded, why then do we choose to stop as soon as they let us? Besides the obvious cost limitations, but there are lots of ways to continue learning without high costs. Community college is well within reach of just about anyone with a job, so why not continue to reach for self improvement?

You be the judge...

2009-01-16T09:04:00.003-05:00

Recently I was having a discussion with a student in one of my college classes about ethics. To put some perspective on this student, he is in his capstone course, the last of many in his quest for a bachelor’s degree in business management. One of the focuses of the content in this course is personal ethics versus business ethics which sometimes are not inline with each other. As an example, his personal view is simple and not difficult to understand: if something is not yours, don’t take it, if you are able to help, do so, and look out for others as often as you can. This view is seemingly good natured in application and most people if they shared this opinion would lead happy full lives. Enter the dilemma.

As an example, his personal view is simple and not difficult to understand: if something is not yours, don’t take it, if you are able to help, do so, and look out for others as often as you can.

Corporate ethics seemingly do not share this basic goodness effort and more often than not are contradictory to these ideals. To understand what I mean, you only have to look at the last year’s petroleum industry profit margins. While we were busy paying $3+ per gallon, profits were at record levels. What happened to being a good neighbor and helping the consumer stay a consumer? Think about all the businesses that lost out as a result of the price gouging of fuel. Hospitality and tourism took a major hit as travelers were not able to get to destinations. In a meeting with a local resort on the cape this week, I was told they were down almost 25 percent last summer, and for a place that was typically at capacity all season long. So, as a result several departments experienced layoffs. This is only one example. So my question is about corporate ethics. What responsibility should a corporation have to its consumers? Should they only be driven by greed and the bottom line? Should the government step in and mandate policy to keep this type of control from being detrimental to the rest of our economy? You be the judge. Only you the consumer can control what happens as we make the final decision to buy or not to buy. What do you think?

Rule # 17 The Indisputable Laws of Teamwork

2008-12-11T10:30:00.004-05:00

This concept is really simple and can be exemplified in our own school. Teamwork takes time, winning requires commitment, and success is measured over the long haul. Think about it. This year our football team was very successful, so much so they got to play in the Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium. We have not had such a successful season in over 20 years. This can be seen as the direct result of successful coaching over the last several years with Rob McCoy and the addition of Ted Currle. Each has brought their personal experiences with playing and coaching to the locker room and grown the team to the level of play required to achieve such success. It takes time to build a successful program, and it starts with freshman and even in many cases much earlier than that. The team this year had such strong seniors such as Josh Archer, Sean Ryan, Ricky Travers and Deuce. This was not something that happened in one season, it took years to develop and mature to this level.

The Law of Dividends: Investing in the Team Compounds Over Time

So the next time you think about a sports team or any other team for that matter, recognize that in order for that team to experience success, each member had to invest not only in themselves, but in the team as well. Try it sometime, see for yourself. You will be glad you did.

Rule # 16 The Indisputable Laws of Teamwork

2008-12-04T13:51:00.004-05:00

How true it is… Often when we are faced with pain and the end result is a win, we can endure almost anything. People are resilient when they see the choices. Losing in itself can be a painful venture regardless of the energy and efforts extolled to play. Corporations employ this theory when they are introducing products to market and they are selling below costs. If they can corner the marketplace and market share, inevitably they are not concerned with the bottom line in the short run.

The Law of High Morale: When You're Winning, Nothing Hurts

Everyone from children to grandparents like to feel the exhilaration of the win, and to prove this theory, you only have to watch the look on someone’s face when they have crossed the finish line while running with a cramp, or a race car driver who has completed the race with a damaged car.

Rule # 15 The Indisputable Laws of Teamwork

2008-11-20T14:06:00.004-05:00

Ever wonder why some teams make it to the big game with inconsistency and some make it seemingly every year? Of course there can be lots of different situations that can account for those two scenarios, but I would like you to think about two very different vantage points. For my example, we can use high school sports teams. Each year they change, players graduate, get hurt, change sports interests or any number of uncontrollable circumstances. Since we know there is almost no way a team can consistently be the same, how then can we account for some schools being more successful than others on a regular basis? Surely they have the same goals? They all want to win, they all want to be successful and gain the respect of their peers, but not everyone does. Why? Naturally we have to look at their leadership.

The Law of the Edge: The Difference Between Two Equally Talented Teams Is Leadership

In many cases, those who have remained in their leadership roles for a longer period of time experience more successes than those who do not. So what do we do when we look at two teams who have made it to the big game and they are similarly matched, it comes down to one thing: Leadership. The difficult part about leadership is that it is not easily measured. You either have it or you don’t. Lots of people think they do, and to some extent they may even exhibit some leadership qualities, but true leaders show those qualities at all times and in all situations. That is why you will see the same schools competing for the top slots year after year: quality leadership.

The Road Less Travelled...

2008-11-08T01:08:00.006-05:00

Recently I had the opportunity to work with team of educators from around New England on a site visit for re-accreditation. It reminded me why I liked my educational background so much. Unlike most educators that I work with, initially I did not attend school with the intention of becoming a teacher. I went to a private university (JWU) for my undergraduate degrees in the area of business which I feel prepared me very well for my career in management. My studies were varied as my classes were diverse. I spent time in my classes with students from all over the globe, but for the most part each of us were in the same place in our lives, fresh from secondary schools with a whole lot of choices in front of us. While there were lots of things in our background that were different, in the classroom we were all about the same, with similar if not the same level of experiences and skills sets. In many instances this is what may make college a good experience, since you have lots of people who are in the same place to share your time with. While it was not a bad situation to learn in, I doubt seriously that I would ever return to such an institution. Let me explain. One of the reasons I enjoyed the NEASC work team was simple, each of the fourteen other members of the team came from somewhere else, with a different position and responsibility and level of experience. There were two superintendents, an assistant principal, a curriculum director, several guidance councilors, and even some teachers such as myself, although I was the only business teacher. It was a very enriching experience working closely with this group towards the same goal. I had a similar experience with my graduate degree program. I chose a different route than the traditional method; I chose an online program (UOP) which afforded me the flexibility to continue my other interests while still working two jobs which is not uncommon for a teacher these days. My classes were filled with students, all who wanted the same outcome, a graduate degree in Education Leadership, but they were very different than the students I would have had the opportunity to learn from in a traditional setting. Similar to the group of educators I worked with on the NEASC team; my classes were filled with people from all backgrounds in experience and title as well. I took classes with superintendents, principals, assistant principals and teachers as well. In addition to that, the students were not just from my geographic area, but from all over the country, and in some cases the world. This meant that not only was I learning with students who are interested in the same degree, but I was going to be able to learn from some of their experiences as well. I am not saying this process is for everyone, as it required significant discipline on my part, as the schedule was far more rigorous than a ground class, and as a faculty member of two accredited post-secondary schools, I can tell you the expectations for my program were indeed high. I had to sacrifice a great many things while I was earning my graduate degree, but in the end I feel it was worth the investment. There is still a stigma associated with schools like mine, but in time that too will change. As evidence of that, you only have to look at the course selection guide at just about every school you are interested in. If they are not offering distance learning now, they will be soon enough. There are even secondary schools that offer distance classes to enhance course offerings.The world is a much smaller place with the invention of the Internet, and only those that embrace its offerings will be in the front of the line.

Rule #14 The Indisputable Laws of Teamwork

2008-10-15T09:25:00.011-04:00

Today, more than ever, communication is the difference between making the right decision and making the wrong decision. Far too often people make the mistake of failing to communicate simply because they are not willing to be committed to excellence. There are few situations in today’s workplace where there is not time to effectively communicate about a situation. Did an employee make a decision or a mistake in judgment? Take the time to figure out where the problem occurred. Was he/she making the decision or mistake on their own? Was there some direction you were not aware of?

The Law of Communication: Interaction Fuels Action: The best and only way to better manage the situation is to communicate with the individual involved.

Fail to do that and you are no better than most inept mid level managers. With more ways than ever to communicate, there still is no better way than face to face, it leaves little room for misunderstanding and even in some ways alleviates the pressure of the problem and provides for finality of the situation, meaning it will not be carried further than necessary.

Manager versus Leader - Which would you rather be?

2008-10-06T13:51:00.004-04:00

Being a leader is more than being a manager. Excellence in management seldom gets the job done. You can make sure that everything is in place, try diligently to make sure all the things you think are important are accomplished, but those things will be quickly forgotten when you make quick, often irrational decisions regarding things that are not related to the bottom line. When people are in need of leaders, managers are often the first people they look to, and rightfully so. Sadly, many managers are in fact not leaders, simply because they fail to make the connection where people’s needs are concerned. You see, no job or career is exempt from that issue. People want to be led, in fact they require it.

Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things. - Peter F. Drucker

And leadership is not only being the person in the top position, but being the person everyone looks to for guidance and direction. A leader has to make the decisions that need to be made, and those are not always directly in line with the neat little rules that are placed in binders or standards of operation. A leader needs to see the big picture, put all things into consideration and most of all, be the one in charge of investigating things that don’t seem to fit the profile. Anyone can read procedures and deliver exacting guidelines for conformity, but a leader earns the position by separating themselves from a manager by their actions.

Are you a dog or a cat?

2008-09-23T20:41:00.009-04:00

Recently I was engaged in a very interesting conversation when the topic of fair versus equal came up. This undoubtedly is another one of those points to ponder similar to my earlier rant about efficient versus effective. In education, we are always faced with this issue. It happens daily, in each and every class we teach. We have become so efficient at modifying the content, the assessment, and the modality that often we never even stop to consider this topic.

“That’s not fair,” screams an angry child.

This is all too often our wakeup to the difference between the two competing ideals. Since I have no children, my argument is slightly different. I am, as many people know, a dog guy. I also have a cat, but few would confuse me as a cat lover, though they do have their moments. I hear regularly from Heather (my wife) that I am not equally spending time with both of our animals. This conversation is as common as what is for dinner… And so it is that reason I begin to investigate the why. Is it because I do not like the cat? Certainly not, he is great. Is it because he is not mine? No, in fact he is as much mine as Heather’s. So why then? Maybe it is because when I come home the dog greets me at the door. She puts nearly all of her expendable energy into our relationship almost 100% of the time. Can I say that for the cat? Nope, not even close. He is only concerned with my whereabouts at mealtime. Hmmmm…where am I going with this? Lets make the leap to the classroom. Ever wonder why someone else is seemingly the favorite? Always gets asked to perform some task or help in some special project/assignment? These students are displaying the same common behaviors that I would relate closely to a dog mentality, while others are clearly acting more in line with that of the cat. For most things, everyone is treated equal and fair. But to be sure, the dog is always going to get more attention than the cat.

[No animals were harmed in the writing of this post!]

Rule # 13 The Indisputable Laws of Teamwork

2008-09-19T11:31:00.008-04:00

Sounds simple, right? Not really. Imagine a sports team with one hundred players. Do they all have the same role? The same skill sets? Do you think they are all playing for the same reasons? Not likely for any of those questions. So how do they manage to be successful as a team when there is such diversity? One focus, one common goal. This can and should be the same for any team, not just in sports. It is that idea that sets the team in the direction for success.

The Law of Identity: Shared Values Define the Team

To really feel and understand the concept of teamwork, you must place the goals of the team above your personal goals. This is often a hard process, though once mastered, can be very rewarding, in many ways. One such was is in improved success when working with others, and lets face it, who wants to work alone? When you share the values of the team, everyone wins.

Are you ready for tomorrow?

2008-09-15T19:15:00.006-04:00

Do you think you are prepared to enter the 21st Century workforce? If you answer yes, lets investigate your opinion a little… Are you planning on furthering your education? What about any additional language skills? Have you considered that in order to be effective at your job when you finish your schooling / degree you are likely going to have to be competing against someone who has had more years of math, sciences and languages than you have and will be prepared to do your goal job for less money and less benefits? These questions are not meant to appear arrogant or even mentioned to make you upset that you might not be prepared today. The real intent is to suggest that school, while it might not be on your list of priorities now, at some point it should be, and I would suggest sooner than later. The skill sets in the modern workforce are not the same as those in previous years. You are going to need to be better educated than your grandparents, parents and even in some cases your older siblings.

Start Investing In Yourself Now!

Technology is driving almost every industry and job in the world to places where wages are lower, benefits can be better managed and costs kept to where we are not accustomed to accepting. If you want to stay ahead in this race, you had better do one thing: start investing in yourself now. Learn something new, study harder on something you are not good at, and be better at it. Take a class in something you think will help you get a position over someone else. Wonder why I am even suggesting you start now? Because even with a Master’s Degree and hopes to pursue further education, I have missed out on positions I wanted and was qualified for to other applicants who found areas to outshine the pack. You see, these issues are not only your generation's, but all of ours.

What I did for summer vacation by Cory Rogers

2008-09-12T10:24:00.002-04:00

I guess that I am a little late on this announcement, but only because I have been caught up in all the excitement of it all. I am proud to say that I was able to marry the woman of my dreams this past July. Heather and I were married on a beautiful Saturday morning (July 19th, 2008) at Clay Hill Farm in Ogunquit, ME surrounded by our friends and family. Heather is from southern Maine originally, so the venue choice was simple as she had always wanted to get married in this area. I could not have been happier as the location was great, the day was amazing and the time spent we with all of our guests could not have been more perfect. Being the big kid that I am, we of course honeymooned in Disney and it was a great way to relax after more than a year and a half of constant calls, lists and conversations leading up to the "big" day!

Rule # 12 The Indisputable Laws of Teamwork

2008-09-09T13:47:00.008-04:00

It is not surprising the level of success that Norton High has had in the last several years. One such reason for this success is simple: The quality of the staff is excellent. While we share a great many talented veteran teachers, we are also fortunate to have been able to attract and keep a fair amount of new teachers who bring with them some very interesting backgrounds, all of which add to the quality and content to the classrooms they work in daily. Our new physical education teacher, Mr. Currle, is an assistant coach for a semi-professional ball team in Virginia. Ms. Beisheim was a Construction Supervisor who was an expert in site safety and management. Ms. Malone worked for several years in business before she made the transition to a role here at Norton where she defines success in the classroom. With the successful amalgamation of old and new here in Norton, we can see the next tenet of teamwork:

The Law of the Bench: Great Teams Have Great Depth

Now it is important to consider that just having good team members does not always equal success, but coupled with leadership that understands the individual strengths and weaknesses of each member and how that affects the team as a whole, success is always within reach. This year promises to be the best yet in the last four years as this school team matures. Go Team Norton!

Try this at home...

2008-06-09T10:13:00.006-04:00

As my role as a senior advisor came to a close, I decided to spend some time reflecting on the process and roles we took to accomplish this task. We graduated the class of 173 seniors on Friday June 6th, 2008 at the Comcast Center in what seemed like a very short year. We had a theme boat ride, a Sysco Holiday Party, Prom, Class Night, Six Flags and even an all night Grad Party hosted by an amazing group of parents (and none of which had seniors!) For those that missed that event, you should make it a point to be involved with that sometime in your future. At times it was a stressful venture, four teachers tasked with the impossible, a class that at times seemed unconnected, but in the end they made the journey together. For those who have never been a class advisor, I say this; this was as much fun and as hard as you make it. Just take a chance, make a difference and volunteer. I was not sure as I raised my hand two years ago in taking on this class as juniors, but even thought the time was always a factor, but I know that I would do it again, in a second.

I would like to thank the people that made this position worthwhile: Paula, Everett, and Larry (a motley crew for sure!)

Also, to the parents and the staff from the Attleboro YMCA, you definitely made an amazing night happen for this group of graduates. It was awesome! These graduates will have a lifetime of memories created at your hands. Thanks for all you have done! Congratulations Class of 2008!

Some exciting news...

2008-06-09T09:05:00.004-04:00

As the end of the year approaches, two things occur to me. One, time seems to be flying by at an alarming rate of speed. Second, a number of really amazing things occurred during the past year. While time does not generally speed up for anyone, myself included, there were several things that contributed to the overall feeling. One, I work too much. Many people might laugh at that statement. I teach on average of three nights a week. Most weeks I teach four, but there are the occasional weeks where two is the norm. I teach post secondary for two colleges. I enjoy this for several reasons. Most students at this level are paying for their education, so they typically are a more interested in their classes. This is not always the case, but it definitely changes the dynamic of a classroom when the students are there at their own decision/cost. I also own a small business, which now in it’s fourth year runs fairly smooth without a great deal of input from me on a regular basis, however it still takes up time. Two, I am getting married in less than two months to an amazing woman, one who puts up with my hectic schedule, my inability to say no to just about anyone about anything, and who understands my need to stay in public education. Before this school year began, I was offered a full professor position at a nearby university teaching a subject I have almost a decade of experience in, Management. She really felt this was the direction to take, but deferred to my staying here in Norton, for what I think has been my best school year since I entered the teaching field. That brings me to the second thing that occurred to me during my reflection. A whole score of amazing things have happened this year. We reached the third year of a new program here in Norton, DECA which in today’s educational landscape is nothing short of a miracle. If you don’t think so, read the newspaper and count the number of things getting cut in school departments all over the state. Not only have we grown from just over 15 students to 100 in the last three years, we also grew the business department from one teacher to three in as many years and each year we have added more current business offerings and made huge leaps in the curriculum as well. Another first for us this year was the DECA 1st Annual Pot Luck Dinner which we held this year at the Outlaw BBQ in Foxboro. This was an event we have been working towards for several years and this year with the help of some amazing seniors, it took place on May 12th with almost half the members attending and each one brought a family specialty to share. Special thanks to the Bishop family for sponsoring the dinner and allowing Norton DECA the use of their restaurant for our function. I have received notification that I will be returning to Norton next year for my fourth year, which provides me with professional status, which as a teacher is very important, especially in my case with an upcoming wedding. I am looking forward to enjoying a very long career teaching Norton students the business skills they need to succeed. Thanks Norton!

Rule # 11 The Indisputable Laws of Teamwork

2008-04-16T08:52:00.003-04:00

Just one word: Communication. This word can separate those of us who enjoy winning often and those of you that experience defeat regularly. Simply put, by communicating often and effectively about your part of the process can allow your teammates (or fellow classmates, employees or whomever…) the ability to make adjustment to compensate for your position.

The Law of the Scoreboard: The Team Can Make Adjustments When It Knows where It Stands

As an example, if you have a group presentation that needs to be printed for the next class and everyone expects you to bring it to class, but your printer is broken. How do you manage to get this accomplished? Simple, you tell one of your group members about your broken printer and they print it instead. This way, no one is let down, the team moves forward towards the goal and everyone wins. Communication can solve almost any problem if you give it a chance.

Effective versus Efficient

2008-04-16T08:28:00.004-04:00

You find the following words defined by www.dictionary.com

ef·fec·tive –adjective : adequate to accomplish a purpose; producing the intended or expected result: effective teaching methods; effective steps toward peace.

ef·fi·cient –adjective : satisfactory and economical to use: Our new air conditioner is more efficient than our old one.

As you can see they both equal a job accomplished. That being said, which one would you like used to describe you? Most of us would prefer to be listed as efficient, since in today’s workplace, efficiency is what saves money, gets the job/task done in the least amount of time and more importantly allows us to move on to the next task at hand. But is that enough? I was recently asked this question in an interview. I had never really thought of this before then. Which do I prefer? After careful thought and consideration, I know that most of the time I would be described as efficient, and while that is not necessarily a bad thing (quite the opposite really) I think I would prefer to be described as effective. Some of you might think this is such a small distinction, the difference between the two, but consider this thought. Some jobs are not just the day to day tasks that we need to muddle through to finish some process. Some require some genuine thoughts to reach the desired result, and since there are always more ways to reach the goal in today’s society, sometimes the measure of success is how you reach it, not just the goal itself. And so I change, not by much, but enough to make the difference from being efficient to effective, since often in life, it is the small small details that set us apart from one another. Make the change, people will appreciate the difference you make.

Some random thoughts...

2008-03-26T10:01:00.006-04:00

These are some silly questions that make you think...even if it is just for fun...haha :)

Can you cry under water?

How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?

Why do you have to "put your two cents in"... it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? What happens to that extra penny?

Why does a round pizza come in a square box? What disease did cured ham actually have?

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

Why is it that people say they "slept like a baby" when babies wake up like every two hours?

Why are you IN a movie, but you're ON TV?

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?

Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp, no decent human being would eat?

If the professor on Gilligan's Island can make a radio out of a coconut, why can't he fix a hole in a boat?

Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They're both dogs!

If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME crap, why didn't he just buy dinner?

If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?

If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?
That is my personal favorite...

Rule # 10 The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork

2008-03-26T09:54:00.005-04:00

Some of you will understand this more than others. You know who you are. You are the ones who are up before dawn, working until midnight three nights a week to get the job done when others are making excuses. Sounds like you should be successful if you are doing this right? Not so. If the other members of your team are not getting their portion of the work complete, your efforts are going to be wasted. In order for a team to be successful, all members must be willing to pay the price. Everyone should be willing to work as hard as one another.

The Law of the Price Tag: The Team Fails to Reach Its Potential When It Fails to Pay the Price.

This can be simple to correct, but each of you must be willing to work towards the same goals. More importantly you must be able to achieve them together; otherwise you might as well be doing it alone.

Rule # 9 The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork

2008-02-29T11:44:00.006-05:00

Imagine making the impossible throw from centerfield to home plate only to realize the catcher, who should be paying attention to the game, was on the sidelines signing autographs? Now add another dimension, this was the deciding play for two teams in the World Series. It is important for all members of the team to understand the environment they are in, and also to recognize their roles and responsibilities to the team as a whole. There are very few things that we can accomplish on our own. Imagine trying to compete in the Tour De France without a support team. It would be impossible. Remember this when you are placed in a situation where others a relying on your efforts for the success of the team as a whole.

The Law of Countability: Teammates Must Be Able to Count on Each Other When It Counts

In a recent class (post secondary) of mine, I had three learning teams that were required to complete a long term assignment which required some planning and several meetings to accomplish the end result. Of the three teams, one performed to the standard and completed the assignments with relative ease. The other two teams were plagued with failure to produce. One even had a late drop the night before the class ended. The two teams with trouble, when questioned about their performance cited differences in each person’s perception of the value and needs of teamwork. If you expect others to perform to your level of expectations, likely you should be prepared to perform to that level yourself. Strive to be the person people want on their team.

To lead or not to lead…is it really a question?

2008-01-24T10:04:00.000-05:00

Ever wonder why you get so much resistance from so many people? Could it be that something you are doing might be the cause? It could be that your treatment of others has given them an opinion that not everyone is as valuable to you as they should be? What do I mean by this? When you do not provide the same response to a situation for one that you do for another it can and will create animosity from your peers. It will likely be the cause for resentment and even resistance to your every move. Take a good look at some of the things you do and ask yourself honestly if it was the right thing to do. Don’t hide behind the feeling that you can do whatever you want without question. By that standard you can do as you please, but the results can and are the fruit of misgivings. People deserve better. Favorites are fine on the personal side of life, but not in the workplace, especially if you are to be the leader of a team of individuals who share a workspace and see the outcome of favoritism. When you create an atmosphere where everyone feels valued and important, the focus can be on the task at hand, and resistance become a thing of the past, which incidentally makes being the leader a much more enjoyable job.

Start planning now...

2008-01-24T08:15:00.000-05:00

Have you ever really thought about what you wanted to do for the rest of your life? For a career? Studies show in your lifetime that you will likely have 4-5 full time jobs versus the 1-2 my parents had. This question, while very important, is probably harder to answer than ever before. The reason? Simple. There are so many more choices for you than there were for even my generation. The key to being able to access those choices, now more than ever, is education. After reading the results of a short term research project on outsourcing, I decided to read up a little more on the upside of this current trend. While we see lots of low tech jobs leaving the shores of the US, there are lots of more beneficial employment opportunities staying here for our educated masses. How do you stay in the workforce earning the income you want? Again, education is the answer. A peek at a classified employment section shows a growing list of technical openings while the positions for entry level low tech jobs seems to stay steady with few changes. Why do I mention this? It is time to begin your plans for long term success. Decide what you don’t want to do. It might make deciding what you do want to do easier. But one thing is certain, plan often, early and well because somewhere, maybe not in Norton, someone else is planning on taking your job and likely before you are ready to give it up.

Rule # 8 The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork

2008-01-23T11:04:00.001-05:00

We have all had experience with this. You are working on a project with a group and one person has made it their role to complain and prevent any forward momentum. This person has really pulled the wind from your sails and no one really has the focus to move forward after the team member has derailed your progress. Have you ever been that person? Why? Has it been rewarding? Have people befriended you for your efforts? Do you think that people are hoping that you will work on other projects with you?

The Law of the Bad Apple: Rotten Attitudes Ruin a Team

Don’t be the spoiler in your group. Find ways to move forward with everyone becoming successful. Imagine how much easier a task is when people are surrounded with positive attitudes rather than negative. Besides, it takes less time to move forward with a smile and complete the task than it does to complain, rally support for your disapproval of the task and then still have to get the job done anyway, right?

Rule # 7 The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork

2008-01-23T09:06:00.001-05:00

Ever wonder why most people do the same things everyone else is doing? Seriously, take a good look around you. Who sticks out in your mind? Is it your friends? Someone you barely even know? Why is that? Do you think you will be the one in your circle to break out and do something completely out of the ordinary? What will be the reason that happens for you or anyone else? In most cases it is the vision you have or have been lucky enough to share in that moves you to succeed. Imagine if you were the person doing the sharing, watching your vision grow and become a reality through the hard work of others you work with or who share your commitment to success.

The Law of the Vision ("Compass"): Vision Gives Team Members Direction and confidence.

This year, go out of your way to be that person providing direction. It will push you and others to more success, whether it is in school, work or your personal goals. Once you begin this process you will be amazed at how different people will begin to view you and your ideas. It will affect how much effort it will take you to get people to buy into your ideals and the results will be amazing.

You might have expected...

2007-12-21T08:17:00.000-05:00

It has been some time since my last entry to the blog. In the new year I will try to be more regular and varied in my topics. I know time is short and people are in a hurry to get on with the business of the holiday, but would like to mention this little thought. Slow down. Reflect. Remember. And most of all spend some time with those who are important in your life. If at all possible, do something for someone who can’t do for themselves, however small. At the least give someone a smile, they are free and almost always people return them!

Rule # 6 The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork

2007-11-29T10:15:00.000-05:00

Have you ever worked with someone who made your job easier even though they were not directly related to your output? You know…the person who brings their “A” game all the time, even when it seems unlikely they will be successful at what they are doing/trying to do? That person is usually a catalyst for success. What do I mean by that? They are the person who is likely to keep you on track even when you are not sure what is required to get the job done. We can see this most effectively in sports. A lot of times this is the team captain. Paul Pierce (Celtics), Tom Brady (Patriots 1 of 4), Zdeno Chara (Bruins) Jason Varitek (Red Sox) are all examples that we see every game making things happen in their sport.

The Law of the Catalyst: Winning Teams Have Players Who Make Things Happen

Look around you. Who is your catalyst? Are you the catalyst for others? Do you make things happen or watch them? Decide which role you want to play and make it happen. Why? Because the opportunities for those who make things happen are always available. Want more opportunity? Take it.

Rule # 5 The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork

2007-11-21T09:27:00.000-05:00

Sometimes this is the most difficult lesson learned in teamwork. Recently, during a college course I am teaching, (incidentally the class is called Sociology 110 – Teamwork, Collaboration and Conflict Resolution) I had a student who was upset that the other members of her team were not responding to her requests for help in a timely manner. She had repeatedly sent requests in the proper channels, but for the most part went unanswered. Since this team had been together for sometime, more than two classes at this point, I decided an intervention might be the best solution. When the team gathered to resolve the issues, several issues arose, one being more conclusive than the others. The overwhelming feeling by her teammates was that she was not pulling her weight on team assignments and they supported their position in various ways, all fairly conclusive and making their points well. This student had among other things not completed her assigned portion for each of the last three projects, which caused the team to receive a poor grade on the assignment. They were indeed tired of her bringing the others down.

The Law of the Chain: The Strength of the Team Is Impacted by Its Weakest Link

Now, before you think that their responses were correct, it is important to understand and identify what makes the weakest link. You might think in this example it would be the student who initially was complaining about others not responding to her request for help. It is easy to see that as a possibility. However, you must consider all members of the team as suspect when trying to solve team issues. Could someone on the team provide her with timely feedback the first time she failed to meet the team’s expectations? Is it really her fault it happened three times since no one made it known to her the issues the team had? The weakest link here is communication. Had the team communicated properly and early, this problem would not have occurred. Remember this lesson when you work with others, as the issues are not always as simple as they seem.

Rule # 4 The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork

2007-11-19T12:02:00.000-05:00

This concept is readily seen and understood as of late. People who live in California for example have been facing dangerous times with the wildfires and the latest earthquake to hit their homes as well. Their situations, while tenuous at best, has brought out the best in their emergency workers, who, at what appears to be a never ending battle, have stepped up to the task and been working tirelessly to keep homes, people and their belongings safe from harms way.

The Law of the Great Challenge :
As the Challenge Escalates, the need for Teamwork Elevates

People almost always pull together when the time comes. We bond when others share the same goals, even though sometimes they are presented in tough situations. Those emergency workers all share one common thing, the need to help others, and when situations occur like the ones they are facing, and they really need the benefits of a team to fall back on.

Decide how you want people to view you... and act accordingly or...

2007-11-01T20:58:00.000-04:00

Be prepared to accept that you will likely not be as successful as you could be. I would like to share a story of a former student. I would like to preface this by mentioning that I was and still am very fond of this person, though I feel like he/she is not really doing anything near their potential, mainly due to a really poor outlook and consequently remains rather unsuccessful to this day. A good portion of the problem may be contributed to self-esteem or lack of in this case. We all have experiences with this type of person: always the loudest, first to make sharp unwanted comments and usually, though not always without a lot of friends. This is usually due to the inability to get close to anyone from fear of being hurt. Why am I talking about this? Simple. This person, who for all purposes is smart, capable and even typically likable. However, missing the ability to see the big picture is usually the first to act inappropriately, make rude comments/gestures or worse say something they did not really mean to say. All of this in an attempt usually to appear cool or uncaring, when in reality they are usually nervous or worse afraid of what others think of them. Now, back to my opening statement. That student, which might even be you sometimes, may not achieve the level of success they hope and possibly may deserve. Why? Because the people who succeed in this world recognize that as an unwanted trait and generally do not reward poor behaviors and attitudes. Your attitude will arrive before you do in most situations and prevent your very own success. Do yourself, and everyone else a favor, leave the attitude at home, and be the best person you can be, everyday to everyone you come in contact with. You will be surprised at how successful you can become and how easy you will advance. Give it a shot!

Rule # 3 - The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork

2007-10-23T13:49:00.000-04:00

This might not make sense now. Heck, it might not ever make sense, especially if this is the answer you receive about why you don’t get that job or position you applied for. What do I mean by that? Simply this, at some point you will be very good at your chosen profession, whatever it is. When that happens, a change in mindset takes place in the realm of the people you work for. It becomes a business choice to keep you in a position that you otherwise would prefer to leave. Again, you ask why.
And just as you feel that you have done a good job, sometimes it is that success which prevents other more beneficial opportunities (for you) from taking place. I will give you an example to illustrate my point. You are hired somewhere to manage a store, one that has been mismanaged for an undetermined amount of time. One where profits are low and loss is normal. Employee dissatisfaction is the norm. You are hired with the plan that you can fix the location and then move on to more challenging tasks, creating a win/win for all involved, right? Wrong. Look at this same scenario and see the company side of the picture. You have taken a store which has been a loss for sometime and turned it around. What is the motivation for moving a successful manager to another position which could jeopardize the entire success he/she were hired for? Unfortunately this is an altogether familiar issue in the business world. How can this be corrected? Enter Rule # 3

The Law of the Niche:
All Players Have a Place Where They Add the Most Value

The best way to prevent this from happening to you is to know that this rule exists. Truthfully, this is a win/win. You are successful, and they recognize that. But that does not make you feel any better when you are up for a promotion and you don’t get it. Maybe the simple notion of knowing this could help. Consider that in order for you to keep moving forward, you also have to keep others moving with and behind you. If there is no one to replace you who can successfully accomplish your tasks, you can be sure there will be no chance to advance. Knowledge is power. Remember this rule as you will see it more than you would prefer in the current business model.

Rule # 2 - The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork

2007-10-22T08:46:00.000-04:00

This concept could not have been more poignant today as I begin to reflect on an event that was held this weekend at my high school. A 12 hour walkathon was held as a fundraiser/awareness campaign for a local family. I arrived at 2AM because I volunteered to come in with a DJ service, JProductions and help him setup to provide entertainment for all the walkers and volunteers and carry them until the wee hours of the morning. I was amazed at how many people were there, awake, in good spirits and walking towards their goal: 7AM. For those of you who were there, thanks. For those of you who could not make it but helped in some way, thanks also. It was an amazing success and brings me to the 2nd Indisputable Law of Teamwork.

Rule # 2: The Law of the Big Picture:
The Goal is More Important Than the Role

Everyone that helped, be is as simple as passing along information about the event was important. An event of this size and scope could have only been as successful as it was with the helping hands of many. When people come together for a cause, success is imminent. You should have seen the camaraderie, it was amazing. There were stations all over the school with volunteers from the community, parents and businesses. Classrooms had places to make shirts, signs and blanket squares; the cafeteria was loaded with foods of all types. People were coming together to make a difference, in something that was larger than they were.
Always remember the rules.

Rule # 1 - The 17 Indisputable Rules of Teamwork

2007-10-18T12:21:00.001-04:00

Recently, while I was researching something for a class, I came across this list of the 17 Indisputable Rules of Teamwork by John Maxwell. I liked the list so much I have printed it and sent it to some of my friends, many of which have been on my team in life. It adds a little perspective to things when you consider that the middle class in our country is shrinking and your generation is more likely to "boomerang" home after college as rising costs of housing spin up and out of control. I am going to blog each of the seventeen separately so you can take the time to reflect on their independent significance. The rule was part of the list; the comments are mine for you to respond to.

Rule # 1:The Law of Significance:

One Is Too Small a Number to Achieve Greatness

No one person is so important as not need the support or input from someone else. It is often said that behind every famous or important person is their mentor. Few people, if any achieve success without the help of others.
Think about the people in your life that are behind the scenes and allow you to accomplish what you do. You likely perform some of those same things for people in your life. We need each other, virtually no one can be successful alone.

Whoever said...(or consider yourself lucky!)

2007-10-09T08:15:00.000-04:00

that education was distributed equally to all students? I had the unique opportunity to spend some time this weekend with some amazing people from all over the country. One particular gentleman, a social studies teacher from a small town in Illinois, had an interesting story that I thought I would share. This is a unique perspective about priviledge. He teaches in a small high school in a consolidated district, which means there are not enough schools/students to stand alone in that particular area, so management of those schools is combined with some from another area (for a significant cost savings on many levels.) His school has 140 students in grades 9-12, which as you know is less than 25% of our school population. In a discussion about how we benefit from technology I mentioned that out of all our marketing students, almost 85% have access from home to use the online version of our textbook which provides a significant advantage to you as a student. In his classroom, the number of students with access would be much less, in fact directly reversed. He estimated that 15% of his students had access, and even then not regularly. If you are wondering why I have chosen to write about this, I would like to point out the not so obvious. People, particularly young people have become less and less fixed in their points of reference. Simply put, your generation and the recent ones before you are more likely to move for a better opportunity somewhere else. This means that chances are you are going to be competing for jobs against people who are not being prepared in the same manner. You will be in a better position to compete for the same jobs, though ironically they will have the same diploma. So, when you are complaining that you have to use an online text to complete your reading assignment, or defining the terms, think about those students who are still carrying around thier books and smile :)

HOMEWORK... Isn't technology great? No paper necessary...haha

2007-10-02T19:29:00.000-04:00

Assignment: read article and comment on how you think NASCAR fans will accept the change in sponsorship. Identify any problems that might occur or issues that might arise. Your response must be no less than 100 words to recieve full credit.

There's a new beer sheriff in town -- Coors Brewing Company will replace Budweiser as official beer in 2008
By Ron Lemasters, NASCAR.COMOctober 2, 200703:21 PM EDT

Beginning with the 2008 NASCAR season, Coors Brewing Company will become the new Official Beer of NASCAR, replacing Budweiser. The new program was announced last week, and the contract is for five years at a rumored cost of $20 million. The question is, what does its new status as NASCAR's official beer do for Coors?"This partnership allows us to deliver exciting and relevant programs to our distributors and retailers -- all centered around the number-one spectator sport in the country," said Andy England, the chief marketing officer for Coors, at the announcement.
OK, so what does that mean? It means that Coors will be able to market its products with the NASCAR bar logo on it to race fans all over the country, and if you take into account that something like 73 percent of fans are loyal to the NASCAR bar logo, then it's a pretty good marketing platform. That 73-percent figure is the highest among professional sports, by the way.
"Coors Light is a brand closely connected with and strongly supported by NASCAR's core fan base. They have a proven track record as a strong brand marketer, and we're looking forward to a mutually beneficial partnership that excites all our fans and helps bring NASCAR to new levels of popularity," said Steve Phelps, chief marketing officer of NASCAR.
Advertising, packaging and promotions are rights contained within the agreement, as is the right to brand the Pole Award as the Coors Light Pole Award. The only significant question is what the pole winners from the 2008 season will do with those awards. As of right now, Coors' agreement does not include the rights to the annual Shootout race at Daytona in February. Of course, all the pole winners this year won the Bud Pole Award, and it wouldn't make sense for Bud Pole Award winners to race in the Coors Shootout, would it? The Shootout is a Daytona International Speedway entitlement, and according to reports, there will be a Bud Shootout in 2008 at Daytona.

So why the sea change in official sponsorship? There's already been a change -- from Pepsi to Coca-Cola -- at ISC tracks for next year. Pepsico took its marketing budget to Hendrick Motorsports to sponsor Dale Earnhardt Jr. for 2008 and beyond, through its Mountain Dew and Amp energy drink brands. It could be that companies are looking for a better fit for individual marketing programs. Or it could be a question of focus. In the past, such changes have occurred hand in hand with management changes at the parent company. Back in the day, Beatrice Foods spent a lot of money on IndyCar racing for a period of a couple years, then management changed and the new team did not share the previous team's passion for motorsports. Consequently, Beatrice Foods disappeared from the racing scene, never to return. England, speaking for Coors, was quoted as saying that the opportunity was too good to pass up, and getting out of the team sponsorship arena with Chip Ganassi Racing was part of the price. "Our deal was up with those guys, and this opportunity came up," England told USA Today. "It feels like we are elevating our game." When you look at the costs of team sponsorship versus league sponsorship, that can make a whole lot of sense. Plus, Coors is now category-wide, as the official beer of NASCAR, not simply one of about 50 different entities struggling for exposure on a weekly basis at 200 miles per hour.
For beverage companies like Anheuser Busch and Coors, it's all about distribution. With the acquisition of the NASCAR rights, Coors can build its platform through its distributor framework and increase market penetration, especially in cities close to where NASCAR races are held.
There had been speculation that Coors would also pick up A-B's soon-to-end sponsorship of the NASCAR Busch Series, but there has been no announcement as yet. The entitlement of NASCAR's second series was, according to sources, a $15 million investment from A-B; the price tag for the new sponsor started out at a reported $30 million and has since come down after several months of negotiations. Coors, the third-largest brewer in the United States, is a subsidiary of Molson Coors Brewing Company, and its brands include Coors Light, Molson Canadian, Coors, Killian's Irish Red, Keystone, Blue Moon and Zima. One interesting aspect of this is that Molson Canada is a huge supporter of motorsports from way back. With expansion to Canada on the horizon, Coors finds itself uniquely placed to take advantage."We're proud that Coors Light, the World's Most Refreshing Beer, is now the official beer of NASCAR -- refreshing race fans every weekend from the start of the season to the Chase for the Nextel Cup," England said.

Just wondering...

2007-10-01T23:52:00.000-04:00

Who is the most important person in your life? How do we tell? Is it one moment, or many that distinguish that honor? Can you even decide? What makes that person special to you? Was it a close call, or was the decision a runaway jury? Here is another mind provoking question: have you taken the time to thank that person, or people in some places, for all they have done for you? In case you were wondering where this thought came from, I will share a conversation that lasted only a minute today. To add perspective, I will create a timeline for you to follow my day and you can see when the call took place.
5:00AM – Woke up
6:30AM – Left the house for work
7:15AM – Arrived at school (JOB#1)
3:00PM – Left school, on way to work (JOB#2)
5:00PM – received phone call as I walked into class
6:00PM – Class starts
10:00PM – Class ends
11:45PM – Arrive home
The call lasted only a minute, and as you can tell from my timeline, I was busy. Most people who know me understand that is a way of life for me. I would rather be working than watching television anytime. That call was from my mother, who is probably the only person I know with a schedule that makes mine look like vacation. And she took the time to call me and to share a warm sentiment. That is the whole message. Stop what you are doing. Think about the most important person in your life and take the time to tell them. Better yet, tell everyone in your life how important they are. Sometimes it is those moments they will remember when there is no sun shining.

Have you ever thought about how...

2007-09-27T13:56:00.000-04:00

your actions affected others? We are in the second full week of school and this question seems to weigh heavily on my mind. In a typical day I have the opportunity to work with, at a minimum, 120 or so students, give or take a few in either direction. I am amazed this year at how thoughtless people have seemingly become. Maybe it has always been this way, maybe I have never noticed, but as of late I am seeing these issues come up in such a way that I am really quite concerned. It usually starts with not coming to class prepared. Nobody seems to think the lack of preparation is an issue. No notebook, pen, or pencil translates into "I don't care." That is just the beginning. Next, and usually from the same person is their inability to stay focused and quiet while class is going on. What seems like a better idea is talking until they get the attention of everyone on themselves until class is completely stopped to make an issue out of thier commotion. When will the madness end? If we are not here for the sole purpose of learning, why just take up space and prevent others? I guess the reason I am writing this is simple, one of the people who usually causes this type of situation is almost always the first to ask for special treatment or breaks from some simple injustice they have fallen into. Do you think they should be more responsible with your education? I do, and you should let them know it. What do you think?

Time well spent...

2007-09-23T22:58:00.000-04:00

This weekend I had the opportunity to volunteer for a great cause. What I found was that even though I don't typically have a lot of spare time, I was able to find a volunteer effort for a good cause doing something I love to do. In a multi organization effort, the New England Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs banded together to build an offroad capable vehicle with handicap controls and special capabilities for physical and mental disabilities. This effort was put into action with the intended goal of providing "Access 4 All" which will begin with transport of veterans who would like to have the ability to offroad. This has been a long time goal of several area clubs and with the help of some of our local off road businesses we were able to get this vehicle complete in short time. What was really great was that for me, there are few things I enjoy more than spending time with good people working on jeeps. The moral of this story is, find things that make you happy, do them, and when you can do them and help others, do them more often! For anyone interested in finding out more on the Access For All, contact http://www.nea4wd.org/

Learn from your mistakes...

2007-09-21T12:11:00.000-04:00

as likely they will be the best lessons you have at your disposal. By now most everyone knows that I am a big jeep guy. I have been off roading for almost a decade now and as you can imagine, sometimes there are times that mistakes are made, and I am not exempt from making them. I came accross this picture in my files from early in the spring of 2005, and if you are wondering, that is me in my 2004 Rubicon on it's roof... and it was not as much fun as it looks. It was an expensive day to say the least, with damages in the amount of almost 12k. The most significant thought here was that this was a learning moment. I learned the capabilities of my jeep were not in line with my capability as a driver, or at the very minimum not evenly matched for the terrain where I was. I was in unfamiliar surroundings, I had not really tested my new components on the vehicle and I was unwilling to wait until I had more time to address those issues. And it cost me, not only in time as I lost the remainder of the year to jeep while I rebuilt it from the ground up, and also in money as insurance did not pay for everything. The lesson here is simple, and trust me you will benefit from this knowledge: If you are unsure about something, take the necessary steps to be sure. Ask questions, practice, watch someone who has experience. Don't assume that it will all be fine. You may just end up on your roof! While it might not be the cool thing to do, it will certainly save you from looking like this...haha.

What are you going to do when...

2007-09-21T10:17:00.001-04:00

you graduate? Have you considered what your goals are after you leave NHS? I know you are likely hearing this more often than you would like, but consider this thought. If you take the time now, when you really do have the opportunity, it will be infinately easier to get where you want to go. I am not saying that you can't be successful without a plan or goal, but you increase the likelihood of success when you put your mind to setting up goals. College seems like the natural choice, however it is not the only one. There are lots of great alternatives, some being the military where world class job training is free, or even a technical school where you can begin your career without delay. I know senior year is here, you are busy, your friends are waiting for you, but I encourage you to slow down and take a minute to plan for your future. No one else can do it but you. If you don't put yourself first, no one will. What are you going to do?

Imagine My Surprise...

2007-09-20T20:36:00.000-04:00

Just when you think the impossible can't be done, I will mention the name of a student in one of my Computer Applications class at Norton High. After teaching this course for the last seven years, I have come to know with certaintly that there was a certain piece of clip art that was basically lost on the Internet. Mrs. Albritton had created this modeling worksheet that we used to teach drawing in Microsoft Word without much concern. Over the years, we have had students who searched for this clip art with great interest and have even gone so far as to look at home. Every year this inside joke has become the norm for us as we start the year off with new students, and even more so this year as we forgot to include our new addition to the business department, Mr. Currle. This year however, as luck would have it, drawing went pretty much as it has always gone. Every student, after an undetermined amount of time searching for the lost piece of history, finally makes the statement we have heard for years," I cannot find the scuba diver clip art!" As a final smile came across my face, possibly for the last time, a small voice from the front of the room cries out, " I found it, but I had mispelled the search under scuba driver." Indeed she did find the lost clip art, and for that effort she was rewarded with a perfect score on her worksheet. What lesson did the freshman student teach all of us, teachers and students from past years and those to come? It is amazing what you can accomplish when you don't know the odds you are up against. Thanks again to KF for not giving up, and of course making the mistake that helped us all. :)

The Road Less Traveled...

2007-09-20T19:24:00.001-04:00

As this school year begins, as almost every year since I began teaching, I have begun to hear back from my recent graduates. The end of the school year has always been a bittersweet time for me, as with any relationship, teachers and students develop together and really learn a great deal from each other. In the past week I have spent sometime talking with more than a few former students and discovered that history has indeed repeated itself again this year as several students made comments to me that they wished they had paid more attention in school. Since this is an important part of this thread, I will repeat it. Most students who have ever come back to visit me have all mentioned a similar thought. They all wished they had paid more attention in school or at the minimum done more to be involved. Not everyone's reasons were the same however, but the main points all lead to the same idea. This year has barely begun, and with lots of potential still left on the barrel. Why not make the most of it? Join a new club, tryout for a sport that you always wanted to be involved in. Do something. Do it now. Don't wait until next year to figure out you should have been more involved. Life is short, live for today.

What Would You Do if You Weren't Afraid?

2007-09-20T13:56:00.000-04:00

As I wrapped up the summer reading book summary, I stopped to ponder this thought. By now many of you should have been done with the short novel, Who Moved My Cheese? It had been several years since I read the book, which incidentally was given to me by a former employer when the company I was working for began to undertake some very big changes in the infrastructure. There were five regional managers, including myself who were in for some significant changes, many due to the sudden growth of our company from a small, local carwash chain, to the largest, only national carwash chain in the country. We were not prepared for what was ahead, so a wise human resource officer gave us each a copy of this short book. The lessons taught were not only significant to the changes we faced there, but also in life. I had almost forgotten how simple the message was until I began to re-read the text in an effort to prepare an evaluation tool for returning business students. And so I ask you the question, what would you do if you were not afraid? Recently I have been asking myself the same thing. Old habits have a tendency to prevent forward motion in all aspects of life. Revisiting the long term goals you have set for yourself can bring new life to your efforts. Try not to let past failures or events that did not offer you the results you wanted prevent your future from being successful. Keep trying and always keep sight of your personal "cheese." If you have not taken the time, which by the way was a little over an hour, to read this book, stop what you are doing and read it now. :)

Welcome All!

2007-09-20T08:37:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my new blogspot. This area will be a reflection spot for me to post concepts, ideas and even opinions for all to see. You are welcome to make comments, suggestions or even share your own ideas and opinions. This will be a welcome place for issues related to anything, whether it is something we discuss in class, to an issue of importance in the business community at large. Feel free to post comments, questions or the like here with absolute freedom. I welcome your submissions.