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In
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Resources:
Word to the
Whys
I was a young person once, shortly after the polar ice caps retracted, and I distinctly recall believing all adults were clueless goobers.
Dave Barry
While we all have the gift of life, it seems to me that the only tragedy is to allow part of us to die—whether it is our spirit, our creativity, or our glorious uniqueness.
Gilda Radner
The quality, not the longevity, of one's life is what is important.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Life is a gift. Don't trash it.
John Alston
There is a difference between conceit and confidence. Conceit is bragging about yourself. Confidence means you believe you can get the job done.
Johnny Unitas
It's a real primal thing, watching someone get hurt. It's funny and accessible.
Johnny Knoxville
When I was a kid, I thought we were kind of poor. That's because dad didn't let us see the family financial records.
Jack Handey – Author of Deep Thoughts
 See
Eric in Action! Watch a video preview of Eric's
dynamic, insightful presentation style.
Links
of Note...
The
answers are just a few clicks away...
Getting
Them to Give a Damn: How to Get Your Front Line to Care About Your Bottom Line
 the
new book by Eric Chester reveals the management techniques that leading-edge
employers are using to get these quirky, book-smart, and streetwise employees—Eric
calls them 'kidployees'—to contribute in innovative and entrepreneurial ways.
Available
now. Order your copy today!
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 I'd like to invite you to be among the first to see my new video. Click the image and turn up your speakers for a preview of what makes Generation Y so different than previous generations of employees.
Here's Johnny... Raising Eyebrows and Lowering the Bar!
I was an eleven-year-old kid when I first saw Johnny Unitas quarterback the Baltimore Colts on TV. My dad loved him, and talked about him incessantly, so I loved him too. Johnny U, as he was known, was more than a great player, he was a great guy off the field, as well. He gave all he had every game, put the team above himself, and he was always gracious in victory or defeat. Johnny Unitas didn't set out to be a national role model; his actions just propelled him to that level. I grew up in an era when many others in the world of professional sports and entertainment were equally inspiring for demonstrating pride, dignity, and class.
The #1 movie in box office receipts this week, Jackass Number Two, stars another bold and daring man named Johnny, although this one is quite obviously cut from a very different cloth. Like it or not, thrillseeker-turned-actor Johnny Knoxville is a larger-than-life hero for scores of Gen Whys. His widespread fame and fortune has not come by skillfully leading a team to victory, but rather surviving self-inflicted shotgun blasts to his abdomen, wrestling with—and getting bitten by—giant anacondas, and destroying public and private property for no other reason than to see if he can and to get a rise from onlookers. Being a complete jackass for the amusement of others is nothing new, but becoming incredibly rich and famous because you are one, is.
My dad must be rolling over in his grave. He'd never understand how we've eroded from a society that celebrated Unitas's "anything for the team" drive for that of Knoxville's "anything for a laugh." Perhaps you can tell that I'm having a hard time with it too.
Don't blame our nation's youth for this genre of entertainment. Even though they comprise the majority of moviegoers who've catapulted Jackass to box-office riches, Knoxville and his supporting cast of idiots are thirty-something Gen X'ers. The message that they—and those who have created a plethora of similarly-themed reality shows, movies, and programs—have sent their legions of young followers has clearly been received; athleticism, practice, hard work, teamwork, dedication, and sacrifice are no longer prerequisites to success and the sweet rewards that accompany it. The willingness to subject yourself to pointless pain and self-mutilation, and/or the desire to humiliate some unsuspecting victim and make an ass out of yourself in the process can achieve the same result.
Stardom is no longer reserved for those who've given their all for a worthy cause, or for uniquely talented artists, musicians, athletes, and performers. The path to notoriety and a wad of cash is wide open to anyone who can outdo the outrageous standards of the moment while lowering the bar of safety and good taste, and do it in a very public way.
It's no wonder this redefined ‘hey look at me' attitude is reverberating so loudly and provocatively throughout the Gen Why community while manifesting itself in such shocking and dangerous ways. If you watch them perform for their peers in public places, or if you scroll through the most viewed videos posted on YouTube.com, you'll see how they all appear to be fighting for their place in the spotlight.
Stay Whys and Win
You certainly don't want a jackass wannabe serving your customers, or even sweeping your storeroom. But if that's how some of your young upstarts are wired, you've got to be ready and prepared to deal with it.
First of all, make certain that your rules and expectations are crystal clear, and that they understand the consequences. At the risk of sucking the fun out of your workplace, ensure that clownish acts and outrageous behavior leads only to discipline and/or dismissal. They'll soon get the message that work is a horseplay/prank-free zone.
Second, be ready to give them their moments in the spotlight, but make the recognition only for the behaviors that you value and make your business prosper. Give them ways to achieve high-profile credit for good works and deeds. Big rewards and big recognition, but only for those who do things that enhance revenue, limit waste, and delight customers.
Finally, work hard to establish the kind of relationship with them that makes them feel comfortable telling you about their heroes and icons (even though they won't label them as such). Resist the urge to ridicule or demean their Johnny's, as it will only create distance between you and your foot soldiers. Simply look for an opening—or perhaps even an invitation—to share a story or two from the past about your kind of Johnny and why they inspired you to persist, achieve, and do the right thing. It may surprise you to discover how the heroes of yesterday can still save the day and positively influence a new generation.
50 Best Interview Questions update
Whys News readers don't disappoint—in fact, when you're asked to speak up, you do...as evidenced by the overwhelming response I received to last month's appeal for great interview questions to ask your Gen Why applicants. We've had more than 100 responses, and the quantity is only surpassed by the quality. This is going to be a tremendous resource for anyone who recruits and hires young talent.
Here is a link to a PDF file containing a random sample of some of the submissions we received. It also contains instructions on how you can become a part of this project, and receive a copy of the final project before it is released to the public!
An Interview with Mark Sanborn
I had the pleasure of interviewing a close friend and fellow author and speaker, Mark Sanborn, about his new book, You Don't Need a Title to be a Leader: How Anyone, Anywhere Can Make a Positive Difference. It's a great book and a great conversation. Listen in at Mark's site...
The Buzz
"...Winner!... outstanding presentation...right on target...energy and enthusiasm that you exhibited...were contagious...invaluable contribution to our conference."
"Eric, I think you have a message everyone who hires, manages, and motivates the emerging workforce needs to hear."
Ron Boire
President -Toys "R" Us, USA |
