Issue #34

In this issue:

• Bring Your "A" Game
• Whys Cracks
• The Buzz
• WhysNews Archive

Word to the Whys

"A man of character will make himself worthy of any position he is given."
Mahatma Gandhi

"A little integrity is better than any career."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

"To educate a person in the mind but not the morals is to educate a menace to society."
Theodore Roosevelt

Punctuality is the politeness of kings and the duty of gentle people everywhere.
Unknown

"It takes less time to do a thing right than to explain why you did it wrong."
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"If the world seems cold to you, kindle fires to warm it."
Lucy Larcom, American poet (1826-1893)

"I hope that I never do anything to bring shame upon myself, my family, or my other family."
Jack Handey, Author of Deep Thoughts

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Bring Your "A" Game
Timeless Truths for Tomorrow's Leaders

On July 14, 2004 in Denver, I will deliver the keynote address to more than 5,000 high school students from throughout the country attending the National Leadership Conference of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). My first paid speech was presented as a breakout session at this same event in Orlando in 1987. So, as you might imagine, I've been carefully comparing how my message this year will differ from the one I delivered to that same organization 17 years ago.

FBLA members aspire to be successful in business, especially those who qualify to attend the annual National Leadership Conference. Not all will reach the pinnacle of business success, but many are destined for great things.

Certainly our world is a very different place than it was in 1987. Today's students have different set of attitudes and beliefs than those who grew up in the 80's. So shouldn't my message next month also be very different?

It won't be.

Naturally, after seventeen years and 1,500 speeches, I've grown to be a much better speaker, so my stories and delivery will be vastly improved. But as I review the outline from my presentation in Orlando, my primary message in Denver will be almost identical.

You see, I believe that even though the game of business has changed, the rules for achieving success are still very much the same. These rules are the foundational elements of my keynote address. And because these young people are the very same ones who are in your current part-time and future full-time labor pool--and those who will be running your companies in the not-too-distant future--I invite your input on how I prepare them for the real world and their challenges ahead.

Bring Your A Game... to Work! is the title of my keynote presentation. Minus the stories, antics, and humor, here's a synopsis of its key messages:

"You are going to be spending half of your life at this thing called 'work', so if you want to make work work, bring your A Game every day and in every way."

"Approach your job the same way you approach those things you are passionate about (soccer, skateboarding, creating music, playing video games, writing poetry, etc.) and soon, you'll feel passionate about your job, too."

"There are seven A's to the A Game. Master each and every one of them if you want to advance, achieve your ultimate potential, and succeed in a big way.

Here they are:

Attitude - Stay pumped, positive, and enthusiastic--even while doing the crummy jobs.

Attendance - You can't succeed if you don't show up, and just being there isn't enough. So if you arrive just in time, you're actually ten minutes late.

Appearance - Your image is important to you. Your company's image is important to your boss. So play your role like a pro and dress the part when you're on company time.

Ambition - What you know and what you can do essentially determines what you earn and how far you go. When you're thirsty to learn and determined to improve, your future is unlimited.

Accountability - There is no right way to do a wrong thing. Never let anyone or anything sway you from doing what's right.

Acceptance - You can pick your nose, but you can't pick your boss. Wisely accept his or her authority and play the game on their terms. (Someday, when it's your turn to lead, you'll want and need the same from your people.)

Appreciation - It's the customer who ultimately signs your paycheck. To show your gratitude, smile big and go out of your way to give every one of them your absolute best!"

That's it in a nutshell. It seems a simple message, and it is. However, aren't you astounded at the number of people -- and not just the Gen Why workers -- who "just don't get it"?

Every time I am served by a rude waiter, or see five construction workers standing around watching one guy saw a board, or overhear a loud argument between two employees in a store, I think, "Didn't anyone ever show them how to get ahead when they were just starting out"?

Look at it from a different angle. What would you give to have every employee bring their A Game to work for you? Imagine having a team of enthusiastic, punctual, honest, responsible, respectful people chomping at the bit to learn, grow, and provide outstanding service to your customers. I know you're thinking, "Get real, Chester! Ain't gonna happen. And besides, where are they going to learn this stuff"?

According to recent studies, the average teen spends only five minutes a day in meaningful dialogue with their mom or dad. Schools are overwhelmed with teaching facts and figures so students can pass standardized tests. This means that as a business owner or manager, you will be one of the most significant mentors your young employees ever encounter. In addition to showing them how to mop the floors and operate the cash register, you inherit the awesome responsibility of teaching them the core principles of success that will serve them for the rest of their life. And because Generation Why will care for us in the latter stages of our lives, it's important that we teach them values--and deliver strong messages--that will never go out of style.

You know what I think that message should be. I am eager to hear your thoughts. Please email me directly at eric@ericchester.com.

Whys Cracks

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?: "I just lost it," said Jason Perala, 22, who said his cell phone didn't work well and service was intolerable. So he stopped in at a Verizon Wireless store at a mall in Fargo, ND, planning to yell at the clerks. But Perala was wearing safety glasses when he arrived at the store and, he said later, "I just started grabbing computers and phones and throwing them. I just destroyed the place." Verizon said the store suffered $2,000 in damage. He trashed the store for about 10 minutes before police arrived and hauled him to jail, where he faces a charge of felony criminal mischief. "I just couldn't stop," he said later, "but I hope my message got across." (Fargo Forum)
...and it will keep getting across, but only if you pick up that phone on your side of the glass.

IN YOUR FACE: Blake Molnar, an honor student at Danbury High School in Lakeside, Ohio, bought a ticket in a school-sponsored contest benefiting the American Cancer Society and he won the grand prize: he got to throw a pie in the principal's face. Principal Karen Abbott stood still to take her medicine as the 110-pound boy took his best shot at the close of the school-wide assembly. But as he returned to his seat Abbott "grabbed" him, hauled him to the office and called police. The 15-year-old has been expelled from school for 80 days and, at the principal's insistence, could face criminal assault charges. "There was at least what Karen felt was malicious intent," said Police Chief Mike Meisler. "There was too much force used" in hitting her with the pie. (AP, Toledo Blade)
..but the good news is, George Steinbrenner has a new ace in his rotation.

The Buzz

What are THEY Saying?

What do your colleagues have to say about LIVE Generation Why Presentations?

"Our management team is already finding creative ways to implement the ideas generated from the Generation Why presentation and subsequent workshop."

~John Spano, HR Director, Muvico Theaters, Inc.