I don't need to state the obvious; of course we all like to see opportunity created from adverse situations, but when was the last time you looked for opportunity and then actually acted on it?
I really liked this story of a few good people willing to take a chance to turn a situation around for the better. I encourage you to listen to the audio - the transcript is informative but hearing from the folks themselves is inspiring.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111785752
I'm looking forward to seeing Detroit's progress (without reliance on turnaround of the Big 3 auto makers). My guess is these entrepreneurs will find success!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Good: Reality Check
The other day I was in a board meeting and we were going around the table discussing the last book we read. Mine was "As the Future Catches You" by Juan Enriquez. I love the book; in fact I ran out to find his other one ("The Untied States of America") AND purchased both as gifts for people.
The book is eye opening and tells the story of how we arrived where we are today and what will happen if we continue down this path. I don't see that as depressing, but more as a reality check providing guidance on where we should be focusing our efforts.
When I shared the concept of the book with the group, everyone seemed to get uncomfortable and the sentiment was that my choice was depressing. I disagree. If you're willing to work hard to better the future, the book is inspiring. That said, the people I'm working with are already hard at work bettering the future and it's very possible the concepts I brought up simply added extra weight to their already loaded shoulders.
I hope to share more specifics in future posts, but when this list came through via email I instantly wanted to share it. Supposedly the list came from a speech Bill Gates gave to a group of high school kids; regardless, it's a good reality check for all of us.
From the email:
Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school. He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.
Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it!
Rule 2: The world doesn't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.
Rule 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.
Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.
Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.
Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault , so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.
Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.
Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.
Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.
Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.
Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.
If you agree, pass it on.. (Tweet, Repost, FaceBook, Digg, Email, etc)
If you don't agree stick your head in the sand and take a deep breath!
If you can read this -Thank a teacher!
The book is eye opening and tells the story of how we arrived where we are today and what will happen if we continue down this path. I don't see that as depressing, but more as a reality check providing guidance on where we should be focusing our efforts.
When I shared the concept of the book with the group, everyone seemed to get uncomfortable and the sentiment was that my choice was depressing. I disagree. If you're willing to work hard to better the future, the book is inspiring. That said, the people I'm working with are already hard at work bettering the future and it's very possible the concepts I brought up simply added extra weight to their already loaded shoulders.
I hope to share more specifics in future posts, but when this list came through via email I instantly wanted to share it. Supposedly the list came from a speech Bill Gates gave to a group of high school kids; regardless, it's a good reality check for all of us.
From the email:
Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school. He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.
Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it!
Rule 2: The world doesn't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.
Rule 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.
Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.
Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.
Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault , so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.
Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.
Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.
Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.
Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.
Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.
If you agree, pass it on.. (Tweet, Repost, FaceBook, Digg, Email, etc)
If you don't agree stick your head in the sand and take a deep breath!
If you can read this -Thank a teacher!
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