If you want to see a poster child for work ethic, meet Beth Miller, a modern day Rosie-the-Riveter. I don’t know Beth, but the company she works for Mr. Rooter – part of the Dwyer Group – is a client of mine. And this is a feel good story worth reading. I came across a…
My good friend, Mark Sanborn, is a prolific speaker and a NY Times Bestselling Author. As much as I enjoy hanging out with Mark socially, I admire his work even more. He is both an inspiration and a mentor, and I don’t throw either of those terms around loosely. In his Leadership Lessons eZine today,…
With all the protesting in major cities across America, you’d think that employers aren’t hiring. Ain’t true. Although there are more than 14 million unemployed in America , a recent Manpower Survey found 52% of US employers are having difficulty filling critical positions. The obvious disconnect is that employers are struggling to find A) qualified…
I know very little about the Occupy Wall Street protests other than what is printed in the papers. By all accounts, the majority of the participants in the demonstrations are unemployed and they feel as they have been victimized by corporate greed. Demonstrators claim to speak for “99 percent” of Americans rallying against the wealthy…
Aaron Stadler is one of hundreds of people holding hand-made cardboard signs on busy intersections throughout Denver today. But unlike that vast majority, he’s not asking for a hand out; he’s asking for work. Don’t dismiss him among the typical “will work for food” panhandlers (most of which aren’t really looking for work at…
Ben works hard. His job at the quarry calls for long days of back-breaking labor operating heavy equipment and risking injury while lifting large rocks. True or False: Ben possesses great work ethic. Trick question. There isn’t enough information to determine whether or not Ben has a great work ethic. Even though Ben performs hard…
This going to strike a nerve, but here goes… I know times are tough. I know people are losing their jobs and struggling. I know work is hard to find. I know things cost now more than they used to. I know all the rationale behind letting your adult children move back home with you.…
I was in my early twenties when MTV came on the scene 30 years ago today. At that age, I was precisely the targeted demographic this revolutionary new channel had in it’s cross-hairs, and it worked. They played music-videos 24/7, and I couldn’t get enough of them. Before MTV, I was forced to use my…
Five birds are sitting on a wire. If two decide to fly away, how many are left sitting on the wire? Five. There’s a huge gap between deciding to do something and actually doing it. And if the result of doing it is anything significant, the gap is dripping with perspiration. Yesterday I had lunch…
I love it when a young adult comes clean. All too often, young workers who fail early refuse to accept responsibility for their struggles and instead blame the economy, or their company, or their boss, or… This, of course, leads to more failure, which leads to increased bitterness that in passed on to next employer,…