A close friend of my wife invited us to a celebration of her daughter’s high school graduation. Jenna’s a great kid who did very well in school and was involved in several extra-curricular activities. But at 18, she’s never had a real job. She applied at several boutiques in the mall but never made it…
Postal workers get a bad rap and are frequent fodder for comedians and late night talk show hosts. But aside from the renowned story of Fred in The Fred Factor, here’s another glowing example of a remarkable postal worker. “It’s just part of our work ethic,” Deborah Ford said when asked how she’s retiring from…
Bodybuilding is the most narcissistic, self-absorbed ‘sport’ ever conceived. I can offer that critique as a former competitor, promoter of numerous state bodybuilding championships, emcee of the Mr. & Ms. Universe competition, and color analyst for ESPN’s bodybuilding coverage. (All of these things took place before Bill Clinton was sworn in, but my opinion has…
Last Thursday while vacationing with my family in a small Colorado mountain town, I suffered a personal crisis when one of my highly visible dental crowns split in two and fell out. I had Crystal, the receptionist at my dentist for the past 15 years, on the phone in minutes and explained to her the…
I’m shopping for a refrigerator to replace a custom built-in model that is in my home. Always looking for a bargain, I went online and found a great deal on one through a major retailer. This particular fridge had been marked down because of a scratch on one side, and the way my kitchen is…
I’ll freely admit it; I bleed orange. I’ve loved the Denver Broncos with all my heart since my dad took me to Mile High Stadium when I was only seven to see them play the evil Oakland Raiders. (The Broncos were trounced, but I’ve been a fan ever since.) I say that at the risk…
Reflecting on those stories that impacted my work in 2011, I found the stories that either confirmed my opinions and beliefs, or challenged them to the core. Agree or disagree, for anyone that employs teens and young adults, these links are worth investigating. Wishing you a bright and prosperous 2012, and a healthy flow of…
Think ‘lack of work ethic‘ of the young workforce is a criticism leveled only by American employers? Think again. This story from the U.K. tells the story of an owner of a large farm in England whose frustration with young job seekers has escalated to the point he is publicly lambasting–and even boycotting–the teen job…
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…
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…