Initiative

It made for a dreadful commute. The crater-like potholes dotting the main thoroughfare near my office were wreaking havoc on my car's alignment. I wasn't the only unhappy camper. The city was inundated with complaints from angry neighbors and shopkeepers who demanded repairs. Finally, a road-crew was sent to fill the gaping cavities and restore drivability to the busy street, and they did a very nice job. Do you think the city has received any thank you calls from the neigh

The wife and I were out running errands on Saturday morning when we happened upon an unexpected and rare energy explosion. As we approached an intersection, we noticed a human billboard doing his very best to get the attention of the passing motorists; and getting attention from motorists is obviously what an individual in this occupation is paid to do. Human billboards have become commonplace in our metropolitan area, but this particular young fellow was going all out. He

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 not changed much over the years.) That being said, I owe a great deal of my own work ethic to the principles I lea

It’s 7:14 a.m. The breakfast is scheduled for 7:30 and, so far, I don’t see any of the meeting attendees milling around. Before heading into the ballroom to meet with the AV technician who’s there to help me set up for my 8:30 keynote, I decide to grab a cup of coffee and a light breakfast. As I approach the breakfast buffet area that’s been prepared for the 120 meeting attendees I’ll soon be presenting for, I take notice of the artwork in my presence. The sweetener at the

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 short video of a ceremony where Beth was presented with an award by Dina Dwyer-Owens, CEO of the Dwyer Group. Dina is a Past President of the IFA (International Franchise Association) and one of my favorite

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, Mark posted what he terms his Work Manifesto. Frankly, I'm envious and wish I'd writen in. Then again, it speaks so well to how I feel, it's almost as if I did. I post it toda

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 applicants who B) possess a decent work ethic. Let's be clear. There are job candidates who have the right skill set, but e

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 1 percent. I can promise you that I am not in the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans, and yet I flatly reject the notion that any of these demo

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 all) because Aaron's seriously wanting a job. A real job. He's nicely groomed and professionally dressed and he's ready for an interview. If you'd g

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 work, we don't know if Ben is reliable, or whether he frequently calls in sick or arrives late. We don't know if he does only what is required

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. Nonetheless, I don't agree with it. It is my opinion that parents who allow their struggling twenty-somethings to move back home are doing them a disservice. Yet, according to a new report in