I have seen lots of individuals, who were considered positive role models, let us down. The names of Tiger Woods, Bill Clinton, OJ Simpson and Michael Phelps come to mind. To be honest, it really hurts to see Joe Paterno on that list. For me personally, it's difficult to see a legend, who did so many great things, go out like this. It seems that he exemplified all of the traits covered in this curriculum for a very long time. It also goes against my belief to throw someone under the bus for one lapse in judgment unless it's something terrible and/or done with malice. Yet, I know many feel that his handling of the alleged abuse case at Penn State meets that criteria... which is why I will not provide a long commentary on this matter. Instead I ask you to watch the short video and then discuss it yourself. Just keep in mind that there are no right answers, just opions based on emotion and perspective.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1zK80YIuyw
What is Joe Paterno's legacy?
Should the media have been so quick to judge? Do you think some of them felt bad about their harsh comments when he died?
Did it make you sad that his life ended in this bitter way or was it Karma? Poetic Justice?
How do you balance all the good in his life with his lack of action on the abuse scandal?
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Attitude Goes A Long Way...Literally
I woke up at 6:40 a.m. to the sound of my wife saying, "Aren't you supposed to be at the airport?" I flew out of bed, but as I rubbed my blurry eyes, I instantly knew that it was too late. For the first time that I can recall, I missed a flight and it was my own fault. I forgot to set my own alarm.
I proceeded to go downstairs and call U.S. Airlines to find out my options. The customer service representative told me that I would have to pay a $150 change fee + the cost of the new ticket. If you don't know, buying a plane ticket on the day of travel is astronomically expensive. My $285 flight to Sacramento, California was about to cost me about a thousand dollars. This was not the news I was hoping to hear. I asked the rep if there were other options and he told me to get to the airport within two hours of the originally schedule flight and they might be able to do something for me.
I arrived at Detroit Metro Airport at 9 a.m. or 1.5 hours after my originally scheduled flight. There were many ways to play the upcoming conversation. In the end, I knew this was my fault and that I was at the mercy of the next U.S. Air employee. When Brenda said, "next," I knew that I just needed to be polite and contrite. "I have never done this before, but I overslept and missed my flight this morning," I began. "Although this is entirely my fault, I sure hope that you can accommodate me and not make this too painful." I could tell that Brenda was pleasantly surprised that I didn't give her any attitude or make any demands (she must get that all day - day after day). She proceeded to spend the next 30 minutes with me - looking at every possible option - and the options weren't good. Everything was booked for the next 30 hours.
I could take a flight with 4 connections, which would take close to 15 hours or I could chance it by becoming a "stand-by" passenger on a flight that was overbooked. This was complicated by checked luggage and a number of contingencies. We talked about it and I decided on instinct that I should take the "stand-by" option. Brenda was so helpful and accommodating that I asked her if I could by her lunch. She told me that I didn't have to, but I insisted and placed a $20 bill by her computer. After all, as I see it, she saved me about $700 in fees (what I call "Stupid Tax" when it is my fault).
She took my cell phone number and kept me updated. There were 114 slots and 30 minutes prior to take off, she called to say that 113 passengers had checked in. By rule, no one can get through security less than 30 minutes prior to take off, meaning that I was going to make that flight. I can't tell you how relieved and excited I was. I needed to be in California for business and Brenda saved the day. I arrived in California a mere 3 hours later than my originally scheduled flight.
I do wonder what would have happened if I had been rude or demanding to Brenda. Would she have been so accommodating? Would she have waved those "change" fees? I don't know, but I like to think that my honest approach and positive attitude altered the situation. While I was at the airline's mercy, I still could control how I approached the situation and ultimately, the outcome. You might want to try this approach and see what happens.
In the end, 1) I sent a nice letter to U.S. Air regarding Brenda's outstanding customer service, 2) Brenda got a nice tip and a good lunch because she was kind and helpful to a stranger and 3) I got where I was going without too much hassle. Here's one more thank you to Brenda for making my day!
I proceeded to go downstairs and call U.S. Airlines to find out my options. The customer service representative told me that I would have to pay a $150 change fee + the cost of the new ticket. If you don't know, buying a plane ticket on the day of travel is astronomically expensive. My $285 flight to Sacramento, California was about to cost me about a thousand dollars. This was not the news I was hoping to hear. I asked the rep if there were other options and he told me to get to the airport within two hours of the originally schedule flight and they might be able to do something for me.
I arrived at Detroit Metro Airport at 9 a.m. or 1.5 hours after my originally scheduled flight. There were many ways to play the upcoming conversation. In the end, I knew this was my fault and that I was at the mercy of the next U.S. Air employee. When Brenda said, "next," I knew that I just needed to be polite and contrite. "I have never done this before, but I overslept and missed my flight this morning," I began. "Although this is entirely my fault, I sure hope that you can accommodate me and not make this too painful." I could tell that Brenda was pleasantly surprised that I didn't give her any attitude or make any demands (she must get that all day - day after day). She proceeded to spend the next 30 minutes with me - looking at every possible option - and the options weren't good. Everything was booked for the next 30 hours.
I could take a flight with 4 connections, which would take close to 15 hours or I could chance it by becoming a "stand-by" passenger on a flight that was overbooked. This was complicated by checked luggage and a number of contingencies. We talked about it and I decided on instinct that I should take the "stand-by" option. Brenda was so helpful and accommodating that I asked her if I could by her lunch. She told me that I didn't have to, but I insisted and placed a $20 bill by her computer. After all, as I see it, she saved me about $700 in fees (what I call "Stupid Tax" when it is my fault).
She took my cell phone number and kept me updated. There were 114 slots and 30 minutes prior to take off, she called to say that 113 passengers had checked in. By rule, no one can get through security less than 30 minutes prior to take off, meaning that I was going to make that flight. I can't tell you how relieved and excited I was. I needed to be in California for business and Brenda saved the day. I arrived in California a mere 3 hours later than my originally scheduled flight.
I do wonder what would have happened if I had been rude or demanding to Brenda. Would she have been so accommodating? Would she have waved those "change" fees? I don't know, but I like to think that my honest approach and positive attitude altered the situation. While I was at the airline's mercy, I still could control how I approached the situation and ultimately, the outcome. You might want to try this approach and see what happens.
In the end, 1) I sent a nice letter to U.S. Air regarding Brenda's outstanding customer service, 2) Brenda got a nice tip and a good lunch because she was kind and helpful to a stranger and 3) I got where I was going without too much hassle. Here's one more thank you to Brenda for making my day!
Friday, December 2, 2011
Penn State: Lessons Learned
The Penn State Scandal is tragic, shocking and upsetting. A few weeks have passed since the revelation that Jerry Sandusky, a former assistant coach for the football team, had been sexually abusing young boys for decades. The grand jury report suggests that many individuals had direct or indirect knowledge of this abuse and didn't do enough to stop it. Consequently, the head football coach, the athletic director and the president of the university were fired. While all the facts of the case are not known, there seems to be several lessons that we should take from this tragic story.
Lesson # 1 - Bad People Do Bad Things: There are people in this world who are committing heinous crimes. It happens everyday and it will happen tomorrow. There are people like Jerry Sandusky all over this world who carry out evil acts with forethought and intent. Despite all of our collective wishes to the contrary, bad people will continue to do bad things.
Lesson # 2 –It Takes Personal Responsibility to Stop Evil: There is a quote by an English philosopher that fits this situation well, "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." Based on the grand jury testimony, there were two eye-witness accounts to the graphic sexual abuse in the showers on the campus ofPenn State
Lesson #3 - Prepare Yourself to Handle Difficult Situations - Everyone who talks about this case says that he/she would have called the police, confronted the perpetrator and protected the child (me included). The research suggests otherwise. People freeze, people get scared, people rationalize. The brain takes longer to process information in a crisis and we struggle to make good decisions. Here are two metaphors to explain this point. First, 56% of passengers involved in a serious plane crash, survive. The survival favors people who were smart enough to develop an escape plan before the plane took off (read the safety briefing cards, located exits and listened to the flight attendant’s safety briefings). These people use their plan to override fear and denial, thereby responding quicker and with more wisdom. Disaster research suggests that less than 10% of us can actually excel in an emergency situation.
The second metaphor is something most of us can relate to and a lot more common. All driving experts say that drivers should never swerve for an animal that darts out in front of a moving vehicle. Rather, drivers are told to hit the animal. http://www.autoinsurance.org/how-to-avoid-deer-collisions/. This includes cute little squirrels and innocent "Bambi's." The reason is simple - swerving to avoid an animal often injures and/or kills people. One day, I asked my wife is she could resist the natural instinct to swerve in such an instance. She said that she didn't know if she could. I reminded her of our four children and innocent people in oncoming traffic. She said, "Wait a minute...I just made my decision." It's important for all of us to make our decisions and develop plans before they occur. While it's impossible to prepare for every situation, it is more than possible to say, "I will confront people acting unethically or who are breaking the law or at the very least report it to the police."
Lesson #4 - One Bad Decision Can Override 100 Good Ones: This is a very tough lesson. I remember a local news anchor who was a pillar of the community and was very well-respected. One night after a charity function, he got into his car after drinking and killed someone by running a red light. He was fired from his job and he is still in prison today. How tragic for all involved. All the good deeds he had performed & all of the good decisions he made before that moment could not override that one bad decision. The consequence was final and irreversible. In this case, Joe Paterno had lived an exemplary life filled with virtue and integrity. He was respected by everyone in his profession. He spent 61 years atPenn State University
Lesson #5 - Reputation and Legacy Matter: If you don't believe me, ask President Clinton, Tiger Woods, Barry Bonds or Joe Paterno. Society mistakenly places such a high emphasis on material possessions, but in the end, it doesn't matter how much money you make or what kind of car you drive. We will ultimately be judged and remembered based on how we treat other people, take responsibility for ourselves, live with integrity and contribute to society. That is how we build a reputation and create a legacy to leave behind when we leave this earth. It is important not to lose sight of this important lesson.
Lesson # 1 - Bad People Do Bad Things: There are people in this world who are committing heinous crimes. It happens everyday and it will happen tomorrow. There are people like Jerry Sandusky all over this world who carry out evil acts with forethought and intent. Despite all of our collective wishes to the contrary, bad people will continue to do bad things.
Lesson # 2 –It Takes Personal Responsibility to Stop Evil: There is a quote by an English philosopher that fits this situation well, "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." Based on the grand jury testimony, there were two eye-witness accounts to the graphic sexual abuse in the showers on the campus of
Lesson #3 - Prepare Yourself to Handle Difficult Situations - Everyone who talks about this case says that he/she would have called the police, confronted the perpetrator and protected the child (me included). The research suggests otherwise. People freeze, people get scared, people rationalize. The brain takes longer to process information in a crisis and we struggle to make good decisions. Here are two metaphors to explain this point. First, 56% of passengers involved in a serious plane crash, survive. The survival favors people who were smart enough to develop an escape plan before the plane took off (read the safety briefing cards, located exits and listened to the flight attendant’s safety briefings). These people use their plan to override fear and denial, thereby responding quicker and with more wisdom. Disaster research suggests that less than 10% of us can actually excel in an emergency situation.
The second metaphor is something most of us can relate to and a lot more common. All driving experts say that drivers should never swerve for an animal that darts out in front of a moving vehicle. Rather, drivers are told to hit the animal. http://www.autoinsurance.org/how-to-avoid-deer-collisions/. This includes cute little squirrels and innocent "Bambi's." The reason is simple - swerving to avoid an animal often injures and/or kills people. One day, I asked my wife is she could resist the natural instinct to swerve in such an instance. She said that she didn't know if she could. I reminded her of our four children and innocent people in oncoming traffic. She said, "Wait a minute...I just made my decision." It's important for all of us to make our decisions and develop plans before they occur. While it's impossible to prepare for every situation, it is more than possible to say, "I will confront people acting unethically or who are breaking the law or at the very least report it to the police."
Lesson #4 - One Bad Decision Can Override 100 Good Ones: This is a very tough lesson. I remember a local news anchor who was a pillar of the community and was very well-respected. One night after a charity function, he got into his car after drinking and killed someone by running a red light. He was fired from his job and he is still in prison today. How tragic for all involved. All the good deeds he had performed & all of the good decisions he made before that moment could not override that one bad decision. The consequence was final and irreversible. In this case, Joe Paterno had lived an exemplary life filled with virtue and integrity. He was respected by everyone in his profession. He spent 61 years at
Lesson #5 - Reputation and Legacy Matter: If you don't believe me, ask President Clinton, Tiger Woods, Barry Bonds or Joe Paterno. Society mistakenly places such a high emphasis on material possessions, but in the end, it doesn't matter how much money you make or what kind of car you drive. We will ultimately be judged and remembered based on how we treat other people, take responsibility for ourselves, live with integrity and contribute to society. That is how we build a reputation and create a legacy to leave behind when we leave this earth. It is important not to lose sight of this important lesson.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Author Requests Help on Updating Book
The biggest update to the book is underway. My plan is to write three new chapters for each trait. We plan to then create an on-line version, allowing teachers to select the chapters they want the students to read. Perhaps students could even make their own individual choices. With more role models, the book will be more diverse.
I have been doing a ton of research, but you'll have viewpoints that can make this a better-rounded book. Remember, this book is written for the next generation, not for adults. You don’t have to have a person for every slot. I am really looking for good suggestions, particularly from those who have read the book.
I have been doing a ton of research, but you'll have viewpoints that can make this a better-rounded book. Remember, this book is written for the next generation, not for adults. You don’t have to have a person for every slot. I am really looking for good suggestions, particularly from those who have read the book.
Female Chapters Hispanic Chapters Hisotrical Chapters
_____________ Attitude ________________ ________________
_____________ Preparation ________________ ________________
_____________ Perseverance ________________ ________________
_____________ Respect ________________ ________________
____________ Honesty ________________ ________________
____________ Integrity ________________ ________________
____________ Courage ________________ ________________
____________ Appreciation ________________ ________________
____________ Composure ________________ ________________
____________ Empathy ________________ ________________
____________ Good-Judgment ________________ ________________
____________ Tolerance ________________ ________________
____________ Sacrifice ________________ ________________
____________ Loyalty ________________ ________________
____________ Responsibility ________________ ________________
____________ Compassion ________________ ________________
____________ Desire/Drive ________________ ________________
Purpose of this Blog
The main purpose of this blog is to provide weekly teaching resources to the teachers and students involved with the Character Development & Leadership Curriculum. Most of this will be based on current events, but not always. For instance, I might provide a link to a website that will allow the class to watch a short video and discuss. Students can comment in class or on the blog. It will then be possible to see what other students from around the country are saying about the same topic and even interact.
The secondary purpose of this blog is to provide updates to teachers. Each year I add new content to the curriculum and it is difficult to pass along this information to all 1,000 schools around the country. This can make it easier and quicker to get these updates.
Teachers please sign up for the blog and have students do the same. I welcome feedback - I just ask that everyone keep their comments clean and respectable.
Dr. Hoedel
The secondary purpose of this blog is to provide updates to teachers. Each year I add new content to the curriculum and it is difficult to pass along this information to all 1,000 schools around the country. This can make it easier and quicker to get these updates.
Teachers please sign up for the blog and have students do the same. I welcome feedback - I just ask that everyone keep their comments clean and respectable.
Dr. Hoedel
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