Thanks to our LO friends worldwide who contributed terrific ideas on
short notice for my speeches to about 200 American ninth graders on Wed.,
Dec. 10.
Here's what happened...a tale of crime and passion.
First the crime. I downloaded all of your e-mail help to diskette, along
with Simon Buckingham's "Unorganization" handbook for individuals
(www.unorg.com). I wrote my introduction, conclusion and outline for the
speech incorporating many of your thoughts.
On the way home, I stopped into a 7-11 (the numerical symbol for
convenience store here) to get a loaf of bread. 90 seconds later I was in
my car, headed home. Not until I got home did realize that my laptop
computer was no longer in my car. During my 7- 11 stop, someone had jumped
into my car, grabbed the computer and my Franklin Planner, and jumped out.
I must admire the speed and efficiency of the work. However, this left me
with no notes for the speech, scheduled for 7:40 the next morning. So much
for the crime.
The next morning at 6:15, I got together with two Christian brothers and
prayed that the Lord would tell me what to say.
Subsequently, I gave four very different speeches lasting about 40 minutes
each, but each with a common theme.
I started by asking "What's the worst thing that could happen to you?"
Soliciting replies and then suggesting that the worst thing might be to
learn a new job quickly and then spend the next 40 years being bored with
it. (Thanks to the LO one who suggested that. I don't have my notes...see
"Crime" above...so I don't remember whom to thank.)
Our discussion centered around a couple of major concepts, summarized
briefly here:
Do what you love and love what you do.
Never work for money, find a great purpose.
See every person as a customer/partner.
Be "You, Inc." (see yourself as a business)
I used a lot of stories, and verbal hypertext links to orbit around that
core. Heavy doses of humor. Lots of personal interraction and
encouragement. And, I hope this came through, a great deal of love and
respect.
Perhaps the meta-message of the morning was: "Here's a guy having a great
time with his work, and doing it well." Because they see so many who are
miserable in their work, I wanted to show them something else is possible.
They can truly turn their passion into a profession.
Thanks again to my global network of friends.
Grace & Peace,
Scott Ott
--"Scott Ott" <SOTT@nkcsd.k12.mo.us>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>