SIGNS YOU ARE A TEACHER

The Top 10 Signs That You Are A School Teacher

10. The clothes you wear on the first day of school is the same outfit you have worn for the past three years
9. You can properly pronounce the word “nuclear”
8. Your car is the one with the donut spare functioning as a new tire
7. Your school lounge smells like stale coffee and micro waved spaghetti sauce
6. You get confused over the acronyms “IPOD” and “TM”
5. “Fast and Furious” is not a movie title but 5 minutes with your spouse
4. You think all 6th grade girls dress like Madonna or Brittany Spears
3. Your home computer still uses DOS and monochrome monitor
2. Your cell phone comes with its own back pack and electro-static crank

And the number 1 indication that you are a school teacher:
1. You are the oldest guest at Billy’s house party

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GROWTH <> LEADERSHIP <> EXCELLENCE
© 2006 3 Minute Learning LLC

USA COMPETITIVE?

Lack of Success in Sports Reflects Poor Attitudes

Every four years the world’s attention turns to the World Cup Soccer Tournament. There is no other sporting event that captures the attention of billions of people in nearly every country. Soccer is truly the world’s sport.
Americans have never embraced soccer like the rest of the world. Its fascination is with football, an American-grown hybrid of rugby and soccer. Between college and professional leagues that now span year-round TV and venue coverage, the US adores football. Plus, it is the one US professional sport that has virtually no foreign players and one that the US would dominate should the world challenge us to play. I wonder why it is not an Olympic sport.
When it comes to sports, football is currently the only one that the US would dominate. In all other competitive events, Americans rarely dominate. For example, in baseball, a sport called “America’s pastime”, the American team was eliminated in the inaugural World Baseball Classic. Professional baseball in the US has become well-represented of players from the world. When those players represented their home country, the “American” team struggled to win games.
The US soccer team is more competitive, but lags far behind the elite world teams. In winter sports like those on display at the Winter Olympics, American athletes consider third place a triumphant effort. Only in those sports invented in America, such “extreme” skiing, do American athletes dominate. But, the rest of the “winter” world is catching up.
Another American institution, basketball, is also a world sport with many players in the US pro leagues coming from all parts of the world. As a result, US-only player teams no longer dominate at venues like the Summer Olympics. “Hockey?” you ask. US teams rarely win at any age/competitive level.
The ultimate insult came a few years ago in the annual Little League World Series held in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. In order to insure that the finals would include an American team, the teams were split into “World” and “US”. The message was clear: if the rules don’t favor American players, they don’t have a chance to win.
I believe that sports are a microcosm of society. Over the years we have seen sports break the racial barriers in the US. As stated earlier, sports have integrated players from all over the world, creating “mini-UNs” on many teams. But, from a US-dominating sports standpoint, that may be a 20th century phenomenon.
Success in sports, like education and work, takes time and dedication. It seems like American students and athletes just don’t want to dedicate themselves to the task. Instead of practicing for hours honing physical skills, they would rather play video games or text messaging. Instead of reading a book to build virtual power in their brains, they would rather watch moronic TV programs.
Kids playing sports in America is become as passé as American dominance in manufacturing. Americans love watching sports not playing them. Americans love using technology not creating new applications or devices. Americans would rather drive a SUV or 4-wheel AT vehicle instead of bicycling or running. Americans would rather borrow money than earn it.
Opposing views may point to those few American born that do dominate their respective sport. They will be quick to point out the CEOs of major companies, earning millions of dollars, are American-born. But, winning teams are not just the starting players but the depth and talent that are “on the bench.” Often you will read that the company’s CEO will be hard to replace. Or, that if this player gets injured, the team is in trouble. America is “too thin” in talent to be competitive for a marathon run to the top. Who is available to take the baton and run the next leg of the relay?
And on so many levels, that is the problem. If the only excellence can come from a small percentage of our citizens, the US will need to import talent. Talented people who can think, write, or design; that is, the next generation of problem-solvers. Visit a college campus and you will understand how far we are falling behind. Research departments recruit talented foreign students. Various sports programs, other than football, recruit talented athletes from the world. Add to that the arts, music, theater; the world is pushing Americans aside and it is our own doing.
The only job in America that is not threatened by world talent is the American Presidency. It’s not because Americans can “produce” the best presidents; it is a position protected by the US Constitution. It is like the aforementioned little league rule. But, considering the rise of second and third generation immigrants though the political system, that rule may be amended.
If the best athletes are coming from third world countries and the best thinkers are coming from the new world powers, isn’t it plausible to some day hear Americans say “Madam President Zdislaw.”?

GROWTH <> LEADERSHIP <> EXCELLENCE
© 2006 3 Minute Learning LLC

SUMMER SCHOOL!

Choosing a College with the Future in Mind

Ah, summertime and the living is easy? Well not for people who have children that are juniors in high school. They’ll spend some of this summer preparing for college, including campus visits. It’s amazing as parents and their children begin the process of choosing a college and possibly spend up to $100 thousand over the next 5 years that so little assertive behavior is employed.
Colleges know how to intimidate parents and use their “hallowed halls” to the college’s advantage. Higher education is big business and getting your money is the goal. The competition for students is one “fight”; more important is finding parents who don’t require much encouragement or financial support to enroll their child.
For example, at both my undergraduate and graduate schools, I was given a campus tour that included the football coach’s main office. Even though I had no plans of playing ball at either school, I was still overwhelmed by the each office. Rich wood tones surrounded executive desks that rivaled any Fortune 500 office. Trophy cases were filled with awards and memorabilia and the atmosphere was heavy with success. I doubt if there are many student-athletes that can say “no” to either school.
Colleges know the importance of rich, glorious history with “name-dropping.” Walls are adorned with pictures, awards and letters from very important people. It’s hard for parents not to be intimidated. You have to remember that this is a strategy, not just decorations. The goal is to get your son or daughter to register and for you to pay the bills.
It’s like the last time you wanted to buy a new car. The salesperson talked to you at length about the benefits and features of the auto, but when it came to making the “best deal” that went to the manager. The scenario was pre-determined and you can bet that their conversation was nothing more than “I’ve got them hooked.” The same is true with college admissions: it’s all planned and as you absorb the surroundings, the admission person says, “I’ve got them hooked.”
So how do you “fight back?” Here is a list of questions to ask each college admissions person:
1. Do professors teach or is it "passed off" to grad students?
2. On any given day, what percentage of time are professors in the classroom or his/her office?
3. Are professors full-time or part-time faculty?
4. How are professors recognized for teaching excellence?
5. Are professors’ peer reviews available to the public. What about student reviews of their professors?
6. What is the ratio of professors to students?
7. What percentage of your students graduate in 4 years? What disciplines typically graduate in 4 years?
8. What are the top 5 reasons for students transferring to another school?
9. What percentage of your budget is spent on the athletic program? How much has it increased over the past 3 years?
10. How many of your graduates are accepted in graduate school? What percentage of your graduates earns a doctorate?
11. How many of your graduates are S&P 500 CEOs?
12. Explain how your network for job placement is organized. How does my son/daughter will benefit from that network?
13. If my son/daughter maintains a 3.5 GPA over the next 4 years and graduates with a degree from your school, do you guarantee job placement in his/her field of study?
14. If you fail to match my son/daughter with an employer, will you reimburse any or all of the tuition that was paid?
15. If you fail to place my son/daughter with a job in their field of study, will you provide graduate school at no additional costs?
16. What percentage of your last graduating class is employed?
If you don’t know what answers you would find acceptable, I suggest you hire a college prep counselor skilled in obtaining the best “deal” for your son or daughter. You may find many of their suggestions to be contrary to what you thought was the right way to “attack” higher education.
Just as you don’t go to a courtroom without a lawyer, you should not go into the college arena without the support of professional that knows the “tricks” colleges will employ.
Hey, it about more than money; it’s about your child’s future!

GROWTH <> LEADERSHIP <> EXCELLENCE
© 2006 3 Minute Learning LLC

JUST THINKING

More Musings for June 2006

1. A few days ago I wrote that the number of cigarettes smoked was down and I hoped that cigarette manufacturers would not provide any incentives. Today in the New York Times, there was an item about cigarette coupons. Apparently, if a smoker buys 5 packs of cigarettes at the regular price they can collect coupons that come with the purchase and trade 5 coupons with a dollar for a pack of cigarettes.
While this may not be much of an incentive to attract new smokers, it will appeal to those already smoking. The number of cigarettes smoked per person will go up so they can collect coupons faster. Looks like more money for the manufacturers with potentially more health problems for the individual. Ugghh!
2. In a related item, stores still do not ask to see ID when a person is making a tobacco product purchase. Recent studies indicate that 71 percent of middle school students are not “carded” and 64 percent of high school students can buy unabated.
You would think that the numbers would be reversed. Surely a store owner can tell the difference, most of the time, between a 13-year old and a 17-year old? If a store owner, (not exclusively a tobacco store) needs tobacco sales to stay in business, they may want to get out of that business and try something else. In other words, stop selling to minors!
3. For the past 4 years the US has been talking about marriage as a union between a man and a woman. As much as political people want you to believe that this is a moral issue, it’s more about ownership rights to estates and other financial risk/benefits enjoyed by married people. But, that’s not the reason why I am writing today.
According to the 2004 US Census, America, the land of married men and women, now has 28 percent of its population as single parents! One of out three school children only has one parent at home. In an era when students need help from parents, there’s a good chance that the adult is not home and instead working a second or third job in order to pay bills.
For your information, that liberal country known as Canada has 19 percent tallied as single parents. Again we can all shout, Go USA!
4. Innovation is being sacrificed for company profits. Over the past 5 years, R&D spending by US companies has been declining steadily and is now 2.5 percent lower than 2001. Companies are defending their lack of research spending by saying it has no influence on customer satisfaction or profitability. In other words, companies will improve what they already have developed but not invest in the exploration of new products. Apparently, customers are satisfied and why waste money inventing since new product packaging is more profitable?
This kind of information again begs the question why so much emphasis is being placed on math and science education in grades K to 16? If companies prefer to spend money fine-tuning existing products, they only need their own skilled technicians. Most likely, computers are doing the updates.
For your information, that “nasty” country known as China, the one that is creating such a huge trade imbalance, is investing in R&D at an average of 14 percent a year over the past two years. They have a large piece o f the consumer market and they want more.
Scorecard: America at a minus 2.5 percent; China at a positive 28 percent. Once again shout, Go USA!
5. Shameless plug: if you need quality small business content presented in a just-in-time format, stop by 3 Minute Learning. There’s a link for the home page on your right.

GROWTH <> LEADERSHIP <> EXCELLENCE
© 2006 3 Minute Learning LLC

MORE ON FUTURING

6 Supertrends Shaping the Future

A brief review from the June 12, 2006 Blog:
An excellent book for teaching is, Futuring: The Exploration of the Future by Edward Cornish. As Cornish writes: “Most of us know better than to drive down a highway at eighty miles an hour without looking at the road ahead. But when it comes to steering our careers and businesses, we hardly ever consider what’s coming toward us. We often wind up in a nasty ‘crash’ that we could have avoided if we had better anticipated possible developments. This is where futuring can help.” Cornish is the president of the World Future Society and the editor of its magazine, The Futurist. As you will learn as you read the book, futuring is not “fortune-telling.” It is the science of looking at trends, studying demographics and researching attitudes and behaviors that will ultimately affect societies.
Today will be a brief review of what Cornish labels, “The 6 Supertrends Shaping the Future”:
1. Technological Progress
Technology is lowering the number of workers needed in manufacturing, technology and the service industry (web sites provide sales and service for example). In China, over half of this year’s college graduates will not find work. Technology can build better cars, appliances or heavy equipment better than a human counterpart. This increases a company’s profitability and pushes workers into lower paying jobs, if the jobs exist. The only jobs being imported to the US are in healthcare, specifically, nurses. Higher unemployment will be a way of life in the future.
2. Economic Growth
The sheer volume of people insures that economic growth will continue. It may not yield double-digit growth, but commodities will be consumed and more products will be required. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has stated that the pace at which America consumes will require 4 Earths to keep up supplies over the next 100 years. Economic growth is a self-sustaining process.
3. Improving Health
There’s a major difference between longevity and quality of life. Medical advances can keep people alive for many years in a state of total dependence. That is not quality of life; people would say that if they can’t do the things they enjoy, then life is not worth living. Unfortunately, the US has no euthanasia option. Hence, people live on.
Longevity is changing our view on living. Older people who require more interventions are absorbing an unequal share of the resources. It has been estimated that 90 percent of all Medicare payouts occur in the last 10 percent of life. This “never quit attitude” has changed people’s expectations about death.
4. Increasing Mobility
Barney Frank, Congressman from Massachusetts, said that you cannot easily address gas consumption in the US because we have spent decades telling people to move from the cities and towns and commute to work. The decision to build interstate highway systems instead of mass transit was made over 50 years ago. The automobile is the US’s means of travel.
This kind of individual/family mobility also means that communities no longer have the kind of familiarity that existed when several generations of families would live in the same town. People no longer have a commitment to community beyond what serves their family.
5. Environmental Decline
Oil and other fossil fuels may be the current news headlines but it will be water that ultimately determines the strength of a country. Clean water is essential for survival; just look at how hard it is for people in the arid areas of Africa to live from day to day. Progress hardly matters when starvation is hours away.
Also, if you have seen Al Gore’s film, An Inconvenient Truth, you should be concerned about global warming. Many scientists in that film feel that the Earth could be inhabitable north of Equator in just 5 years (around 2011-2012).
6. Loss of Traditional Culture
Thomas Friedman of the New York Times has written two books and hundreds of opinion articles about the “flat world.” This notion that people will morph into one community is the essence of unrest and the “holy war” being fought to preserve radical religious views. But, don’t limit your vision of terrorists to those from the Middle East. White Supremists also have a agenda of “purity” and much of the uproar about immigration quotas and even gay marriage are examples of people fighting to preserve their view of life.

GROWTH <> LEADERSHIP <> EXCELLENCE
© 2006 3 Minute Learning LLC

LEARN AS YOU EXPLORE?

7 Lessons of Great Explorers

School is a great place to learn history. The past is easy to teach and measure. But, there’s a saying for investors: “Past performance is not indicator of future performance.” So is the case with learning: focusing on the past doesn’t help prepare people for the future.
An excellent book on teaching forward is titled, Futuring: The Exploration of the Future by Edward Cornish. As Cornish writes: “Most of us know better than to drive down a highway at eighty miles an hour without looking at the road ahead. But when it comes to steering our careers and businesses, we hardly ever consider what’s coming toward us. We often wind up in a nasty ‘crash’ that we could have avoided if we had better anticipated possible developments. This is where futuring can help.”
Cornish is the president of the World Future Society and the editor of its magazine, The Futurist. As you will learn as you read the book, futuring is not “fortune-telling.” It is the science of looking at trends, studying demographics and researching attitudes and behaviors that will ultimately affect societies.
It seems to me that the main reason that people choose not to be a futurist is because it takes thinking. A good futurist will read, explore and think more than the person satisfied with the past. I suspect the main impetus for so many people be against continuous learning is the resistance to unlearn “history.” This does not mean world or American history, but that knowledge that fits our conceptual framework. What we know provides us with a comfort zone and a safe place to express our opinions and make choices.
An interesting section of the book deals with the great explorers. There are many lessons to be learned from those that explored without a “safety net.” Cornish has listed 7 lessons:
1. Prepare for what you will face in the future
It seems like the old axiom from the Boy Scouts is a must: Be Prepared. The age of the specialist needs to be set aside for the age of the diverse. The world is changing rapidly and the knowledge base turns over every 6 months or sooner. That’s much different from earlier generations when new knowledge may not appear for years. One of the keys in knowledge management is understanding what to keep.
2. Anticipate future needs
Businesses work in 3 to 6 month intervals. It is easy to understand why behemoths like General Motors get “caught” with the wrong consumer products. It can also explain why the majority of second generation businesses fail. What worked before is not necessarily what people want now.
3. Use poor information when necessary
Businesses are obsessed with analysis. Most likely the FEAR of making a wrong decision leads to paralysis by analysis. If no one makes a decision, no one can be wrong. Unfortunately, there are companies making decisions without all the “due diligence” and they will capture the new consumer market.
4. Expect the unexpected
“What will go wrong, will go wrong” is one of Murphy’s Laws. If you go into something without the necessary back-up plans, you increased your chance of failure. It is impossible to anticipate all that could happen, so be ready with an arsenal of alternatives.
5. Think long-term as well as short-term
When I first started in working in a large corporation, thinking in 5 year increments was expected. As factors influencing business accelerated, the leaders thought that 5 year strategies were a waste of time. Actually, loss of that kind of strategic planning actually accelerated their losses. Instead of having people exploring the future, everyone was consumed with the “here and now.” Short-term thinking with a long range plan helps people stay focused.
6. Dream productively
Do you ever see anyone sitting at their desk, staring off into space? Of course not! That kind of daydreaming behavior won’t be tolerated, regardless if it is at work or at school. Managers want their people to look busy, not being seen reading a book or magazine (that applies to work). Thinking looks like you are wasting time. Get busy even if all you are doing is moving papers from one file to another!
Dreams are the future. You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. --- Mark Twain
7. Learn from your predecessors
If a person is relieved of duties, terminated or “downsized,” people around them automatically assume that they did something wrong. There may be some real valuable learning that can be gleaned from this poor person’s fate. Not every person escorted out the door is wrong.

GROWTH <> LEADERSHIP <> EXCELLENCE
© 2006 3 Minute Learning LLC