Reading is Control
In a survey of nearly 2000 workers, 47 percent said they would improve their employment opportunities by either getting a degree or by learning new skills. Certainly this is a noble and expected sentiment but it is a recipe for personal failure and disappointment.
First, companies are abandoning their most useful educational tool, the corporate ladder. There was a time before Wall Street estimates dominated corporate thinking that everyone had an opportunity to grow with the business. With few exceptions, everyone was hired as a beginner. He or she was given initial responsibilities and assigned to a department manager who would be responsible for teaching the corporate culture and needs. This investment of time and learning may take years to complete but as the older workers retired, the new leadership was in place. And it was very important when it became necessary to move into new products or services quickly.
Now, bottom line thinking dictates that results need to be instant; there is no time for this longitudinal process of learning. People are hired with the expectation they can deliver immediately. The corporate world believes that a person with a college degree is somehow magically ready to perform.
Middle management, individuals in the learning process, are terminated regularly. The continuum of work ready employees has been dismantled for the past 25 years and thousands of companies have disappeared. Yet,
Second, if education was doing its job, it would make sure that people have access to a library of just-in-time learning modules. That means 5 to 10 minute instructional vignettes that people can learn quickly, regularly review and employ in the workplace. Instead, the traditional model of attending classes and spending hours and years in the classroom dominates adult learning. By the time people finish these classes and earn a degree or certificate, the world has moved on rendering the new graduate obsolete. Compounding the problem are instructors/professors that teach what they know, not what is needed in the workplace. An in-house training department would be much more effective, but that kind of service costs money and is the first on everyone’s list for termination.
Finally, people need to stop embracing passive learning that is predicated on attending classes and allowing someone to spoon feed learning. Of course, that is the result of the
Hence, as an adult, you can direct your learning. Start by devoting an hour everyday to reading. Read books and journals that will support your career. Search the Internet for sites that support your need for information. Ignorance is a personal choice.
Success is defined a being disciplined. Turning off the TV and reading is your choice. Very few people have ever become financially successful by watching sitcoms, sports or movies. If you are interested in entertainment, help create more by learning how to write scripts, compose music or learn to act.
The faster you realize that TV is a mass control mechanism to dull peoples’ desire and keep them from achieving, the faster you can find success. Your brain is your key to success and it is your choice.
Political Integrity
We elect persons to represent us in government because we believe that he or she is a leader and will act in our best interests. Politicians are our source of reason in a country based in capitalism. And to be sure capitalism works but it is best served when governed. In other words, politicians are the bridge between business greed and personal need. Societies throughout history thrive when there is a balance between wealth and sharing.
As voters we need to do our job and elect people who are dedicated to preserving a society dedicated to health, education and the eradication of poverty and homelessness. It is disconcerting when politicians pander to special interest groups. Most of the time these special interest groups are only interested in promoting narrow thinking and are of little interest to the majority of Americans.
We want leaders and not everything a leader does will be supported or popular. At least be consistent; you won’t be faulted for creating an agenda that benefits a country of people and not just a fraction. For example, don’t state what a terrible job we are doing with scientific discovery and at the same time support “intelligent design.” Science has proven methodology that promotes empirical evidence and can be replicated anywhere in the world. “Intelligent design” is personal faith and each faith based group has its version of creation. Support scientific discovery and leave faith to personal choice.
John McCain and Hillary Clinton are early favorites in their respective parties. Over the next year, pay attention to the consistency of their messages. If they both continue to change their convictions from speech to speech, why should either one be trusted as our leader?
All politicians deserve our respect and support. They carry a heavy responsibility to model leadership behavior to Americans and the world. If they betray our confidence or their convictions, look for someone new.
GROWTH <> LEADERSHIP <> EXCELLENCE
© 2007 3 Minute Learning LLC
