Who rescues the graduates from failure?

Only 1 in 4 entering high school will graduate, began the NPR audio show. The example they used to illustrate their story on All Things Considered was former gangbanger, Patrick Lundvick. He's a dropout. He hustled drugs. He ended up in jail.

Today, he isn't willing to completely give up the drug-world friends of his old life, but he is willing to chase a new life that includes a job.

On the drive home from the office, the interview played in the background as I mentally reviewed the day. I caught snippets of it -- it detailed the stats for drop outs, half are black, most end up unemployed, unemployment crises leads to jail time. When the show introduced Alternative Schools Network, a Chicago-based recovery program to get drop-outs back on track, my attention perked up.

Whose creating programs in my own community to help dropouts, I wondered. Can they really alter the course of their life?

I was riveted when Lundvick said, "Everyone can change — everyone."

I believe that. I believe even I can change. I watched it happen. I lived it. Lived through it and came out the other side. When I started managing I told my staff, "You can't make a mistake I haven't already made." For the newbies I would add, "If you make a mistake, no one dies. It's not the end of the world. Learn from it and move forward."

"Everyone can change — everyone." Patrick Lundvick

As I continued the drive home I wondered how many managers make it, 3 out of 4? Half? Or are the stats closer to the 4 million students starting ninth grade this fall from which 1 million will eventually graduate?

I considered the challenges of changing, how difficult it is when given the same scenery day after day. We have to give up something to change, the status quo, the 'bad known,' preconceived beliefs, friends who have undue influence over us and even the job itself. At one job, I went from the backseat complainer and criticizer to the pro-active employee that said if it needs to be done, I'll do it. I stopped picking up the banner for everyone else's cause. It wasn't easy. Even Patrick Lundvick was having trouble separating his drug life from the one he wants.

During the course of the interview Lundvick stated, "I can't say I will not hang out with the people I know, 'cause some of the people that are in that life, have saved my life."

It's hard to disengage when the connections go deep. I considered the strength of character it would take to rub shoulders with friends closing $75K cocaine deals while you dog a job at Kinkos. It's all about choices and where you want to end up.

I wondered who rescues graduates who get jobs, but who drop out mentality or emotionally, for any number of reasons. Who reaches out to managers who let them fall through the cracks? A recent e-newsletter from Tibor Shanto said, "Many get into a routine, one that perhaps delivered some level of success for some time, and they stick with it, no matter what is going on in their world." It seems like we could all use a wake up call. A gentle nudge to look at the world from where we want to end up, not where we've been, or who we've been.

All of us could use better job skills. And maybe a rescue. Who pushed your career the right direction?

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RESOURCES
NPR.org | School's Out: America's Dropout Crisis, quote at 3:35 in audio
The Pipeline | Removing The Barrier From Sales – Sales eXchange – 107

Consequences of Dropping Out of School | Press Release (PDF);
Executive Summary (PDF); Report (PDF).

Unlocking better habits is like winding a watch

Unlocking the blue door for the last time.

I pulled out an old watch I hadn't worn in a decade. The time on it's tiny face had stopped. I threw it in my pocket and at lunch dropped into the local jeweler to buy a battery to get it revved up again. The jeweler grinned and fiddled with the watch. "It doesn't have a battery. It's the wind up kind."

My head came up sharply and felt my face flush. I eyed him. He didn't smirk or comment on what an idiot it was to visit his establishment. He gazed down at the work at hand and rolled his thumb and forefinger over the tiny gold button-gear. When the watch was ticking solidly he handed it back.

I left the store and stopped at the corner before crossing Evergreen Boulevard and paused. How much of life do I expect to happen automatically? How much do I take for granted because it takes so little effort, takes nothing more than a sliver of metal that converts the chemical energy contained in its active materials into electrical energy that performs phenomenal tasks?

I take too much for granted.

One of the things I took for granted is the phenomenal team I worked with at the paper. On my final day, I bemoaned the fact that I hadn't praised enough, hadn't acknowledge the many simple and complex tasks people did to make the company a success.

I made my confession during my exit interview and the human resources manager didn't criticize or add fuel to the fire of my personal guilt. She simply said, "Take the learning experience forward, and do it better."

I think if we're smart and attentive we can learn from the mistakes of others. There isn't a need for all of us to make the same mistakes. So, turn to the person next to you and think about something that they do to make a difference in your company, in your community, or in your life.

Tell them.

Say it sincerely.

Unlocking better habits is like winding a watch. You have to do it everyday. If you don't, your watch or your good habits stop. There is no battery of life to keep you on track and ticking except your own desire.

So, to my phenomenal team, who pursues their dreams in a great media company, I say, "No one can do what you do as well as you. You are the best. I'm so glad I had a chance to work with you.

"You made me better."