Book Project: Who was your teacher?
Introduction
When we reflect on our experiences, each of us can identify a person or persons who have provided us with guidance, direction, and lessons that are very important to whom we are today.
I would like to tell you a story about Phyllis, a young woman from a small town in western Pennsylvania. Phyllis had a dream to become an elementary school teacher, but no one in her family had ever attended college before – and finding the means to attend college seemed well out of reach.
After high school, Phyllis married and had two children. The dream of becoming an elementary school teacher seemed so far away. It was her dream to teach third grade, where she felt that she could most influence a child’s interest in future learning. She believed this was a critical developmental age to influence a child’s interest in school and education.
Focused and determined, with the support of her family, when her kids were old enough to attend elementary school, Phyllis was accepted into college and she began taking part-time, evening classes. This endeavor required the full support of all of the members of her family. She, her husband and children would all make the nearly hour-long evening drive to the college campus. She would attend class while her family would find activities on campus and in the local community. They would then drive home together after class. This was a truly shared commitment.
She was a non-traditional student a number of years older than her classmates. After a few semesters, with success and confidence balancing the role of wife, mother and student she moved from being a part time to a full-time student. She graduated with a teaching degree and was hired to teach third grade. A dream realized! She taught for two years before she died at the age of 36 of breast cancer. To those who knew her, her determination and commitment provided many lessons and much inspiration.
Each of us is lucky if we can count two or three people who played a pivotal role in shaping our lives – a handful of people if we're one of the few who've been extraordinarily blessed. This third grade teacher inspired me to learn. If it weren't for Phyllis, I may never have gone on to college. I learned the importance of setting goals, determination and commitment. I also developed a life-long love of learning.
This book, “Who was your teacher?” will be dedicated to that 3rd grade elementary school teacher Phyllis -- my mother.
After high school, I was fortunate to be hired at United Parcel Service to work part-time while I attended the University of Pittsburgh as a commuter. I met my future wife of 39 years in an anthropology class. Attending classes in Greensburg and Oakland, I earned a degree in Psychology and a minor in Economics.
Again as a commuter working at UPS, I completed an MBA at California University of Pennsylvania with a concentration in Finance. This happened to be the same campus where Phyllis had earned her Teaching degree.
While working full time, I completed a second Master’s degree at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College, graduating with Highest Distinction. By now, I also earned a reputation from my family as a professional student.
I worked for Mine Safety Appliances Company and Kennametal in a variety of roles. Mid-career, I was recruited to join the General Electric Company – a role that required a family move to Vermont. Life in Vermont proved to be a very good experience for the entire family.
I always say that I earned my second Master’s degree at Carnegie Mellon and my PhD at General Electric. For me, the seven years of GE experience in New England was an incredible learning opportunity. I experienced the executive transition from Jack Welch to Jeff Immelt. The learning at GE was priceless.
At GE I learned the “four Es of Leadership.”
- The first E – Leaders have high personal Energy.
- The second E – is the ability to Energize others.
- The third E – Execution – Do what you commit to do. Know that you must find a way to make it happen.
- The fourth E is Edge – The ability to make hard decisions.
After leaving GE, I added a fifth E to this list. Perhaps it was in response to seeing how Jack Welch treated his ex-wife Jane. The fifth and very important E is Ethics. Ethics are foundational to effective leaders.
My GE experience fueled my interest as a student of leadership. This is a very simple list for a complex subject.
After experiencing and surviving a stroke, an event that certainly altered my life’s path, I created Tartan Group, LLC where I help CEOs and organizations find and develop pivotal people who are critical to the success of the organization. As principal of the Tartan Group, I conduct executive search, coach executives and members of their teams, conduct leadership training sessions, and help the team with issues around organizational effectiveness.
Who was your teacher?
Take a moment to reflect on who this pivotal person or persons were in shaping your life and your career. Such people, that may come to mind over the course of our life include, parents, grandparents, neighbors, relatives, or even a boss.
When I ask successful leaders this question, I often get a smile and at times an emotional response when they talk about the person and the lessons learned. When asked about how they learned specific lessons of values and behaviors, these leaders often refer to people and events that were critical to their learning. We learn from people and from our experiences. Our best lessons often come not when we succeed, but rather from our failures.
I want to share one interview with a business owner, now in his 70s, who successfully built, operated and sold several manufacturing businesses. During a breakfast meeting, we talked about ethics, integrity, and lessons learned.
His father was a tailor. The family lived above the shop along with the extended family. His sister came home one day and opened her hands, proud to have 82 cents. Her father asked where she had gotten the 82 cents, and she said she found it. Her father asked where she had found it. She said she had found it in the alley. He told her the money did not belong to her. He told her that someone was likely looking for it. And then he told her to put it back where she had found it.
Years later he asked his father about the event. He wanted to know more about the story. His father said that as a young boy he had come home with a baseball. His father had asked him where he had gotten it. He told his father that he had found it. His father told him that the baseball did not belong to him. Someone was likely looking for it. He was told to put the baseball back where he had found it.
A highlight for me just a few years ago was being invited back to Carnegie Mellon University to build and teach a graduate class as an adjunct faculty member. As I walked across the campus to the classroom that first evening, my thoughts were of my mother and her journey to realize her dream. It was clear that it was the lessons that she had taught me that made my walk across the campus to that classroom that evening possible.
Each of us would like to make a difference in the quality of life in the community. Together and individually, we are teachers. Know that you can make a pivotal impact to the people in your life by your example and through your words. You can inspire, influence and shape their life’s journey. Who -one day- will look back and say YOU were the one who made a pivotal impact on their life?
Life is a Journey. Developing as a person and as a leader is a never ending part of that journey.
I want thank you for taking time to read this introduction. I welcome your input and suggestions on people you believe I should meet and interview for this book project. I would appreciate your introduction to that person.
I want to share a lesson from my journey,
“The best exercise you can get comes from reaching out and lifting up another person”.
Be an inspirational teacher!
Have a great day! Thank you.