by john@johnhagerman.com |
By John Hagerman “Dr. Seuss provides great career guidance to adults,” Jeanne Mock said at a recent presentation to adult students enrolled in the Takoda Institute Public Relations Specialist program in Minneapolis. During her presentation, Mock read several quotes from Suess’ Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Book. As Director of National Accounts for the Kids in Need Foundation, former Director of Community Relations for Target Corporation, as a former teacher, and as a full-time, life-long learner, Mock is a bit of an expert when it comes to where she’ll go next. The theme of the event Mock was addressing was, Who Will You Become? Appropriately the first quote she used was “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.” I never knew Dr. Seuss and I were such kindred spirits! I’ve been teaching public relations writing at the school for the past eight months and knew all the students in the room. They were instantly intrigued with Mock, and the quote. It resonated with me, too. One of the consistent themes in my lectures to the group has been, “It’s up to you to invent the future you want,” and the quote supported the theme. As Seuss implied, if you’re not going to steer your own course, then who’s going to do it for you? Next up was, “Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you. And when things...
by john@johnhagerman.com |
By John Hagerman For the past eight months I’ve been teaching public relations and public speaking. When I teach, I’m not always very subtle, so I’m pretty blunt about telling my students that part of their future jobs should be advising their employers to get on the bandwagon for doing good things in the community. I showed them the Edelman Good Purpose survey that says customers expect companies to do more than just write checks. I also shared some of my 10 years of experiences working with employees and organizations helping them find ways to make a difference. The positive impact on employees who are encouraged to get involved in doing good in the community is measured by more than increases in productivity; it’s measured by greater satisfaction in their work, better retention rates, and the shared connections that build stronger communities both inside and outside of the workplace. I can easily trace the roots of my commitment to making a difference to a single day in 2003. As I gave the eulogy at my mother’s funeral in October of 2003, I looked out and saw a church overflowing with people. Two days later we filled the Old Log Theater, the home of her actress soul, with another 400 people. I couldn’t help but wonder how many people would show up at my funeral. I didn’t like the answer and knew I needed to make some changes, but I wasn’t sure what to do. My wife gave me the answer a few months later when she gave me a framed Winston Churchill quote that read, “You make a living...
by john@johnhagerman.com |
By John Hagerman Ask any of my Public Relations students at Takoda Institute about what I’m like as an instructor, and one of the more common replies you’ll get is, “Passionate.” You’re likely to get similar responses from clients and friends. The question is, what am I passionate about? The answer is simple, I’m passionate about energizing you to make happen in your life all the good things you want, and if you don’t know what you want, I’m passionate about helping you discover it. I’m passionate about helping business owners and managers create workplaces filled with energy, desire, and commitment. And I’m passionate about helping everyone discover, uncover or recover what most fulfills them and making it a part of their everyday lives. Yeah, I guess I got a little carried away with all the passion. I can’t help it. Every time I look at myself and what makes me feel happy and fulfilled, it always comes back to the same thing – energizing people. I’m part psychiatrist, part cheerleader, and part drill sergeant. The psychiatrist (coach) in me loves to help people discover what moves and inspires them, then help them overcome whatever roadblocks they put in their own way. The cheerleader has an endless supply of enthusiasm and energy that is always ready to recharge the batteries of anyone who’s bogged down in their lives. And the drill sergeant in me loves to dig in and push people until they take the actions they know they need to take. If somebody gets knocked down, I help them back up then keep moving them forward. Why am I telling you...
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