June 2006
Freedom
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After William Wallace’s execution by the English, Robert the Bruce asserted his claim to the throne of Scotland.
In June 1306, the English defeated Bruce’s army at Methven, and in the years following, Bruce and his army were repeatedly beaten back.
According to legend, while lying awake one night, Bruce saw a spider clinging to the ceiling above him. He watched as the spider tried to stretch its web across an opening. Repeatedly the spider failed, but on the seventh attempt, the spider bridged the gap and began spinning its web.
Bruce continued to lead his countrymen despite repeated setbacks, and on June 24, 1314, Bruce defeated the larger English army by maneuvering his forces in terrain that prevented the English from effectively deploying.
This victory finally secured Scotland, and England recognized Scotland’s independence in 1328.
Whether or not Robert the Bruce actually received inspiration from a spider, he did set an example of endurance, keeping the goal in mind and taking the next step in spite of regular setbacks.
Handling Stress
Most days involve some stress, and high-stress situations seem to come in bunches. Endurance consists of remembering the objective and taking the next step to get there.
When your computer crashes, becoming frustrated with the machine, yelling at coworkers, or slamming doors might bring temporary relief, but focusing negatively on the problem usually doesn’t lead to solutions. The sooner you can implement a backup plan, the better your chances of remaining productive.
When a problem results from a mistake you made, you cannot undo it by dwelling on it. Determine where you got off track so that you will not repeat the mistake, and discern the best way to proceed.
Each challenge can stretch you to accomplish more than you previously believed possible. Resolving problems can reduce future stress, and the endurance you build can steady your confidence in future situations.
Do not lose hope when events turn out for the worse. Determine how you can best respond.
Take-Home Integrity
President Steve Manis of SupplyOne’s CPD Tech Pack in Oklahoma City said, "I believe employers have an obligation to create an environment of character in order to benefit employees on the job and help each individual take character home to their families."
SupplyOne Vice President of Operations and Manufacturing Mark Badgley said Character First! provides tools to unify values and policies as the company acquires new divisions nationwide. SupplyOne already had a value statement, but Character First! helps employees put the values into action.
SupplyOne provides packaging supplies for everything from electronics to automotive parts to cosmetics. The corporation has acquired divisions around the country that allow it to deliver a wide variety of products and services.
SupplyOne companies hold four monthly meetings to accommodate the employees on shiftwork, and sales representatives usually add the character emphasis to one of their monthly meetings. For the past four years, the Oklahoma City division has hired Character First! Associate Trainer Gerald Coury to present the monthly quality.
Supervisor Lee Boaz and IT/Customer Service Manager Jeff McConnell say they have seen the character emphasis become more of a lifestyle rather than simply a program. Boaz and McConnell both said they could see a growing motivation in coworkers to have a “character life” that can help them perform better in their jobs.
Vicki Poole is the human resources department representative for SupplyOne’s Packaging Services in Rockwell, North Carolina. Since her organization implemented Character First! almost a year ago, she has seen the second shift consistently exceed monthly expectations and quarterly goals.
Manis, Badgley, and Poole said they were encouraged that some employees have asked for extra bulletins to take home and share with family members.
By Lauree Beth Stedje
Character First! Classroom Goes Online
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This summer, have your children explore the Character First! Online Classroom. The website offers age-appropriate character lessons for elementary and secondary students.
Online resources include audio stories, music, crafts, and coloring pages for younger students. Older students will benefit from on-the-job examples and character discussion questions.
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Series One lessons cover attentiveness, obedience, truthfulness, gratefulness, generosity, orderliness, forgiveness, sincerity, and virtue. Series Two lessons discuss responsibility, patience, initiative, self-control, punctuality, resourcefulness, tolerance, creativity, and discretion.
Parents and teachers can tailor the program to any pace, covering one character quality per week or speeding it up and covering two qualities per week.
Make the most of your summer by building good character every day. Visit http://classroom.characterfirst.com for more information.
By Robert Greenlaw
Character Celabrated in Gilchrist County
On April 27, the Character Council of Gilchrist County, Florida, held its third annual "Character Celebration."
This celebration allows council members and those honored as "Personality of the Month" to get to know one another and share a meal. The council also honors recent award recipients with special Character First! certificates in recognition of their integrity.
Six of the twelve council members took part this year, and the ceremony included a presentation of the council's history. Funding comes from businesses, the City of Trenton, Gilchrist County, and many individuals.
The council already has funding from one of the County Commissioners to purchase the materials for a body puppet named "Cari K. Tree" (the "K" standing for "Kute"). Each branch on the tree will carry a large leaf, representing a character quality. The puppet will have seasonal decorations and fit anyone who is at least 4 feet 10 inches tall. "Cari K. Tree" will appear at public functions and events sponsored by the Character Council.
By Carl and Geneva Diane Cornwell
