December 2006
Taking a Second Job
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Albert Schweitzer said, "This career for the spirit [helping others] I call 'your second job.' In this there is no pay except the privilege of doing it…."
By his late 20's, Albert Schweitzer had become a world-renowned organist and writer, and he held a high-ranking position at the University of Strasbourg. At the age of 30, however, Schweitzer began medical school.
He later used personal funds, royalties from his literary works, and the prize money from his Nobel Peace Prize to found the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Lambaréné, in French Equatorial Africa.
Schweitzer gave these principles for his "second job" (taken from an interview with Fulton Oursler of the Reader's Digest):
Open Your Eyes. "Our greatest mistake," he said, "…is that we walk through our life with closed eyes and do not notice our chances."
Talk to Strangers. "From a feeling of embarrassment, we hesitate to approach a stranger…." he said. "If we dare with wisdom, always maintaining a certain reserve in our approach, we find that when we open ourselves we open doors in others."
Acknowledge Responsibility. "We cannot abdicate our conscience to an organization, nor to a government," Schweitzer said. Compassion is a personal duty we must all exhibit.
How have you seen others practice sensitivity and compassion? Write us at info@characterfirst.com.
Lady in Distress
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On a KLM flight from Bucharest to Amsterdam last week, a woman boarded our plane minutes before departure. The flight attendants graciously accommodated her request for an aisle seat and helped her stow her bags.
Moments later, the lady walked to the front of the plane where she again spoke with a flight attendant. He nodded sympathetically and gently escorted her back to her seat where he discreetly explained to neighboring passengers this lady had suffered a personal tragedy and suggested they could offer comfort during the flight.
Instead of ignoring the lady's signs of distress, the flight attendants recognized something was wrong and found ways to help.
Practice sensitivity in your workplace by listening to others and studying body language. Is their behavior out of the ordinary? What personal battles might they face below the surface? Make it your goal to help ease burdens instead of adding to the weight.
Celebrate with others when they are happy, and grieve with those who suffer loss. These habits will help you improve relationships, build teamwork, and create a positive place to live and work.
By Robert Greenlaw
Partners in Education
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Over 1,400 Taiwanese public school principals and teachers received Character First! training last month thanks to the cooperative efforts of the Taiwan Ministry of Education, HTC Foundation, and Character First!.
HT Cho is one of the founders of High Tech Computer Corporation (HTC) in Taiwan, and the chairman of the HTC Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting character building, environmental awareness, and cross-cultural understanding and respect. His hard work, dedication, and passion for excellence have helped both HTC and HTC Foundation form a corporate culture that emphasizes integrity, innovation, and quality.
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"Character-training is very important for our country," Cho said. "We want to support character-training in Taiwanese schools, so we can help future generations be successful."
Cho has offered to sponsor a set of Character First! curriculum for Taiwanese schools that agree to teach character. Cho personally attended the Character First! training sessions in four cities, showing teachers and principals he supports character-education with his time and energy, not just his funds.
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Explore the businesses in your area. Ask companies, foundations, or civic clubs to support character-education by sponsoring training and curriculum for teachers. Together you can train today's children to be men and women of good character.
For more information, contact Character First! at (405) 815-0001.
By Robert Greenlaw
Coming Together, Working Together, and Staying Together
Speakers and attendees from across South Carolina gathered in Conway on October 2 and 3 to discuss how emphasizing personal integrity effects the community.
The Building Communities of Character in South Carolina took the theme "Coming Together, Working Together, and Staying Together." The conference covered Families & Faith, Business & Government, Law Enforcement & Corrections, and Education.
Franklin Smith, a certified character trainer from Dorchester County, told how to bring character to the forefront in Law Enforcement & Correction. Steve Menzel, director of the International Association of Character Cities (IACC), presented the Business & Government session. Joan Dickinson and Cathy Blume from the South Carolina State Department of Education presented the education section of the conference.
On Monday evening, the community gathered for dinner at the Lower River Warehouse. It was a great opportunity for networking and experiencing the beautiful Conway riverfront.
Next year's conference is scheduled for October 1 and 2. For more information about Building Communities of Character in South Carolina, call Scott Gallimore at (843) 283-6982.
By Steven Menzel, Director, IACC
