The Contented Cow Blog

Building Workplaces That Work

If you need a little encouragement about today’s youth, read on…

Yesterday I attended a scholarship luncheon for the Meninak Club, a local service organization to which I belong. Each year, the Meninaks award a $5,000 scholarship to each of 5 of deserving area students. Before this year’s recipients were recognized, a previous award winner addressed the group to thank them for the opportunity they had given her a number of years ago. The day before, she had graduated with her doctorate in pharmacy, and would soon begin a job with a prestigious medical center, after spending the summer volunteering her services in South Africa.

As each honoree took the podium to deliver his or her acceptance speech, my spirit soared with hope for yet another generation of young people. There were no slackers among the group. Each student had a history of going above and beyond, in academics, some in athletics, all in community service. It was great to see their Extra Mile attitudes being recognized and rewarded.

On the other hand, I was saddened last week to hear of four middle schoolers, expelled from their private school in our city for illegal drug trade and use. These kids were granted enormous opportunities, and they each chose to squander their gifts and to take a path toward self-destruction.

I can only hope that this latter group will learn from this experience, and will be able to recover. A realistic view tells me that if they do, they’ll have to work mighty hard to overcome what they’ve brought on themselves.

Back to the first group. Congratulations to them. And thanks, for showing a sometimes cynical older generation that values, hard work, and a focus on others, not just self, are still alive and well.

Five thousand dollars won’t cover the cost of these kids’ higher education, but it’s a great start, and as the new Pharm.D. pointed out, it can be the seed that leads to a brilliant future.

It’s interesting that, just as in the workplace, those who go the Extra Mile, who volunteer their Discretionary Effort, and who do more than is required, are often the very ones who reap the most in return. I know it doesn’t always work out that way, but I’m heartened when it does, and it certainly did in the case of these five outstanding young people I met yesterday.

If we leave the world to people like these 5 scholars, we’re going to be just fine.

Richard Hadden is a leadership speaker, author, and consultant who helps organizations improve their business results by creating a great place to work. He and his co-author and business partner Bill Catlette, are the authors of the new book Contented Cows MOOve Faster, as well as the acclaimed business classic Contented Cows Give Better Milk. Learn more about them and their work at ContentedCows.com.

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