We are also located right next to the Lac du Flambeau Reservation, and more Native Indian people serve in the military per capita than any other ethnic group, including whites. Both my grandfathers served, as did almost every one of their generation, and my great uncle lost his life in WWII. One of my other great uncles was shot down and held as a POW. His injuries stayed with him his whole life. Service is about sacrifice.

Veterans get this special day because when they volunteer to serve, they are signing up to make the ultimate sacrifice, if required. For a while there, the military was seeming like a pretty easy way to get some societal advantages like a college education and preferential federal job placement. Not so much anymore. Besides, even in a prolonged time of peace, those who enlisted still were signing up to put their life on the line if called upon.

Of course, some people could not fathom going into the military. Combat training is not for them, and they may be morally opposed to war.There have been many other ways Americans have served. I am grateful for the teachers, policy makers, environmentalists, doctors, infrastructure workers… the list of dedicated Americans goes on and on.

After having one of the most divisive elections in history, I think it is important to think about service to our country. We should use the Vets as an inspiration and look up to them to think about what we can give to make the world a better place. This last year, we have seen people who “take the knee” for the National Anthem because they feel we, as a country, could be doing more.

Maybe it is sacrilegious to say this on Veterans Day, but I have been thinking a lot about the Pledge of Allegiance. It may have started while watching Game of Thrones, and seeing different kingdoms pledge to stand by this fictional leader or that, no matter what. Some swore their sword, but then do not fulfill their obligations. I wonder how many Americans have said the Pledge of Allegiance thousands of times, yet threatened to move to Canada if there was either this outcome or that? It is sort of like wedding vows, where people gather all their favorite witnesses together as they swear they will give their lives to this other person, then go roll in the hay with the next person who temps them. What are you swearing to sacrifice?

This is why Veterans Day is so important. Vets really do stand by a commitment and serve. There is no not following through for them. The do go to war when called upon. They together, black, white, Indian, man, woman, Jew, Christian, Muslim, rich and poor, are willing to do their best and if need be, put their life on the line so we can have a society that represents freedom for all.

So let’s use this day not only to thank Vets but to remember that America is a place that is intended to shine as a beacon of hope across the world. We represent inclusive policies, wise conservation policies, a place where our public has the right to visit some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, and of course, unprecedented opportunity and freedom to speak out. So find a vet today and thank them. Let them know what you are willing to do to help make America shine as a global symbol of freedom. What you are willing to do to protect the values that they put their life on the line for.

Thank you Veterans for your service and example of leadership!

Keep Leading,
Rad

The Real World

I didn’t have a pleasant school experience until the later years of college due to my different learning style, but being involved with school policy and helping schools to break the old mold is now very interesting to me. Schools are a great place to look at why we have certain beliefs, and, as they should be, represent the best opportunity to get kids ready for the “real world”.

The latter part of that being said, I think schools fail miserably at making real world connections. They do a pretty good job teaching reading, writing, arithmetic and introducing science and art, but the connections to business, management and overall leadership are often missed.

Any manager knows that training is an important part of the job. It represents a large investment in an employee and takes time. That is way employee retention is so important and the companies that want the best people recognize this and do their best to retain these employees.

The Schools of Today

In school today, there is a trend to have those that achieve the basics in the class and finish their work to help the students who are struggling. Parents of the kids who finish first often resent this because their student should be challenged more, not used as free labor. That is understandable. However, what if the schools presented the lesson of helping other students as a leadership or management module?

What if they spent some time telling those students who were helping that learning how to train employees, how to master content so that you can explain it clearly, and how to develop an outward sense of compassion to those around us, are all ESSENTIAL leadership skills? Don’t you think parents would buy in more to their students helping? In our charter schools, we have lost students whose parents feel they are being used as free labor and don’t value this new challenge.

This is true with anything you do. There is a lot more to what we are doing than just the act of the duty itself. Take sports for instance. It sounds like a tremendous waste of time. In the same regard we have come to understand that not only does it represent fitness, but builds character, sportsmanship, stimulates the brain, teaches responsibility, etc., BUT only if it is coached properly and mentored correctly.

Finding Value in Everyday “Jobs”

My guess is right now there is something in your life that you are doing, and not because you see it as developing leadership skills. In fact, you may not even see much external value in, but there truly is. This activity may be your daily employment or your volunteer duties or even raising a family. My challenge to you is to think about the life skills and leadership lessons you are gaining from that “job”. Go ahead and write them down so you can see them, and practice an elevator speech that describes how these skills make you a better leader in some other capacity of your life. This will help you in your next job interview or to find a place where you can volunteer these skills.

If you are really up for a challenge, ask a local school if there is a classroom where you can come in and present your story about said aspect of your life and what it has taught you. I guarantee that message will help inspire students and get them thinking outside the box… And leaders like you getting involved is exactly what our school systems need.

Keep leading, in whatever capacity you can,
Rad Watkins