THE ENTREPRENURIAL GUIDE TO ENTERTAINMENT: Six Habits of Highly Successful School Kids That Can Lead Your Company to Greater Profits

Thursday, December 24, 2009

THE ENTREPRENURIAL GUIDE TO ENTERTAINMENT: Six Habits of Highly Successful School Kids That Can Lead Your Company to Greater Profits

The Entrepreneurial Guide to Entertainment
with Sandy McKee

I spend a lot of time in the Hawaii public school system as a volunteer, a
parent, and as a substitute teacher. I love it! The kids are fun and I end up
learning as much as they do. I often bounce my story ideas off of them, or ask their opinions on everything from plot points to the names of characters. We came up with a brilliant name recently, but you’ll have to buy the book to read it (when or if it is ever published).

I’m convinced that every entrepreneur should present their business plans to elementary school children before approaching bankers or venture capitalists. Get a simple thumbs up or thumbs down. The kids won’t steer you wrong. Plus, if you can explain your ideas clearly to an eight-year-old, then you probably know your stuff well enough to gain the confidence of any backer.

In Hawaii’s public schools, every child is taught six concepts called General Learner Outcomes (or GLOs for short). These are overall values that can be demonstrated by observable behaviors such as work habits, attitude, student efforts. These GLOs become part of the daily culture of the school and students are actually graded on how well they master these habits.

The six GLOs are:

1. Self-Directed Learner - the ability to be responsible for one’s own learning.
2. Community Contributor - understanding that it is essential for human beings to work together.
3. Complex Thinker - the ability to demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving.
4. Quality Producer - the ability to recognize and produce quality performance and quality products.
5. Effective Communicator - the ability to communicate effectively.
6. Effective and Ethical User of Technology - the ability to use a variety of technologies effectively and ethically.

Read that list over again and imagine if YOU and EVERY ONE of your employees, partners, vendors, customers, etc. received the highest grade for mastery of each GLO and applied that mastery in your business or workplace. What do you think that would do to your sales, your growth, your PROFITS?

GLO #1 Self-Directed Learner embodies the values of accountability and responsibility. “That’s not my table” and “It wasn’t my fault” excuses would not fly in a company that expected all stakeholders to be self-directed learners. This expectation must start at the top with the owner or board of directors and CEO if it is ever to become a part of the company culture. Take a hard look at how mistakes were handled in the preceding year and GRADE yourself and your company on GLO #1.

GLO #2 Community Contributor sounds obvious, because we usually can achieve more if we work together as a team. However, if you or your company have set up competitions between divisions or between employees and then expect your people to work together, you’re getting a failing grade for GLO #2.

GLO # 3 Complex Thinker should not be relegated to the R&D or IT departments. Your entry level employees and support staff should be encouraged and empowered to offer solutions to problems, too. There should be NO mindless jobs in your organization!

GLO #4 Quality Producer implores us to not settle for less than a job well done, no matter how big or small. Believe me, if you consistently produce quality work, it will not go unnoticed—by management or by the marketplace. Persevere and you’ll soon leave the slackers behind.

GLO #5 Effective Communicator is a critical skill; but, fortunately, it is also a skill that can be taught. If people constantly remark that they “can’t read your mind” or say “why didn’t you say that in the first place?” then you may need to improve your communication skills. Look into ways to learn communication techniques: books, tapes, classes, etc. If you’re the boss and your team needs to improve in this area, make these tools available.

GLO #6 Effective and ETHICAL User of Technology is as much about character as it is about proficiency with technology. You can be an effective computer user, but if you spend half of your work day chatting online with friends or playing videos games (if that is not your job), then from the company’s point of view you are a time thief and that is as bad as stealing inventory out the back door. However, if your use of technology is focused on producing results for the company, then give yourself high marks for GLO #6.

The classrooms in Hawaii have the GLOs clearly posted on the walls and they are referred to often throughout the day. My resolution for 2010 is to obtain the GLO placards and post them in my office. I’m going to read them every day, just as I read a book of Proverbs each day (see my blog http://www.proverbsforbusiness.blogspot.com). I’m going to give myself a grade at the end of each week and strive for mastery of these goals by the end of the school year. I might send a report card to my parents, though even at my age that strikes fear in my heart. Can’t get anything past Mom.

I encourage you to also incorporate the GLOs into your enterprise. If you are successful at it, please drop me a line. Yours will be the type of company I’d love to do business with.

For more information, please visit Sandy's TNNW Bio.