But it rings and I rise, wipe the sleep out of my eyes, my shavin' razor's cold and it stings.
Ahm, Victor. That ain't Culture Club, that's The Monkees... and I thought I remembered you (purposely) shave in your car at intersections with portable razor so people will look at you funny.
True Dat, it was just today's version of 'woke up, fell outta bed'....make coffee, pee, drink coffee, pee s'more... my culture, so to speak.
Same ole same ole, wake up... the heck do I write about, or, should I even.. (sorry, decided to.)
Culture intrigues me. After coffee, pee, usually next up is to Google the word I kinda wanna write about, so I did. Culture.
Culture Club popped up, I'm ancient, had no idea Boy George was the lead singer, but that ain't what this is about.
One of my favorite persons in the World is a fella named Dave. He's an 83 year old educator who spent the last half of his working career as Superintendent... retired.. asked him back.. did... twice.
I met him at the Community Center, in the hot tub, with a crew of a couple others.
Dave impressed me because conversation was never about him. He wanted to learn any, everything about us, the other three folks in the tub.
He listened intently, smiled frequently.. s'more visits learnt me he had tremendous recall. Impressive, nice, kind, fun dude. He found out that at one time I taught and coached, and that intrigued him.
He asked "why" I got into education, specifically PE.. I stumbled thru "well, my dad traveled for work so I only got to see him on weekends (and, don't get me wrong, I couldn't have asked for a better father.)...
That said, my Monday thru Friday male role models were coaches."
That was boring Victor. Get to the topic, culture.
So, I learned Dave was Superintendent.. he'd asked me all kinds if cool questions about me, "why... how long.. what'd ya coach..what level, did you have a favorite", yada.
So.. I naturally wanted to pick his brain, but, the hell do I ask? How was hiring and firing? Staunch on a strict curriculum? Were parents a pain in the Ying yang? No, I didn't ask any of that.
So I boomeranged a question he'd asked me... what is the most important first step for you when you are a Superintendent?
I envisioned answers of GPA's of teaching applicants, two eyes on attendance so as to gain the max Federal funding...
He thought for a sec.. then answered, "The culture."
I thought that was really cool, I wanted to do a backflip and ask more, but, I was in the hot tub, skipped the backflip, then asked more.
Sure, he admitted hiring was a key, promoting those who'd earned it.. but I dug a story he'd told about the bus barn.
"Third day on the job I went to visit the folks, drivers, mechanics, supervisors at the bus barn. I got there, saw, heard, fun. Music going, enjoyment happening... then, they frantically scattered, turned the music off...."
"I was kinda taken aback... so I asked the manager 'What happened,' he said, 'Well, you're here.'...
"From that day on, once a month, I'd get a couple dozen donuts, sit with them on break.. learn about them, their spouses, kids. It was pretty cool, good people".
Second day I ever saw Dave I was met with a smile, a fist bump offer, and "Hi coach!"
Boy George, or Tom, Sally, Susie, Hazel, Sammy... if only if only all bosses, people, friends, coworkers, family members were as cool, nice, caring as Dave.... what a culture we'd have!
I dunno if true, but I surmise we all, or most, have been at jobs, in relationships, with family, friends, athletic teams, church, social groups where the culture is good/yummy.. and conversely not-so-much.
Oh what a beautiful morning. No, that ain't it, well... it is beautiful out (right Pux?)...
Oh what a beautiful feeling when culture is good. Employees go the extra step. We wimpy hubbies might even finish, put away dishes, laundry before she gets home, then, foot rub after.
Culture not-so-good leads to poor employee attendance, company struggle, divorce, all kinds of addictions, poor choices, unhappiness, yada.
When Dave learned I coached girls/women's basketball he told me about a science teacher he'd hired:
"I offered him the job...but then I added, but, you'd also be the girl's basketball coach.. after some trepidation, he consented. He went on to Coach 30 years, three State Championships, he's in the Nebraska Sports Hall of Fame..."
So I asked, "Did he later thank you?"... Dave being Dave said, "NO! I thanked him!"
Boy George, if only culture were like that allover.
Love, Victurd
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