Tuesday, May 21, 2002

Education: the 15 percent solution
My friend Dan Miller sends out a really good weekly email newsletter called Career Link. You can subscribe, too on his web site, 48Days. Dan is president of The Business Source, in Brentwood, Tenn., and specializes in creative thinking for personal and business development. He believes the most effective life plans are achieved by integrating natural gifts, unique personality traits and one's own values and passions. Anyway, here a nugget from his newsletter:
I recently met Dave Anderson, founder of Famous Dave's restaurants. So yesterday Joanne and I drove up to the new location in Nashville. We were greeted enthusiastically, taken to our table and wowed by the young lady who would be our server. She explained that she would be checking on us continually to make sure our experience there was a memorable one. Then the manager came by. We commented on the atmosphere and the attitude of all the staff. He grinned and explained, "If they aren't smiling, I send them home." The rest of the duties are secondary to that one simple requirement.

A Yale University study shows that only 15% of a person's success is due to technical skill, intelligence, degrees, ertification, etc. - those things we can measure. 85% is due to personal skills - attitude, enthusiasm, tone of voice, honesty, smile, etc.

Hey, here's a complicated theory -- If you want a raise or better job opportunities, try smiling more.

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