For me, the title of this blog is a continuous reminder of my first job. However, the lessons go much deeper.

As a 16 year old ride operator at Kings Island, I learned first-hand the importance of treating people with respect, even when they were not reciprocating. Whether it was working with the little kid rides or the biggest coasters, the emphasis on guest service was the same. Safety was 1st, always. Following that essential commitment, providing good guest service was the highest pillar we needed to achieve.

Those lessons continue to serve me well.

It was with some bemusement this summer when I had a chance to watch my son experience his first job. Asked recently what he learned, he replied that he learned he did not want to perform manual labor for the rest of his life!

For some others, the lessons included:

“I learned that people are not always upfront and honest”

“Having the right tools makes things easier”

“Corn leaves can be sharp”

As you continue through your work, take a moment to think back on your first job and reflect how a lesson learned continues to help or influence you today.

Summer evenings in my home had many of the same things that anyone would experience. Kids chasing fireflies, the music of ice cream trucks, and lots of kids playing around the neighborhood. One thing that many places didn’t have, nightly fireworks displays!

I lived near Kings Island (just north of Cincinnati) and part of the park’s allure was the fireworks display that took place each night at closing time. When the booms started, I knew it was 10:00 (or 11:00 on Saturdays) and would, from time to time, get to see the colorful display.

Once I started working at the park, the fireworks meant the end of a workday. So much so that over time I did not even notice the masses of people watching in fascination the nightly display. There were times I even cursed the fireworks if the wind was blowing just right and brought the exploded shells to my ride. That meant some additional cleaning!

Fast forward a few years and my girlfriend (now my wife!) and I went to her grandparent’s house and she was very excited about the fireworks display on the banks of the Wabash River in Vincennes, Indiana. Dusk came and we made our way down to the park and waited for the display. She always talked about this event as a highlight from her childhood and was excited to share it with me.  When the show started, I was underwhelmed. Why?

Well, to me fireworks were an everyday event that did not merit much in the way of special attention. For many others, they signify a special event or a holiday and really stand out.

There are likely things in all of our worlds that we view as everyday or ordinary. Yet to someone else, it can be an extraordinary thing. That’s important to remember when talking to others. We each have and do things that we think are nothing special. In reality, these things are likely extraordinary to someone else. Don’t discount your own work or experience. Cherish the moments that can make an impact for someone else. Remember to step back and enjoy the fireworks!

In his opening keynote this morning at the 2013 Illinois SHRM conference, Dr. Daniel Crosby cited some frightening statistics related to reading.

First, 27 percent of population of the United State holds a bachelor’s degree.  Of that 27 percent, a full 42 percent never read a book again after their academic careers are over.  This leads to the most disturbing statistic of all for me.  A full 80 percent of US households do not either buy or check out a book in any given year.

Dr. Crosby summarized by stating that means that 4 out of 5 households are more likely to get their learning from Duck Dynasty or Honey Boo Boo than from a good (or even bad!) book.

This folks, is frightening!

What does this mean for our workplaces and what we do in HR?  

Think about this as you plan for that next big workforce initiative or new innovation.  The decision about how we communicate something can become even more important than the something we are talking about.  Perhaps we are moving toward a future where reading will not be as fundamental.  As an avid reader, that bothers me a lot!  However, it can mean a shift to recorded messages on video, using social media effectively (although that still requires reading!) or even face-to-face conversations.  The media matters more than ever!