A Ryan Zorn post inspired me to write on the need for us to become involved in public education. Ryan Zorn suggested “Make this the year to get in the classroom”.

I have been retired for a number of years but became interested through my Rotary Club on Hilton Head Island. Yes, Ryan is correct, all of us Energy Savvy engineers should become involved with helping to educate the public and especially K-12 students that may otherwise be indoctrinated. Check the link below in references for Ryan’s PPT.

A separate message I got in reviewing LinkedIn posts and especially focused on education was the need to pass on the soft skills that many successful people used to reach comfortable retirement. The big question, “Can we teach the Virtues that helped us get here, to K-12 students?” It occurred to me that about twenty years ago I compiled a list of 55 Virtues for my sons and later shared with the employees of Storm Technologies. I will list these below. Perhaps many would think they are corny and old fashioned? In my view looking back, they worked very well for me. I hope that the sharing of these with some young people will inspire them to use these to contribute to their success in their careers.

Back to energy education, I will post  a presentation of my version of educating the public on energy and electricity generation for the future on a future post. For now, here are my 55 Virtues, which I tried to practice and live by:

1. Always do your best. Be the best in what you do!
2. Continuously study, stretch, and learn new skills.
3. Tithe to the church and other worthy charities. Be active in the charities you choose in order to know your gifts are well spent.
4. Pray daily.
5. Be active in church. Seek and do leadership activities. Teach Sunday School, chair a committee. You would be surprised how this develops confidence and public speaking skills.
6. Practice balance in your life.
7. Control your nutrition.
8. Stay physically fit. Exercise a minimum of 30 minutes at least 4 times/week.  Use the YMCA!
9. Do not judge others. Use the standard of being the best, fairest, and the example of Christ. 
10. Remove all thoughts of “Envy” of others from your mind. Do not compare what you have to what others have. Remember only those that are less fortunate than we are and do what is possible to help them to have an improved situation.
11. Treat family with reverence, respect, and love. Think before saying hurtful words, especially be aware of respect for each other!
12. Take at least 2 days (16 hours) of continuing education each year.
13. Present at least one technical paper each 3 years.
14. Be active in professional associations.
15. Be active in the community, serve in important positions on the school board, a civic club, or a worthy charity.
16. Enjoy your work and make it enjoyable for all of your co-workers, peers, subordinates, and family. (If you do not enjoy your work, find work that you do enjoy). Anyone who works 8-12 hours per day should be enthusiastic and feel that he/she is making a positive contribution. Work should be exciting and fun, not dreaded. Think about the “golden rule” for people you supervise.
17. Practice and show good manners by example. Including; when in meetings only speak one person at a time, same for conference calls, do not initiate side bar conversations when in a meeting or teleconference, develop extraordinary good manners so that you are remembered for them as well as your other good and professional qualities.
18. Lead by example in neatness of your dress, your cleanliness of your car/truck, the order of your office and home.
19. Be organized – office, home, vehicle, calendar/schedule.
20. Be disciplined in balancing life’s priorities.
21. Help others.  Be a good neighbor, friend, confidant, good Samaritan.
22. Pass these virtues on to your sons and daughters because we have “so much” and because we love our children – we do not want to ruin their chances to be all that they are capable of being.
23. Form alliances and friendships with schools, shops, businesses.  Nurture and build these for mutual benefit.
24. Control your temper.
25. Manage your finances to minimize debt to others.
26. Make time to enjoy your wife/husband periodically. Do special trips and weekends on occasion.
27. Plan and execute family vacations at least once per year to spend at least 7 days at a fun location with your family.
28. Be honest and reliable, always. Keep your word! Let your words and promises be your bond.
29. A reputation is earned over many years. Practicing Integrity beyond reproach is one major factor in building a good reputation.
30. Do the “little extra” in all that you do. (Do what is expected, “And Then Some”)
31. When doing something special, consider doing a “little extra” to completely surprise the person toward whom the kindness is directed.
32. Be careful with controllable expenditures.
33. Be generous with others. Yet, practice “Tough Love” and provide a growth opportunity to up and coming people to earn their way to an improved situation.
34. Develop pride and high esteem in yourself and all that you do. Know that you have done the best! While having Pride is important, keep your Humility.
35. Always PREPARE! Whether for a Sunday School lesson, a speech, or presentation, know your subject well. Be prepared.
36. Be humble. Balance PRIDE and knowing you are the best; have prepared the best, with humility. Others will recognize quality, achievement of any type.
37. Read for recreation, read books in your free time, and when traveling on airplanes. Improve your vocabulary, continuing education, and understanding of history, the world, cultures, politics, philosophies, and current events.  Be informed. Remember, a large part of fiction books are based on facts.
38. Develop outside interests and hobbies. Prepare for “retirement” by finding some enjoyable, outside interests. Remember, this is part of keeping the “balance!”
39. Become active in politics. Good, right-living people must be involved or else the “wrong” people will continue to rise to positions of influence and power.  Know the issues, be an informed voter. Influence others through factual education.
40. Always have a clear list of tasks “to do” for subordinates. Use their time wisely by preparation, planning and careful delegation.
41. Keep a pocket calendar or electronic “to-do” list of goals for yourself.  You will be surprised at the progress that can be achieved by a written “punch list” of tasks to be done. Review your list daily.
42. Respect your wife/husband’s wishes of to-do items.  Place them at equal priority with yours.
43. Teach a course or seminar. The teacher always learns the most from the necessary preparation.
44. Welcome the opportunity to volunteer and provide service to others. Control this to be joyful when the opportunity arises. In other words, do it, but do not get yourself over-committed (Balance)!
45. Develop a habit of annual physical exams. “Work” toward a healthy height/weight as clearly defined by your family doctor and insurance company recommendations. We owe it to our loved ones to practice healthy lifestyles. Some of our family genes are good, some not so good. We know how to take advantage of the good genetics.
46. Know your body, know your body’s sensitivities.  For example, if sugar makes you tired, be careful about too much sugar when driving long distances at night. Control alcoholic consumption. Be disciplined. Do not let momentary pleasures of any sort ruin your’s or someone else’s life.
47. Think safety at all times. Remember, most accidents happen at home. Last year (2001, this was originally written in 2002), “Engineering News Record” reported 852 on-the-job industrial fatalities and said this was a “terrible record.” Compare this with 42,000 people killed in automobile accidents. Be wary and aware of the safety of your family, your co-workers, and yourself – at all times.
48. Nurture and develop the continued support of your wife. The continued and unwavering support of your wife is absolutely essential for professional and business success. Earn their support by your respect and interest in you wife and family – again, BALANCE!
49. Stick to your principles.
50. Be professionally, politely, but positively aggressive. Develop business potential with more customers than can be handled and then do business with those that are the most compliant with your terms, desires, profitability and your core strengths.
51. Lead others. Especially those who work for you. Be an enthusiastic Mentor and teach young up and coming employees on how to improve their capabilities on the job and how to improve themselves in general. The best way to do this is by setting a good example.
52. Be an “Encourager”. Always encouraging others to do a little better, do a little more.
53. Always be Enthusiastic in the good works that you do. Enthusiasm is contagious and can inspire those around you.
54. Have a Long-Term Vision and Plan for the Future, both Professionally and personally.
55. In all that you do, work to make this a better world than you found it.

Let’s all get out and do our best to support education. Think of it this way, in about 5 years the average Middle School Student will become a voter.

Dick Storm, October 26, 2021

References:

1. Ryan Zorn LinkedIn  page https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6857865078927097856/
2. Ryan Zorn Energy PowerPoint for 5^th Graders: https://onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=A9BFEC5505E02879!111957&ithint=file%2cpptx&authkey=!ABKjrBh6NHC3AzM
3. Energy Strong LinkedIn Page https://www.linkedin.com/company/energy-strong-usa/
4. Energy Strong Web Page: http://www.energystrong.com