Classic Wisdom from Classic Actors can teach us Valuable Lessons

To be Published in the Kankakee Daily Journal on March 22, 2023, by Don Daake

Classic Wisdom from Classic Actors can teach us Valuable Lessons

Since about 1956, when my parents purchased our first TV, I’ll admit that TV has been a big part of my life. Just as many of us rail against the overuse of phones, tablets, and other electronic devices, I’m sure our grandparents were sometimes appalled at the content of what we were watching and the sheer number of hours.

Many people (perhaps wisely) have thrown their TV sets out the door. I could be a bit self-righteous and say I only watch educational TV, but that would be a lie. TV content has changed a lot in 55 years, and I confess that probably 90% of the new shows since the year 2000 I have never watched. I’m more of a classic TV fan. But that is a personal decision, and people differ widely on what they want to and certainly have the right to watch.

Because of one of the best inventions of humankind, the DVR, I can watch sports and recent or old TV shows virtually commercial-free. For me, TV watching is one of those things I do for relaxation. When asked how many hours of TV they watch, most people either deliberately or subconsciously underestimate the time. So YES, I’m a TV watcher.

Now on to purpose of this week’s column. Over the years, classic expressions from TV programs and advertising campaigns have worked their way into the lexicon and even our culture. I want to share four of these and, with a little imagination, provide some wisdom to help us live better and with a bit more  humor.

#1 “Just one more thing.”  Lieutenant Colombo (Peter Faulk)

You might remember the crumpled, cigar-smoking, Bassett hound owner, with the beat-up car–Lieutenant Colombo. One of his clever trick of the trade was acting as dull as he looked. But he lulled criminals into a mental trap by doing so. As he was heading out the door, in what appears to be an afterthought, he coolly asks, “Oh, I need to ask just one more thing?”

Lesson. I’m not advocating trickery or deceit, but there is great value before reaching a final decision on something to ask yourself or others if there is possibly one more thing we need to consider. Even the tragic Challenger space shuttle explosion in 1986 might have been avoided if a few people had asked if there was even one more thing they needed to consider before launching on the frigid Florida morning in January. Without grinding to a halt, with paralysis through analysis, a final “one more thing” is usually a wise practice.

#2 “I know nothing! I see nothing!  Sergeant Schultz (John Banner from Hogan’s Heroes)

 “Schultzy” as the prisoners sometimes called him, was on to something. Working with the likes of Klink and the Gestapo, Schultz realized the less he knew, the better.

Lesson: What possible good can come from knowing nothing? Usually, the advice for managers is to gather as much information as possible. But human nature being what it is, means that, whether we like it or not, we are confronted with gossip constantly. If we are truthful, all of us, both men and women, are prone to spreading it. Leaders and managers must stay aware of what is going through the informal communication channels or the grapevine. Still, it takes real character to resist unfair mean personal gossip. A gossip-prone manager will soon lose the trust of both his superiors and employees.

#3 “Who loves you, baby?” Lieutenant Theo Kojak  (Telly Salavas) It has to be said with a Tootsie Roll pop protruding from your mouth for full effect.

Kojak was one of the most unique police show characters of the 1970s cop shows. When he had a suspect “dead to right” or in a corner, he would sarcastically retort with the line “Who loves you, baby?”

Lesson: The line is a great one, not that we come face to face with bad guys every day, but the line in a different context is helpful. We might ask ourselves who are our true friends and care for our best interest. What co-workers, family members, and friends have your best interest at heart, and who must you be a little more cautious with? On the other hand, who do you love and care for? Please don’t take them for granted but show them the respect they deserve.

Professor Charles Kingsfield (John Housman in the movie and TV show “Paper Chase” and also a spokesman for Smith/ Barney Brokerage)

The veteran actor John Houseman became more widely known after his Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning role as Professor Charles Kingsfield in the movie “The Paper Chase.” From that, he leveraged his regal style into one of the most memorable ad campaigns for the investment company Smith Barney. He made 18 commercials with the blockbuster tagline ““They make money the old-fashioned way. They eaaarrrrn it.”

Lesson: In a continuing era of money manipulation (for example-the latest SVB bank implosion) people act with dishonesty, take shortcuts, and outright cheat. Earning money, respect, excellence, and innovation for the long haul–the old-fashioned way is the only durable way. How? You earn it. Many “overnight successful people” will tell you that they finally achieved a breakthrough after 10, 15, or even 20 years of hard work in the trenches. Ultimately Smith Barney was purchased, and it too faded away. Still, the lesson Houseman advanced is more relevant than ever, especially for the younger generation.

“Examination of our past is never time-wasting. Reverberations from the past provide learning rubrics for living today.”  ― Kilroy J. Oldster, ”Dead Toad Scrolls”

Don Daake, B.S., MBA, Ph.D., holds degrees from Kansas State University, the University of Iowa, and Florida State University.  He is a Professor Emeritus at Olivet.  He is widely published in peer reviewed journals such as HCMR, JMI, CBAR and has written several book chapters.  Dr. Daake has done extensive consulting in strategic planning, marketing research, and meeting facilitation in Iowa, Florida and Illinois.  He can be contacted directly at ddaake@olivet.edu

Encouragement 2.0: A Reaffirmation and Two New Perspectives

Encouragement 2.0:  A Reaffirmation and Two New Perspectives

By Don Daake

Published in Kankakee Daily Journal March 8, 2023

In September 2021, my guest columnist Marva Mingledorff and I co-authored an article, “What is the gift of encouragement? A gift that keeps on giving!”  Like air, encouragement is something we need on an ongoing basis. The original article can be found at https://daakecomments.wordpress.com/2021/09/03/what-is-the-gift-of-encouragement-a-gift-that-keeps-on-giving/)

Today, I want to affirm the values of encouragement but add two new themes. Giving encouragement to others is like any other habit. You must constantly reinforce it. In December, I took on a project to do a random act of kindness daily. During that time, I think I became more helpful, hopefully more pleasant, and did some good for others. But like most habits, excellent ones tend to diminish (or more technically extinguish) over time. So at least two or three times a week I continue to do these small acts of kindness. While some people have a natural “gift” of encouragement (and I think it is one of my strengths) I still need to be mindful that I need to continually practice this.

New Perspective # 1

First, we must encourage others about the past, present, and future. Usually, when we give an optimistic word to someone, it focuses on the here and now. For example, saying a good word to a child or grandchild for playing a great ball game, an employee for reaching some goal, or how someone looks on a given day. In other situations, we seek to help someone down or discouraged with an uplifting expression about their present situation.

Looking to the past. We might not think too much about encouraging people for past deeds, accomplishments, or a long-term positive impact. But reviewing with others something they might have done a few weeks, months, years, and or even decades ago can have a profound effect. One of my current projects is putting together a series of ZOOM groups from people in my past (a great idea from my friends-Betty Lou and Kathleen.)  My first group is with people I went to college with over 50 years ago. We meet on Zoom monthly to share updates, funny stories, and how life has been and is going. I’ve noticed that among this group, the conversation often naturally turns to recognizing situations where our friends accomplished something, were generous to others or achieved something outstanding even years earlier.  So I encourage you to think back and occasionally share an affirmation with others about something from their past.

Now to the present. An essential part of encouragement is knowing what to say and when. This requires us to effectively “read” other people and their moods. Sometimes making positive, upbeat remarks will be met with appreciation. On the other hand, even an encouraging remark designed to cheer someone up when they are justifiably hurt, angry, sad, or contemplative must be made with care. We have all been there- we find ourselves in a position where we want to be left alone. So timing is essential. 

In the last several weeks, we have attended six funerals. Four of the people had lived long, productive lives. Two of them involved men in their forties. Most of us find it awkward what to say at these times. In some ways, just being there for our friends and families with even simple words is the right thing to do.

Encouraging for the future. There are always people around us that need encouragement about their future. We need to be careful about false flattery or trying to merely get a compliment in return. But every day, people head into new challenges, and reassuring them that we believe in their ability to succeed in a new job, attend a school, raise their children, or move to a new city is important. Even with outwardly self-confident and self-sufficient people, most of us have some butterflies in new situations. So take that extra moment and offer that particular word of reassurance.

New Perspective # 2 Self-encouragement

Usually, when we think about giving affirmations, we think about doing it for other people. But the whole field of self-talk has developed a wide range of literature in the last few years. We are talking about going beyond some sort of hubris where we falsely tell ourselves we are more than we are. There are several ways to self-encourage. Let me point out four simple ones.

First, many of us post positive affirmations at home, at work, and even in our cars. These have to be more than just rah-rah assertions; rather they should have deep meaning or truth for you. They may remind you about your blessings and the goodness of God, friends, and family.

Secondly, just making a list of all you have accomplished really can pick you up. Even four months after making our big move to Iowa, I sometimes get discouraged about the long list of things yet to be done. For you, it may be all the things at work that need to be completed. But when I make a “done” list on paper or mentally, I think about just how much we have already accomplished.

Thirdly, do you have a resume? My Olivet students used to laugh at me when I told them every once in a while, I got out my resume and read it. Of course, some of us have been around the block a few times, but forgetting what we have accomplished is common. I think the same applies to most of you. Try it!

Fourthly, surround yourself with people who want you to be successful. Hard to believe- well, maybe not–for many people, seeing you joyful, makes them unhappy. So to the degree possible, surround yourself with other encouragers like you.

Don Daake, BS, MBA, Ph.D., holds degrees from Kansas State University, the University of Iowa, and Florida State University. He is a Professor Emeritus at Olivet.   He is also a former National President of the Christian Business Faculty Association (CBFA) and hosted two of their national conferences at Olivet. He can be contacted directly at ddaake@olivet.edu