September '95 Meeting Report

Lessons Learned from the Idiot Box
Speaker: Saul Carliner

by Craig Cardimon, Data Analyst
Knowledge Express Data Systems (Berwyn, Pennsylvania)

Should you dismiss TV-watching hours as wasted? Not in the least, said Saul Carliner, international president of STC, who spent the September meeting highlighting the wisdom shared through television and applying that wisdom to the working world. Saul said he learned many of his core values from watching TV.

Nine lessons learned from the idiot box

• Lucy Ricardo Theory of Project Management. Lucy's three-part plan: (1) Always have a partner. You can't do everything alone; admit you need help. We all need our Ethyls! (2) Always have a Plan B. If you don't have one, make it up as you go along. (3) Always have an explanation for everything, even if you make it up along the way.

• Sweeps Month Theory Of Time Management. Just as TV dramas and news organizations concentrate on political scandals, medical crises, and sensational crimes during sweeps month, so pressure builds at certain times in everyone's lives. We all have our own personal sweeps months!

• Owen Marshall, Counselor At Law, Time Management Corollary. There is a structure to every episode; events occur on schedule so that everything is resolved at the end. In real life, things tend to work themselves out eventually in their own good time.

• Rhoda Morganstern Secret of Fitness. At first, Rhoda said, "Whenever I have an urge to exercise, I sit down until it goes away." She eventually learned the error of her ways. Like Rhoda, we must learn to invest in ourselves. We should never "sit out the urge" to better ourselves.

• New Head Writer Theory Of Change Management. You can't just inject new characters into a show; you might lose continuity--and viewers. The trick is to make what you have work better. Downsizing scares its survivors, yet they're expected to remain loyal and work cheerfully in teams. They often think they must put in 50 hours a week to survive the next purge. You don't get the best work from scared employees! Consider continuity and avoid "dumbsizing."

• Julia Sugarbaker Theory Of People Management. Julia perpetually fought the stereotype of the "dumb Southerner." Eschew stereotypes! We all have the right to be loved, respected, and treated with dignity.

• Roseanne Connor Theory Of Crisis Management. We homogenize our behavior for the workplace. In turning off our emotions, we hide a piece of ourselves. Roseanne shows us that the best way to behave, especially when managing a crisis, is to be ourselves--to be authentic.

• Lily Harper (housekeeper character on "I'll Fly Away") Theory Of Decision Management. Lily said, "Sometimes it's the things that scare us the most that get us to places that are safe...but that doesn't make the journey any easier." In other words, after falling off a horse, you have get right back on. When you've learned to ride, you can canter away into the sunset. But you may get bruised along the way.

• Ed Sullivan Theory Of Life. Life is a show, and you're a star. Be the star of your own life!

In short, you can learn a thing or two from TV. In fact, Saul's underlying lesson is that you can find wisdom anywhere--if only you look for it.

Special award given

Copyright 1995 STC Philadelphia Metro Chapter
The Meeting Reports editor is Emily Skarzenski.

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