The Philosophy of Charles Shultz
The late Charles Schultz, creator of Peanuts, had a philosophy on life that we can learn from. Perhaps that's why Peanuts was one of the most popular and influential comic strips in the history of the medium. Take a look through the following quiz and you'll see why. You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just read straight through and you'll get the point.
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman Trophy winners.
3. Name five winners of the Pulitzer Prize (or the Nobel Prize in Literature.)
4. Name the last five Academy Award winners for best actor / actress.
5. Name the last five World Series winners.
How did you do?
Not very well? That's OK. The point is: none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. The answers to the above questions represent people at the very pinnacle of their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades are buried with their owners.
Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. Name five teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name five friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people that taught you something really valuable.
4. Name five people who coached you well and really made you want to improve your performance.
5. Name a consultant that really served you well with solving a difficult issue in your firm.
Easier?
The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the necessarily the ones with the best credentials or the most well-known brand. They are the ones that really care about what they do for you and your firm, personally. Think about that next time you engage a consultant or, if you are a consultant, next time you make a pitch to a client. The question is not just: "are they qualified and competent?" The question is: "will they really serve us well?" While objectivity is always necessary in solving complex business problems, the ones that serve best (including coming up with the best solutions) are usually those who actually care, too.
Hat-tip to my wife, Creena, who emailed this to me this morning!