My story about Molly . . .

It was over thirty years ago and a beautiful Fall day in October a day on which everyone should be having a happy day. I was sitting in my office at the School of Business when the phone rang. The young lady on the line said her name was Molly. She was a senior in Elementary Education , was in need of a few minutes of my time and was free for a couple of hours. I asked her to come right up.

Within two minutes of sitting down in my office, Molly was nearly in tears. She was not having a happy Fall day.

Her story . . . she loved her parents very much and did not want to disappoint them; but, over the weekend they had confronted her with their fear that the severe shortage of teaching positions available in education would result in her not finding a position after graduating. They told her she should switch from Elementary Education to Business Administration. Molly was crushed, but they did not waiver from their conclusion about her future.

I asked Molly why she was so committed to being an Elementary teacher and how long she had felt that way. She said she could not even think of being anything else and she knew from the third grade that she would be a teacher. I asked her why from the third grade. Molly told me it was because of Mrs. Williams, her third grade teacher. I asked her to tell me about Mrs. Williams. Molly said Mrs. Williams made her work harder and feel better about herself than any other person in her life. Everyday Mrs. Williams greeted each student with a smile and a hug and found something about each to compliment. Molly said that Mrs. Williams was not only the most demanding teacher she ever had, but the pride Mrs. Williams felt that radiated from her face when a student's achievements met her expectations was so up-lifting that students tried even harder on the next assignment. Molly said Mrs. Williams was the toughest to please and the most loved teacher in her school. And then, almost sobbing, Molly said, "Dr. Baker I want to be just like Mrs. Williams. I feel it so deeply that I cannot think of being anything else."

I asked molly to tell me about herself as a student. She told me that since the third grade she had been an almost strait "A" student and that she didn't want to be just average. Molly said that Mrs. Williams had instilled in her students the desire to take advantage of every opportunity for self-improvement.

I told Molly there were few jobs available in any profession for people who would make just average or mediocre contributions. But, regardless of the job market, there would always be openings for the "best" professionals in any field; and I thought she would have the job opportunity she wanted. It was suggested to Molly that she tell her parents, on the basis of her academic record and her passion for teaching, I recommended that she not switch to Business; and they should feel free to call me if they were concerned about the advice given her.

What happen? Her parents never called. Molly received the highest grades in her class for her student teaching, graduated among the top in her class and had four job offers from which to choose - when many in her class had none.

Maybe, you are like Molly. You are a person who has a passion for self-improvement - to become the "best" you can become; and you just need to acquire the knowledge and skills that will help place you among the most employable job candidates, or among the least dispensable employees in your company. Do you aspire to be a spouse, a parent, an employee, a boss or a community leader who has what it takes to get others to feel the passion to do their best to meet high standards? If so, you would experience the pride of seeing others achieve great personal growth in knowledge, skill and commitment. You would be another great leader like Mrs. Williams; and, what do you think Molly's students have been saying about her for more than a quarter of a century?

My more than 30 years of being an educator, business consultant and executive coach lead me to believe there are many Mrs. Williams and Molly "wannabes" in the world. And, that is why this web site and the other web sites in the growing Dr. Larry Baker family of web sites are being created.

Your browsing through this web site and the other sites in the expanding number of Dr. Larry Baker family of web sites, will reveal many self-improvement opportunities. And if you have the aspirations of a Molly, you will find many learning tools to help you become more resourceful as you follow your passion for personal achievement and professional success. They, also, can help you become the kind of positive resource and model as a spouse, parent, boss, teacher or community leader as Mrs. Williams was for Molly and many other students.

You, too, can become more resourceful! You just have to know how to do more things and how to do them well. Do not let your natural passion to be a more important resource to your family, your company and your community go unfulfilled. Resourceful people are a valuable resource to others because they discover how to do things that most other people cannot do - do not do well or refuse to do .

Thank you for giving me the time to help you imagine your own story of personal success, tell you about Molly and Ms. Williams, and about what can be found on my family of web sites. The web sites are designed to provide ethical and professional approaches to improving performance and becoming more productive. In our materials, you will not find anything unethical or any "quick fixes" or "gimmicks" that are self-demeaning or degrading to others. Please visit the Dr. Larry Baker family of sites often. We are always adding more items we know will help you and others.

Be a safe surfer . . . Dr. Larry Baker, CSP