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Michael Josephson turns 71 on December 10th. Please send him your personal greetings at Michaeljosephson@jiethics.org and make a tax-deductible donation to the Josephson Institute in gratitude for his work at charactercounts.org/donate
Here’s where you can make your tax-deductible donation: charactercounts.org/donate Thank you!
QUOTE & OBSERVATION: “To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.” – Confucius
Why is it so many of us seem to treasure our grudges? We cling to feelings of resentment and remind ourselves of the injury we suffered, playing a tape of our injury over and over our mind as if reviving the hurt will somehow cause us to feel better or punish the person who caused it. Grudges are like festering infections …
QUOTATION & POSTER: I Got Nothing I Asked For
I asked for STRENGTH – and I got difficulties to make me tough. I asked for COURAGE – and I got risks and hazards to make me brave. I asked for LOVE – and I discovered the pleasure of service. I asked for FAVORS – and I found opportunities to earn my own way. I asked for WEALTH – and …
Today Is A Gift
YESTERDAY is history. TOMORROW is a mystery. TODAY is as gift. That’s why it’s called the PRESENT.
COMMENTARY: Thanksgiving and Mashed Potatoes
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Ever since my dad passed away, it’s been my holiday. I have nine brothers and sisters so we rent a tent for the backyard so we can feed our clan turkey, creamed corn, and my special onion-laced mashed potatoes.
QUOTE: Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it – William Arthur Ward.
With Thanksgiving coming up, this is the season for gratitude. Make your list now as to those who deserve your gratitude and find a way to express it. (I hope that includes the Institute.) Please help us make a more ethical society by giving whatever you can. You will certainly have our gratitude — and our commitment to work hard …
WORTH WATCHING: Ordinary people making extraordinary music. A metaphor for what society would look like if we worked together for common goals.
I hope you will watch this. What I love about this is the musicians are dressed so informally and are so diverse they seem like a random group of people. The concept of all these “ordinary people” coming together to make music is a beautiful metaphor. Or maybe I’m just a sap for this sort of thing.
Memo From Michael: A Pre-Thanksgiving Thanks to Our Supporters
As we head toward Thanksgiving, a holiday based on the concept of gratitude, I want to express my deep gratitude to those of you who have supported and encouraged my work for the Josephson Institute. Your letters, comments on our Facebook pages and blogs, and even the “likes” that affirm your appreciation for what we are doing — they all …
QUOTATION: Rules for the Boss #1: There are lots of things going on that you don’t know about — and lots of people who hope you won’t find out.
If you manage people, you need to remember that what you don’t know definitely can hurt you. Everyone says they have an open-door policy, but most employees believe no good comes to the bearer of bad news. Rightly or wrongly, they are likely to think there is a kill-the-messenger culture in your organization that gives them an excuse to
QUOTATION & OBSERVATION: “The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one.” — Malcolm Forbes
This observation is a critical one in today’s society, which is so torn by polarizing self-righteousness. In the recently released Model Standards for Academic, Social, Emotional and Character Development, the Josephson Institute included two unique educational outcomes on openness and intellectual humility. This isn’t just for children. Every person
QUOTATION: “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” — Henry Ford
Adopting a positive attitude toward failed attempts is an important quality of successful people. Successful people fail more often than unsuccessful people, but they treat each failure as a learning experience that takes them closer to success. This is called failing forward. — Michael Josephson
QUOTATION: From listening comes wisdom, and from speaking, repentance.
Applying this old proverb to your personal and workplace relationships can make a huge difference in your life. Listening doesn’t just mean silently waiting your turn to speak. It means being respectful and attentive to the words, tone and context of what another person is saying. And when it is time to speak, be aware of your own words, tone …
QUOTATION & POSTER: How will you be remembered?
In the end, what will matter is not our memories, but the memories of those we loved and those we helped. What will matter is how long we will be remembered, by whom, and for what. Live a life that matters. — Michael Josephson
You Must Live Well
It is not enough to exist, you must LIVE. It is not enough to survive, you must THRIVE. It is not enough to care, you must COMMIT. It is not enough to seek success, you must seek SIGNIFICANCE. It is not enough to live long, you must LIVE WELL. — Michael Josephson
What Do Teens Really Value? A Josephson Institute survey of more than 20,000 high school students reveals surprising information about their values.
Teens Place a Very High Value on Ethics and Good Moral Character. Students were presented with a long list of options and were asked to indicate how important each item was to them. Here are the highlights of the percentages that rated the item as very important or essential: Being treated with respect – 99 percent. Having good moral character …
Profile of Our Facebook Fans
U.S. 4,595; India 229; Philippines 224; Canada 127; South Africa 96; United Kingdom 82; Nigeria 70; Brazil 69; Australia 63; Pakistan 62; Puerto Rico 60; Egypt 55; Malaysia 50; Mexico 39; Saudi Arabia 37; Morocco 33; Tunisia 31; Indonesia 29; Singapore 28; Kenya 27; United Arab Emirates 24; Thailand 22; Vietnam 22; Italy 19; Japan 18; Ghana 18; Germany 14; …
Take Action!
Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work. — William Arthur Ward
Memo From Michael: Secrets, Surveillance, Trust & Credibility – What’s a President to Do? Take this simple survey illuminating the complex issues involved in the apparent eavesdropping on heads of state of friendly countries.
Take the survey here. I have been disturbed about the shallowness of public discussions concerning the revelation that U.S. intelligence agencies have been and still are conducting extensive surveillance on the phones (and presumably other communications) of heads of state (and presumably other top government officials). I have heard well known and respected pundits and politicians base their opinions (often stated …
Trust is a tremendous asset
Trust is a tremendous asset and distrust an enormous liability yet time
MEMO From Michael: Youth Violence and Bullying
Just last month in a weekly memo I asked if violence and mass killings had become our new reality. That was prompted by the mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard. Since then, the headlines have continued to shock and sadden us with news of seemingly random acts of violence. Some might ask: Since when has the news media not brought us …
Sneak Peek at Results of Educators’ Survey
(updated 12/4/13) Almost 4,500 educators (including 2426 teachers, 616 principals, 411 school counselors, 225 superintendents, and 79 school board members) have already taken the new Josephson Institute survey on the state of education in America. (If you haven’t already, please take the survey here and please share this link https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JIEducatorSurvey on Facebook, Twitter or elsewhere to encourage others to take it as well — the …
Eight Sentences That Changed the World: The Aspen Declaration
In July 1992, the nonprofit Josephson Institute of Ethics hosted a 3-day summit of prominent youth leaders, educators and character education scholars in Aspen, Colorado. The result was this declaration, which provided the guiding principles for the CHARACTER COUNTS! movement that currently reaches about 8 million young people. It is clear that the eight sentences making up the Declaration is as …
Greatest Quotes on Character, Reputation and Character Education
— The most comprehensive (nearly 300 quotations) yet selective collection of insightful quotations on CHARACTER, REPUTATION &