Character First!

April 2005 Newsletter

The Mark of Virtue

Legend has it that Theodore Roosevelt and one of his cowhands found an unbranded steer on land controlled by Gregor Lang, a neighboring rancher.

In accord with the usual custom, they prepared to brand it, but as the cowboy applied the brand, Roosevelt said, "Wait, it should be Lang's brand."

"That's all right, boss," said the cowboy.

"But you're putting on my brand," Roosevelt said.

"That's right," the cowboy said, "I always put on the boss's brand."

"Drop that iron," Roosevelt commanded, "and get back to the ranch and get out. I don't need you anymore. A man who will steal for me will steal from me."

Roosevelt understood that a person's moral conviction must rest on something firmer than the presence or absence of particular people. Do what is right, no matter who might benefit or who might be watching.

H. Hagedorn, Roosevelt in the Badlands, Theodore Roosevelt Nature & History Association (August, 2000)


The Power of One

Have you ever based a decision on "what everyone else is doing"? Have you ever excused your actions by saying "Everyone else is doing it!"

Cultural shifts can begin with a single decision, and a person's choices directly reflect his or her character. Consider how just a few small compromises of personal or corporate integrity can lead to undesirable results. Just as a small hole can eventually undermine an earthen dam, a small lapse of integrity can cause numerous relationship problems and ethical breakdowns.

On a positive note, one candle can illuminate a dark room, and a simple smile can dispel another's discouragement. If you have a leadership role, the decision to change may rest within your control, but someone under authority must also contribute to his or her surroundings by appealing to leadership from a basis of good character.


  1. Establish right standing.

    When you have a reputation for cooperation with others and faithfulness to your responsibilities, your leaders will more likely trust your motives. Your previous support of their position demonstrates you are not a rebel, and your faithfulness indicates you are not an opportunist.

  2. Check your motives.

    Your reasons for appealing should hinge on your concern for the goals of your organization, your commitment to integrity, and your desire to see your coworkers succeed. If your motives are selfish or judgmental, your appeal will probably fail, even if you are right.

  3. Choose the best time.

    Avoid making your appeal at an awkward moment. Consider what timing would allow your authority to consider your concerns.

  4. Gather accurate information.

    Consider how your interests or personality may color the way you see a situation. Consciously avoid skewing facts. Research background information and comprehend other perspectives, particularly your authority's perspective. How you handle the evidence will reveal your true motives.

  5. Demonstrate right attitudes.

    Demonstrate a willingness to sacrifice and invest yourself in order to do what is right. Honor your leader's prerogative, and remain loyal, whatever the final decision.

  6. Choose words carefully.

    Avoid condemnation in word or attitude. Clearly communicate the message in language your authority will understand without unnecessary offense. Meet the parties concerned face-to-face in private unless special circumstances require a phone call or a witness.

  7. Prepare your response.

    Humbly accept your leader's decision, and carry out your responsibilities with an attitude of obedience and honor. In some extreme situations, resignation or an appeal to another authority may become necessary.

The key ingredients to an effective appeal are a sincere concern for the best interests of your leaders and a consistent commitment to moral excellence. Whatever your responsibility, maintain your daily commitment to integrity.

By Larry Rhoads


Praise Children for Character

Everyone desires approval, and this is especially true for children. Learn how praising children motivates them to build good character.


  1. Praise character, not just achievement.

    Don't fall into the trap of praising children only for their actions. Look for the character qualities behind their good choices. Did your son clean his room? Praise him for demonstrating orderliness. Did your daughter finish her homework on time? Praise her for punctuality.

  2. Praise areas that need improvement.

    Praise is a powerful motivator. If a child struggles with patience, look for a time when he or she does show patience. Say, "Thank you for being patient. I'm proud of you." If a student lacks attentiveness, find an instance when he is paying attention and say, "Thank you for being attentive to the speaker… I appreciate it when you do that."

  3. Praise on a regular basis.

    Praise your children whenever they show good character, but establish regular times for praise. Birthdays provide a natural occasion to point out a person's character, or you can choose a certain day of the week if you need a more frequent reminder.

  4. Separate praise from correction.

    When praising your children, stay focused on the positive. Do not tarnish your compliments by issuing criticism in the same breath. Don't say, "I appreciate your attentiveness, but I wish you would be more responsible." If a child needs correction, address the problem in a separate conversation. (See next month's newsletter for tips on correction.)

  5. Avoid traps of praise.

    Do not compare one child with another. Avoid using superlatives such as "always" or "never." Further, focus on specific instances where your child demonstrated good character, instead of using vague generalities.

  6. Watch the flower bloom.

    Praise affects a child as sunlight affects a flower. The more you praise children for character, the more positive qualities will blossom in their lives.

By Robert Greenlaw


Catching Character

As the 2004-2005 school year opened, the seniors at one Macomb, Michigan, high school embarked on a journey that would connect them with area business people and inspire them to aim high.

"[Business Character Values] class motivated me to always have a positive attitude when faced with difficult decisions…. It motivated me to work hard every minute of my life so I may show others what its truly like to be a great role model of someone who is dedicated to a job," said Nick Brincat, a senior at Lutheran High North. "It motivates me also to be a better person and respect everyone that I come across."

Four days a week during the first semester, local dentist Ray McKinley, Lynn McKinley, school principal Dr. Steven Buuck, or Mike Greve taught the class, using Character First's business bulletins and Achieving True Success book to explore how the students could build good habits in the workplace.

Once or twice a week, a guest speaker described his or her experiences with a particular character quality from the perspective of a particular field. On one occasion, a police diver described how his tether once became entangled in underwater debris, and how he survived by obeying the dictates of training, even when all his immediate instincts told him to cut himself loose. "It just made it so real," Lynn McKinley said.

The students designed a "sketch" of each character quality. A "sketch" could take numerous forms. "Written reports could be in the form of a letter to someone, an affirmation to someone, a comparison of character displayed or not displayed, a review of a newspaper article, a report on a business who displays the particular character, etc." said mentor Julie Buuck who works as Regional Undergraduate Admissions Counselor for Concordia University Wisconsin. Oral reports followed a similar vein, and "a video could be an interview or a video report on a business or person who did [or] did not possess the character," Buuck said. Students put their work into a portfolio, and several students have used this portfolio during college interviews, job interviews, and scholarship competitions.

On Fridays, volunteer mentors arrived an hour before class to receive a briefing on the week's topics. Then they spent one-on-one time with students, having each student present what he or she learned and discussing how the student's "sketch" might be improved.

"This time spent with the student was mainly focused on their ownership of the character. Whether or not they already have or wanted to possess the character; and what they were going to do with it in the form of an "I will" statement," Buuck said.

"It is critical to know that all students are at a different place when it comes to this type of education…. You may put another entry on an already loaded resume, but you also might equip a searching teen with the ammunition to be something other than what he or others already 'wrote him off' as," said mentor Ken Towne, owner and operator of Fellowship Home Lending.

Many mentors also took time to discuss how students could apply what they learned to daily decisions. "We would also spend some time just chatting about life and how this class was spilling over into her family and outside life," said Jo Godlewski, a self-employed graphic designer who learned about the program through the Lutheran Business Network.

"We have a couple of students taking advantage of the second semester internship program for additional credit," Lynn McKinley said in an e-mail interview. "Several of the students have accepted part-time positions in the businesses owned by our mentors." The school awards 1/2 credit for internships, requiring only that the student's supervisor report attendance and submit a character evaluation of the student.

Next school year, the class will extend through both semesters, and two other schools in the Detroit area Lutheran High School Association will begin similar programs. When asked what the best part of the program was, Brincat described how each student in the Business Character Values class selected a teacher. The students then went to each teacher's classroom during first period and publicly affirmed the teacher for a specific character quality. "After the affirmation was read, the teacher received a certificate of character with their specific character word on it," Brincat said. "The following day, all the teachers said they were so touched by the inspiring and touching words we used in affirming them. I would have to say that day was truly the best day and most touching in B.C.V. class."


Strengthening the Blue Standard

After observing the destructive influences that accompany the police lifestyle, Dorchester County Sheriff Ray Nash began teaching his officers basic principles in an effort to help them make positive changes in their personal lives and in their community relationships. As a result, Dorchester County experienced a 30 percent drop in crime within three years.

"When I began serving as Sheriff in Dorchester County, South Carolina, I spent most of my time dealing with personnel problems and citizen complaints," Nash said. "Since we began emphasizing character, for the first time ever, the compliments far outweigh the citizen complaints."

The information Nash shared with his officers has become known as "Police Dynamics." Each "Dynamic" focuses on helping law enforcement personnel develop strong personal and corporate character so that they can build better relationships within the agency and throughout the community.

Larimer County, Colorado, Sheriff Jim Alderden experienced similar benefits when he brought Police Dynamics and Character First! materials to Larimer County Sheriff's Office employees. "We believe it has instilled a greater appreciation of 'character' and a greater effort to become exemplary employees." As a result of the benefits Alderden saw from the character focus, his office has incorporated character principles into the agency's procedures.

Sergeant Julie Shearer of Cincinnati, Ohio, said, "The police dynamics that Ray Nash specifically brought with the training, I think, teaches the things that are the core of being a good police officer."

Can your community benefit from improved relationships and character within your law enforcement sector? The International Association of Character Cities is pleased to announce a special two-day Police Dynamics Seminar in Oklahoma City on October 25-26, 2005. The seminar will feature live presentations by Police Dynamics Institute founder Ray Nash. Call (405) 815-0001, or visit http://charactercities.org/conferences/policedynamics/.

By Joshua Jantz