American Traits

Imagine you are working for a technology company. The company’s owner (your boss), Mr. Tech, has  just assigned you the task of managing his son, Simon. Simon is a brilliant innovator, but he made some enemies at his last job because he sometimes breaks company rules he sees as getting in the way of progress. Mr. Tech has offered to hire his son, even though some company employees oppose the idea. Mr. Tech is making his son start at the bottom. Simon will be maintaining and repairing equipment. He has never maintained or repaired technology equipment before. Mr. Tech  says if Simon can figure out how to do it, he will have proven himself and earned a promotion to work in research and development. You know no more about maintaining or repairing tech equipment than Simon does, but your job is to make sure Simon does his job.  Check each trait you would like Simon to possess.

Work ethic
Perseverance
Problem-solving skills
Determination
Ability to conduct research, locate resources, and ask for help
Ability to process information and perform a task
Ability to work independently
Ability to work with others
Ability to think for himself
Willingness to try new ideas
Confidence
Humility
Dedication to his father
Dedication to the company
Ability to stay calm in the face of people who don’t like or trust him
Motivation to succeed

Reread your list. If Simon had all of these traits, would make a good employee? If you had your own company, would you like him to be your own employee? Would you like him to be your neighbor? Your friend? A mentor for your child who is just going into business? 

NOTE: Anyone who has made it across a border he has not been welcomed to cross in order to better his family’s lives, anyone who works at a job under his ability level for the sake of having a job, anyone who faces hatred and anger daily but keeps his cool displays the traits you have checked. Men and women who display the traits of imaginary Simon are men and women we want to call Americans, or at the very least, America’s co-workers.