If you grew up in the United States or Canada, you're probably familiar with Mr. Rogers and his television show, “Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.” For decades, he came into the homes of families across the country, wanting to be our neighbor. When I was a child, I looked forward to watching him each morning and, in many ways, he helped shape the person I grew into. When people talk about heroes and role models, they might list professional athletes, former presidents or people who held positions of great power, but my hero has always been Mr. Rogers. Sure, he didn't run for office or win a gold medal, but in his own way, he made great changes in the world. He wasn't looking for fame or to earn a huge fortune. His goal was to tell children everyday that they were special and that their lives were important. He gave advice about everyday things that weigh on the minds of his small viewers. The topics covered simple things like getting a haircut to larger problems like a dealing with divorce.
Although we've grown up, there are still things we can learn from him about how to be a professional and how to be a better person. Here are three things that Mr. Rogers can still teach us:
Be passionate about what you do. Whether someone loved his show or hated it, they would have to agree that Fred Rogers was passionate about what he did. He never became rich, even though he was a huge television star and he was an early advocate of public television. In 1969, when public television was new, he appeared before a Senate Committee to prevent the passing of significant cuts to the government's funding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS (you can watch a video of his testimony here). It's obvious just by listening to him talk about his program that he cares deeply about children. He goes on to say that his goal is to provide an expression of care to each child, every day. I think that we often forget this and become jaded about what we do, especially if we don't enjoy our jobs. Even if you're job is something as dull as screwing lids on tubes of toothpaste, be passionate about it. Every time that you have the opportunity to interact with someone – be it a client, a colleague or a co-worker, use it as a chance to provide an expression of care. Make them feel that their needs are important to you and that you care deeply about helping them. Not only will it make you better at what you do, it will help you feel happier every day.
Take time to express gratitude. When Fred Rogers won a lifetime achievement award at the 1997 Daytime Emmy Awards, his acceptance speech was surprising (you can watch it here). Instead of the usual list of people to thank, he turned the tables and asked everyone in the audience and at home to take 10 seconds to think about the people who have helped them get to where they are in life. He kept time on his watch and transformed his short moment into a mass outpouring of gratitude. It serves as a reminder of how important it is to thank the people that make your life better on a daily basis, not just when you've accomplished a huge goal or are being given an award. As professionals, it's important to be grateful and show thanks to our clients, our bosses, co-workers and our families that support us.
Value your contacts. Everyday, we are given the chance to interact with new people and grow our relationships with people we already know. Each of these people are special and bring new things into our lives. The person that shops in your store or provides you with technical support over the phone is hugely important and easily overlooked. Mr. Rogers knew how important it was to nurture relationships, no matter how small. As testament to this belief, he personally answered every piece of fan mail he received. He also kept in contact with everyone he ever had on his show and the people he had met during his career. People young and old weren't immune to his simple and genuine caring, even Koko, the famous gorilla who learned sign language loved him (and just wanted him to take his shoes off when he came to visit). When he was inducted into the TV Hall of Fame in 1999, he had the chance to reconnect with a boy who had appeared on the show (you can watch the video here). His joy in the reunion was obvious. Sometimes, we forget that every person we meet is an important contact and we don't spend time building those relationships. As professionals, everyone matters and sending a quick note or message only takes a second. Staying in contact and being interested in others is a skill. Like any skill, it takes desire and practice to turn it into a habit, but it's worth it.
I had the opportunity to meet Fred Rogers several years ago. It was at a college graduation where he was giving the commencement address. Although I had a speech prepared just in case I had the chance to talk to him, it didn't work out that way. I had planned to tell him that his show meant so much to me as a child and thank him for making the world a better place. Instead, when I shook his hand and opened my mouth, I just started crying. All I could get out was, “I like you.” It was embarrassing because I'm not typically very emotional in these situation. He was extremely kind and simply said, “I like you too, and I'm proud of you.” They were simple words but that moment will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Life gets hectic and it's easy to forget the lessons we learned as a child, but they still have value. Play nice, say please and thank you and care about your neighbors. I leave you with the words of his most recognizable song: “It's such a good feeling to know you're alive. It's such a happy feeling – you're growing inside.”
Are you a Mr. Rogers fan? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Image Source: Fred Rogers Foundation
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