Leading the High Energy Culture: What the Best CEOs Do to Create an Atmosphere Where Employees Flourish

CHAPTER 10

Save the “Saved”

One-fifth of the people are against everything all the time.

—ROBERT F. KENNEDY, FORMER U.S.SENATOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL

Inspired by his father’s exemplary career, Paul Muench opted to become a schoolteacher. Proving that the apple doesn’t fall all that far from the tree, Paul, too, is a revered and beloved teacher. He is a peer leader among the faculty in one of the top school systems in the state of New York. Recently Paul told me a story. When he started teaching high school social studies, he became discouraged. In his class of 25 students, the problem was that he was unable to get 4 of those kids charged up about learning despite his best efforts.

Naturally, he turned to his dad for advice. His father sagely nodded ...