[VIDEO+ACTIVITY] Duncan Nugget® #84: Genuine Open-Mindedness

Is it just me or have you ever noticed that once somebody thinks something negative about a person or a group of people s/he can find all the evidence in the world to prove it, but none to refute it?

And once somebody thinks you can’t do or be something, s/he can find all the evidence in the world to prove that it’s impossible, but none to prove that it is possible.

Why?

Because genuine open-mindedness is a rare thing.

It’s common, however, for people to completely ignore (sometimes unintentionally) anything that challenges their beliefs. Even if it’s factual, people have a hard time dealing with information that contradicts what they think. Most people only seek information that validates what they want to think and believe.

Genuine open-mindedness is a master ability. It’s one of the keys to collaboration and teamwork.

Million-Dollar Question:
How open-minded are you?

Al Duncan Keynotes Savannah State GEAR UP Program Summer Awards Luncheon

SAVANNAH, GA—Savannah State University GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) held its summer awards banquet on Friday, July 8, 2012 at Johnny Harris Banquet Hall. In addition to musical selections, poems, and dance performances by the program participants, students were given special awards and recognition for outstanding achievements in their core and elective classes.

Internationally renowned youth advocate and publisher, Al Duncan, was the keynote speaker. Duncan proved to be very adept at keeping the students engaged with his Duncan Nuggets®. “Failure is only permanent if you quit,” he told the students as he shared his story of growing up in a socio-economically disadvantaged neighborhood in North Philadelphia to becoming a professional musician and giving it all up to raise his 12 yr. old brother.

Program Director, Mrs. Tamara Waterman congratulated the students, praised her staff for the incredible effort they put forth and she thanked the parents for allowing GEAR UP to be part of their children’s lives

View pictures from the event here:
Savannah States GEAR UP Program at Johnny Harris | savannahnow.com

Leadership Lessons From Nelson Mandela and Stephen Covey

UPDATE: My heart is saddened by the passing of Nelson Mandela on December 5, 2013. He was 95. The life he lived will continue to be an inspiration to me and millions of people.

In the world of exceptional leaders it’s been a week of joy and sorrow.

On the sad side of things, Dr. Stephen Covey passed away on Monday, July 16, 2012. Covey was an educator, best-selling author, motivational speaker, and businessman. His book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, is one of the most influential personal development and business books of all-time. Twenty-five million copies have been sold in 38 different languages!

Since I first read it, Habit 5 is one of the fundamental principles of my communication style: “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.”

On the happier side of things, Nelson Mandela, anti-apartheid activist, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and former President of South Africa, is celebrating his 94th birthday today (7/18/12). I always thought I had a lot of determination and grit until I read Mandela’s autobiography, Long Walk To Freedom. I remember thinking to myself, “Al Duncan, you need to step up your game.”

Of course, neither Mandela nor Covey are without flaws and that’s what makes them great. Both epitomize many of the characteristics of exceptional leaders. Here are two of the numerous leadership lessons that can be learned from studying their works.

The Higher Education Bubble

One of the things that drives me bonkers is when young people say that they are headed off to college, but they haven’t really given much thought to the most cost effective way to get an education. This video and infographic outlines the perils that could await you unless the proper planning is done.

The Higher Education Bubble » (EducationNews.org) An infographic series on the current crisis facing higher education.

7 Online Soft Skills Quizzes

Where do you stand on your soft skills? If you are not sure, here are 7 quick and easy quizzes about a few of your soft skills.

Q & A: What Are Your Weaknesses?

Q: Al, I really enjoyed ur speech at the 4-H conference. u are funny! How do u answer the question “what are ur weaknesses?” when u r in an interview? —student at 4-H conference 

[INFOGRAPHIC] Cyberbullying: From The Playground To The Web

You don’t need me to tell you that with all of the incredible benefits of new technology comes a whole new array of problems. A huge one is cyberbullying. The statistics are staggering: