Q&A: Your Amazing Words of Truth

Q: Hey Mr. Duncan, I was recently at two of your motivational speakings and I didn’t feel comfortable asking my question aloud. So here it is:

You got my attention when you spoke about what you’ve been through. I’ve also been through a lot, one exactly like you. And I’ve never told anyone about it, not even my mother.

I am an A+ student but I feel so much pressure to be better than average from others. I get up and down, my grades slip but I always manage to pull off a good grade. I plan on attending college and I know that I won’t always be able to pull off this stunt in college. I have dreams and the people who pressure me the most always throw me down by telling me I can’t or you think so… I explain everything, but I really need some of your amazing words of truth.

—Michelle J., Alpha School

National Education Association’s Read Across America Day

NEA‘s national reading celebration takes place each year on or near March 2, the birthday of Dr. Seuss. Across the country, thousands of schools, libraries, and community centers participate by bringing together kids, teens, and books, and you can too!

NEA – Read Across America

Duncan Nugget® #145: The New “Average”

How was the food? It was good.

How was the movie? It was good.

Can she sing? She’s good.

Nowadays, good is not good enough.

Have you noticed that when people are truly impressed and they really like something they use words other than “good”? They say things like “really good”, “soooo good”, great, incredible, hot, amazing, exceptional, “wow” and of course, awesome! Sometimes they make up words and phrases.

How was the movie? Oh my God! It was like totally awesome. 

Can she sing? She ain’t no joke. She got mad skills.

How was the food? It was Fi! (That’s how young people in Atlanta say that something is “fire”, which means “awesome”.)

In order to build a durable, competitive advantage you need to be more than good. You want to be exceptional.

Good is the new “average”.

Million-Dollar Question: 
What are you doing to be better than “good”?

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Starbucks Shared Planet Youth Action Grants

The Starbucks Foundation will solicit applications from organizations that provide young people a continuum of services in developing creative approaches to address pressing concerns in their communities. Please complete a letter of inquiry for your organization. The Starbucks Foundation will contact you if we’d like to request a full grant proposal.”

Starbucks Shared Planet Youth Action Grants

Youth Service America Grant Programs

“Youth Service America supports and motivates youth, educators, and service-learning coordinators by distributing over 400 micro grants each year for service and service-learning initiatives.”

“While most of the grants support projects that culminate on Global Youth Service Day in April, funding is also available for projects in the fall.”

YSA Grant Programs | YSA

$2000 Grants – Open Meadows Foundation

Open Meadows Foundation is a grant-making organization for projects that are led by and benefit women and girls, particularly those from vulnerable communities. Open Meadows Foundation funds projects that do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender identity and expression, sexual identity and expression, age or ability. It offers grants up to $2000. For details visit the website. (DEADLINE: Feb. 15th)

Open Meadows Foundation

Interview Question: How do you know when…?

A powerful question to ask someone you meet in a professional setting, especially during an interview, is:

How do you know when you have the ideal (person/client/product/service) for this position/company?

(Excerpt from Million-Dollar Networking Questions)