If you have ever overacted, you are not alone; however, you should recognize that one of the worst human tendencies is to overreact. Too often, our politicians overreact to a single transgression with a new law, rule, or regulation. Over the weekend, my wife joked about having to show ID when buying an alcoholic beverage. The waiter apologized and explained the restaurant policy of checking all customer IDs, as a result of a lawsuit by an intoxicated underage patron. It did not matter that the under aged patron used a fake ID, nor does it matter that 99% of the restaurant customers are 40+. All customers must provide ID. The people intent on cheating will still get fake IDs.

Although law makers and some jurists would have you believe otherwise, judgment and accountability cannot be replaced by laws and “zero tolerance” policies. It’s silly to suspend a 7-year-old from school for taking a nail clipper (with a nail file) to school, and it’s silly for us to run our businesses as if the world is black and white and subject to clear lines of demarcation.

A business, for which I provide training programs, recently developed a new employee manual. Their attorney reviewed the manual for conformance with applicable employment laws but recommended against an employee manual for two reasons. From a legal perspective, the attorney stated that an employer can inadvertently give up certain rights that may not be considered when the manual is being developed. From a practical perspective, the attorney advised that a manual can force a manager to classify an employee mistake or discretion as black or white, and may force the employer to make a decision that is not in the best interest of the businesses or the employee. Although I am not against employee manuals, businesses must be clear on the information that they are trying to present in the manual. All too often, employee manuals are used as a tool to enforce policies and to punish or terminate employees. The world is full of shades of grey, requiring judgment and, very often, toleration and forgiveness. Employee manuals, rules, regulations and reactive laws can prevent that from happening.

The most successful and profitable business with which I worked over the past 25+ years thrives in shades of gray. Their employee manual was developed to provide clarity and so all employees can provide consistent and superb service to all customers. The manual does not list rules, regulations or employee punishment guidelines. The CEO communicates a vision to work toward and parameters to work within. There are few rules. The business has grown from 20 to more than 1,000 employees, has enjoyed double digit revenue and net income growth for more than 20 consecutive years and has been named one of the best places to work – all because they like shades of grey.

Kevin

I always find it surprising when I speak with a fellow American who does not know the actual meaning of the Fourth of July holiday.

Yesterday, I passed a park in South Carolina in which families were picnicking and barbecuing. The scene is probably the same on most summer weekends but this felt a little different as many had flags as well as red, white and blue tablecloths and plates. When we think of the Fourth of July, most think of the picnics, vacations and fireworks. My wife began looking at the fireworks schedule three weeks ago in an effort to find the best fireworks to watch. This year, we are going to a peach festival that will be followed by a fireworks display.

The commercialism of holidays is OK, as long as we remember the reason for the holiday. The Fourth of July is Independence Day. Independence is the reason that my mother’s ancestors came to this country in the 1600’s and the reason that my father’s family came to America in the 1800’s. It is the reason that so many people continue to immigrate to America today. Unfortunately, it is also a reason that terrorists and extremists hate our country but we’ll save that topic for another day.

As a young student I enjoyed learning about history but I was not a history buff. My passion was math and science. As I finished school, met people from around the world, and traveled, my interest in history increased. I wish that I studied history a bit more and I wish my parents took us to even more historic places. I hear this common.

And so, on this Independence Day weekend, I think about the history of our great nation. Growing up relatively close to Gettysburg, PA, I took the historic relevance of Gettysburg for granted. It was said that “the hallowed grounds of Gettysburg reveal the soul of this nation”.

Most people know of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg address but just in case you do not know the background, I offer the following. It was July 1, 1863 when the Confederate forces approached Gettysburg with the intention of winning the war. In that small Pennsylvania town, the most important battle of the Civil War took place when more than 170,000 soldiers, 70,000 horses and 550 canons converged. The battle ended on July 3, with the Union Army stopping the Confederate Army, on Cemetery Ridge.

About four months later, President Lincoln visited Gettysburg to dedicate the Soldier’s National Cemetery. Lincoln was not the keynote speaker. Edward Everett, a politician, was the main speaker. Most American’s don’t know much about Everett and don’t know a word of his two hour speech. Lincoln spoke after Everett and with a two minute speech, containing 272 words that began “Four Score and seven years ago…”. President Lincoln set out to clam a nation and declare that those who had died had not died in vain, as he declared the notion of equality.

On this Fourth of July weekend, I wish all a happy Independence Day and recommend that you take a few minutes on this holiday, and all holidays, to consider the history and the reason behind the holiday. Also, if you have not had the opportunity, I recommend a visit to the Gettysburg National Military Park and the Gettysburg Battlegrounds as a place that everyone should visit. This is the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. As you visit the battlegrounds and the original civil war homes and buildings, you will be awe inspired.

Happy Holiday!

kevin