correspondence

Me, Me, ME!

Thank you for your column "'A' Is For Attitude" (Apropos, October 2002). You hit the nail right on the proverbial head. I am an associate technical training specialist, which is an exaggerated title for "trainer" at Progress Energy's Clearwater Call Services Center. Our most recent class of trainees originally started with our center last June. Although I enjoyed teaching this group of 15 new hires, I saw a lot of the "me-oriented" thinking you discuss in your column. It is disappointing.

I am only 34 years old, but the 20-somethings in this class really surprised me with their "what will this company do for me" attitudes. I attempted to meet this challenge head-on by always taking time to focus on how lucky they were to be a part of such a successful organization (we are a Fortune 250 company). I have worked for this company for almost five years and survived the acquisition of our former parent company (Florida Progress) by Carolina Power & Light. I can only hope the work I do with our new hires somehow helps improve the "glum attitudes" you also recently experienced.

mac mccarthy,

associate training specialist

employee development,

clearwater, fl



Sound That Trumpet

I'm not sure how you keep your fingers on the pulse of business management, but you found the mark in "Tales From The Corporate Crypt" (Editor's Notebook, October 2002). I appreciate that you are sounding this trumpet. Thanks for doing what many find difficult to do.

Also, "Honesty: Best Antidote" (Unconventional Wisdom, October 2002) is great bolstering information for everyone in an organization during this economic period. Ron Zemke reminds us all of what Steven Covey and Dale Carnegie have taught for years. Great managers know that the honesty, integrity and vision are the foundations of our profession. Good managers need some reminding by the great ones on when to get these "calibrations tools" out of the tool box and put to use. Thanks for reminding us.

john l. zoll,

technical instructor,

united space alliance,

cape canaveral, fl



Two Thumbs Up

This is my first issue of Training, after reading Online Learning Magazine for years. Great magazine. I am really enjoying it and finding it especially applicable to both my delivery and design work. Thank you for your piece on learning theory ("Who Needs Learning Theory Anyway?" September 2002).

kary beaman,

learning specialist,

wachovia, n.a.,

charlotte, nc