MARKETING MATTERS
Horseshoeing or Angry Birds: Relationships Are Constant in Learning
DWIGHT BARNHARD, SUPERIOR ALUMINUM CASTINGS INC., INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI
grow when the process is nurtured properly. Albert Einstein challenged our thinking with this insight: “Wis- dom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.” While attending the international
I
GIFA conference in Dussel- dorf this summer, I observed an example of relationship learning. One day is set aside for metalcast- ing employees and their families to visit this world class trade show. It was a treat to see parents with children of all ages roaming the aisles with amazed expressions as proud moms and dads explained the metalcasting process. Every day I’m reminded that
learning, and more importantly cultivating knowledge into wis- dom, is a lifelong opportunity for everyone, regardless of our cir- cumstances. In our daily relation- ships with customers, would an empathic, open-minded ability to both learn and teach improve our our ability to promote and market our companies? Are relationships— and more importantly trust-relation- ships—a key factor in how we share information?
Technology and Relationships I’m intrigued watching my grand-
children as they begin their early years of lifelong learning. My grandson is five years old, and among other qualities his memory, recognition and hand-eye coordination are excellent (in this grandfather’s opinion). While we’re waiting for a res-
taurant table, he enjoys playing the popular game Angry Birds on his mom’s smart phone. Te object of the game is to launch birds from a sling- shot into a building filled with rooms containing pigs. While the game does have some educational value in under-
44 | MODERN CASTING January 2012
’ve always been fascinated with the human learning process and how knowledge and wisdom
standing the principles of physics and geometry, for the most part it’s just a fun way to pass time. I’m struck by my grandson’s in-
tensity of thought and lack of contact with what’s going on around him while he’s playing Angry Birds. All outside conversation and relationships seem not to exist. I notice this same
It’s tough to know if someone has a
better idea than us if
we’re immersed in our “smart” phone.
phenomenon when someone stops to respond to a text message during a business discussion. All outside rela- tionships stop and colleagues seem to disappear (kind of like those pigs that evaporate when the angry birds hit the building). Bill Gates once said, “I’m a great
believer that any tool that enhances communications has profound ef- fects in terms of how people can learn from each other, and how they can achieve the kind of freedoms that they’re interested in.” But tech- nology can also create barriers that impede communications.
Metalworking and Relationships Many of my early learning op-
portunities came while spending time with my grandfather. He took me everywhere: hunting, fishing, baseball
games, to the garage to watch the mechanic work on his car, everywhere. I met interesting people and learned about life. One of my early memories is of the visits we made to my uncle’s blacksmith shop. Uncle Fred oper- ated the last blacksmith shop in town. I watched and learned as he heated horseshoes and hammered the cherry-red metal to fit a hoof. As time went by, Uncle Fred taught me how to fit and nail horseshoes. It was one of the expe- riences that influenced my interest in hot metal and the start of my industrial technology education. What I remember most about these experiences were the person- alities and insight of the people I met. My Uncle Fred’s interests in others built trust-relationships and helped him serve his customers. I assure you this isn’t a senti-
mental “buggy whip” desire for the return of yesterday’s technol- ogy. While my grandfather always encouraged me to understand and use new technology as an effec-
tive tool, his life was an example that people and relationships are the keys to unlocking future progress. Will Rogers said, “A man only learns in two ways: one by reading, and the other by association with smarter people.” It’s tough to know if someone has a better idea than us if we’re immersed in our “smart” phone rather than listening and gaining their trust. As I wandered the aisles of GIFA
watching young people learn about metalcasting, I remembered those days, many years ago, when a thought- ful blacksmith taught me about ther- modynamics, life and the right way to deal with customers. Yes, technology will continue to change, but relationships remain a constant in the learning equation.
Dwight Barnhard is co-owner of Superior Aluminum Castings Inc., Independence, Missouri.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68