Mike Rowe

[ThatHaole]

Mike of "Dirty Jobs" Shares His Eagle Scout Perspective


The father of a Scout wrote the host of Discovery Channel's "Dirty Jobs" hoping Mike Rowe (An Eagle Scout) would post some words of encouragement to his son who is thinking about quitting scouting and has not yet attained the rank of Eagle Scout.

The original request:

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Indeed Mike is in fact an Eagle Scout, and he had a great response to the request addressed to Kelby, here is the first part:

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[ThatHaole]

Kind of long, but no worse than brodie reviewing a flick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-udsIV4Hmc&feature=fvw

[ThatHaole]

Dear __________________________

Back in 1977, I got a letter from The President of the United States, congratulating me on becoming an Eagle Scout. It was printed on thick, creamy paper, and had the presidential seal stamped on the bottom, right next to Gerald Ford's name. Impressive. However, as I studied the president?s photocopied signature, and considered the fact that I had never even met the man, I came to the conclusion that I was holding a Form Letter.

Don't get me wrong; it was a nice gesture, but I decided then and there, that if I ever found myself in the position of sending out hundreds of identical letters to Eagle Scouts everywhere, I wouldn't pretend to fool them into thinking they had received a heartfelt expression of unique sentiment. After all, a Scout is Trustworthy, whether he goes on to become the President of the United States or the host of a show on cable television. Which is why I am compelled to admit that I did not write this letter specifically for you. I disclose this deliberately, in the hope that doing so will imbue my well wishes with a measure of credibility greater than those of any former president. And even though many Eagle Scouts have received this exact letter, you will notice that I've taken the time to scribble your name into the blanks provided, a personal touch not included in President Ford's Form Letter, or to my knowledge, any correspondence originating from the current leader of the free world.

Having said all that ________________________, I will now offer my sincere congratulations for what you've achieved.

As you may have heard, the Eagle Award is kind of a big deal. Most of the guys in my old troop bailed out around Star or First Class. You stuck it out, and that makes you special. But don't get cocky, _________________________. Contrary to what many have told you, this award will NOT change the way the world looks at you. Sorry, but it's true. The vast majority of people you're going to meet in life aren't going to care about what you've accomplished in The Boy Scouts, and you know what? That's fine. Because while others may benefit from being around the type of adult you might become, the only person that will ever be truly affected by what you have accomplished, is _______________________________.

Remember this always. The Eagle Award comes with no magic power or influence. It is merely a reminder that you have succeeded in one area where most others have failed. That could be the start of a very positive pattern. Or, it could be something else. I knew a guy who got his Eagle a couple years before me. His chest literally puffed up, and never returned to its normal size. He started walking around like the world owed him a living. His Dad got him into a decent school, and when he finally graduated, he actually carried his degree in his pocket, took it to job interviews, and showed it around like it was his first merit badge. Today, he is a miserable, pompous, pain in the butt with no friends, two ex-wives, and a job he hates. Always complaining about this or that. He still has an old football trophy on his mantle, next to his diploma, and an identical copy of that same form letter from Gerald Ford, framed on his desk, congratulating him for something he did 30 years ago.

Don't be that guy. Don't wait for the world to acknowledge your accomplishments. By all means, take pride in what you've done, but don't let it go to your head. When you're finished with Scouting, donate your uniform to The Salvation Army. Fold up your sash and stow it away somewhere private, with all the other tokens of what you've done so far. Then, roll up your sleeves, get out in the world, and put what you've learned to use.

Live the Scout Law. Remember the Scout Oath. Be unique. And don't forget to have fun. Otherwise, _________________________, you'll wind up like most everybody else, a human form letter.

Mike Rowe
Perpetual Apprentice, mikeroweWORKS.com

PS. The signature, for what it's worth, is really mine.

[ThatHaole]

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Well Josh, that's an interesting letter and a very fair question. And since I'm sitting here at home waiting for my dinner to be delivered, I'll fire off a snappy response. (Pizza by the way, in case you're interested.)

First of all, don't apologize for being offended. There's plenty in the world to be offended by and if my comments hurt your feelings you have every right to say so. Of course it's important to realize the decision to be offended is exactly that, a choice. And since you seem to accept responsibility for the path you've chosen, I assume you'll also accept responsibility for the way you feel. Owning your feelings is a fundamental difference between a child and a grown-up, and though I can't be entirely sure which you are, you seem like a smart guy. So I'm going to respond as though you're an adult. Ready?

The short answer is No: The Rank of Eagle guarantees you no measure of long-term happiness or success whatsoever. The world is full of gifted athletes, academic geniuses, decorated war heroes, and former Eagle Scouts who have gone on to lead miserable lives of failure and regret. Make no mistake about that.

Of course, this is not the message that many adults want me to deliver to their kids. They would prefer a more optimistic form of encouragement, one that stresses the many benefits that often come as a result of attaining this award. Well, I'm sorry, but you can get that elsewhere. (In fact, you can get that everywhere.) My exact thoughts on the matter can be found here, in a letter I send out to Scouts who have actually made it to Eagle. On this point, I suspect we agree. However, after reading your note more carefully, I was struck by something that doesn't add up. In your own words, you claim "I honestly am not a very enthusiastic scout, and doubt I will go for my Eagle."

Given your excellence in school, your commitment to physical fitness, and your desire for higher education, that confession strikes me as a bit out of context. I mean, why would a guy who's so passionate and deliberate about everything else in his life invest his time doing something for which he has so little enthusiasm? And why would he find my comments "slightly offensive", if he had already determined the achievement in question was of little interest to him?

Do you see my confusion? You've asked me to explain "in light of your many ambitions" how your chosen path might lead to a life of mediocrity. Well, the answer Josh, has nothing to do with your ambition, and everything to do with your apathy. You seem to have embraced both. Your "lack of enthusiasm" is dangerous, not because you feel it, but because you tolerate it. And if you can tolerate a lack of enthusiasm in Scouting, there's no telling what else you'll let yourself become bored with.

Let me step back a moment, (since my pizza is still not here!) and say again how very skeptical I am of this "Everybody-Gets-a-Trophy" mentality. Look around and you?ll see symptoms of this condition everywhere. My cousin got a trophy a few years ago that read "Thanks for Participating!" (His basketball team came in second to last.) You can see it in classes where the teachers grade on a "curve." (Since when is a 75% a B+?)

The truth is, many adults today are more concerned with your self-esteem than with your performance. Too many parents and teachers and coaches want their kids to succeed so badly that they'll drag them across the finish line if they have to. Frankly, I find it insulting to those kids who are willing to do their best. I think we send a really crappy message to millions of kids when we reward them equally, for accomplishments that are clearly unequal. I think we set them up for failure later in life.

Anyway, the letter that offended you was written because I don't want to see that sort of mentality creep into Scouting. I don't want the Eagle standards lowered just to encourage less enthusiastic kids to "go for it," or satisfy a parents desire to see their precious little snowflakes bring home another "trophy." And frankly, I don't think the best way to inspire and motivate kids like you is to blow a bunch of sunshine up your butt.

To be really honest Josh, I don't think you were really offended by my comments at all. I think you're hiding behind this "lack of enthusiasm," because deep down, you're afraid of failing. That's exactly how I felt when I realized how much work the Eagle rank would require. I wanted to quit, right then and there. But I didn't want to admit that I wanted to quit, so I just pretended not to care. I concealed my fear with apathy, and didn't come clean until my old man called me out. I suspect that's what you're doing now.

Of course, I could be wrong; I often am. But this much I'm sure of; you'll learn a heck of a lot more in life by failing than succeeding. Unless of course, you're unwilling to try, in which case you'll learn exactly nothing.

My advice? Quit Scouting today. Or, quit pretending not to care. Because the short answer to your question goes like this; You can be plenty successful without becoming an Eagle. But you'll never get anywhere by doing things half-way.

That will absolutely, positively assure you a life of spectacular mediocrity. Having said that, my pizza is here, and I need both hands to eat it.

Good luck.
Mike Rowe

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[ThatHaole]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN78BWp8Hms

[MrGoutHimself]

I always liked Mike Rowe, on Dirty Jobs, narrating The Ultimate Fighter, narrating Deadliest Catch, even hocking Ford (who has an ever-improving product and refused to take bailout while GM and Chrysler slurped it down). Reading these letters makes me like him even more. It's ridiculous to me that everyone gets a trophy, everyone gets recognized for "participating." I think if you give half an effort, you'll get half of your desired result almost every time as an adult. Children need to learn that too. Way to go Mike Rowe, I give you one big gouty toe up!