For many schools, a short but powerful story shared via the intercom can play a significant role in their character education or life skills strategy. Sure, it's no substitute for a total program. But when done well, these Intercom Insights serve to introduce the character quality of the month or week, focus the school on a trait's importance and jumpstart the interaction that can take place in the classroom.   

We currently offer over 100 "Intercom Insights," each categorized under one of 30 character traits. If you use one "Intercom Insight" per week for 9 months, that gives you over three years of insights! We keep adding more as well...

Sample Intercom Insight
Jordan Learns From His Brother
Traits: Learning, Cooperation, Diligence, Mentoring
Time: 90 Seconds 

And now for this week's Intercom Insight on Character...

Basketball superstar Michael Jordan reigned for years as America's most popular athlete. He mastered the game to such an extent that pro player Magic Johnson could say, ''There's Michael – and then there's the rest of us.'' (Rare Air, on front sleeve)

But he didn't just wake up one morning, pick up a basketball, and begin his lightning fast moves and stratospheric jumps, dunking baskets against giant defenders. Believe it or not, he was cut from the Varsity team his sophomore year in high school. So what did he do to improve?

One could argue that without the fierce, daily, one-on-one back yard competitions with his older brother Larry, who was a better athlete at the time, Michael would have never developed his ability and confidence enough to compete at the game. You see, Larry was his mentor as well as best friend.

Learning from mentors isn't just important in sports. Albert Einstein had a picture of the great scientist Isaac Newton on his office wall. Successful businessmen often learn from others and pattern their lives after them. 

In what arena do want to excel - a sport, academics, relationships or a hobby? Do you have a mentor in that arena? If not, how can you choose a mentor? 

This week, as we tackle this character trait of "Learning from Others" and "Mentoring," think of Michael

Jordan's success and how his relationship with his brother Larry during his high school years helped lead him to that success. 

For Classroom Discussion

1. How might Michael's life had been different had he never looked up to a mentor? What if he'd chosen the wrong mentor?
2. In what fields can we have mentors? (Vocations, hobbies, athletics, academics, relationships, etc.)
3. How can mentors help us succeed?
4. What should we look for in a mentor?
5. Is it okay to have more than one mentor?
6. Do you have a mentor? If not, who would be a good one?