On the Backs of "Bs"

Al Cambridge (Accenture Former Managing Partner Cincinnati) once asked me what "drove the success of the Firm?  -- Innovative 'A' players?   --  No he said -    It's the "solid B players".  That comment has stayed with me for a long time.  So developing people to their full potential - to be a solid B player was the key. Finding your B spot is what it is all about.  B doesn't mean average - it means above average. 

Garrison Keillor said it well - "Welcome to Lake Wobegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average." 

Is it possible for all the children to be above average?  I think we are all above average at something.  Maybe that is the definition of America's middle class -  the diversity of B's that make our country successful.  Sometimes I worry that we take advantage of the solid B players - we tax them, fire them, ignore them, and focus on the other two ends.

So can you be happy being a B player?  All our schools, all our measures are about getting A's.  Celebrating the 4.0.  How about your kids?  Can they be a B player in your mind?  No I think Garrison Keillor had it wrong -  every kid is an A in their parents mind.

Every person is an 'A' in God's world.