My father asked me to read A Message to Garcia when I started my first job out of law school. Periodically, over the years, he would ask me “when did you last read AMTG?” if it had been a while, he would ask me to read it again. He did the same with all his children.

I adopted the story and its lessons and have used the story a lot over the past several years. In large part, as homage to my dad who died 3 years ago. It was important to him, and I know he’d get a kick out of how I have become the “poster child” for disseminating the story and its lessons to others.

When my various assistants’ work fell below an acceptable level, I would ask them to read it and then we would discuss the lessons and morals. It always had an immediate impact and their work product improved tremendously overnight.

My sister is teaching a basic studies course at a local community college. I encouraged her to use AMTG as her first homework assignment by simply writing “A Message to Garcia” on the blackboard, with the following instructions: 1) Describe the facts of the story; 2) Describe the lessons or morals of the story. When the students asked “is that in the text book?” “where can I find it?” or any other inane questions, her response was, “you have all the information you need – it’s due next Monday…” This to me is one of the lessons that stands out – resourcefulness, and the one that I identify with the most. If you think about any problem or situation and apply yourself you can solve it – usually on your own. Too often we give up too easily when a task becomes difficult.

I read most of her college students’ papers and really enjoyed reading those who GOT IT. Many did; many didn’t.

I just finished my first season as an assistant high school soccer coach. The head coach thought it was a great idea to give the written assignment to our players. The instructions to the players included those listed above, plus a few others including: 3)Describe how you apply these lessons in your overall life; 4)Describe how the lessons or morals apply in connection with being a member of this team (addressing yourself individually, and addressing your teammates or the group as a whole). Again, very gratifying to read those who GOT IT.

All but one player turned in the assignment, which amazed the head coach. He expected a lot of resistance, and while there was some, I believe that it – the assignment – is the best thing we did for these kids. The one player who has yet to turn it in promised to do so in the next couple days.

We will have a year-end dinner with the kids and parents in a few weeks. In addition to the typical sports team awards (MVP, most improved, etc.)we are thinking about giving out a “Rowan Award” which will likely go to a kid who barely got to play, but who displayed initiative, discipline and a willingness to do anything for the betterment of the team wihtout ever challenging or resisting the coaching staff. Rowan personified.