Thursday, December 08, 2005

Inspired High School Student Starts Wearing A Nametag


Every summer I lead a workshop for YPO's Junior Leadership University in Leysin, Switzerland. This year I met a lot of awesome kids, some of whom are pictured above. One student, Cam Scheible (bottom row, first on the left), recently IM'ed me with some great news. Since the beginning of the school year, Cam has actually been wearing a nametag every day at school! What's more, the school paper did a story on him! Check out this article written by fellow high school student Caitlin Sherril:

You all have seen that crazy kid walking down the hallways with a name tag saying "Hello, my name is Cam." No, he did not forget to take of his name tag after a convention, but he does it on purpose everyday! To many he is just some weird guy who wears a name tag, but I inquired about the mind behind the name tag.

"It's really not my idea," says Cam Scheible, junior, "I went to a summer camp and this guy named Scott said he had been wearing one for a couple of years now. As we all learned to say in unison, 'It makes people friendlier and more approachable.'"

Yet some may not see the method to his madness, teachers have overall thought that it is an inspiring idea. Senora Juarez says, "It seems to make students more comfortable in the class room, especially him. When we have shadows come in it makes them feel very welcome."

So put on a smile as he walks your way, because all he's doing is trying to make you 'friendlier and more approachable'!


"Thanks for the inspiration," Scheible said. "I have only gotten one person to join me wearing name tags, but I'm going for more!"

Well...while I have never in five years encouraged any or all people to wear nametags, I gotta say: way to go Cam!

LET ME ASK YA THIS...

Seriously: would you actually consider wearing a nametag all the time?

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
Author/Speaker/That guy with the nametag
www.hellomynameisscott.com

5 comments:

Why yes, I would consider it - and I have considered it for a while. I tried to argue against it, saying it'd be expensive, but I guess I could get myself a metal tag with a clip or something which wouldn't mean a constant trickle of money out of my pocket.

I guess I'd have to have sticker name tags for when I coach rugby, though.

I've been known to wear silly things before, so I don't think that'd be a hurdle much - latest adventure was wearing a huge wig my sister has knitted for me to the company Christmas party - which incidentally made people much more friendly and possibly approachable as well - even if they found it hard to take me seriously - I guess being new in a group of people, it's not a bad idea to show that you don't take yourself too seriously. ;)

I think that I would consider it, maybe just on special occasions. After all, I was asked a few times why I wasn't wearing one. :)

Thats so awesome that Cam is wearing one everyday! i always wear a name tag at least once a week and whenever i have one on, i always make a point to leave it on the rest of the day. See Scott? See what an impact you had on all of us?! I always carry a name tag in my wallet too... just to be a little more like you! : )

I've thought about it for a while, and I think I might try it out at parties or events to see how it goes.

Dear Scott, thanks for another super article, i just love this site, thanks for the hard work.