A/V Geeks 16mm Lunch 2-25-2026

Hi everybody. Welcome to the Well, there I am. Hi everybody. Welcome to the Age Geeks Lunchtime streaming show where we watch old 16 millimeter films and then reflect on our current times. Uh this first film is why uh why we use money. Enjoy. I don't think we've seen this before, but if we had, please tell me in the comments. Enjoy. [music] [music] >> [music] [music] >> Once long ago, there was a fisherman. But he didn't fish just for fun. He used the fish he caught to trade for things he needed for himself and his family. What he needed right now most of all was a new sharp knife to cut himself loose. Since there was no money in those days, he couldn't buy a knife. So, he took the fish and went to the knife maker to see if he could make a trade. >> Good morning, Mr. Knife Maker. Here's a nice fresh fish I just caught. I'll trade it to you for a good, SHARP KNIFE. I'VE ALREADY TRADED TWO KNIVES FOR fish this morning. Look there. How many fish do you think I can eat in one day? What I need is a new hat TO KEEP THE SUN OUT OF MY EYES. MY OLD HAT FELL IN THE FIRE YESTERDAY. Bring me a new hat and I'll give you a sharp knife. >> Very well, Mr. Knife Maker. I'll go to the hat maker. So the fisherman took his fish and went to the hat maker to see if he could make a trade. >> Mr. hat maker, I'll trade you this nice fresh fish for one of your hats. Then I can trade the hat to the knife maker for a good sharp knife. WELL, FISHERMAN, I'd like to oblige you. Really, I would. But this morning, a man already traded me a fish for a hat. Now, if you were offering me a loaf of bread to go with my fish, well, we might make a trade. >> It's a long way to the bakers, but I'll go and see if he'll trade with me. >> So, the fisherman set out to the baker. >> Mr. Baker, please trade me a loaf of bread for my nice fresh fish so I can trade it to the hat maker for a hat. Then I can trade the hat to the knife maker for a knife. Well, I we don't need a fish. I CAUGHT ONE THIS MORNING. What we need is a NEW POT. OURS IS CRACKED. BRING A NEW POT AND MAYBE WE CAN TALK about a trade. So the fisherman took his fish to the potter shop. >> Oh, please, Mr. Potter. Trade me a pot for my fish so I can trade it to the baker for a loaf of bread. Then I can trade the bread to the hat maker for a hat. And trade the hat to the knife maker for a good sharp knife. >> [music] >> H. Not a bad sized fish. It smells good and fresh. I could have it for my lunch. Very well, fisherman. It's a trade. So the fisherman took the pot from the pot maker and traded it to the baker or the baker's wife for a loaf of bread which he traded to the hat maker for a new hat which he gave to the knife maker. H it fits pretty well and it's nice and soft. All right, fisherman. HERE'S ONE OF MY BEST AND sharpest knives. Thank you, Mr. Knife Maker. Now I can cut myself loose. >> Sit down. You look tired, fisherman. You must have had to make a lot of trades before you found someone who wanted your fish. >> Oh yes. Everyone needs something, but it's not always A FISH. >> I KNOW. I KNOW. Trading sometimes takes me SO LONG THAT I HARDLY have time to make knives. You know, it would be a lot easier if instead of everybody trading different things, they could all use one special thing for trading. >> What do YOU MEAN? WHAT KIND OF SPECIAL THING COULD EVERYONE USE? >> It would have to be something really special. something you couldn't find just anywhere, like little bits of precious metal, gold or silver or copper. Then people would trade them for the fish they caught or the bread they baked or the pots or knives they made. NOT A BAD IDEA. We wouldn't have to do all this trading. If you needed a knife, you'd come straight to me. And if I needed a hat, I'd go straight to the hat maker. >> And what a great deal of time and trouble we would save. So the fisherman and the knife maker talked to all the people who lived and worked in their village about the new idea. >> Ooh, what a great idea. >> Yes, I think it would work. Why didn't we think of it before? The idea spread and soon everyone began using small pieces of precious metal for their trading. Some pieces were worth more than others and were stamped with marks which told their weight and value. Many were stamped with fancy designs. These were called coins. Nowadays we use coins too to trade for things we need. We also use paper money. Today, a fisherman still catches fish, but he sells his fish for money. And if he finds that he needs a knife, it's a simple matter to go to the store and buy one. Well, it's a fairly simple matter. We saw this some time ago and um a lot of them are very similar. Although yesterday, uh, the ones we showed had some really great cartoon voices. Larry Storch, Paul Winell. Um, all right. I think this is Canadian, but it it I don't think it could have existed without Saturday Night Live. So, here's National Mulch. We saw this a long time ago. Enjoy. >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] [music] Vitamins. Vitamins. They are neat. Where do you find them? >> In the stuff you eat. >> Eat a balanced diet and they will be our friend. >> You eat a lot of junk and it'll get you in the air. >> So, give me an A. >> Give me a B. >> B6. B. >> B12. >> B12. >> Give me a C. >> Give me a D. >> Give me an E. GIVE ME A K. >> K. >> WHAT HAVE YOU GOT? >> Have a dick. >> Well, I just don't know about that. I don't understand her. I She's so hostile towards me. Some Someday I'm going to get her. >> What's the problem, Melvin? The mother-in-law again? >> Oh, Sam, I tell you. I mean, I get so Well, I'm going to find a way to get even with her. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. >> Oh, I mean it, Sam. I'm just going to find a way someday to get her. >> Yeah, sure you will, Melvin. What will it be? >> Huh? >> What are you going to have? >> Oh, well, I think I'll start off with a nice fresh glass of whole milk, please. Uh, no milk, just coffee a pop. >> Oh, okay then. I'll have a cup of coffee and some whole wheat bread, please. >> Uh, no brown milk and just white. >> Oh, well, white, I guess. Yeah. And hey, a nice thick juicy New York sirloin steak cooked in all its own juices. Huh? >> Uh, would you believe a hamburger cooked on our grill with its juices running out the side? >> Oh, a baked potato. >> Uh, just French fries. >> Oh, but made from fresh potatoes, cut and peeled in the premises, right? >> Oh, come on, Melvin. And you must be kidding. I ain't got time for that sort of thing. I buy them frozen. Could be monkeys peels and slices them for all I know. >> Well, what's the vegetable? >> Vegetable? Look it, Melvin. You're getting French fries. What do you want from me already? >> Okay. Okay. Look, take all that stuff and wrap it up and I'll have it to go. >> To go? What's the matter what he did here? >> No, Sam. I'm not going to eat it. I'm going to give it to my mother-in-law. Please. Haven't had anything to drink in 3 days. Call her. >> Please call her. Call her. >> Sometimes being surrounded plays strange tricks with a man. Poor devil. But next time you're under attack by thirst, why not reach for a water? >> Yes. Snap a tap of water. [music] You'll be glad you did. With me is Dr. Heinrich Henry, who has been researching the effects of coffee on humans and has come up with a theory that coffee is actually good for you. Is that right, Doc? Dr. Henry. Oh, sorry. I guess I uh I think the um harmful effects of coffee have been stressed too strongly. >> Yes. Well, for example, doctor, is coffee hard on the nerves? >> Oh, nonsense. Nonsense. I drink uh 14 cups a day, and as you can see, it doesn't bother me bother me at all. >> Yes. Yes. Well, doctor, let me ask you this. >> Some idiots even say that coffee can keep you from getting a good night's sleep. Well, my my my studies show that. >> What was that? >> What? What is it? Oh, I I thought I heard something. >> Um, tell me, doctor, wouldn't people be better off by drinking milk or fruit juice or even water? >> Oh, those drinks are all right, but I believe coffee is beneficial to the body. And good, good source. Crawling all over me. I can't stand it. Get them off me. These little green things crawling on you. Crawling. >> It's all right, Dr. Henry. With me this afternoon has been Dr. Hinrich [laughter] Henry, who is speaking on his theory that coffee indeed may be good for you. >> Thank you, and good night. It's all right. It's all right. >> This is Mrs. Fitzpatrick and her daughter, Jenny. Many people cannot tell them apart. Can you? All right. Which one of you is Mrs. Fitzpatrick? Well, I am Mrs. Fitzpatrick and this is my daughter, Jenny. >> Isn't that fantastic? How old are you, Jenny? >> I don't know. She won't tell me. Well, >> you don't look a day older than your daughter, Mrs. F. >> Oh, thank you. You know, most people think we're sisters. >> She beats me. >> How do you manage to stay so young, Mrs. F? >> Well, I eat a well- balanced diet and I get plenty of exercise. Oh yeah, she makes me at the school cafeteria. Chips, gravy, pop to my toes. Somebody out there, help me. Please get a message to my father. >> There you are, ladies and gentlemen. Important news for 45year-old mothers who eat a well-balanced diet. And for young daughters who never have time for a proper meal and look like their mothers already. Any other advice to the moms out there, Mrs. F? Yes. I think it's important that youngsters are able to make their own decisions. Well, I give Jenny her own money and she buys her lunches. Well, I figure a couple more years of all that garbage and I'll be able to tell people I'm her daughter. Isn't that right, Timmy? >> Why do they put this on hamburgers? Why don't they take the money they spend on parsley that nobody eats and use it to hire a guy to scrape the gum off the bottom of their table? I'd like to know what's in that hamburger. Uh, no, maybe not. Sure, there's protein in it, but they cook it so much that a lot of it can be damaged. Besides, the filler they often put on the patty soaks up a lot of fat while the meat is cooking. And they say we're all eating too much fat in this country anyway. Then, of course, there's the bun. soft and gummy, very good for mopping up spills. But, uh, after the milling and the processing of the flour, you don't get much left than a a sponge with crust. So, where's the nutritional value in a hamburger? Right here. Parsley is a very good source of vitamin A, which is good for your skin. So, whenever you get a chance, eat the parsley. It may make you healthy enough to survive the hamburger. [music] >> And that's the main thing, isn't it? >> It is. It is the main thing. But it's it's so funny. Things change so quickly. I guess we have to adapt to change. >> But but there's no choice. And so much >> so much. >> So much change. >> Oh, yes. Change. >> There's there's so much of it. It's so hard to cope with. >> Well, things aren't what they used to be, are they? >> Not really. >> I I can remember the shows. >> Podville. It was wonderful. Eddie Caner, Jack Benny, >> Gracie Fields, >> and bread. Remember bread? >> Ah, bread. Yes. Do you remember when there was real whole grain bread? >> M tasty. And soup. Remember soup? >> Broth? Broth so good I can practically smell it now. Oh, and how about meat? A real steak? >> Not today. >> No. The young people have taken over. It's their world. >> Everything's so fast. >> Instant. >> They're not interested in eating food. >> No. Now, just just fill up the hunger spots. That's all. >> As fast as they can. >> Ah, young people. There's no place for us anymore. >> I used to like the taste of food. >> Today, it's all junk. >> At least it's junk what the young people are eating. You know, there uh there still is good stuff around, you know. >> Oh, I know. I still eat it. >> Ah, but it's a young people's world. >> Yes, >> but but there's one consolation. >> One? >> Just one? >> What's that? >> They're all going to kill themselves for malnutrition before we die of old age. [laughter] >> Yeah. [music] Well, ladies and gentlemen, we've reached the final plateau here on the Big Payoff for the first time in the history of our show. Now, back there in our soundproof booth is Mr. Rummy Softcakes. Can you hear me, Mr. Softcakes? >> I can sure hear you can. Yeah, >> good. How are you tonight? >> Well, I I'm kind of nervous cuz, you know, this is my big night. >> That's for sure. And folks, as most you know, if Mr. Rummy Softcakes can successfully handle this final plateau here tonight on the big payoff. He will win $250,000. If he fails, then he loses everything he's won up until this point. Okay, Mr. Softcakes, I'm going to turn off your speakers for a moment while I'll explain some things to our audience. Uh, can you hear me now? Good. All right, friends. As you know, our contestant, Mr. Softcakes, has chosen the subject of body health and nutrition. Now, he has successfully answered some of the most difficult questions on that subject up to this point. He doesn't know it, but he is now at this very moment answering the question that will either win him the big money or nothing at all. Because last week, we gave Mr. Softcakes 25 books and told him that tonight's question would come from somewhere on those pages. One of the pieces of information on one of those pages mentioned the fact that vitamin E helped the blood and the lungs use oxygen more efficiently. As an example, a deficiency of vitamin E creates need for more air over a specific period of time than an adequate amount of vitamin E. Well, we told Mr. Softcakes to be prepared for anything, and so we would have expected him to supply his body with sufficient vitamin E. Now, if he has, then he will win the $250,000. However, if he has a vitamin E deficiency, then well, we'll wait and see. Because you see, when we turned off his speakers, we cut off his air. Now, there is enough air in there for a man with sufficient vitamin E only. If Mr. Softcakes has a deficiency, we should begin to see the effects right now. >> Well, full time's up now. >> He's gone. >> You mean that's it for Mr. Stockakes? afraid so. >> Sorry, Rummy Soft Cakes, you lose. But folks, it's been a swell few weeks, hasn't it? I was really hoping old Rmy there would win. But you win a few and you lose a few. Well, it's a little late, so we got to go. But remember, don't trust anybody. Night all. [music] Oh, Lawrence, eat your dinner. You filled up on snacks again. You can't live on snacks. >> Just try it, Lawrence. >> It has lots of vitamins in it, Lawrence. Don't you want to grow up to be healthy and strong? Come, dear. For your mother's sake, eat just the most good food. [music] >> [music] [music] >> All right. Hilarity ensues. Um, so Canadian made by uh TV Ontario in the early '7s. Um, definitely some laughing related stuff in there, but also probably other sketch comedies besides I maybe I was too specific with uh Saturday Night Live, but you know, there's also the Carol Bernett Show and other other skit comedy things going on, so that's probably what that was. Okay. Um, time to learn some basic computer terms. Um, I've shown this in the past, but so good. So, so good. This guy's a wonderful character. They're really good character actors in here. So enjoy. [music] [music] This is about basic computer terms [music] which we need to know maybe because a lot of us are having to work with computers nowadays and we never expected to, right? [music] [music] >> [music] >> Harry here. Now, Harry happens to be a business person who's thinking of using a computer because he's about 90 years behind on filling his back orders. [music] Enter Jane, the computer expert, who says, "I hear you need some help with [music] computers." "Computers?" asks Harry. Oh yeah, computers. [music] Say, uh, listen, I know my business here, even if I'm a little behind on the back waters. But nothing [music] is what I know about computers. In fact, Harry doesn't even like computers. Maybe because he's seen all those old movies, you know, where the computer takes over the world. Not to worry, says Jane. [music] A computer, all a computer is, Harry, is a machine. a machine for handling information. [music] Jane says, "Harry, you're being very nice and I appreciate it, [music] but I've seen about these computer things. They are very big, very, very gigantic type things. I mean, you and me, they could eat for breakfast." [music] Harry says, "Jane, [music] computers don't eat people." It's true. Computers were very [music] big in the old days, but that was before transistors, integrated circuits, things like [music] that. Now, computers [music] come in all sizes, from large computer systems down to mini computers. In fact, [music] you can already get a kit and build a simple computer yourself. Well, says Harry, I [music] can tell you even that mini computer there has me scared. What's to be scared of? Says Jane. Look, let us go through this computer thing term by term and [music] we will find out it's not as bad as you think. But why are we doing all this, Jane? What can this machine do that we can't? Harry, you're catching on. That's it. This machine cannot do anything that people cannot do. Or to put it another way, [music] people can do anything a computer can. Only the truth is [music] the computer can do it about a zillion times faster. A zillion times faster, says Harry. [music] With a zillion times faster, I could maybe even catch up on my back orders. So, [music] okay. How do we make this uh thing do whatever it does? First, says Jane, you have to know the difference between hardware and [music] software. You use the software to tell the [music] hardware what to do. Hardware thinks [music] Harry. Hardware must be the computer itself and any of its parts. Right. Right. Says Jane. [music] And software is the instructions you give to the computer. Now a computer program is a specific set of instructions for the [music] computer. And a computer program is written in computer language, which just means to turn your instructions into a form that the computer can understand. And the person who writes that program, which could even be you, Harry, is called a computer programmer. Now [music] you put the program into the computer and the next thing you put in is the information you [music] want the computer to work with and the term for that information is data. [music] Now the next thing to know Harry is that no matter how big or small a computer is it has four basic kinds of devices in it. input, processing, memory, and output. [music] The first are the input devices, which is where you put the information into the computer. The second are the processing devices, where the computer does most of its work. [music] For example, it can organize information or add, subtract, multiply, and divide numbers or find important facts. The third are the memory devices [music] which store the information and the fourth are the output devices where the result comes [music] out of the computer when you ask for it. Input processing memory output says Harry. How about that first kind [music] of device there? asks Harry. You know where the information goes into the [music] computer. Sure, says Jane. Look, here's one of the most common input devices, the card reader. You use a card punch, this thing here, to [music] put both the program and the data onto computer cards. [music] A key punch operator types holes in computer cards. holes that represent letters or numbers and a group of computer cards taken together is called a deck. [music] Now the deck of cards is loaded into the card reader which shines light through the holes. See, thus putting the information into the computer. Another common input device is the terminal. Usually a terminal uses a typewriter keyboard to put programs and data directly [music] into the computer and at the same time the computer shows what is being typed. [music] Sometimes it shows it on paper and sometimes it shows it on a cathode ray too which we call a CRT for short. Okay. Now if there are no bugs in the computer programs says Harry computers have bugs. I don't mean those kind of bugs, Harry. I mean bugs which are mistakes in the program. Like when you give the computer the wrong instructions, the program has a bug in it. When you correct the mistake, it's called debugging a program. [music] Okay. Once the program is right, it's put into the computer. And next, you put the data [music] into the computer. Uhhuh. Then what happens? Ass Harry. Then says Jane, [music] the computer goes ahead and does what you told it to do, which is called running the [music] program. Okay, [music] says Harry. I write the program in computer language. I put the program and the data [music] into the computer, which then does what I tell it to. [music] All this I got. But what does the computer actually do in there? You know, in its insides, [music] it processes the data, says Jane. Using its processing devices, usually they're called central processing units or CPU for short. The CPU can process the data in whatever way you have programmed. Processes data, wonders [music] Harry, what can this processing thing really do? Well, says [music] Jane, for example, it can add up large numbers or monitor vital functions of patients in a hospital or or rearrange composition of a newspaper page. [music] or keep track of all sorts of information from many different people at once. [music] Savings and [music] loan banks, for example, use computers to calculate all the daily compounded interest [music] for each and every deposited. So any customer can find out [music] how much is in their account at any time. The computer does it automatically without errors and very very fast. [music] [music] But Jane asks Harry, how does a computer remember all this information? A string on the finger, maybe. With the memory, says Jane. Oh yeah, the memory, says Harry. I forgot all computers have a central memory for extra fast storage and retrieval of [music] information. And if a computer needs more storage capacity, it can have other memory devices [music] such as this disc which usually holds hundreds of times more information [music] than the central memory does. A disc works much like a phonograph record except that it uses magnetic coding. [music] A magnetic tape can hold even more information than [music] a disc, and it works very much like a tape recorder. Hey, says Harry. That's the kind I always see in the movies. [music] Right, says Jane. It's a very common memory device because it's so handy. You [music] can take a tape full of information and put it away until you need it, which you can also do with this. [music] This says Harry. This is just a plain tape cassette which says Jane records [music] music on magnetic tape. Well, the same kind of cassette can be used by the computer to store programs and data. >> [music] >> Okay, says Harry. We have this uh memory thing here and it can store the computer program and it can store the data. So then what output is what says Jane? The computer will give you the result of what it has done through the output device. Now the most common output device is the line printer which prints the results on computer paper [music] or the output can be in the form of magnetic tapes, discs [music] or cassettes or a [music] terminal can be used as an output device. Wait a minute says Harry. Wait a minute. Isn't a terminal an input [music] device? Right. Again, Harry, a terminal is usually both an input [music] and an output device, especially when you want to exchange information with the computer, like an airline ticketing [music] agent does, for example. First telling the computer what flight the passenger wants. [music] Then the computer telling the agent what's available. Then the agent [music] telling the computer what flight seat and class to reserve. Then the [music] computer confirming the reservation. And sometimes even printing a boarding pass right then for the agent to give [music] to the passenger. input, processing, memory, and output. Harry is beginning to get the hang of it all. But he's also wondering if all this equipment isn't pretty expensive. I mean, says Harry, a big computer like this must cost what, a million dollars. Well, says Jane, there are ways to keep the cost [music] down. One way is to use a small computer, maybe even a specialized one with a [music] built-in program. Another way is to use a technique called [music] time sharing. In time sharing, many different places and people use the same computer and at the same time. They [music] may work for many remote terminals, terminals that can be far away from the computer [music] central processing unit and memory, but are linked together, often by ordinary telephone lines. Remote terminals [music] can also be put into any office. Or if the user moves around a lot, [music] there are portable terminals which can be used any place where there is a telephone. But after all these basic computer terms, Harry is still worrying. Harry is a worrier. Listen, he says, if these machines do all this thinking, I mean, uh, Harry, says Jane, computers don't think. It's us people who do the thinking. Computers simply process the data that you give them. And they process it in the way you tell them. The way I tell them. If this computer thing has to listen to me to know what to do, we may be in trouble in here. I mean, uh, I'm no Einstein. You know what I mean? To tell the truth, says Jane. Neither am I. But, you know, it isn't all that hard. I mean, almost anybody can learn to use a computer these days. Anybody? Asks Harry. Anybody? says Jane. [music] Well, the end of the story is that Harry thanks Jane for her help and learns to use the computer terminal that is now right in his office, which helps him catch up on all those back orders and generally keep track of things much better than before. In fact, Harry is even thinking of cleaning up his office. Although you got to remember, says Harry, [music] you don't want to do too many new things at the same time, right? Right, Harry. [music] [music] >> [music] >> I don't know [clears throat] if you noticed, but Vincent Collins did the animation for that. And Vincent Collins is who did the bicesentennial 200 crazy psychedelic film that I show periodically. So, look at him making some money. All right. Um, this one is a management film and it's another one that's kind of based on this guy who tours around and gives gives talks, but it does have like a narrative component to it. So, that's why we're going to watch it. Are you earning the right to manage others? Let's find out. Enjoy. Bill Gove is often referred to as America's number one lecturer on people problems. After 25 years of selling and management experience with the McCall Corporation, Beachnut Packing Company, and 3M in St. Paul Bill started a career of speaking and consulting which causes him to travel more than 250,000 miles a year talking to at and with the country's leading salesmen, sales managers, and line supervisors. In a moment, we're going backstage to meet Bill in person. But first, let's watch him in action before 500 executives winding up his famous talk. I like me when I help you like you. you. Moses was at the edge of the Red Sea and he was hung up. The water was turbulent. No boats, no bridges. The Egyptians are eight leagues behind nipping at him. So Moses got the flock together. He said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I got an idea." [laughter] He said, "What I'll do, see, is go to the Red Sea there and make a pathway in the middle. We'll go across in safety. Then those Egyptians will get in the middle Drownsville. [laughter] A little short guy, public relations man with horn rimmed glasses and a cigar walked up to him and said, "Mo baby." [laughter] He said, "Pull this off. I think I can get you two pages in the Old Testament. Stop now. STOP NOW. STOP NOW. [applause] SO, like we said, I guess the pro is the kind of a guy who who takes the good with the bad, who maybe bends a little bit, who uh rolls with the punches. I had a neighbor once who he hates his boss. He said, "My boss is the kind of a guy who would vote a town dry and then move." [laughter] And I said, "You're making a liar out of me because I I I tell people the prime requisite for happiness in the job is you like what you do. You work under favorable conditions with people you like. You tell me you hate this guy, but you're doing a great job." We said, "That that isn't what I mean, Bill." He said, "You see, I don't intend to spend the rest of my life working for this guy, but while I'm working for him, I can't afford to do a lousy job because, you see, when I find someone I really want to work with, and for I want to be able to go up to him and say, "Look, this is what I did. This is my sales record. This is what I did for a guy I didn't even like. Think what I could do for you, Dad, if I started to love you just a [laughter] little bit. Ed Gillespie up in Booth Bay sells lobster equipment up there. Wonderful little guy. And someone said to him, "Ed, how's business?" He said, "Well," he said, "Monday I sold some stuff to a guy in Pemrquid. Tuesday I didn't sell nothing. And Wednesday, the guy in Pemquid sent all the stuff back. So I guess you'd have to say that Tuesday was my best day. [laughter] Friend of mine has a sign uh taped to his bathroom mirror. He has to see it in the morning. And this sign simply says, "There'll never be another day just like today. What are you going to do with it?" Well, now this is all right. Not quite specific enough for me. Not quite meaningful enough. I'd like to see a sign over the mirror and I'm going to try it that simply says u how many people after today will look just a little better in their own eyes because they've met and dealt with you. You know, at the end of a meeting, a speaker is supposed to come on with a lot of inspirational jazz so that you walk out sideways so you won't fly. supposed to supposed to give you a little a tearjerking poem or or quote from the scriptures. I don't go for this. We've had some fun. If you got half of one idea in the time we've had together, I'll just be thrilled. How many people will look a little better in their own eyes after today because they've met and dealt with me? You get this under your attitude, under your skin. and you don't have to have very much else going for you. They'll stand in line to do business with you. You've been a delightful audience. Thanks so much for listening to me. [applause] >> Nice going out there, Bill. >> Oh, thanks a lot, Paul. >> There's coffee over there. Oh, and I could use some. Oh, man. I'll guarantee I'm beat. Great audience, though. >> Bill. >> Sandy, for heaven's sakes. How are you? >> Oh, I'm fine. It's so good to see you. It's been just ages. >> Good to see you, too. I didn't notice you were out there. >> Well, we were way in the back. Fellas, I want you to meet a real pro, Bill. Go. >> Bill, this is Dr. Ralph Filbrick and he's with the university psychology department. >> Good to see you, Dar. >> And this is Dave Jordan. >> Hi, Bill. You were just great. Nice of you to say so, Dave. >> Dave's a plant supervisor at Collins Wayright. >> Say, let's sit down a minute. I want to just talk with him. >> Oh, it feels so good to see you, but I want to know why you didn't get in touch the minute you hit town. >> Sandy, I missed connections in Denver. I didn't get until 5:00 a.m. and then I had to shave and shower and get ready for the meeting. >> I don't believe you. Do you mean to say you didn't get to bed last night? Not only that, Sandy, but right now I couldn't pull the stem out of a conquered grape. I've never been so tight. >> Bill, I don't believe it. The way you acted in front of that audience. Why? You bounced around. Anyone would think you'd had 10 hours sleep. >> Well, I guess you know as well as anyone, Sandy. The audience doesn't seem to care whether you're rested or tired. They just want you to be at your best. >> Very interesting performance. >> Oh, thanks a lot, Doc. Golly, it's good to see you, Sandy. I >> Well, we wouldn't miss seeing an old pro like you. You know, I'm flattered, Sandy, because probably the greatest thing you could call anybody in this business is a pro. It certainly is something to shoot for. I can tell you that. >> Well, I meant it. >> I noticed that people in your line of business tend to refer to your more successful contemporaries as u pros. Now, doesn't pro or professional have different meanings? Do you mean something like a doctor or lawyer? >> Not exactly, Doc. No, not exactly. >> Well, the athlete. The word professional means what? Getting paid. Now, wait a minute. That's not what I meant when I called Bill a pro. >> You know, this is a tough word to define, isn't it? The word pro. I'm not so sure I know what it means, but I think I know what it doesn't mean. I don't think the word pro is short for professional. >> Is there a difference? A real one? >> I think so. You can be a professional, still not be a pro. Yet, you could be an amateur and still be a pro. >> Oh, come on now. Aren't you splitting semantic hairs? I mean, I still see no real distinction for your word pro. >> Let me see, doc. You're you're watching television, football game, Sunday afternoon, and some guy goes over the goal line, makes a touchdown, got about three guys on his back, and everybody in the room looks at everybody else and says, "And there is a real pro." Or a little later on, you're watching the finish of the golf matches and some guy comes along from four shots back and wins it all. What do you call him? He's a pro. Of course he is. >> Yeah, but you lost me one place, Bill. Okay, so a pro is not only an athlete. He's Well, well, Sandy here called you a pro. You're what? A pro speaker, a pro salesman. You are a salesman, right? Okay. So, where do we draw the line? Everybody can't be a pro. Take me for example. I'm a plant supervisor. When would I ever have a chance to be a pro? All the time, Dave. A supervisor certainly is a pro if he's a good supervisor. I was a sales manager for about 20 years, and I'd like to think that that handling men is a mighty important job. A a job maybe that separates the the pros from the nonpros. >> Excuse me, Mr. Gove. I'd like to pursue this a little further if nobody else minds. I don't mean to put you on the spot, but you must admit your definition so far is pretty oversimplified. >> Maybe. Yeah, maybe it is. Yeah. Oh, come on, Ralph. We're relaxing. Bill looks like he needs it. I could go for some coffee. How about some? >> Oh, I'd love some. >> I'll give you >> take mine with cream and sugar, Bill. >> Oh, boy. Hey, this has been a day, hasn't it? Listen, how's your coffee? [laughter] >> That's funny. But I want to get back to what we were discussing before, Bill, your definition of a real pro. Bill, if you had to make a list, a list of the basic qualities that all pros seem to have in common, what would be on it? Gee, I've always thought that lists were kind of corny, Sandy. You know, like plan your work and work your friends and how to be a success in 10 easy lessons or five hard ones. I'm not so sure I could make a list. >> I once heard a definition at a life insurance convention. It went something like this. A pro is one who under no circumstances lets his performance fall below a self-imposed level of performance. >> Now, how is that again? A pro is >> a pro sets his own standards and never lets his performance fall below the level of the standards that he himself has set. >> H seems to me that definition pays tribute only to performance. What about effort? desire, for example. Does a pro always have to be best? Couldn't someone finish second sometime and still be a pro? Could be. Now, I I think the key to Sandy's definition is under no circumstances does the pro let anything keep him from performing at his best. Right. >> Under no circumstances, that could be the key. under no circumstances. Um, try this. [snorts] A pro is at his best regardless. Like you when you were out there giving your speech, you were at your best regardless >> regardless of the fact that you hadn't been to bed for 24 hours. >> Exactly. I'll go along with that. Now, what would you say are some of the things that can get in a pros way, keep him from being at his best if he lets them? >> Well, Doc, like a friend of mine hates his boss. He said, "My boss is the kind of a guy he had all his salesmen over to his house for a beer party and he locked the bathroom door. Told me he was the meanest man in town. It's not funny because this guy is climbing the wall. His sales have dropped off and he's he's even thinking about getting out of the business >> on account of his boss." >> Well, not on account of his boss, Sandy, but on account of letting his boss control his behavior. So, a pro would be disturbed maybe, but he wouldn't let his boss keep him from doing his job. >> Exactly. A pro-supervisor wouldn't let anybody or anything keep him from from supervising cuz he's at his best regardless. >> You know, in so many ways, we do let other people control our behavior, don't we? >> Yeah, we sure do. Like a friend of mine, his mother-in-law came to live with him. when she moved in, he said, "Honey, my home is your home." And so, she sold it. [laughter] >> No, no, seriously. Lots of times when I'm trying to sell someone an investment program, well, I don't know. I I don't want to be too aggressive because I'm afraid he might get upset. So, I know what you mean, Sandy. It can happen to supervisors, too. I know guys who know their jobs backwards and forward, those of everyone else in the plant. But when it comes to telling someone do this, get on the ball, they just can't do it. >> It isn't a matter of courage to maybe one aspect of courage. It's more frustration. Frustration through what we call cognitive dissonance. >> Through what? >> Cognitive dissonance. >> Uh, it so happens, professor, I know what cognitive dissonance means. But maybe, uh, Sandy and Dave, if you had ever been sick in bed with it, would you mind spelling this out for the uninitiated? Come on, pull the needle out. I'll bet they both know. Anyway, in words of one syllable, cognitive dissonance is a state of emotional tension created by a conflict between a person's basic principles, his ethics, and actions he feels obliged to take. >> One syllable. >> One syllable. Yeah. >> Okay. You mean a supervisor might want to tell his people what to do or might even have to lower the boom because it's important to him, but something else is actually more important to him. as though if he really gets tough, they might resent him. >> Certainly, a man like this has a strong desire to be liked. If he shows too much aggression, if he pushes too hard, the other person won't like him. It sounds oversimplified, but it really is that simple an action. Most of us are brought up conditioned to want people to like us, to need the approval of others, to crave it as we crave the approval of our parents and teachers when we were children. This need can be so strong that it overbalances the real need to do our job, to be at your best, if you like. So, a pros supervisor has got to be at his best regardless of a boss who acts like a dictator >> or a wife who's always nagging >> or cognitive dissonance, a conflict of values. He just doesn't let anything throw him emotionally or physically, right? Anything. A pro likes to be liked. Sure, who doesn't? But he doesn't he doesn't crave it that much. He doesn't need it. He knows that anytime he's at that plant, nothing but nothing is more important than running a tight department. >> St. Bill, when you were a sales manager, did you ever have to fire anyone? >> Oh, yeah. But, you know, that's the easy way out. I think the toughest job in the world is look a guy in the eye and tell him he's dogging it, that he's goofing or that he's got a drinking problem. That can be real tough. >> I know what you mean. >> Yeah. I had something like that happen when I was a sales manager. One of our boys just wasn't cutting the mustard and he'd only been with us a few months, but uh he got started good, but then uh he just wasn't following through. He was no beginner either, no likable guy, and I just didn't want to see him strike out. So, I decided to bring him in to find out what was bugging him. And oh boy, this guy had a real case buildup. I mean, a whole set of reasons. Reasons why not reasons why not calling this guy. His wife was having an operation. uh or this guy who is taking a getting ready to take a trip to Florida or a buyer's boss who was giving him a fit and and uh don't call on him now. He said, "I made a great case for not acting now." Well, I decided we ought to make a few calls together to find out what the real problem was. And and maybe I pushed a little too hard. Look, Jim, this buyer at Allied, um, George Manning, no reason you couldn't see him tomorrow. Now, why don't we both go and I'll just call him and see. >> Now, wait a minute, Bill. Don't push me. I don't need anyone to hold my hand. As long as I'm working for you, I'll decide when this thing is right. And when I do, I'll go on my own. >> My first reaction was to back down. You know, after all, he was a friend of mine, and I just didn't want to get him sore at me. Then I thought, why am I here? I'm a supervisor right now. If he keeps this up, he's going to get fired anyway. And which is worse for both of us? And if I'm a pro, I'm supposed to be a supervisor regardless. Regardless of whether he gets sore or not, so I hung in there. >> As long as I'm working for you, I'll decide when to go. And when I do, I'll go on my own. >> Look, Jim, maybe I was pushing a little. And if it seemed that way, I'm I'm sorry. But I think something's bothering you. And that's why I'm worried. I won't come along just to hold your hand. Your wife can do that. I want to know why you're not at your best lately. And if I think if I go along, I I might find out why. I'm going along to supervise your work because because that's my job. >> I know. I know that. But I like to make up my own mind. >> So do I. But it's funny, isn't it? We let a lot of people persuade us, tell us what to do and we we take it in stride. We don't resent it when a doctor or lawyer or clergyman even tell us to make some changes in our lives take some definite steps. But let a supervisor whose only job is to supervise people. And everyone must know this. Let a supervisor really supervise and you'd think he was asking us to cosign a loan. Now wait a minute, Bill. You decided to help me before I even asked for help. >> Jim, which would you rather have me tell you? >> That I think you need help or that you ought to start looking for another job now? Which would you rather have me tell you? >> Great. >> Wow. Did you work it out? >> To make a long story short, I think yes, we did. Yeah. >> Be honest now, Bill. this business of let me help you or I'll have to fire you. Not quite straightforward, was it? >> Sure it was, Doc. Why? If he'd have kept on the way he was going, he would have got fired. You talk about straightforward. How about the supervisor who who never says anything about your work until he's ready to tie the can to you? Or worse, the supervisor who always has to be one of the boys. You know, good old Joe. until it comes time to straighten someone out, he just can't handle it. Or the one who has to be tough just because the supervisor before him was tough. How straightforward is that? I made no bones about it. I let my people know right off the bat that I was the manager. It's got to be that way. >> Yes, but look at it from Jim's point of view. He's got some rights after all. The way you moved right in on him, I wouldn't blame him for resenting it. >> Well, maybe. But wait a minute. Maybe we're letting our psychologist friend here get the idea that a pro-s supervisor just calls a guy in and says, "Do this. Do that." That's an order. Dismissed. >> Well, I was beginning to wonder. You see, if that's all there was to it, there wouldn't be very much to being a pro. >> You're right. I can see why you'd think that. But what we haven't touched on is what goes on before. >> Sure. If I were Jim and my supervisor pulled what I thought was strong armed stuff on me, I'd really read him off. >> But wait a minute. You said that a supervisor's primary job was to manage people. Remember? That was the primary consideration. >> And it still is, Doc. Only there's there's just lots more to it. I mean, lots more. >> Like what? >> Well, like the relationship the pro supervisor builds with his people. And this is a relationship that's largely built on attitude. And it's an attitude that you could call supportive. Yes, supportive. He shows consideration for his people. He has confidence in them. And this develops him into a smooth working team. You know, my first supervisor once said to me, "You can't expect people to work for you unless you're willing to work for them." >> Right? You know, the day of the hard-nosed supervisor, don't ask questions. Do it now. This kind of thing went out with high button shoes. All right. But what does he do? >> Well, now he's still head of his group. He still has full responsibility, but he gets his people involved. They they participate. They're not just cogs in the wheel. He makes them aware that they're real important individuals. Remember what we said in the speech? The pro makes other people look better in their own eyes. And if a pro is always at his best regardless, then he tends to do these things, doesn't he? >> You see, Doc, the supervisor employee relationship is almost has to be like a swap. You people do your part and I'll do my part and together we'll do a great job. See? >> Well, I'm not so sure. >> Well, let me see if I can give you an illustration. This same place I used to work as a sales manager had a had a plant supervisor. We we'll call him Charlie. They told me he was the top man. No, but after I saw him, I figured, boy, if this guy's top man, I don't want to meet anybody halfway down the bottom. He looked like he'd he looked like he'd need instructions to get out of a phone booth. A guy that always looks rumpled somehow, like he sleeps nights under the loading dock. Charlie was a pro-supervisor. Why, this guy didn't look like he could lead a group in silent prayer. I just couldn't believe it. So, I decided to watch this fireball in action. Well, as you know, appearances can fool you. As I watched this guy, I began to see some of the things he was doing. The things a pro supervisor does to get the loyalty and cooperation of his people and to help them work smoothly with each other. For one thing, Charlie's a darn good listener. He gives every one of his people plenty of opportunity to express his own ideas. And he knows that communications go two ways, down as well as up. When the upper level gives him the scoop, he passes it right on. Charlie and his boys aren't a bunch of strangers stuck in the same room eight hours a day either. They're in it together. And Charlie's one of the boys. Not the kind that loses his backbone trying to be one of the boys. Charlie's still the boss. And when something comes up, he doesn't have to take the whole load on himself. Not Charlie. He knows he can count on help. When it comes to handling a problem, he makes it a a group effort, not to avoid any responsibility. That's his and he knows it. He knows too that if people have a say in what they do and how they do it, they try harder to make it work. So he doesn't ram any of his ideas down their throats, even when he has them, good ones. Anybody's suggestion is treated as a group suggestion, not Ed's or Joe's or Bill's idea. That way, they're all part of the effort. when he has something to propose, he slides it in as a as a question or a speculation. And if the going is a little rough afterwards, if it doesn't quite pan out as they figured, he takes it with patience and understanding. He never jumps on them. If he should get any static from upstairs because it didn't work out, he takes the wrap. I've seen him do this even when I knew it wasn't his fault. But the big thing about Charlie is he's always encouraging his men to get ahead, even if it means losing them to another department. He's always on the lookout for transfer and promotion opportunities and recommending men for advancement to these jobs. That's what I call supportive. And what's the proof of the pudding? Well, he actually expects more out of his people. He lets them know that and he gets it. One thing about Charlie's crew consistently, it's a high performance outfit. So that was old Charlie. No blood, no sweat, no tears with him. Just a welloiled, smooth working operation with all the little rough spots handled with care. And as I said, you'd never tell it by looking at him. >> Wonderful. >> Yeah. Pros pro, huh, Doc? >> Absolutely. Your friend Charlie has a sound working knowledge of behavioral psychology. It seems h he's aware that people tend to behave the way we expect them to behave and he expects the best performance from his people. People tend to behave the way we expect them to behave. Boy, a supervisor gets that under his skin. He doesn't have to have very much else going for him, do he? Like I'm a supervisor and you're the man and and I'm trying to get through to you. Now, if I can do anything to make you look better in your eyes, well, that's what we've been talking about here. That's that's the name of the game. So, someone someone who actually helps you look better or be better gets 10 times more cooperation than some hard nose. Like you said in your talk, >> like I said in my talk, I'm going to put it down here on the board. How many people will look better in their own eyes because they've met and dealt with you today? Yes. I guess if the proupervisor does these things, maybe he does earn the respect of his people and the right to be firm. >> He earns the right. Oh, I like that. He earns the right to be firm. >> So do I, Sandy. And now that he's on our side, think maybe he deserves some sort of an award. Here it is. The supervisor of the year award to Dr. Ralph Filbert. Hey, say I'm going to add that to my earns the right to be firm. I'm going to add that to my little pass out card, my little reminder card, and I'm going to put it on the board before I forget it. >> Oh, yes, sure. Little giveaway cards. What is one supposed to do with these? Paste them to one's bathroom mirror for a first thing in the morning reminder? That I'm afraid I find just a little corny. >> Well, I'm not going to try to sell you anything more, Doc. You've been a great sport and thanks a lot Sandy for bringing them along. Oh, say I know a great place we'd get a steak so big you could milk it. See, I don't have to talk you into this, do I? And I'll call mama and we'll have some conversation, have some fun with it. >> [music] >> Hey, hey, [music] hey. All right. So, that's not the best BNA film that I have. Um, but it is indicative of BNA and it gets there's some of those that get really boring where it's just a guy going. Um, this one had a little bit of something to it. But yeah, [snorts] so often asked like if I had to get rid of films, I think these management films would go first. Like I'm they're so boring. [laughter] and this one. Um, yeah, I don't know if I would put put together a show around this. So, um, anyways, thanks for watching today. Very much appreciate your eyeballs. You can, uh, donate even if today wasn't a great show. You can donate via the superth thanks button. You can subscribe. You can hit the thumbs up. You can uh donate via the patreon.com/avgeeks, Venmo at skip-alheimer, or buy us coffee at ko-fi.com/avge geeks. All great ways to support us, but even just showing up, it's very much appreciated. All right, uh we'll be back again tomorrow, everybody. Have a great rest of your day. We will see you soon. by