Lisa Gleason

Happy wife, Happy life!

[Matt Schick @ESPN_Schick]

This is the greatest country on Earth.

Sometimes it takes fresh eyes to remind us.

Happy 4th of July.

God bless America. 🇺🇸

[The Real Mike Rowe @mikeroweworks]

If you haven’t heard, and even if you have, Jimmy Kimmel said this about Markwayne Mullin, former Senator from Oklahoma, and our newest Secretary of Homeland Security:
“We have a plumber now protecting us from terrorism.”

Apparently, there has been some backlash. Plumbers were offended, obviously, as were parents of plumbers, spouses of plumbers, children of plumbers, and millions of people who have had a plumber show up when they needed one. Comedians were also offended, (the funny ones, anyway,) along with a surprising number of terrorists - especially those with access to hot and cold running water. However, in spite of the ensuing kerfuffle, @jimmykimmel doubled down.

“I’m not upset that the head of Homeland Security was a plumber,” he said, “I’m upset that he isn’t still a plumber." He further elucidated by adding, "I wouldn't put a plumber in charge of Homeland Security for the same reason I wouldn't call a five-star general to pull a rat out of my toilet, OK? We all have our areas of expertise.”

Being offended is always a choice, and I don’t choose to be offended by a joke, even one that comes at the expense of the skilled tradespeople my foundation tries to elevate. But I am a tad butt hurt by the suggestion that skilled workers should never evolve into something new, and that competence is somehow limited to one vocation. Obviously, expertise and skill are important. If I need a new kidney, I’d prefer a doctor do the surgery, not a late-night talk show host. But if the doctor in question used to host a talk show, why would I hold that against him?

Ten years ago, during one of the presidential debates, @MarcoRubio answered a workforce-related question by arguing that America needed to get shop class back into high schools. He concluded by saying, “What our country needs are more welders and fewer philosophers.” A lot of people on this page commented that Rubio and I were singing from the same hymnal, but in fact, we weren’t. At least not entirely. Because I don’t think the current shortage of welders has anything to do with an overabundance of philosophers. In fact, I think it’s a mistake to promote one vocation at the expense of the other. What we really need in this country, are more welders who can talk intelligently about Aristotle, and more philosophers who can run an even bead. More Generals, in other words, who can fix their own toilets, and more plumbers who can hold a powerful government job.

This is what Mullin did. He was a private citizen who mastered an essential skill and then turned that skill into a multi-million-dollar company that employed a lot of people and served a lot of customers. That gave him the freedom to do other things with his life, including a career in public service which got him into Congress, where he’s spent the last eleven years doing whatever Congressmen do. Now, he has a very consequential position in the Cabinet of the current administration.

Is that not the embodiment of the American Dream? I get that Jimmy Kimmel might have a problem with Mullin’s politics, but what possible objection could he have about the trajectory of his career, or his desire to do more than one thing with his life?

The only sensible thing to do in the wake of a moment this tone deaf, is remind America that the skills gap is wide, and getting wider. The shortage of skilled tradespeople is now headline news and closing it is nothing less than a matter of national security. This year, my foundation has set aside $10 million dollars to help train the next generation of plumbers, and lots of other essential workers. I'm talking about hundreds of thousands of AI-proof, six figure jobs that don't require a four-year degree, waiting to be filled. The money is currently available to anyone who wants to master a useful skill at https://t.co/uolhGspFtN. Apply today.

As for those of you genuinely offended by Kimmel's comments, consider expressing your disappointment with a modest donation to mikeroweWORKS. Our work ethic scholarship is making a real difference, and your money will be well spent, I promise. The donate button is big and red and hard to miss, at https://t.co/uolhGspFtN

I’d love to chat but I’ve gotta pull a rat out of my toilet…

[Matt Schick @ESPN_Schick]

Harper Murray currently…

[Kellee Vornhagen @MrsVornhagen]

To anyone who has ever loved a dog. There is No love like the unconditional love of a dog! Our entire family will totally get this. ❤️🐾 what a blessing Ben was.

[The Real Mike Rowe @mikeroweworks]

Hi Mike

My name is Jeremiah Wilson, and I wanted to share with you the impact your values are having on me and my family. As with most parents, I have concerns about what my two boys are being taught in school and through social interactions with other kids. I read the stories and see the videos of how kids are being groomed into thinking that they are owed everything and responsible for nothing.

I have always loved your Sweat Pledge, and recently, I went online and showed it to my oldest son, Liam. We discussed each of the 12 tenets, and talked about what they mean and why they are important. Liam agreed that before he graduates High School, he will have all 12 committed to memory.

We started that night, and within a few days of me asking him “what the first rule of the Sweat Pledge is,” he had it memorized and was able to explain what it means to him. Seeing him take it seriously, I went to mikeroweWORKS and bought two copies of the Pledge; one for him and one for his younger brother. He was thrilled to have it and we decided to demonstrate its message by putting hard work into play. Instead of buying a frame, we chose to build one ourselves. I am an amateur woodworker, so this was a great opportunity to have my son work with me in my shop while learning how to build something himself.

We used a small piece of Black Walnut. I insisted that he perform each step of the process to make the frame. In the end, he planed it smooth, ripped it into four pieces, cut it to size with the proper 45-degree angles, and assembled it himself. Glass can be expensive, so we purchased a cheap discarded picture from a second-hand store. We removed the glass and cut it to size. It was a great way to show my son how to repurpose unused items and manage costs. He was very pleased with his accomplishment. Your Pledge and his picture frame now hang proudly on his bedroom wall where he can see it daily and be inspired by it.

My sons are like all kids these days who want to always play with their electronics and skip doing their chores. But I feel they will have a greater appreciation for hard work because it is being instilled into them at a young age and your Sweat pledge is a great tool to help me with it. Who knows, perhaps one day they will be applying for a Work Ethic Scholarship because they have been inspired to be a tradesman thanks to all the great opportunities they trades provide. Thanks.

A Proud Dad

Hi Jeremiah
I can’t tell you how encouraging it is to read letters like yours.

Please tell your son that the Pledge hanging on his wall is now the foundation of a work ethic curriculum in more than thirty schools across the country. My hope is to see it in thirty thousand, but honestly, I’d consider it an even greater victory if more parents used it precisely as you have – as a conversation starter at home. As a way to discuss the importance of work ethic, personal responsibility, delayed gratification, a positive attitude, and a host of other virtues that have sadly fallen out of favor.

If he’s up for it, ask Liam to make another frame. Same size as the one he just completed. If he does, I promise to fill it with something worth framing. Something else to hang on his wall alongside the SWEAT Pledge, and talk about with his own kids, a few years down the road.
Thanks again for writing, and give Liam my regards.

Mike
PS. As for the rest of you, we sell SWEAT Pledges for $12 a piece. All the money goes to our work ethic scholarship program. Get one here, and start a conversation with your kids worth having. https://t.co/Aqxt4NbvL8

[UNK Athletics @UNK_Athletics]

Congratulations to @wesferguson01 from @UNK_Track for being named the Central Region Men's Track Athlete of the Year!

@USTFCCCA #GoLopers #LopesUp #PowerOfTheHerd

[UNK Track & Field @UNK_Track_Field]

🚨ALL-AMERICANS🚨
9 for 9 - Every Loper who competed this weekend finished as an All-American! PTBAL

[2aDays @2aDays_Ratings]

.@dgleaszn, Asst Head Strength & Training Coach for @UNK_Athletics, received his first #athlete review. The athlete writes he's "An amazing coach and human being!". Read the full review & #rateyourcoach: https://t.co/Xne5Jc40BG

#trainer #strengthcoach #collegesports

[Joe Pompliano @JoePompliano]

Nebraska Volleyball selling 90,000 tickets to pack the football stadium is so incredibly awesome 🤯

[Pat McAfee @PatMcAfeeShow]

🗣 A WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL TEAM SOLD OUT A FOOTBALL STADIUM

Holy shit

[Chris Gingrich @cjgingrich]

This is so sick

[Earvin Magic Johnson @MagicJohnson]

There are so many people dressed in all red on the Big Ten Network. I’m blown away! Shoutout to all the Husker fans that showed their support for women’s athletics and the Nebraska Volleyball team. @HuskerVB

[Joe Eisenmann PhD @Joe_Eisenmann]

🏋🏽‍♀️GA Alert: Univ Neb-Kearney
📘Tuition waiver💲
Start Date: Jan 2023

Great young staff @S_Stock16 @dgleaszn + connections with sports science @UNKLoperPerf (see👇)

📥 [email protected]

Integrating Tech/Sports Science into S&C at a small university https://t.co/7zjg264JYN

[Lisa Gleason @gleamom79]

@ESPN_Schick We celebrate the small victories these days at Nebraska.....it's all we got.

[Pat McAfee @PatMcAfeeShow]

Decoldest Crawford is gonna be a GUY

#PMSLive

[Jacob Norlock @JacobNorlock]

Awesome article about GPS in D2 Football!

"The SPT GPS system is a great tool to help coaching staff get a sense for what a weekly practice schedule should consist of and how to taper volume throughout the week," says @dgleaszn. https://t.co/yGh8OZtrNu via @SimpliFaster

[Lisa Gleason @gleamom79]

How to Integrate and Leverage Technology in a D2 S&C Program https://t.co/FIjSlDOM5L