CORE Values- A Four Way Test
I was discouraged in the last few weeks by readers who have opted out of my writings and rejected my work as a journalist, an artist and a musician, mentor and entrepreneur. Many are people I have known, worked with or served alongside in Rotary Club. What is it that is offensive about my message? And what is it that made me want to stop writing? Did I pose a threat to these folks? Was I aggressive? Do I have some sort of ulterior motive to writing CREATE Daily? And then I took out that little blue card with the Rotary Wheel, that has "The Four-Way Test" of the things we think, say and do.
I have been a journalist since 1978. I studied journalism and earned a degree in Broadcast Journalism, and as a community leader I also practice creative and critical thinking at the same time. The first time I read and recited The Four-Way Test was at a Rotary meeting in Salida on a Wednesday morning. That particular club, in which I served as Secretary for a year, is one of the most active clubs in Colorado. I was a Marketing and Communications Representative for a local franchise. I joined Rotary because it aligned with my CORE Values as a Community Organization for Responsible Entrepreneurship. After I was laid off from the position, I decided that I would never be an employee for anyone again and would work at what I am called to do. I am a writer, a speaker, a singer, a songwriter, a producer, a guitarist and a community leader where I serve. And that is why I was a Rotarian. As such, in my communications practice I ask:
1. Is it the truth? The pursuit of truth is what a journalist does. Integrating truth into creative work, production and distribution is how I operate when mentoring, creating, producing and distributing.
2. Is it fair to all concerned? Good intentions and motives are usually fair. I have learned that I have blind spots and failures, and as a member of the human race, I have learned to be correctable and teachable. If we all had that attitude, people would not be so quick to cancel one another out!
3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Every business or organization I have been part of has tried to build goodwill, and I have found life-long friends in the communities I serve — through this column and the other media publishing companies I have started. I have put together a peer group with the Spirit of Accountability that reviews my work; communications that fall short of building community do not make it out of the gate. As a curator of media, arts and music, The Four-Way Test and being accountable go hand in hand.
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned? In CREATE Daily SUCCESS, we have developed workable daily systems for any creative practice. I have documented the work of artists, songwriters, authors and journalists, and I have been a communicator for 56 years, starting as a child actor in 1970. My purpose is to Create Daily through communications, recreation, education, arts, travel and entrepreneurship. Instead of being laid off, I choose to be a responsible entrepreneur, in an economy that is beneficial to all, responsible for the ecology in the areas I serve, education in the areas I serve, and transportation and travel in the communities I serve.
The object of Rotary — and any network — is to encourage and foster the idea of service as a basis of worthy enterprise, and in particular, to encourage and foster:
1. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service.
2. High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society.
3. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business and community life.
4. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
These are my core values at home, through my work and in the communities I serve. And they coincide with who I am, what I do, where I serve, and when — in sharing my schedule, skills and stewardship. I have taken on the role of CEO for the Leadon Family Foundation, an organization that fosters entrepreneurship for the next generation. It is my task to establish statewide charters in all 50 states by presenting to organizations that share our core values, like Rotary. As a writer, producer, singer and songwriter, we present workshops, presentations and concerts, and we are working on accreditation in higher education. At 68 years old, I continue my creative practice as an award-winning writer, producer, singer and songwriter in journalism, broadcasting, advertising and music. At My Local Press, Break-Thru Internet Radio Network and Sound Century Academy of Recording Arts and Broadcasting, I have the opportunity to publish, edit, train and launch new media networks that adhere to these core values. We need support, not rejection, because what we are doing benefits everyone.
To subscribe to Create Daily, CORE and Break-Thru Media, click on the links or comment on this column. To find out more about our programming and award-winning advertising, and to schedule Richard Beattie to speak at your club, community center or college, email soundcenturyoriginals@gmail.com.