From One Simple Man to Another: My Tribute to Bill O'Reilly

FoxNews' Bill O'Reilly gets a bad rap in many sectors of American society, but the cold, calculating reality is that Mr. O'Reilly is one of the most honest, authentic, and important journalists that has ever reported, or commented on, news in the United States. And amazingly, he has done it in one of the most inauthentic eras in American history.

Like him or hate him, integrity demands that you respect him.  Unfortunately, the dishonesty, disingenuity, and disillusionment of our collective populace in 2016 is sufficiently viral to vibrantly support the slander and vitriol as long as Bill remains in the public eye, but when this media giant finally does retire (hopefully not for a very long time), fair-minded persons everywhere will respectfully pay homage to this journalist among journalists.

Bill O'Reilly's storied rise to fame is quintessentially American.  He was raised in Levittown, a classic post-World War II sprawling suburban working-class neighborhood on Long Island.  His parents were ordinary citizens bereft of fame, fortune, or name recognition, although they did pass along plenty of spirited Irish blood to their son.

Schooled by Catholic Nuns, little Billy was far from being a perfect child or student, but this "Bold, Fresh, Piece of Humanity" was always authentic.  Along the way he learned several life lessons that would be keys to his future success.

1. STAY SOBER. In Bill's book, "A Bold, Fresh, Piece of Humanity," he describes going to a party with a girl as a young man.  After arriving at the party and discovering drugs were being used there, his date replied, "Far out," to which Bill responded, "I'm out," and forthwith left the party.  All Americans would benefit from following Bill's disciplined example regarding the use of drugs and alcohol.

2. GET EDUCATED. While not always a model student, Bill endured the strict tutelage of the Nuns to eventually study abroad, successfully graduate from college, and earn two master's degrees from Boston University (broadcast journalism) and Harvard (MPA).

3. WORK HARD & PLAY BY THE RULES.  As a kid and teenager Bill was an avid athlete who played hard in all the childhood games and sports that he and his fellow Long Island urchins cherished.  Playing hard as a youth evolved into working hard as a man.  As a young kid supporting himself through college, Bill became an entrepreneur painting houses on Long Island where he worked long hours and raked in handsome amounts of cash for his lowly station in life at the time. As a journalist, he took nothing for granted.  Through grit, hard work, persistence, and a determination to pursue opportunities he was passionate about, he eventually worked his way to the highest levels of his profession -- a level he has maintained for an unprecedented 15 years and running.

The formula for success in America, while rarely easy, has never been particularly complicated.  If you stay sober, get educated, and then work hard and play by the rules, you are, with very few exceptions, guaranteed to eventually find success in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

While it is true that the American success formula has been more complicated for some individuals and groups of people throughout our spotted history than others, the United States remains the greatest provider of collective opportunity in the world -- especially if you are willing to focus on individual effort and personal potential rather than collective grievances.  And no one is more courageous in calling out those who promote the latter over the former than Mr. O'Reilly.

There are many reasons I admire and respect Bill O'Reilly.  I suppose my admiration stems in part from the fact that I see some of myself in Bill.  After all, I am a middle-class kid from rural Utah who loves history, is passionate about education, and had to work my butt off to earn everything I've achieved both personally and professionally.

But there are other, more important, reasons I venerate this titan of television news commentary. First, I admire Bill's authenticity; second, I respect his integrity; and third, I revere his generosity and compassion towards those in need.

First, a word about Bill's authenticity.  In employing the term, "authenticity," I am not referring to mere uniqueness or originality, but to the integrity one exercises towards oneself as well as to one's principles.  Thank you, Bill, for being a classic authenticist.  I believe an AGE of AUTHENTICISM is is the early stages of eclipsing the morally perilous postmodern era that has so dramatically wounded the ethical vibrance of our nation, and you, Mr. O'Reilly, have been a leading voice -- if not the leading voice -- in this movement.  My work is yet unknown, but when I am your age and the Age of Authenticism is credited with changing the course of American History, your name will appear among a short list of powerful authenticists that made this welcomed shift possible.

Second, a word about Bill's integrity.  Anyone who watches the O'Reilly Factor consistently will know that Bill stands as ready to critique and, when necessary, criticize a Republican as he is a Democrat.  He is just as willing to lecture President Bush or Speaker Boehner as he is President Obama or Senator Reid.  My company, Freedom Focused, champions an aristotelian Golden Mean as one means of accessing the truth about a given matter.  Thank you, Bill, for being the Golden Mean of the American media, and for giving such a powerful voice to Independent Americans.  

Third, a word about Bill's compassion and generosity. While Bill is known for an impassioned and spirited vocality, and what some consider to be an intimidating and bellicose demeanor and presentation, none of this can mask the remarkable compassion Bill feels towards those in need.  And he puts his money where his mouth -- and heart -- is by regularly extending portions of his considerable fortune to a variety of worthy philanthropic causes.  He is especially conscious of supporting our Troops, whereby he shares his prodigious platform and microphone with others who are also eager to help.  And I know Bill's giving does not end on the air.  I often wonder how much money Mr. O'Reilly gives away without ever telling his audience about it -- and he tells his audience about it on a regular basis.  A genuine Christian man, I doubt anyone will ever know the full extent of Bill's generous giving.  

As an A-list journalist, he is perhaps unmatched in his courage and willingness to criticize pop cultural icons, politicians, and others who proliferate media content and support policies that are harmful to children and others--even when he knows doing so will be unpopular, and that his comments will be crucified online and elsewhere.  Adore him or despise him, in this age of moral opacity and entropy, everyone always knows where Bill O'Reilly stands--something you can't say about many high profile journalists and leaders in this country.  Thank God someone in the USA with enormous power is willing to consistently stand on the side of modesty, propriety, and integrity.  

In a world dominated by political correctness and ideological loyalty (often at the expense of honesty and decency), Bill O'Reilly -- ever worthy of his famous moniker: A Bold, Fresh, Piece of Humanity -- remains ever true to his principles.  You may not like his principles, but how can you not admire someone as successful, rich, and well traveled as Bill, who, after all these years, remains true to the same code of ethics and principles he was brought up with in Levittown.  Perhaps ironically, it is this integrity to principle that has led to his unprecedented success.  A successful project, job, or year can be lucked or timed into.  But a successful career at the very top of one's industry that leaves a positive, lasting legacy attached thereto must always be earned the old-fashioned way, and YOU, Bill O'Reilly, have earned it.

Thank you, Mr. Bill, for your fine example of what it means to be successful in America and still live with integrity.  Thank you for your courage to speak the truth, especially when it is unpopular to do so.  And most of all, THANK YOU for the profound influence you have had on my life and career.  I hope for the opportunity to someday meet you.

As a way of expressing my gratitude, I referenced you via one of your self-appointed titles in the opening line of a recent public address I gave on EDUCATION at Lone Star College of the Woodlands (North Houston, Texas).  Click HERE to view Dr. Jensen reference Bill O'Reilly in the opening line of his groundbreaking speech on Education.

Cleaning Up America One Quiet, Noble Act at a Time: A Self-Action Leadership Example from the Floors of Costco

Yesterday, my wife, son, and I went to Costco for lunch (Costco makes my favorite pizza!). After finishing my food, I sat staring off into the distance when I noticed a little boy drop his drink on the floor. In the worst possible timing, his father swung his foot around right as the cup hit the ground, causing the drink’s contents to not just spill, but to spray all over the smooth, concrete floor.

Sadly, the father’s response was not proactive, but reactionary, whereby he forthwith began to scold his son’s careless action that led to the embarrassing mess that now lay before them. Hanging his head in shame, the young boy covered his face with his hands as his father—who made no moves to clean up the mess—continued to stealthily communicate his disapproval of his son's carelessness.

Enter Jordan. No, not me; I remained a passive side-observer of the unfolding scene. The Jordan I speak of was a teenage Costco employee, complete with Costco name tag, uniform, apron, and food preparation hair net.

Armed with a roll of paper towels, Jordan leapt proactively to the scene and began cleaning up the mess. And boy did he clean up the mess! By the time he was done, there was not the slightest drop or streak of liquid remaining. All the while, the father of the little boy continued to stand idly by reactively watching Jordan work.

As Jordan was mopping up the last few drops of spilled drink, an elderly man walked by with pizza in one hand and his paper cup in the other. Losing his balance slightly, the man squeezed the top of his full cup, causing the upper contents of his drink to spill all over the floor, making another mess to cover half again the space of the sizable spill Jordan had just finished fixing.

Undaunted, Jordan unflinchingly turned his full attention and energy toward the second mess with the same passion, enthusiasm, focus, and dedication as he had the first spill. As I sat watching all this (I could have helped myself, but was busy holding my toddler son on my lap), I became so impressed with Jordan, that after he had finished his work, I called him over to where I was sitting. After commending him for his fine cleaning job, I asked him if I could take his picture and include it in a blog I planned to write and publish about his simple, yet heroic actions. I also asked him for his e-mail address so I could send him a copy of my article after it was published.

Very professionally, he explained I could not take his picture because he was representing Costco in an official uniform, and would have to get permission from his supervisors to do so. Not wanting to embarrass him (I think he was already a bit weirded out by my unorthodox requests), I did not press the issue any further. I was, however, further impressed by his humble reply to my offer. He simply said: “It’s okay; I don’t do what I do for credit or attention. I am just doing my job.” Then he modestly added, “Thanks, though.”

While I am probably publishing this at Jordan’s chagrin, and while I do not have a picture of this fine young man to accompany the piece as I would have liked, I could not keep from doing what I could to honor the simple, yet spectacular, actions of this extraordinary, ordinary [1] young self-action leader. Thank you, Jordan, for your example of what SAL means in the most common of circumstances, and for proceeding honorably in your work without seeking for any credit or public adulation for your good works.

In a sense, it is sad that such a simple act of "doing one's job" came across to me as being so unusual--even spectacular. It is a sign of how relatively rare such actions often are in this world. It often seems a diminishing few individuals exhibit the kind of stellar Self-Action Leadership that Jordan did during his shift at Costco yesterday.

I remember a few years ago spilling something on the floor of an In-N-Out fast food restaurant. Maybe it is just my OCD, but it is unthinkable for me to make such a blunder without taking responsibility for my mistake. Grabbing a handful of napkins, I proceeded to clean up the mess I had made. An older gentlemen, who, unbeknownst to me, had noticed my actions, remarked to me with a wistful sense of sadness, "Wow, it is rare these days to see someone actually clean up after themselves." His comment made me feel sad.

Costco needs more employees like Jordan. Schools and organizations everywhere need more Costco Jordans. Conroe needs more Costco Jordans. Texas needs more Costco Jordans. The other 49 States in America needs more Costco Jordans. The World needs more Costco Jordans. And just to be clear, I’m not talking about myself, but this young Costco employee, although this Jordan—imperfect though I am—does try to be the best self-action leader I can be. And at day’s end, that is all I ask of me—and it is all I ask of YOU.

From the floors of Costco to Costco's executive suites in Seattle, we need more self-action leaders. From the trenches of Iraq and Afghanistan to the plush offices of Generals and Admirals in Washington, we need more self-action leaders. From the high rises of Manhattan to the back alleys of Brooklyn, we need more self-action leaders. From children on the playground to principles and professors in classrooms and administrative offices, we need more self-action leaders. From the local voting booth to Governor's mansions, Capitol Hill, the Oval Office—and everywhere in between—we need more self-action leaders, and we need them badly.

Learn a lesson from and be inspired by Jordan, the young man who, on his hands and knees, and without fanfare or tips, cleaned up a floor in Costco that needed cleaning, and did it with the same energy and professionalism that I'll bet Costco's CEO -- W. Craig Jelinek -- expects of himself and his entire executive team in Issaquah, Washington.

Invest this same kind of energy and quality in their work--no matter what that work might be--and to perform it as if you were composing some masterful piece of literature, creating some genius piece of art, or designing some state-of-the art physical structure. Jordan is a young man who is destined for greater things. Here is truly a young man who has embraced the challenge laid down for all humanity by the great Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“If a man is called to be a streetsweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote potery. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great streetsweeper who did his job well.’"

About the Author 

Dr. Jordan R. Jensen

Dr. Jordan Jensen is the Founder & CEO of Freedom Focused and the author of the groundbreaking new book, Self-Action Leadership: The Key to Personal, Professional, & Global Freedom.  He has trained business professionals in 47 U.S. States and Territories, 5 Provinces of Canada, and 9 Counties of Great Britain on a wide variety of soft-skill topics including leadership, self-leadership, management, time management, goal setting, strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and a variety of communication skills. To learn more about Dr. Jensen and how his company, Freedom Focused, can assist you in achieving your organizational potential, visit www.freedomfocused.com

To buy Jordan's new book, click HERE.

[1] Rice, C. (2010). Extraordinary, Ordinary People.