Eric Mondschein on the Fast Leader Show

Eric Mondschein Show Notes

Eric Mondschein wanted to have students from the US and Canada learn international law by arguing a mock case at the United Nations. Needing to have a country sponsor him to accomplish this, Eric called the US Ambassador to the UN and was quickly dismissed. That’s when Eric did something that got him the sponsorship he wanted. Listen to Eric’s story and learn how to get over the hump to move onward and upward faster.

Eric was born in Flushing, NY, but his parents soon moved across the Hudson River to Rockland County where he grew up in the country in Monsey, NY and lived at 12 College Road and went to Suffern high School.

Eric has had a multifaceted and diverse professional career. After he obtained a masters degree in delinquency prevention he served as a floor supervisor in a maximum security detention center, and after receiving his doctorate in law and education he held several positions with the US government and taught law and education at the undergraduate and graduate levels of education at several colleges and universities.

Eric directed an award-winning, law-related education program for the New York State Bar Association from 1980 through 1994 and in 1993 he was the recipient of the American Bar association’s Isidore Starr award for exemplary achievement in law-related education.

Eric recently authored Life at 12 College Road, which is a collection of short stories about growing up in America in the 1950s and 1960s. He also recently co-authored a monograph and supplement, Sexual Harassment and Bullying: Similar But Not the Same, that explores the current legal developments concerning sexual harassment and bullying in K-12 education.

When Eric is not writing or consulting you can usually find him fishing or shooting at his home in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, where he lives with his wife Ginny.

Tweetable Quotes and Mentions

Listen to @EricSMondschein and get over the hump on the @FastLeaderShow Click to Tweet

“Many of us today understand who the bullies are where we work.” -Eric Mondschein Click to Tweet

“Never in any of my definitions of leadership saw where it means leading from behind” -Eric Mondschein Click to Tweet

“To lead means being out in front; that also means taking risks.” -Eric Mondschein Click to Tweet

“To be a leader doesn’t mean you’re better than those who follow.” -Eric Mondschein Click to Tweet

“The most important key is trustworthiness.” -Eric Mondschein Click to Tweet

“It’s the leader who takes the risk.” -Eric Mondschein Click to Tweet

“We will do the best we can with what we have.” Jack Bogley quoted by Eric Mondschein Click to Tweet

“No matter what you do you have limited resources.” -Eric Mondschein Click to Tweet

“If you focus on what you have you can make the most of it.” -Eric Mondschein Click to Tweet

“If you focus on the things you don’t have you won’t accomplish anything.” -Eric Mondschein Click to Tweet

“You can say no, but you don’t have to be dismissive.” -Eric Mondschein Click to Tweet

“As a human being you can never say you’re done.” -Eric Mondschein Click to Tweet

“Don’t try to be someone you’re not, but be all the person that you are.” -Eric Mondschein Click to Tweet

Hump to Get Over

Advice for others

Never take no for an answer.

Holding him back from being an even better leader

My biggest constraint is time.

Best Leadership Advice Received

Don’t try to be someone you’re not, but be all the person that you are.

Secret to Success

I have always taken no as a challenge.

Best tools that helps in business or Life

Being trustworthy. It is the most important foundation of a professional and personal life.

Contacting Eric

Website: http://www.ericmondschein.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-mondschein-06145311

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ericsmondschein

Resources

Life at 12 College Road

54 Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Competencies List: Emotional Intelligence has proven to be the right kind of intelligence to have if you want to move onward and upward faster. Get your free list today.

Show Transcript:

[expand title=”Click to access edited transcript”]

053: Eric Mondschein: I hung up the phone and I was livid

Intro: Welcome to the Fast Leader Podcast, where we uncover the leadership like hat that help you to experience, break out performance faster and rocket to success. And now here’s your host, customer and employee engagement expert and certified emotional intelligence practitioner, Jim Rembach.

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Jim Rembach: Okay, Fast Leader Legion today I’m excited cause we get the opportunity to meet with somebody who is one leading experts in an area that impacts us all, Eric Mondschien was born in Flushing, New York but his parents soon moved across the Hudson River to Rockland County where he grew up in the country in Monsey, New York and lived at 12 College Road. Eric has had a multifaceted and diverse professional career after he obtained a Master’s degree in Delinquency Prevention, he served as a Floor Supervisor in a maximum-security detention center. After receiving his Doctorate in Law and Education he held several positions in the U.S. government and taught law and education at the undergraduate and graduate levels at several colleges and universities.

Eric directed an award-winning law related education program for the New York State Bar Association from 1980 to ‘94 and ‘93 he was the recipient of the American Bar Association’s Isidore Starr award for exemplary achievement in law related education. Eric recently authored Life at 12 College Road, which is a collection of short stories about growing up in America in the late 50’s and 60’s he also recently co-authored a monograph and supplement Sexual Harassment and Bullying: Similar but Not the same, that explores the current legal developments concerning sexual harassment and bullying in K-12 education. When Eric is not writing or consulting you can usually find him fishing or shooting at his home in Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York where he lives with his wife Jennie. Eric Mondschien, are you ready to help us get over the hump?

Eric Mondschien: I am ready to go for that hump.

Jim Rembach: I’ve given our legion a little bit about you, but can you share what your current passion is so that we can get to know you better?

Eric Mondschien: My current passion, that’s a good question. I think I would say that since returning from Israel in 2006, my passion has been writing. And I began a website or blog where I share my opinions, commentary, rant if you will, on issues confronting all of us today as well as poetry and even recipes.

Jim Rembach: I was excited for you to be on the show because you’ve been one of the leading experts for many years on one of things that affects us all. And it’s really this whole issue in regards to the things that we do to affect and impact others that could be so damaging as well as create some heinous bad habits that we see manifesting themselves out no in society today, and that’s violation of our fellow human being. And oftentimes we find that in the workplace it’s not like these things just create or get developed in the workplace they started at an early age.

Eric Mondschien: Yes, they do. Actually some elementary school on up, my generation, your generation and those following us, many of us have just felt this was part of childhood this is what we got through whether it was being bullied or we were the bully, and that’s got to stop because it’s not okay and today’s society seems more prepared to confront it and not just accept it. And so we see many efforts being done in schools, in the community, on television with children shows explaining that it’s not okay to be a bully and you don’t have to be bullied. And that’s something that even takes place in the workplace. Many of us today understand who the bullies are where we work and who were the bullied and it’s not okay. As a matter of fact in today’s society and at work it’s illegal and there are repercussions not only for the company but for the individuals involved.

Jim Rembach: Even often times though when you start talking about that illegal piece, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s going to stop happening. There’s speed limit signs posted all over the place but I’m afraid I break that one quite often. And so when you start thinking about some of these things, they just are going to happen anyway. And goodness knows, the Internet has made and created a whole different level of bullying that we have never seen before.

Eric Mondschien: And it has its own name we call it cyber bullying. And it’s terrific because now you can be the little skinny kid and yet with the anonymity of the Internet you can say and do things to other people that he would never dream of saying to their face. Unfortunately, many of the cyber bullies end up being girls and it’s something that has unfortunately, resulted in a number of suicides of young people. So it’s not just something that you can get over it, we’ve all been bullied, but now these now have been leading towards suicide of young people and that definitely now okay.

Jim Rembach: With the amount of experience, exposure, knowledge gained all of the things that we talk about what it means to become one of the leading experts in a certain area, if you were to say that society is headed in a particular direction, what direction would you say that it was heading to?

Eric Mondschien: I wish you would asked me what direction I wish it was heading to. But if we’re going to deal with the direction we’re heading in now, I can’t be optimistic. I see a darkness an overshadowing, I see people in engulf in fear, anxiety and a lot of it has to do with our own leaders and the lack of leadership and I don’t want to get in to politics if you will, but I have never in any of my understandings or definitions of leadership saw where it means leading from behind. To lead means being out in front and that also means taking risks, sure you can have others lead that doesn’t mean you’re leading from behind it means you’ve delegated or asked others to lead. To be a leader doesn’t mean you’re better than those who follow, it means you just happen to be in the lead and people are going to follow you because they either trust you, which I think is the most important key—trustworthiness—or you all have a general mission but you may have a clear understanding which puts you in front.

And something in the years that I spent living and working in Israel I found fascinating, because in Israel the officers in the Israeli army are known for thought saying, “Follow me “not you go first but follow me. It’s the leader who takes the risk, it’s the leader who gets people to follow them and that means being out in front. And so I guess going back to your general question I think there’s a, malaise in this country, there’s a fear, there’s an anxiety because we don’t know what to expect tomorrow. Where we used to have a clear understanding that tomorrow is always going to be better than today, I think now you have many people concerned that tomorrow may be worse than today. And that has to be changed by us, no one else can change for us.

Jim Rembach: Now that’s so true, and thank you for sharing that. I started thinking about as you are talking and one of the things that I’d I have through my own growth have come to the realization that when you think about leading that it can’t just be one person everybody has to step up. So many people have talked about servant leadership in serving others and being that one who’s in front and being that example but the fact is that we all have that responsibility. And so I talk about servant teamwork is that we all have to collaborate and work together and we all have to do what you’re talking about in order for us to move the mountain, and we can move. Some of this societal issues we can handle but we have to have a different mindset, it’s now one person that’s going to fix it we have to do it as a collective.

In addition to that we also have to be aware that in order to ignite, change it’s not by using some of bullying tactics. What I often saw and find talking about the people who feel like they are wrong that there is an unjust, is that they do it in such a negative way that it turns toxic. So Eric I know with a lot of the things that you have going on, a lot of experiences that you have had, I can only imagine being a writer and with all of that, you probably had a lot of inspiration from different quotes, is there one or two that you can shared us that and can give us a little bit of booze to get over the hump?

Eric Mondschien: I’d be happy. For me, it’s personal because this is a quote that I took from my wife’s uncle Jack Broglie, who was an Annapolis graduate and a submarine commander during World War II. What he said and he actually had is a plaque on his submarine and then on all the other ships that he commanded was, “We will do the best we can with what we have.” I took that to heart and I actually heard it from him when I was still going to college because I was married very young and I was in college, but from that moment on I look at that quote and after he passed I was honored that he bequeath not only that plaque, which was actually a silver plated plaque that he had in his Captain’s quarters, “We will do the best we can with what we have” that and the Captain’s silver serving set that he bequeathed to me with name of the submarine. This is what he lived by and when you think it, no matter what you do, you have limited resources, you have limited people with whatever experience they bring to the table and if you understand how to work with them and how to push not only them and yourself but utilizing the full potential of whatever you have, you can accomplish anything and so it always stuck with me.

Jim Rembach: I think that’s a great point, thanks for sharing. I think so many times, I even have a 10, 12 and a 7 year old, at times is that they often start talking about can’t doing something because they don’t have, and I’m like, “You know what, stop focusing on that. Focus on what you do have and utilize that in order to be able to accomplish what you’re trying to accomplish. Stop thinking about what you don’t think about what you do.”

Eric Mondschien: If you focus on what you have you can make the most of it, if you focus on things you don’t have you won’t accomplish anything.

Jim Rembach: Eric, I know that you’ve had just a wealth of experience in different countries and working with a lot of different leaders and even where you are today with writing and I know there had to be a lot humps that you’ve had to get over that it defined you and helped you be the person who you are today. Is there one that stands up for you that you can share with us so that we can learn?

Eric Mondschien: Yes, and I really like the question. There are many different ones but I think this has always standout for me. When I was directing the New York State Bar Association’s program I had come up with an idea of how we get kids to understand international law, because I felt it was important for even young people to understand that there was such a thing called international law. And so, I came up with an idea of—what if we have something that they can look at not read a book but let’s have an activity and that was to get a school from Canada and a school from New York, since I was in New York so to United States, and let’s have them argue a case between the two countries. The issue didn’t matter it had to do with water flowing from Canada to New York and if you put dam up how does it affect those living below the dam, in this case in the United States. And I thought what would make this exciting, why don’t we hold it in the United Nations.

And so I learn that in order to have something held at the UN you had to have a country sponsor you, you just couldn’t go in and use one of the big general assembly rooms. So I contacted the US mission at the UN, which at that time was Jean Kirkpatrick who was the US ambassador, and quite frankly, the response I got was not only no but dismissive and I have to admit I hung up the phone and I was livid. I couldn’t believe that I would be treated this way, you can say no but you didn’t have to be so dismissive. So, I pick the phone up got the number for the Canadian mission to the United Nations contacted the Canadian mission and just ask to speak to the ambassador, and they put them on and so I presented the case and they said sure we’d love to sponsor you. So being who I am I then called back the US mission and told them that I got another country to sponsor me so never mind and in which case they said, “Well, hold on a minute” and so then they said, “No, no we’re more than willing to sponsor.” And I said, “Well, I already have a sponsor but if you’d like to co-sponsor that would be alright.” And so they did. From that moment I realized, what’s the worst thing that can happen when you ask a question? People can say no. What did I lose? Nothing.

So to take that another step, a little later in the early 90’s and actually the late 80’s, I came up with another idea, how can we use the International Court of Justice in The Hague? Well, gee, let’s see if we can do something? So, I called and I ended up getting the Chief Justice of the International Court, actually they put me through. And I gave him my idea and that idea was, why don’t we have kids from the United States and the Soviet Union not compete against each other, since I said that’s what they’re all doing all the time, I said, “What if we were to get them to work together on coming up and presenting a plan on reforestation?” And the Justice said, “Hold on a minute” the next I’ve someone hold for ten minutes this is incredibly expensive call in the 80’s. At the time I’m waiting I’m thinking, how am I going to justify this expense on my budget? Anyway he comes back on he says, “I just had a chance to speak to all of my colleagues and we’d be delighted.” And this ended up being the very first time the international court was used for anything other than hearing real cases.

I then contacted the Soviet Embassy in Washington having first talked to the State Department, cause I didn’t want to be put on some list that I was contacting the Soviet Embassy and the fact that I wanted to have the kids working together, they said, “Sure why not.” And so we ended up getting schools from the United States and we would have a European school involved and the Soviets and we brought them all together in The Hague and they presented before the court. Now, what’s interesting is that once I put it all together I was, “How do I pay for this?” but having done it, I then contacted different corporations and foundations and they were happy to assist, just ask. But if I have done what people first told me was, don’t even think of calling the court because it’s never been used for anything else, it wouldn’t have happened and yet it did. And so from that moment on I realized that if I’m interested in something I’m going to pursue it and even getting a first no means nothing.

Jim Rembach: Great story. And a part that also stood out to me just blazed, is that it was done and in a cooperative, collaborative, positive way in what you were doing. Gosh! Great story, thanks for sharing that.

Eric Mondschien: What’s really great is that the kids are still in contact with each other, that’s the part that I found fascinating. The kids from the US and Europe they all become close friends and also the kids who were from Russia, they were now all adults.

Jim Rembach: We definitely need to do more of that, thanks for sharing. I know you’ve had an amazing career. You’ve talked about what your current passions are, you have so many things going on and being a grandfather I know that just brings you so much joy as well. If you start thinking about all the things that are on your plate, what are some of your goals?

Eric Mondschien: My goals now? Wow, okay, you got me on that one. I guess I would have to say it, this particular stage of my life, the goal is to ensure that my wife and I are comfortable when we finally decide we’re done. And I don’t even know if that’s possible, I don’t know if as a human being you can never say you’re done because to me that means, “Well, you’re dead.” So you have to keep doing things. What those things maybe I’m not sure yet. Right now my wife is still working, I am in a position fortunately that I’m able to pursue my writing and I’ve had some success in that which has been good. What next? I hope I can have more time with my grandchildren before they’re too busy for me.

Jim Rembach: And the Fast Leader Legion wishes you the very best. Now before we move on let’s get a quick word from our sponsor.

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Alright, here we go Fast Leader listeners, it’s time for the Hump Day Hoedown. Okay, Eric the Hump Day Hoedown is the part of our show where you give us good insights fast. So, I’m going to ask you several questions and your job is to give us robust yet rapid responses that are going to help us move onward and upward faster. Eric Mondschien, are you ready to hoedown?

Eric Mondschien: I’m ready. Let’s go.

Jim Rembach: What do you think is holding you back from being an even better leader today?

Eric Mondschien: I think today the biggest constraint is time. Now that I’m focused more on writing, I see myself is that it is the strangest time that focused on writing I see myself as more of an example to others and I’ve been mentoring young people having my door always open to those who seek my advice. And I’ve also learned to say, “Great questions, I don’t have an answer for that but maybe we can find it together.”

Jim Rembach: What is the best leadership advice you ever received?

Eric Mondschien: I would have to say, “Don’t try to be someone that you’re not but be all the person that you are.”

Jim Rembach: What is one of your secrets that you believe contributes to your success?

Eric Mondschien: I think this is also one of my aha moments, and that’s—I have taken no as a challenge especially when it is suggested that I can’t do something. And when I hear no now to my career it was, all right then let me find the door that will open, and so I don’t give up.

Jim Rembach: What you feel is one of your best tools and that helps you lead in business or life?

Eric Mondschien: Frankly, it’s been trustworthy. I believe it is the most important foundation of a professional and personal life. It is something my mom and dad taught my brother and I every day by example.

Jim Rembach: What would be one book that should recommend to our listeners, it could be from any genre?

Eric Mondschien: Just one? Okay, that’s a good question, Jim. I guess I could say, “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu or “The Prince” by Machiavelli or even the collection of speeches” by Winston Churchill. But I would have to say, Questions of Character: Illuminating the Heart of Leadership through Literature by Joseph L Badaracco, Jr. of Harvard Business School and this other book, Leading Quietly, those would be the two I would highly recommend not just one.

Jim Rembach: Okay, Fast Leader listeners, you can find links to that and other bonus information from today’s show by going to fastleader.net/Eric Mondschien. Okay Eric, this is my last Hump Day Hoedown question: Imagine you are given the opportunity to go back to the age 25 and you’ve been given the opportunity to take the knowledge and skills that you have now back with you but you can’t take everything you can only choose one, so what skill or piece of knowledge would you take back with you? And why?

Eric Mondschien: Jim, I love the question. I wish I could do it. It we’re knowledge, I’d buy Apple and McDonald’s stock without a doubt. But I think the skill that I lack at 25 was patience. And that is something I wish I had more of even today.

Jim Rembach: Eric it was an honor spent time with you today, can you please share the past leader listeners how they can connect with you?

Eric Mondschien: They can connect with me on the web at www.ericmondschien.com. They can also go to my Facebook page which is Eric Mondschien and on Twitter which is @Eric S Mondschien.

Jim Rembach: Eric Mondschien, thank you for sharing your knowledge and wisdom, the Fast Leader Legion honors you and thanks you for helping us get over the hump. Woot Woot!

Thank you for joining me on the Fast Leader Show today. For recaps, links from every show, special offers and access to download and subscribe, if you haven’t already, head on over the www.fastleader.net so we can help you move onward and upward faster.

END OF AUDIO

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