Your initial reaction is probably one of disgust, pity, anger, and maybe sadness. You’re thinking, here is a homeless guy that is just trying to get a dollar. Or, maybe you are thinking there is a man doing nothing with his life and I have no tolerance for individuals like that.
Regardless of how you feel about the picture, I found this guy fascinating. The man’s name is Ted Williams and I first heard about him on Facebook. I read some of my friends Facebook status that said, “Check this guy’s voice out.” My first thought as I watched the YouTube clip the first time was, “No way.” After a few more times, I thought “Wow! What an awesome voice.” I watched the YouTube clip a few more times just to make sure I wasn’t seeing things. Sure enough, as I watched the clip over and over, I couldn’t help but relate this brief one minute and 38 second clip to fraternal recruitment.
How many times do we make appearance judgments about others in the blink of an eye when it comes to recruitment? How many times is it stressed how to dress or look as you enter a fraternity or sorority house? How many times, do we only look for others that look like us?
It is because of this instinctive nature that many of us have in which we judge others based on appearance before giving them a fair shake that we miss out on amazing stories like Ted Williams or Susan Boyle. If you watch the YouTube clip below, Mr. Williams goes on to tell quite a story of his life and how alcohol and drugs took over his life. He openly admits it and states that he has been dry for two years. He is trying to change his life for the better.
As I researched more about him, ESPN has reportedly now contacted him about doing a piece on his story and the Cleveland Cavaliers have offered him a two year deal to do sports announcing. This is quite a turnaround from standing on the streets in Columbus, Ohio.
So what can we learn from Mr. Williams? Give people a shot. You may have your ideal person you want to recruit but don’t let that limit you from finding “diamonds in the rough” like Ted Williams. People come from all walks of life and sometimes, you need to change up your recruiting tactics in order to prosper as an organization. Most of all, recruitment should not be about someone’s looks, it should be about their values, their beliefs, and how they intend to make your organization better.
Enjoy the clip:
