Gary Oberoi is the head trainer and CEO of my company, Starnest. One of his presentations helped me connect to Frances Kellor (who I just finished my dissertation on), bodybuilding (my published manifesto), and my new job. This is how he combined my three great current and lasting passions. And his pep talk can have a lifelong impact on me.
Gary told us about an Internet-based shoe company he visited in Las Vegas: Zappos. They gave him the real deal. Zappos has tried to create worker productivity and low turnover by making employees (probably called ‘team members’) completely satisfied. To this end, they give them free books, child care, free food, health benefits, 24-hour, cooking facilities at some work stations, concierge service, and more. These benefits allow Zappos to live up to its tagline, “Powered by Service.” Happy people are much nicer to customers.
Frances Kellor (1873 – 1952), the leader of the Americanization movement, led the effort to create what at the time was called “welfare capitalism.” This was her corporate bodybuilding form. Seen as a solution to worker riots and strikes, this effort sought to address worker concerns through a voice in management and excellent working conditions. It also protected immigrants from abuse in our broader society. These initiatives were typical of her efforts to ‘Americanize’ immigrants. Once happy and invested in our soil, people would never come home and love and be loyal to America.
Because Kellor used this technique both in and out of business, she wasn’t just a corporate bodybuilder; she was also a national bodybuilder. Bodybuilding counters multiculturalism. My book, Bodybuilding: One Word, One Value, Our Future, describes many bodybuilding heroes like Kellor. Just as the Kappos leaders sought to build unity and team spirit, these bodybuilders sought to unite and enhance our national culture. Noah Webster tried to unite our nation with his dictionary containing the spelling of American English. Frances Scott Key’s national anthem still unites America today. And Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s attempt to unite America made him a bodybuilder, too.
Gary’s speech sent me determined to study Zappos. This led to the research that led to my epiphany about the connection between corporate bodybuilding, Frances Kellor, and bodybuilding. Later, Gary led us in a culture building exercise on the power of goal setting. His handouts led us to write down 10 goals, with dates, that he said he would make sure we meet again by the end of 2010. After reflecting on his lecture, I’d like to add one goal. I want to be a trainer or some type of corporate bodybuilder by the end of April 2010. So Gary’s thoughts on the parallels between bodybuilding, the work of Frances Kellor, and corporate bodybuilding may well affect my career trajectory.