From Bob McKinnon comes this modern retelling of the beloved classic, Little Engine that Could, that asks young readers, “How does your journey differ from others?” It also serves as a thank you letter to all the parents, teachers, role models, and even strangers, who help to clear the storm or pull the tree trunk from their track.
Available in your favorite bookstores.
Have you ever asked yourself this question? Or wondered why your life turned differently than you expected or from others you know. On this site, you’ll find tools, writing and podcast episodes that explores this question and others. Watch Bob’s TEDx talk to learn about his journey and the science behind how we see our lives and those of others.
Children’s Books
I think I can, I think I can, I think I… can’t? What’s an Engine to do when even believing in yourself won’t get you to the top of the mountain? In this modern retelling of the beloved The Little Engine That Could, The Little Blue Engine and her friends attempt to reach the town on the other side of the mountain, but they quickly realize that not every engine is on the same track, and they all face different obstacles in their journey. In Three Little Engines author Bob McKinnon asks young readers: How does your journey differ from others?
While paying homage to the beloved classic, author Bob McKinnon acknowledges that although positive thinking and confidence are important, they are not always enough to help you succeed. In many instances, success requires a helping hand. This book is a gentle introduction to the idea of socioeconomic mobility and inequality in America. Heavily inspired by his own experiences, McKinnon teaches the youngest of readers how to recognize opportunity and inequality in the American Dream, and, most importantly, how to extend a helping hand to those on different tracks of life. At its heart, Three Little Engines is a thank you letter to all the parents, teachers, role models, and even strangers, who help to clear the storm or pull the tree trunk from your track.
Three Little Engines is now a New York Times best seller! Order your copy today from your favorite online bookseller or your local bookstore:
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Newsletter
Capital
Several weeks ago a former student reached out to me via LinkedIn looking for some career guidance. He was a great student, a good person with impressive experience for his age. However, given that his field was software engineering, there was little I could offer him….except for my connections. After dropping the ball for a few weeks, he nudged me – as I suggested he do if he hadn’t heard from me. In fifteen minutes, I thought of three friends who were in his field that I could connect him to. I wrote three emails seeing if they were open to talking with him. Within minutes two said yes and I connected them.
Later that day, I remembered a conversation that I had with another friend. A great guy who was out of work and looking for a new opportunity. I had wanted to connect him with another local friend who might be a good contact but had forgotten to. So I reached out to see if he’d be open to having a call or a cup of coffee. He said he’d be happy to.
These are two examples of what is technically referred to as social capital. Simply put, it’s using your connections to help someone else.
In the last few months alone, I have both been the recipient and distributor of social capital. A friend of mine offered to share my recently completed screenplay with producers he knew. I helped connect an author to a national book club. Later he connected me to an opportunity to appear on a podcast. I’ve put several students in touch with folks who could help them with their senior projects. Someone recommended me for a new consulting opportunity with a great new publication. Another person asked me for some contacts related to a grant opportunity. I reached out to someone regarding a potential summer job for my daughter, the same day I shared a job posting that I thought would be of interest to someone else.
All of this exchange in social capital, all within just a few months.
In contrast with other forms of capital, the goal of social capital is not to accumulate it. In fact, it’s hard to do so. Social capital is largely gained through your own reputation and the relationships you build over time. Each time you spend some of it, you are vouching for someone but that doesn’t necessarily diminish how much social capital you still have. In fact, perhaps paradoxically, the more you spend the more you may get – as people on both sides may feel grateful for the connection.
This should not imply that social capital is intended to be transactional. We don’t help others simply because “what goes around comes around.” We do so because we can and we should. When we help someone or when someone helps us. We don’t exchange “goods.” We exchange “good.”
However, the act of spending our social capital is all too often reactive. Someone asks us for help and we choose to oblige or not. But what if we were all more proactive?
Each day, many walk into a Starbucks and proactively spend their financial capital for a quick jolt of caffeine. But what if each day, we also proactively “walked into LinkedIn or our contact list and spent our social capital by connecting two people?
The cost would be less and the jolt even more rewarding.
Monday Morning Notes
Delivered to your mailbox each Monday morning, these short notes offer an opportunity each week to reflect on who and what contributes to where we end up in life. Readers tell us it’s a great way to start their week on a positive note. See the latest note below:
Capital
Several weeks ago a former student reached out to me via LinkedIn looking for some career guidance. He was a great student, a good person with impressive experience for his age. However, given that his field was software engineering, there was little I could offer him….except for my connections. After dropping the ball for a …
Attribution with Bob McKinnon
Attribution is a podcast, where people from all walks of life, reflect on who and what has contributed to where they ended up. Our hope is after each episode, you feel a little more inspired, grateful, or supported, then when you first hit play. Check out the latest episode below:
Episode 29: Random w/ Mark Rank
Mark R. Rank is recognized as a foremost expert on issues of poverty, inequality and social justice. To date he has written 10 books on a range of subjects, including an exploration of the American Dream and a new understanding of poverty and inequality. In this episode, I talk to Mark about his latest book, The Random Factor which looks at the role of luck and chance in shaping the course of our lives. It was a fascinating discussion, one I was lucky to have. I hope you enjoy.
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