A well-known businessman received an award for his philanthropy. During the ceremony honoring his good works, he was asked to share some of the lessons he had learned throughout his life and career that inspired him to think of others.

He spoke of his childhood and the poverty his family endured in the rural South. “No matter how tough times were, my grandmother was always looking to help anyone she felt was in need.

“One day, a neighbor came to our kitchen door and told my grandmother he was hungry and hadn’t eaten in days. She invited him in and served him a good portion of what she’d been preparing for our supper. When the man left, I asked my grandmother why she was always feeding other people when there was barely enough for us to eat.

“My grandmother said, ‘The only thing that matters in life is giving and serving. That’s the most important lesson you need to learn.’”

The businessman went on to tell how he took his grandmother’s words to heart. Throughout his life and career, he made sure to share his wisdom and good fortune with others and include them in his successes as well.

That sterling example defines the essence of the annual Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. I recently returned from the Horatio Alger Awards in Washington, D.C., where we inducted 13 new members and handed out $21 million in need-based scholarships to 2,500 deserving students. Those annual gifts total $159 million since 1984.

Founded in 1947, the association is dedicated to the simple but powerful belief that hard work, honesty and determination can conquer all obstacles. It honors the outstanding leaders who have achieved remarkable successes in spite of adversity. Horatio Alger members and friends award scholarships to students with critical financial need who have exhibited the same qualities as members.

Past honorees include three U.S. presidents -- Eisenhower, Ford and Reagan -- plus Colin Powell, Mario Cuomo, Bob Hope, Oprah Winfrey, entrepreneur Wayne Huizenga, astronaut Chuck Yeager, Carol Burnett and leaders in various fields. Members are always sworn in at the U.S. Supreme Court.

The association bears the name of the renowned author Horatio Alger Jr., who wrote more than 100 novels about rags-to-riches stories in which the heroes overcame adversity through education and the help of role models. The association was founded to combat a growing attitude among young people that economic opportunity was a thing of the past. The association strives to motivate and educate our nation’s young people about the economic and personal opportunities afforded them by the promise of the American free enterprise system.

I’ve been fortunate to be a member since 2004, along with some of the most successful and accomplished people you can imagine. But they are not the most impressive guests at the event. Every year, it’s the students who steal the show.

We heard stories about kids in foster care, raised by grandparents because their parents rejected them, and even stories about homelessness. We heard stories of drugs, suicides, murders, beatings, parents in prison and much more. Other kids had families dealing with physical and mental disabilities or illnesses.

I was thrilled this year to hear about the 71 percent college graduation rate for our scholars, compared to the national low-income graduation rate of 16 percent. These students understand that a winner never quits, and a quitter never wins. The average family income of scholarship-recipient families is under $20,000, yet students’ grade points average is around 3.7 on a scale of 4.0. My high school record pales in comparison to their accomplishments.

These students are the epitome of resilience, positive attitude, determination, integrity and compassion. They know that to get ahead they must put in the effort and the hard work. They already understand there are no free lunches.

Education -- without question -- must be one of America’s top priorities. Education is the key to unlocking opportunity. My mother was a schoolteacher, which is one reason why education ranked high on our family agenda. For years, one of my favorite slogans has been: “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.”

I couldn’t be more proud of any organization I belong to.

Mackay’s Moral: If you want to be in the presence of greatness, spend an evening with a motivated student.

In a classic “Peanuts” cartoon, Charlie Brown says to Lucy, “I have a great fear of being boring.” Then in the next panel, Charlie says, “I also have a great fear of being bored.” Finally, Charlie turns to Lucy and asks, “What’s the most bored you’ve ever been?” And Lucy answers, “Besides right now?”

We’ve all faced boredom at one time or another. Routine tasks become drudgery. We need a change of scenery before we climb the walls. It gets harder and harder to get out of a rut.

My good friend Lou Holtz says, “If you’re bored with life -- you don’t get up every morning with a burning desire to do things -- you don’t have enough goals.”

Don’t run the risk of being satisfied with the status quo if the status quo means same old, same old.

Advertising genius David Ogilvy famously said, “Nobody ever sold anybody anything by boring them to death.”

I couldn’t agree more. I always wrap up my speeches by saying, “Don’t be boring! Don’t be predictable!” Don’t ever pick up the phone again and call a client or a customer without having a sharp or humorous substantive opening and an idea how you’re going to end the conversation. Don’t give just another gift; make it surprising. Make it a WOW! Don’t ever send another letter out without giving it a lot of thought.

Conquering boredom and being creative often involves releasing your inner child. Newspaper columnist Lu Hanessian notes there is a strong, scientifically proven connection between positive childhood experiences -- imagination, creativity, play time and reflection -- and overall health in adulthood.

Science shows us that play and laughter promote the ability of the brain to rewire and change itself. Boredom can actually be the effect of a play deficit!

That’s another argument for incorporating some fun into work.

“Humor can make a serious difference. In the workplace, at home, in all areas of life -- looking for a reason to laugh is necessary,” said Steve Goodier, founder of Life Support System. “A sense of humor helps us to get through the dull times, cope with the difficult times, enjoy the good times and manage the scary times.”

But let’s face it; every organization has jobs that are necessary but boring. It can be tough to do those jobs. Managers are challenged to keep employees engaged and motivated when boredom sets in and they are counting the hours until they get off work.

Think of it this way: How many times do you open the refrigerator door over and over, hoping that something amazing will appear? And when it doesn’t, imagine how that compromises motivation to perform. Show your gratitude for the people who do the jobs that you wouldn’t care to do.

Acknowledge up-front that the work isn’t very exciting, but explain why it’s important. Emphasize how employees' work helps other people -- co-workers, customers and so forth. Give them a little leeway to make that job fun while still remaining professional.

Give them goals. Sometimes, a target can make work more interesting. Challenge employees in different ways: to greet the most customers, assemble the most widgets, count the inventory more accurately, etc. Offer a small reward to make the game more enticing. Help them see the future. Employees are more likely to stick with a job, even a boring one, if they see the possibility of moving into something better. Describe potential career paths, and tell your people what they need to do in order to move up.

Ask for feedback. Encourage employees to suggest ideas for making their work more interesting or productive. Implementing their ideas will show them that you value their opinions and take them seriously. They’ll also be more invested in making their own suggestions succeed.

And who knows? Those suggestions may be just the inspiration your organization needs to go from boring to roaring to soaring!

Mackay’s Moral: Before a bore becomes a chore or even a snore, think more about what you’re in business for!

With the baseball season in full swing (pun intended!), it’s time to salute America’s pastime. And in recognition of April being National Humor Month, I’m sharing some of my favorite classic stories from the big leagues, along with the important business lessons from these real-life events.

How time flies.

A rookie sat next to his manager and watched New York Yankee great Roger Maris gun down a runner trying to go from first to third.

“Kid, you won't see a throw like that again in a million years.”

Three innings later, Maris duplicated the feat.

The rookie turned to the manager and said, “Time sure flies up here in the majors.”

Sometimes managers know best.

Before a game, St. Louis Cardinals manager Frankie Frisch instructed his pitching staff to avoid throwing Brooklyn's Tony Cuccinello a fastball.

Dizzy Dean objected. “He can't hit my fastball.”

He begged Frisch to let him throw Cuccinello a fastball. Frisch refused. Finally, with the game in hand, he relented. Dean threw Cuccinello a fastball, and Cuccinello hit it out of the park.

Dean turned to Frisch: “By gosh, Frankie. You were right for once.”

The truth always hurts.

Johnny Blanchard sat in the Yankees' clubhouse crying after learning he had been traded to Kansas City. Concerned for his teammate, Mickey Mantle sat down and tried to console Blanchard.

“Don't take it so hard, John. Just think, in Kansas City you're going to get a chance to play.”

“Hell, I can't play, Mick. That's why I'm crying.”

Know thy competitor.

In an article in The Wall Street Journal, former Major League Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent said the smartest player he ever knew was Warren Spahn. The left-handed pitcher won a record 363 games in his career. Vincent asked Spahn who taught him how to pitch. He replied, “Hitters.” Spahn often sat in the stands to watch the opposition take batting practice. He knew who was having trouble hitting and used that knowledge.

Show some respect for authority.

Another story Vincent shared was about Frank Robinson, whom Vincent called as tough a player as he ever knew. Vincent asked him about his mother during a Hall of Fame interview, and Robinson unexpectedly teared up. Robinson explained, “One time, early in my career, I got thrown out of a game for sassing an umpire, and she called me that night to give me hell. She told me she did not raise me to fight with umpires, and that she was embarrassed for me. She said she would come take me home if I did it again. She never had to worry.” And then he gave her credit for his success.

You have to have some fun.

On July 15, 1973, the California Angels' Nolan Ryan pitched his second career no-hitter (and his second of the season), a 6-0 shutout versus the Tigers in Detroit, with a major league record 17 strikeouts in a no-hitter.

The “Ryan Express” was so on that day that Norm Cash came to the plate with two outs in the ninth inning and resorted to using a piano leg to get a hit. Home plate umpire Ron Luciano, nearly falling down laughing at this ruse, made him use a real bat.

Cash flied out to left-field, ending the game.

Communication is crucial.

When Joe Pepitone first came to the Cubs, he told manager Leo Durocher that he was fast enough to steal a base. So, the first time Pepitone reached first base, Durocher decided to test him. First base coach Peanuts Lowrey flashed the sign to Pepitone -- a wink. Pepitone didn't budge. So Lowry winked again. Still, Pepitone stood pat. Again, Lowrey winked. This time, Pepitone responded. He blew Lowrey a kiss.

Legendary manager Casey Stengel had a unique usage of the English language that became known as “Stengelese.” He once said, “I’ve always heard that it couldn’t be done, but sometimes it don’t always work.” And he’s actually right.

Stengel once sat on the board of directors of a California bank. According to The Wall Street Journal, Casey described his responsibilities this way: “There ain’t nothing to it. You go into the fancy meeting room and you just sit there and never open your yap. As long as you don’t say nuthin’, they don’t know whether you’re smart or dumb.”

My version of this: You don’t have to take back words you don’t say.

Mackay’s Moral: Baseball can teach you lessons to survive the extra innings in business and life.