Closing the Gap: As students of higher education, how do we close the gap in collaborating with the 70% of Americans who have not pursued a college degree? In many cases, there is a cultural gap or a communication barrier that makes it difficult to relate to those of a different educational background either in the workplace, on community projects, etc. For example, you may be the future manager of a group of technicians with barely a high school diploma. Will you understand their personal needs and goals? Can you relate to or understand their interests? If you are unable to relate to your employees or at least have insight, how will you gain their respect and lead/coach them to be successful? Have you ever worked on a factory floor? Almost 13 million Americans currently work in a factory. Do you answer “No” to the majority of the questions asked in this quiz? If so, you may need to become more knowledgeable on the “typical American.” (culture/interests). See book: Coming Apart and associated quiz http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/wrm/2012/01/27/how-thick-is-your-bubble/

1. Becoming a Successful Leader

2. TOTAL HOUSEHOLD POPULATION 113,616,000 % of Total Population
Lower Class 77,417,000 68%
(Household income below $75,000)
Middle Class 27,016,000 24%
(Household income $75,000-150,000)
Upper class 9,180,000 8%
(Household income above $150,000)
Lower Class
68%
Middle Class
24%
Upper class
8%
Household Income

3. TOTAL U.S. RESIDENT POPULATION
308,745,538
TOTAL COLLEGE ENROLLMENT
20,427,700
7% of Americans
are enrolled in College

4. 79% of children from parents of
higher professionals attend
university
21% of children from Routine
Workers attend university

5. Of upper class
79%
of lower to
middle class
21%
% From Given Class

6. Cyclical Nature
Affordability
Prestige of secondary education
Environment/Influencers
Parents’ Background

7. FTE in Industrial Setting
(manufacturing/factory/etc.)
121,805,000
39% of Americans
About as many people work in manufacturing now as did at the
end of the Depression, even though the American population is
more than twice as large today.

8. Religion Membership % of Total Population
Evangelical 2,154,000 1%
Catholicism 68,503,456 22%
Southern Baptist Convention 16,160,088 5%
Nondenominational 8,032,000 3%
% change 2001-2008 2,489,000 8,032,000 323%

9. 20 Million people watch NASCAR
 6% of the American Population
5,759,000 Attend a race annually

10. 29,952,000 people fish annually
10%
Of theTotal Population
88%
OfTotal Sportspersons

11. 246,283,000Total Automobiles owned in the U.S
110,561,000
Trucks Owned by Americans
45%
of theTotal Population

12. 1 in 5 Americans Smoke Cigarettes

13. Greyhound operated nearly 5.5 billion
passenger miles last year
The U.S. operation carried nearly 18 million
people
1.8 million unique passengers ride the bus
system annually

14. Have a college degree 64%
Scored above 50% 30%
Scored above a 50% and grew up associated
with the lower/lower-middle class
100%
Do Not have a college degree 36%
Scored above a 50% 69%
Grew-up associated with the lower/lower
middle class
100%
Do Not have
a college
degree
69%
Have a
college
degree
31%
Scored above a 50%

16. How vulnerable are you?
-Charles Murray