B/CS Chamber of Commerce Connections Jan 2015 | Page 2

presidential PERSPECTIVES Look for Opportunities—Then be Persistent! Rich White Chairman Robert “Bobby” Bisor Chairman-Elect/Administration Glen Brewer Immediate Past Chairman Kathy Krusie Vice-Chair Community Enhancement Uri Geva Vice-Chair Communications Mary Beckman Vice-Chair Leadership Jody Rodriguez Vice-Chair Membership David O’Neil Vice-Chair Business Enhancement Arty Brieden Vice-Chair Finance & Physical Resources Paul Atkinson Stephen Beck Neal Briers Lori Bruffett Sharon Burt Crystal Dupre Vicki Flenniken Katie Fox David Gardner Rudy Grimaldo Barron Hobbs Jason Jennings Rayne Knight Chase Murphy Casey Oldham Brandi Ring-Cooper STAFF President/CEO Royce Hickman Director of Finance Lori Farrell Director of Operations & Public Affairs Burl Haigwood Manager of Business Programs Lucia Cropper Manager of Member Services Carrie Archer Membership Investment Representative Communications Coordinator Brittany Coker Executive Assistant Tracy Bates Business Programs Coordinator Kelli Davis Receptionist & Membership Assistant Linda Espiriqueta One of the things I enjoy most about my job is the opportunity I have to make presentations to various groups in our community. I am often asked to give presentations on successful leadership qualities, and I recently read an article on leadership by someone I reference often, Jim Gentile. Mr. Gentile highlights several points that mirror my own presentation points on leadership, and I thought some of these points may be beneficial or interesting to you as you look at your own leadership roles, both personal and professional. Mr. Gentile began his article by noting that Thomas Edison once observed that the reason most folks don’t recognize opportunity when it comes knocking is that it is often dressed in coveralls and looks like work. Edison knew that nothing worthwhile comes easily; if it were easy, anyone could do it. Because he persisted far beyond a point that an average person would consider reasonable and rational, he produced inventions that even the most learned people of the day considered impossible. Great advances in knowledge are often achieved by people with an almost fanatical devotion to finding the solution to a problem. Flashes of inspiration alone are not enough to ensure success; they must be followed by determined, persistent action. Psychologists who study human behavior have concluded that we are happiest when we are striving to achieve success. It is interesting to me that they believe it is the act of striving, not the actual successful completion of a task, that provides the greatest rewards. When we strive to achieve success through service to others, we actually multiply the benefits to ourselves, and we ensure that whatever road we may choose in life will ultimately lead us to the success and happiness that we desire. There is no occupation or profession that will not benefit from a concerted effort to better serve others. But the greatest benefit will be to each of us in the form of the self-satisfaction that comes from knowing that we have made a difference in someone’s life or we have contributed to the betterment of our community. It is extremely rewarding to know that without the contributions we make, there would be people in our community who would never have received the service we provide. No action takes place unless it is preceded by thought. If you’re unhappy with the circumstances in which you find yourself, you can improve your situation through the power of thought, just as surely as you can destroy a positive life with negative thinking. Success begins with an honest analysis of your present condition, a willingness to accept responsibility for our own life, and the development of a workable plan to achieve what we desire. We have many leaders in our community who think things through, then proceed to take the necessary action that will lead to their personal success and will provide a benefit to the citizens of our community. I am thankful for all of them! The Chamber Connections is a publication of the Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 3579, Bryan, TX 77805. Published monthly, the Chamber Connections is a public service to Chamber members. Editorial and advertising inquiries should be 2 addressed to Brittany Coker at the above address, by phone at Connections January 2015 [phone], or email [email protected]. www.bcschamber.org Royce H. Hickman President/CEO Connections January 2015 1