I especially liked the last quote from a GE video Mr. Denhart shared with us:
"plenty of people will give the world what it wants,
but who will give the world what it needs?"
While, we may each answer this question differently or each define the world's needs a different way, it provokes us to live actively, not passive! This may mean we may not be the most well-liked or popular person, but perhaps our work may be the most worthwhile and life most well-spent. What does most of the world want? entertainment? but what does it need?
- "See the bigger picture and find the possibilities" : Initiative requires an active pursuit to seek out opportunities as well as mentors. We can plan for what we would like to happen 20 yr down the road or where we would want to be, but must also realize that plan can and likely will change directions in 2 years. I personally have been comforted by a wise friend, to rest in the thought that God does not necessarily have one thing for us to do. The familiar verse Jeremiah 29:11, says "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." That plan might mean one thing this year, and change next year. That is ok! We do not have to know all 50 years ahead of us. Be actively pursuing and learn to be flexible.
- "Success starts with a strong performance everyday": this is faithfulness and hard work lived out. Our life is made of little choices, and the daily decisions to be diligent lay the foundation for life-long patterns. No one runs a marathons without training.
- "Explore, learn, and evolve." Do not become complacent with mediocrity.
- Good managers ask: "are you happy?" "what do you want to do next?" As a leaders, do not stick someone in a hole or assign them only a certain task just because they are good doing one particular thing. Help those under you and around you grow!
- "Define your success": how you define success? What is your life mission statement? We will always be faced with the choice of what is worth trading. What will I not sacrifice? (ex: time with family) or for what will I compromise? What we value must be decided ahead of time. While we cannot usually control the circumstances, we can determine our response.
- "Perform and grow everyday": growth requires honesty with yourself and others. If you are not embarrassed by things you said, wrote, or did or prior experiences, you are not growing. Grow others, serve, ask others what problems can be fixed, gather ideas, then do something!
- "Do not be limited to expectations; do what you are passionate about." I do not just go along with the "follow your heart" propaganda, because I believe the heart can be deceived and is selfish. However, in the context of society's expectations of "successful" people, such as the necessity to attend Ivy League schools, do internships every summer, etc.... I do understand his point to instead do what you can support and are whole-heartedly excited for. For example, the first people who come to my mind are Adoniram Judson and Florence Nightingale. Judson had a college degree, was a teacher and statesman with many advantages and a promising career in the early 1800's when he could have made an incredible name for himself during a crucial period in American history. Yet, he gave up that life to serve in Burma (now Myanmar) as a missionary where he saw several of his children and wife die to diseases, where he was imprisoned for his faith, and spent years translating the first Burmese Bible. How did he define success? Florence Nightingale had all the advantages life could afford and born in to a stately family where she was expected to host parties, yet denied it all to take on the most lowly, dishonorable and despised occupations of her time. She revolutionized nursing from a its reputation of immorality into the well-respected profession it remains today. The standards of care she set, doing the dirty work from killing rats to raking hay, lead the way not just in the Crimean War but for all of us today. How did she define success?
- "Cultivate relationships" : do not burn your bridges. "The best time to build a bridge is before you need it." Be genuine; invest time. Relationships whether personal or for business take time. As my mom tells me "leave margins" in life to have time for the unexpected. Build trust with not just leadership, but peers and assistants because in 20 years they will be the leaders too. Surround yourself with people who challenge you, not tell you what you want to hear.
(Right: Janet Tran speaking on "Leadership and the American Presidency".) While we will obviously all not be president one day, we do have these similar choices and influences:
| For more info about the Leadership and American Presidency internship (summer and semester long options) check out: www.reaganfoundation.org/reagan-institute/leadership-and-the-american-presidency/ |
Janet served in inner city Los Angeles high schools as a Social Studies and English Teacher. She is a former Social Studies Department Chair, Professional Development Coordinator, and Advanced Placement Coordinator and has presented at national conferences. Janet is a graduate of the University of California Los Angeles.
Tony is the University Relations Leader for GE Global University Relations. In this role, Tony is responsible for leading the strategy and implementation of university relations, full time, internship, military and diversity recruitment initiatives, developing a unified presence on campus, branding strategy and execution, campus recruiting teams, and research collaboration at GE’s executive schools. He also partners with the GE businesses across the company in the development of diversity goals, best practices, workforce planning and programs to meet strategic objectives. Tony works closely with GE’s Global Brand Marketing team to drive disruptive awareness and emotional connections in the university space.
Tony started his GE career in 1989 as a field engineer with GE Energy. After several leadership roles at GE Energy, Tony accepted a role as the senior services leader, GE Energy in 2007. Tony’s strong external and operations focus was demonstrated frequently, as he developed meaningful relationships delivering solid results year over year with key customers and stakeholders. In addition to his GE Energy role, he was appointed to a volunteer role, Purdue Campus Relations Leader, CRL, that he held for seven years, 2007 – 2014. As the CRL Tony had full ownership of the recruiting cycle, relationships with the deans, faculty, administration and student organizations and research collaboration. Tony drove the partnership to new levels, student interaction increased, hiring increased and collaborative research increased by ten times.
Tony also serves on the advisory boards of the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Purdue Honors College, Purdue Bound Program and Purdue Parents and Family Connections. Tony has been engaged with university recruiting and relations for over 20 years.
He is a native of Indiana and graduated from Purdue University with a BS degree in Electrical Engineering Technology. He and his wife, Rhonda, have two children, Jake and Nicole.