September 5th 2012 doesn’t have a lot of value for you in this room today it’s
value for you in this room today it’s
value for you in this room today it’s just another day for you you woke up you
just another day for you you woke up you
just another day for you you woke up you went to work you went to class you
went to work you went to class you
went to work you went to class you engage with your friends your families
engage with your friends your families
engage with your friends your families doesn’t matter to you but the debt that
doesn’t matter to you but the debt that
doesn’t matter to you but the debt that day was a day that changed my life
day was a day that changed my life
day was a day that changed my life September 5th 2012 I woke up thinking I
September 5th 2012 I woke up thinking I
September 5th 2012 I woke up thinking I was going to go to UC Oh to work this is
was going to go to UC Oh to work this is
was going to go to UC Oh to work this is going to hang out with some leadership
going to hang out with some leadership
going to hang out with some leadership students see my friends maybe go to the
students see my friends maybe go to the
students see my friends maybe go to the night University Center wait in line for
night University Center wait in line for
night University Center wait in line for chick-fil-a who knows who knows what
chick-fil-a who knows who knows what
chick-fil-a who knows who knows what will happen this day but instead I got
will happen this day but instead I got
will happen this day but instead I got hit with a heart attack 34 years old I
hit with a heart attack 34 years old I
hit with a heart attack 34 years old I woke up and my life changed on September
woke up and my life changed on September
woke up and my life changed on September 5th 2012 and during this process which
5th 2012 and during this process which
5th 2012 and during this process which I’ll share with you in a little bit the
I’ll share with you in a little bit the
I’ll share with you in a little bit the things that I went through made me start
things that I went through made me start
things that I went through made me start to reframe and rethink about leadership
to reframe and rethink about leadership
to reframe and rethink about leadership my current role is leadership at this
my current role is leadership at this
my current role is leadership at this university I the immense pleasure to
university I the immense pleasure to
university I the immense pleasure to work with 200 to 240 students on our
work with 200 to 240 students on our
work with 200 to 240 students on our leadership programs and to engage and to
leadership programs and to engage and to
leadership programs and to engage and to help guide these amazing students that
help guide these amazing students that
help guide these amazing students that are doing unbelievable things our campus
are doing unbelievable things our campus
are doing unbelievable things our campus and our community in the United States
and our community in the United States
and our community in the United States and beyond but that morning I woke up I
and beyond but that morning I woke up I
and beyond but that morning I woke up I learned something new about leadership
learned something new about leadership
learned something new about leadership and as I remove myself from that moment
and as I remove myself from that moment
and as I remove myself from that moment that day it became more and more
that day it became more and more
that day it became more and more apparent that I am I am not the center
apparent that I am I am not the center
apparent that I am I am not the center of the universe and even though my day
of the universe and even though my day
of the universe and even though my day changed my life change I had to realize
changed my life change I had to realize
changed my life change I had to realize that there are many things outside of me
that there are many things outside of me
that there are many things outside of me that if I want to lead if I want to have
that if I want to lead if I want to have
that if I want to lead if I want to have a legacy if I want to educate it has to
a legacy if I want to educate it has to
a legacy if I want to educate it has to stop being about this and being more
stop being about this and being more
stop being about this and being more about you that morning I woke up like I
about you that morning I woke up like I
about you that morning I woke up like I said I thought it was going to be any
said I thought it was going to be any
said I thought it was going to be any other day and I get up and I’m thinking
other day and I get up and I’m thinking
other day and I get up and I’m thinking all right gotta go to work I’m a not an
all right gotta go to work I’m a not an
all right gotta go to work I’m a not an early riser anybody that knows me knows
early riser anybody that knows me knows
early riser anybody that knows me knows that I museum night Allen so ok he’s
that I museum night Allen so ok he’s
that I museum night Allen so ok he’s probably like 7:15 7:20 got to be at
probably like 7:15 7:20 got to be at
probably like 7:15 7:20 got to be at work at 8:00 in the shower probably not
work at 8:00 in the shower probably not
work at 8:00 in the shower probably not grab breakfast and I was walking to the
grab breakfast and I was walking to the
grab breakfast and I was walking to the shower and it just hit me and boom I hit
shower and it just hit me and boom I hit
shower and it just hit me and boom I hit my knees and I was lucky and fortunate
my knees and I was lucky and fortunate
my knees and I was lucky and fortunate enough to
enough to
enough to Pete in athletics in high school and a
Pete in athletics in high school and a
Pete in athletics in high school and a little bit in college and I’ve been out
little bit in college and I’ve been out
little bit in college and I’ve been out of breath before I ran the 800 in high
of breath before I ran the 800 in high
of breath before I ran the 800 in high school anyone that run that so hard as
school anyone that run that so hard as
school anyone that run that so hard as race ever it’s basically called the puke
race ever it’s basically called the puke
race ever it’s basically called the puke race
race
race he’s you’re on you throw up but I knew
he’s you’re on you throw up but I knew
he’s you’re on you throw up but I knew it was like to be out of breath this was
it was like to be out of breath this was
it was like to be out of breath this was different this was different and I was
different this was different and I was
different this was different and I was glad it was different because if it
glad it was different because if it
glad it was different because if it wasn’t different I probably would have
wasn’t different I probably would have
wasn’t different I probably would have brushed it off and thought I don’t get
brushed it off and thought I don’t get
brushed it off and thought I don’t get to work I’ll start feeling better maybe
to work I’ll start feeling better maybe
to work I’ll start feeling better maybe it’s that age old indigestion right I
it’s that age old indigestion right I
it’s that age old indigestion right I was getting a little older I was in my
was getting a little older I was in my
was getting a little older I was in my mid-30s that stuff you know starts
mid-30s that stuff you know starts
mid-30s that stuff you know starts creeping up on ya but it wasn’t and so I
creeping up on ya but it wasn’t and so I
creeping up on ya but it wasn’t and so I did the smart thing and I drove myself
did the smart thing and I drove myself
did the smart thing and I drove myself to the hospital don’t worry my mom is
to the hospital don’t worry my mom is
to the hospital don’t worry my mom is she’s critiqued me enough I don’t need
she’s critiqued me enough I don’t need
she’s critiqued me enough I don’t need any more grief so when I got there by
any more grief so when I got there by
any more grief so when I got there by that time I had this extreme feeling of
that time I had this extreme feeling of
that time I had this extreme feeling of this chest pain and this was like
this chest pain and this was like
this chest pain and this was like someone was wrapping their arms around I
someone was wrapping their arms around I
someone was wrapping their arms around I think this is not normal
think this is not normal
think this is not normal and luckily I had a Blue Cross Blue
and luckily I had a Blue Cross Blue
and luckily I had a Blue Cross Blue Shield card and I was up there I was
Shield card and I was up there I was
Shield card and I was up there I was like I’ve got my insurance card please
like I’ve got my insurance card please
like I’ve got my insurance card please see me they let me in and two hours
see me they let me in and two hours
see me they let me in and two hours later I’m at Baptist Integris and I’m
later I’m at Baptist Integris and I’m
later I’m at Baptist Integris and I’m getting a stent put in my heart 99%
getting a stent put in my heart 99%
getting a stent put in my heart 99% blockage
blockage
blockage they caught the Widowmaker and at first
they caught the Widowmaker and at first
they caught the Widowmaker and at first after I spent some time in the hospital
after I spent some time in the hospital
after I spent some time in the hospital and you make it through things right and
and you make it through things right and
and you make it through things right and they don’t seem as big when you make it
they don’t seem as big when you make it
they don’t seem as big when you make it through it right doctor came in and he
through it right doctor came in and he
through it right doctor came in and he said you’re lucky you’re very lucky I
said you’re lucky you’re very lucky I
said you’re lucky you’re very lucky I said what do you mean he’s like well
said what do you mean he’s like well
said what do you mean he’s like well like 75% of people don’t make it they
like 75% of people don’t make it they
like 75% of people don’t make it they don’t get through this that’s when it
don’t get through this that’s when it
don’t get through this that’s when it hit me
hit me
hit me maybe I am lucky so of course anybody
maybe I am lucky so of course anybody
maybe I am lucky so of course anybody that knows me I’ve went through a
that knows me I’ve went through a
that knows me I’ve went through a doctoral program I got my PhD now in
doctoral program I got my PhD now in
doctoral program I got my PhD now in political science I have to read about
political science I have to read about
political science I have to read about all this right oh good okay how lucky am
all this right oh good okay how lucky am
all this right oh good okay how lucky am I start looking through all this stuff
I start looking through all this stuff
I start looking through all this stuff to all this research I’m like wow this
to all this research I’m like wow this
to all this research I’m like wow this isn’t normal and heart problems that run
isn’t normal and heart problems that run
isn’t normal and heart problems that run in my family so I knew at some point I
in my family so I knew at some point I
in my family so I knew at some point I was going to address this but a34 again
was going to address this but a34 again
was going to address this but a34 again Pete in athletics or in track I was
Pete in athletics or in track I was
Pete in athletics or in track I was active I still swam I mean why why is
active I still swam I mean why why is
active I still swam I mean why why is this but it’s all genetic something I
this but it’s all genetic something I
this but it’s all genetic something I had no control over for the most part at
had no control over for the most part at
had no control over for the most part at that point well I manage it now and I’m
that point well I manage it now and I’m
that point well I manage it now and I’m feeling better but after the initial
feeling better but after the initial
feeling better but after the initial shock
shock
shock happened the initial process of getting
happened the initial process of getting
happened the initial process of getting through this experience and your parents
through this experience and your parents
through this experience and your parents were there and of course they love you
were there and of course they love you
were there and of course they love you and your friends are there everyone
and your friends are there everyone
and your friends are there everyone visits you get flowers I think some
visits you get flowers I think some
visits you get flowers I think some people in this room were there
people in this room were there
people in this room were there came and said hello and I still
came and said hello and I still
came and said hello and I still appreciate people that did that you’re
appreciate people that did that you’re
appreciate people that did that you’re now in the hospital alone right and you
now in the hospital alone right and you
now in the hospital alone right and you realize that this earth is still turning
realize that this earth is still turning
realize that this earth is still turning and no matter the outcome for you that
and no matter the outcome for you that
and no matter the outcome for you that day
day
day the earth would have continued to turn
the earth would have continued to turn
the earth would have continued to turn and it would have been a sad day for
and it would have been a sad day for
and it would have been a sad day for your friends and your family but for the
your friends and your family but for the
your friends and your family but for the most part you would have gone and passed
most part you would have gone and passed
most part you would have gone and passed but most likely little fanfare man
but most likely little fanfare man
but most likely little fanfare man that’s humbling you let me tell you you
that’s humbling you let me tell you you
that’s humbling you let me tell you you sit there in a hospital bed you’re
sit there in a hospital bed you’re
sit there in a hospital bed you’re thinking about those things and so as I
thinking about those things and so as I
thinking about those things and so as I thought about that I said you know I
thought about that I said you know I
thought about that I said you know I don’t feel like I’ve not been productive
don’t feel like I’ve not been productive
don’t feel like I’ve not been productive I’ve been engaged and I feel like I’m
I’ve been engaged and I feel like I’m
I’ve been engaged and I feel like I’m really doing some things that I’m pretty
really doing some things that I’m pretty
really doing some things that I’m pretty proud of and so I wouldn’t I wouldn’t i
proud of and so I wouldn’t I wouldn’t i
proud of and so I wouldn’t I wouldn’t i think passes earth and be concerned
think passes earth and be concerned
think passes earth and be concerned about that then i thought about how do
about that then i thought about how do
about that then i thought about how do we think about the things that i’ve been
we think about the things that i’ve been
we think about the things that i’ve been examining and setting and engaging with
examining and setting and engaging with
examining and setting and engaging with students this thing called leadership
students this thing called leadership
students this thing called leadership how do we then understand that this is
how do we then understand that this is
how do we then understand that this is something bigger than ourselves and so i
something bigger than ourselves and so i
something bigger than ourselves and so i started reading and trying to find
started reading and trying to find
started reading and trying to find pieces of this and of course you have
pieces of this and of course you have
pieces of this and of course you have trade theory so have integrity be a good
trade theory so have integrity be a good
trade theory so have integrity be a good character those are those are things we
character those are those are things we
character those are those are things we hear all the time but i thought what is
hear all the time but i thought what is
hear all the time but i thought what is that what does that thing that makes us
that what does that thing that makes us
that what does that thing that makes us think about the next day what does that
think about the next day what does that
think about the next day what does that thing that makes us think about okay
thing that makes us think about okay
thing that makes us think about okay when I’m not here how can i empower and
when I’m not here how can i empower and
when I’m not here how can i empower and grow people what will that be I started
grow people what will that be I started
grow people what will that be I started really looking into this idea of
really looking into this idea of
really looking into this idea of stewardship and the history of the word
stewardship and the history of the word
stewardship and the history of the word steward is staight word which means
steward is staight word which means
steward is staight word which means protector of the house guarding the
protector of the house guarding the
protector of the house guarding the house as I read more about it and
house as I read more about it and
house as I read more about it and understood it and I started thinking
understood it and I started thinking
understood it and I started thinking about this it hit me like a brick we’re
about this it hit me like a brick we’re
about this it hit me like a brick we’re here to protect and guard our jobs and
here to protect and guard our jobs and
here to protect and guard our jobs and to grow our jobs we are not our jobs we
to grow our jobs we are not our jobs we
to grow our jobs we are not our jobs we are not even our professions those
are not even our professions those
are not even our professions those professions those jobs those things we
professions those jobs those things we
professions those jobs those things we engage in will go on after us and
engage in will go on after us and
engage in will go on after us and someone will fill the seat that you’re
someone will fill the seat that you’re
someone will fill the seat that you’re in so I thought as someone that wants to
in so I thought as someone that wants to
in so I thought as someone that wants to pursue and learn and engage in
pursue and learn and engage in
pursue and learn and engage in leadership I have to start thinking like
leadership I have to start thinking like
leadership I have to start thinking like a steward and so in in perfect Ted
a steward and so in in perfect Ted
a steward and so in in perfect Ted arrangements and talk I’m going to give
arrangements and talk I’m going to give
arrangements and talk I’m going to give you three points three principles to
you three points three principles to
you three points three principles to make sure that you can walk out of here
make sure that you can walk out of here
make sure that you can walk out of here and hopefully have an idea of how do we
and hopefully have an idea of how do we
and hopefully have an idea of how do we think about being a steward how do we
think about being a steward how do we
think about being a steward how do we think about leading in that manner and
think about leading in that manner and
think about leading in that manner and all the things that you’re engaged in
all the things that you’re engaged in
all the things that you’re engaged in whether you’re a doctor businessman and
whether you’re a doctor businessman and
whether you’re a doctor businessman and woman teacher whatever you end up
woman teacher whatever you end up
woman teacher whatever you end up doing there are three things three
doing there are three things three
doing there are three things three principles you have to know your
principles you have to know your
principles you have to know your organization’s past but not be tied to
organization’s past but not be tied to
organization’s past but not be tied to it you have to appreciate the things
it you have to appreciate the things
it you have to appreciate the things that have come before you appreciate
that have come before you appreciate
that have come before you appreciate those peoples that have Litton the
those peoples that have Litton the
those peoples that have Litton the lights that have guided you along that
lights that have guided you along that
lights that have guided you along that way you have to understand the history
way you have to understand the history
way you have to understand the history the things that people have worked for
the things that people have worked for
the things that people have worked for and engaged in weather that’s
and engaged in weather that’s
and engaged in weather that’s institutional aware that social
institutional aware that social
institutional aware that social movements or whatever that is you have
movements or whatever that is you have
movements or whatever that is you have to understand that there is people that
to understand that there is people that
to understand that there is people that have paved the way for you to be
have paved the way for you to be
have paved the way for you to be successful but you can’t be tied too
successful but you can’t be tied too
successful but you can’t be tied too strongly to that history because the
strongly to that history because the
strongly to that history because the world moves too fast you’ve got to be
world moves too fast you’ve got to be
world moves too fast you’ve got to be able to take those principles and those
able to take those principles and those
able to take those principles and those values and then update them to a new
values and then update them to a new
values and then update them to a new world the second one is you have to know
world the second one is you have to know
world the second one is you have to know your role and build it it’s really easy
your role and build it it’s really easy
your role and build it it’s really easy when you’re sitting in an institution
when you’re sitting in an institution
when you’re sitting in an institution and company or even in a team project
and company or even in a team project
and company or even in a team project and say well someone so it’s got a great
and say well someone so it’s got a great
and say well someone so it’s got a great gig or man if I could only be at that
gig or man if I could only be at that
gig or man if I could only be at that position I’d be great if I was only this
position I’d be great if I was only this
position I’d be great if I was only this person I would be much better at what I
person I would be much better at what I
person I would be much better at what I do you’ve got to sit where you’re at
do you’ve got to sit where you’re at
do you’ve got to sit where you’re at engage in that position and make it the
engage in that position and make it the
engage in that position and make it the best position it can be you’re a holding
best position it can be you’re a holding
best position it can be you’re a holding place and the next person that comes
place and the next person that comes
place and the next person that comes behind you should be even more prepared
behind you should be even more prepared
behind you should be even more prepared and even more developed in order for
and even more developed in order for
and even more developed in order for that job that role to be successful and
that job that role to be successful and
that job that role to be successful and the third and final one is you have to
the third and final one is you have to
the third and final one is you have to imagine a future but without you in it
imagine a future but without you in it
imagine a future but without you in it you have to imagine a future but without
you have to imagine a future but without
you have to imagine a future but without you in it
you in it
you in it and how does that frame our thinking it
and how does that frame our thinking it
and how does that frame our thinking it makes us encourage people that we know
makes us encourage people that we know
makes us encourage people that we know may fill those positions you may have
may fill those positions you may have
may fill those positions you may have met that person today it may be really
met that person today it may be really
met that person today it may be really obvious who the next person will come
obvious who the next person will come
obvious who the next person will come into your role and you have to empower
into your role and you have to empower
into your role and you have to empower them you have to mentor you have to
them you have to mentor you have to
them you have to mentor you have to engage give them opportunities you have
engage give them opportunities you have
engage give them opportunities you have to make sure that when you are gone
to make sure that when you are gone
to make sure that when you are gone those principles and values at your
those principles and values at your
those principles and values at your organization your business that you
organization your business that you
organization your business that you espouse that you believe in are then
espouse that you believe in are then
espouse that you believe in are then passed down we’re a world of education
passed down we’re a world of education
passed down we’re a world of education here right you have to educate and teach
here right you have to educate and teach
here right you have to educate and teach and share and when you do those three
and share and when you do those three
and share and when you do those three things and you understand those three
things and you understand those three
things and you understand those three principles you’ll get the realization
principles you’ll get the realization
principles you’ll get the realization that I got after experience like I had
that I got after experience like I had
that I got after experience like I had knowing there is a finite time for all
knowing there is a finite time for all
knowing there is a finite time for all of us
of us
of us on this earth to say man this whole
on this earth to say man this whole
on this earth to say man this whole thing called leadership leadership is
thing called leadership leadership is
thing called leadership leadership is not about me it’s about all of you thank
not about me it’s about all of you thank
not about me it’s about all of you thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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