Lessons Learned

Publisher’s Note: Former Advanced Services For Pest Control CEO, Jeff Annis has been a mentor to many in the CSRA. He learned many lessons along the way about the importance of passing on his gifts. One such person he learned from is Tommy Smith, who retired a few days ago, after running Smith’s Chevron on Walton Way Extension and Wheeler Road since the 1980’s. Yesterday, he dropped off the following letter of thanks and drove his car to Smith’s Chevron one last time. Dear Mr. Smith: I don’t think I

For most of us, but particularly those of us in higher education, this is “Commencement Season.” During the month of May, institutions of higher education hold their primary graduation or commencement ceremonies for the academic year (Note: Some universities also hold such ceremonies in December and/or July at the end of their Fall and Summer terms.) As I conclude, my 25th year in academia as either faculty member and/or administrator, I have attended well over fifty such ceremonies, plus three others as a graduating student. Therefore, I have heard more

Working at Augusta National during the Masters Tournament is a unique and unforgettable experience. As a staff member at the main golf shop and bag check stand, I had the opportunity to witness firsthand the excitement and energy of one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world. The main golf shop at Augusta National is a bustling hub of activity during the tournament, with thousands of patrons passing through every day. My primary role was to assist patrons with their purchases and provide exceptional customer service. This involved

One of the secrets to outstanding leadership is the ability to make really good speeches and briefings. Although trust and integrity are more important, speaking skills are high on any list of qualities of great leadership. The following are suggestions on how you might make your future speeches lead to “oh wows” and standing ovations from your audiences—large and small. This list contains many ideas on how to make a better speech. It also suggests areas which are not helpful or are counterproductive. When you introduce yourself, take no more