Are you a minority
professional who feels as though
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your company has
some unwritten rules?
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How can you position
yourself for success?
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Well, stay tuned to
hear all about it...
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My name is Yvonne Lewis
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and you're
watching Urban Report...
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Hello and welcome
to Urban Report...
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My guest today is Keith
Wyche Speaker and Author of
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"Good Is Not Enough"
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Welcome to Urban Report Keith...
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Thank you so
much for having me...
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Oh, man, Keith, you
have such great information
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in your book,
"Good Is Not Enough"
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What was the motivation
for writing that book?
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You know, the motivation really
stemmed from the fact that
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when I was in
Corporate America initially
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in the early 1980s...
there were not a lot of people
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who looked like me
in leadership positions
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and the few that
were there kind of had a
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"Crab in the
Barrel" mentality that said,
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"Hey, I got mine, you get yours"
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and so I promised myself,
if I ever got to any level of
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significance, so to
speak, in Corporate America
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I would document
and codify those lessons
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and the mistakes that
I've learned and others
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to share with that next
generation of leadership
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because I think,
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"True leaders make sure that
they create future leaders. "
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Absolutely, it is so important
that we're all in here together
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so we need to
help each other out...
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we need to identify the
different aspects of the journey
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that we need to
share and pass on...
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so that others can
kind of take advantage
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of the benefits that
we were blessed with...
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Absolutely... it is
particularly important
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for women and people of color
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who have not typically
had role models of people
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maybe... in their families
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to pass these
lessons down and so
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if you didn't
grow up in a family
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with a Corporate
Executive or a Leader...
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you may not be aware of
some of these unwritten rules.
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Yes, yes... let's go back
and kind of look at your journey
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because I think you've had a
really interesting life too...
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Where did you grow up?
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I grew up in the inner
city of Cleveland, Ohio...
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a child of the 60s...
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so, I grew up through
the Civil Rights era...
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I don't just remember
Selma from the movie...
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I actually remember
living through it...
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and so it was a
very difficult time,
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a very challenging time...
it was Vietnam war time...
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and so, it was
a time when really
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I was the first in my
family to go to College
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of the kids... and so, it
was really a difficult time
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Yeah, and being the first...
there's a lot of pressure
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involved in that... isn't there?
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Like being the first...
a lot of expectations...
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Yeah... it really is...
because I'm the first grandchild
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on my maternal side...
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and so, as I'm the oldest child
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of my parents... and
so, it was instilled in me
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to set an example
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for those who come behind...
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You know, it's so funny
Keith because for me too...
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growing up... I'm
the oldest grandchild
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and my grandmother...
just instilled in me
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from childhood...
"get an education...
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get an education... because
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one day you might have to
take care of your family...
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you don't know... so
get that education... "
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so it was never...
"if I go to college"
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it was always... "when"
so the expectation is there
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and so... did you grow up in a
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a two-parent household?
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I did... I absolutely did...
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you said
something that's so key...
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it's the expectations that
were set so in my family...
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it was understood...
"you're going to college...
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we don't know where...
but you're going to college"
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it was understood that
you would get good grades
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my parents were very active,
particularly my mother...
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in PTA Meetings and Open Houses.
I went to Cleveland Public
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Schools and she was
there... actively involved...
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You know what Keith...
that is such an important point
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because one of the
things that I see...
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that's happened...
there's been a decline...
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in the focus... the
emphasis on education...
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number one... and number two...
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there's been this decline
in parental involvement...
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your mother was at the meetings,
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your mother would
talk to the teachers...
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parents must be involved in
their children's academic lives
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because you can't just say,
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"Well, that's for
the School to do...
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and I'm just going to...
do what I do at home... "
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you have to be involved...
and so, what I'm hearing...
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is that... your mom...
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was very involved in
your academic life...
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which I think... sets
a child up for success.
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It really does...
on so many levels...
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first of all... it lets
the school administration know
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that you have people and parents
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who care about your education,
that's the first thing...
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the second thing is...
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as a student... it
kept me on my toes...
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you know, I speak to a lot of
Administrators and Organizations
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and it's sad to
say that PTA Meetings
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now go vastly unattended...
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there are more parents in
line to shop on Black Friday
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the day after Thanksgiving...
than attend the PTA Meeting
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and so, we have to
get more actively engaged
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and really understand
that it's education...
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my grandmother is 99 years old
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and she says,
"Education is something that
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once you have it they
can't take it from you"
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Absolutely...
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it is something that
you carry with you...
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it's a way of life...
it's a way of thinking...
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it opens up worlds to you...
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that would not, perhaps,
have been opened up, had you not
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and it doesn't even necessarily
mean... just formal education...
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but I'm talking
about literacy as well...
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and I don't want to get
too far of... off focus... but
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one of the things
that I noticed too...
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is that our kids
are not reading...
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they don't know how to read...
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85 percent of American kids
cannot read at grade level...
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so, we really are...
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we're not doing some of
the things that I read about in
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"Good Is Not Enough"
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which is...
personal responsibility
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"Are we living up to our best...
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are we doing our best?"
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so, literacy
and learning to read
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is so critical...
and that's something that
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even if you don't have money
you can go to the library...
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take your child to the
library and get a free book
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and read to your child...
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there's no
excuse... Absolutely...
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there's no
excuse... so, with you...
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as you were growing up...
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your
grandmother... emphasized...
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and your mother
emphasized education
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you had a two-parent household
so your dad was there...
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what impact did having your
father in the home have on you?
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It was huge for me...
because he was my role model
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what manhood was...
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one of the things
that really, to this day,
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brings tears to
my eyes... is this...
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I saw this man actually
graduate from college in 1964...
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after going 10
years at Night School
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and working in the
Steel Mills by day...
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Wow! Imagine
what that did for me
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and what that instilled
in me... watching him...
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you know, work in
the Steel Mills by day
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and go to School at night...
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that was emphatical...
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he taught me how
to be a gentleman
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he taught me how to
treat my mother and sisters,
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so he was my role model...
and so, again, you know,
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he is one of the people
that gave a sense of achievement
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but was really the
foundation for me...
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he let me understand who I
was, and set the expectations...
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And look what he taught you...
he taught you to persevere...
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in spite of all the odds...
in spite of every obstacle...
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"if you hang in there...
you can reach your goal... "
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and so, this had to be
impactful on you because
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you saw it really happened...
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it wasn't just
something he told you...
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it was something he
lived... Yes... absolutely...
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So, you went through
College, you did all that...
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how did you
enter Corporate life?
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Literally, I graduated
one week and two weeks later
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I started working
in Corporate America
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as a Sales Person
for the Bell System...
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now, I'm old enough to remember
Ma Bell when it was a monopoly
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and if you wanted a phone,
you had to go to Ma Bell...
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if you wanted long-distance...
you had to go there...
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and so, it was an interesting
time because it was a monopoly
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but it was a time
when we started seeing
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the robustness of technology...
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so it was really a great time
to enter the workforce... for me
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And what did you find out
in terms of being a minority
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especially... growing
up during that time...
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and in Corporate America...
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what kinds of experiences
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did you have in
Corporate America at that time?
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Yeah, I had some
very interesting...
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my first day on the job I
was in the men's rest room
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and a large white male
co-worker stood next to me
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and said, "You
know, you got a job
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that a white man should
have" first day on the job...
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a few months later...
I was the sales person
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I was selling phone systems
to an automobile dealership
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and I was the lead
person and the gentleman said,
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"I don't do business
with people like you...
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so if you'll need to
have someone come out... "
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Well, I said, "I'll get
my boss she'll come out"
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he said, "Did you say 'she'"
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he says, "I don't do
business with women either... "
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and so, literally, the
Company sent out my assistant
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who was a young
caucasian gentleman
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who got the sale... and
it really opened my eyes
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to the fact that, you
know, "racism was real... "
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and was something that I
still had to deal with...
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and this was back
in 1980 or 1981...
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Yeah, so how did
you work around that
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because you
became very successful...
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how did you work
around those obstacles?
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You know, it's a great
question a few things...
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first of all... you know...
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I said, "There are
things I can't control...
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I can't control
the color of my skin...
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I couldn't control
what time I was born...
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but I can control who I
put my faith and trust in...
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and how I behave... "
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and so, I made sure
that I worked twice as hard,
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so to speak... to
make sure that everyone
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understood I was competent,
00:10:17.01\00:10:18.35
that I was not an
'affirmative-action hired'
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that I didn't get this
job because I was Black...
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but that I'm
competent and I'm qualified...
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the other thing,
though, this is a crucial...
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I see a lot of our children
struggle with it today...
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I was able to
communicate effectively
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in the business world...
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yes, I grew up in the
inner city of Cleveland...
00:10:33.09\00:10:35.73
and there was one way I
spoke in my neighborhood...
00:10:35.76\00:10:38.43
there was a different way
I spoke in Corporate America
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and never the two shall meet...
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and so, between my
communication skills
00:10:42.67\00:10:45.61
and my interpersonal skills...
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being able to get
along with different people
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that really led to me
moving up in Corporate America.
00:10:48.88\00:10:52.08
That is such an important point,
we're getting on this Network
00:10:52.11\00:10:56.15
we're planning a Program
called "Working the Dream"
00:10:56.22\00:10:59.29
in which we're going
to show our young people
00:10:59.32\00:11:03.09
how to dress for an interview,
how to behave in an interview,
00:11:03.12\00:11:07.13
in Corporate
America... because as you said,
00:11:07.13\00:11:10.67
you cannot...
00:11:10.70\00:11:12.03
you can't go
into a job interview
00:11:12.07\00:11:14.17
and say, "Yo" wus
up... you can't do that...
00:11:14.20\00:11:17.01
that is inappropriate
00:11:17.04\00:11:18.87
for that situation...
00:11:18.94\00:11:20.71
and one of the
things you talk about...
00:11:20.74\00:11:22.14
in the book is... is
the climate... basically...
00:11:22.21\00:11:27.18
the culture of the company...
and that is an important point
00:11:27.22\00:11:31.52
would you
elaborate on that for us...
00:11:31.55\00:11:33.09
the culture of the company...
00:11:33.12\00:11:34.59
Yeah, that is so critical...
00:11:34.62\00:11:36.02
every Organization...
00:11:36.06\00:11:37.39
every Company...
has their own culture...
00:11:37.43\00:11:38.99
those rules, those
norms that are acceptable
00:11:39.03\00:11:41.20
and so, you know,
let me be transparent...
00:11:41.23\00:11:43.40
I have learned
more from my failures
00:11:43.43\00:11:45.13
than I have from my successes...
00:11:45.17\00:11:46.87
my successes inspired
me... my failures taught me...
00:11:46.90\00:11:49.44
and one of my first
failures and you'll laugh...
00:11:49.47\00:11:51.94
was that I went
on a job interview
00:11:52.01\00:11:53.34
while I was still in
College to go work for Xerox...
00:11:53.38\00:11:56.51
again, I didn't really
understand how to prepare...
00:11:56.54\00:11:59.65
and so, Yvonne, I
go to this interview
00:11:59.71\00:12:01.92
with a beige polyester
suit with beige cowboy boots
00:12:01.95\00:12:07.42
and a big... belt buckle...
00:12:07.46\00:12:10.99
and I'll never forget the look
on the face of the receptionist
00:12:11.03\00:12:14.00
she was an African American
woman... she was older...
00:12:14.03\00:12:15.63
and she just looked at me
and just shook her head and said
00:12:15.66\00:12:18.40
"Lord, help him... "
but what I had to understand
00:12:18.43\00:12:22.14
was in that culture,
00:12:22.17\00:12:23.51
that would not be
appropriate attire...
00:12:23.54\00:12:25.17
that was a business attire...
00:12:25.21\00:12:26.91
they wanted me to
represent the Organization
00:12:26.94\00:12:29.11
so, you have to understand...
00:12:29.14\00:12:30.71
you have to
understand is it an Organization
00:12:30.75\00:12:32.78
that promotes... based on...
00:12:32.81\00:12:34.28
you know... how long
you've been in the job
00:12:34.35\00:12:37.29
or based on performance...
and so, you have to understand
00:12:37.32\00:12:40.76
"Is it a company that respects
and embraces diversity?"
00:12:40.82\00:12:44.16
You know, one of the things I
talk to young people about is...
00:12:44.19\00:12:47.10
before you go work for a Company
00:12:47.13\00:12:49.46
because you can have a
great job in a bad Company
00:12:49.50\00:12:52.00
is... check the website...
do you see diverse leaders...
00:12:52.07\00:12:55.67
as Senior Leaders...
00:12:55.70\00:12:57.04
look at their
Board of Directors...
00:12:57.07\00:12:58.41
did you see diversity on
their Board of Directors...
00:12:58.44\00:13:00.44
that may be an
indication of how well or how
00:13:00.48\00:13:03.98
"not so well" they
embrace diversity...
00:13:04.01\00:13:06.38
Those are critical points
because... you need to know
00:13:06.41\00:13:10.82
the culture of the Company,
00:13:10.85\00:13:13.69
you need to know
how that Company...
00:13:13.72\00:13:15.29
what their philosophy
is... how they live that through
00:13:15.32\00:13:19.03
I know here at 3ABN...
00:13:19.06\00:13:20.93
our Vice
President... General Manager
00:13:20.96\00:13:23.70
says that 3ABN has its
own DNA, and it does...
00:13:23.73\00:13:28.27
it really does...
it has its own DNA...
00:13:28.30\00:13:31.24
and there are people
that come through here...
00:13:31.27\00:13:33.74
they either love it
or they don't stay...
00:13:33.78\00:13:37.15
they either stay or they leave,
but its got its own DNA...
00:13:37.21\00:13:42.28
and I think... it
behooves you to do your research
00:13:42.32\00:13:46.65
and find out
about that Company...
00:13:46.69\00:13:48.59
another thing
that you talk about
00:13:48.62\00:13:51.59
that I just think is
so... so important...
00:13:51.63\00:13:54.93
is if that door has
been opened for you...
00:13:54.96\00:13:58.20
that door has
been opened for you...
00:13:58.27\00:14:00.24
but it's up to
you... to keep it open...
00:14:00.27\00:14:02.87
let's talk a bit about
personal responsibility...
00:14:02.90\00:14:05.57
in maintaining that
job... that position...
00:14:05.61\00:14:09.54
Yeah... that is so crucial...
because I'm a big believer
00:14:09.58\00:14:12.91
in self-empowerment...
you know, when I talk to...
00:14:12.95\00:14:16.18
and I was at a Bank yesterday...
00:14:16.22\00:14:17.62
speaking about
the "door opening"
00:14:17.65\00:14:18.99
you know, I talk in
terms of diversity...
00:14:19.05\00:14:21.32
inclusion and
equality... and what I say is...
00:14:21.36\00:14:23.49
"Diversity gets you
invited to the parties...
00:14:23.53\00:14:25.83
inclusion gets you
a seat at the table...
00:14:25.86\00:14:28.06
and equality says,
00:14:28.13\00:14:29.66
'you get the same opportunities
on your plate as everyone else'"
00:14:29.73\00:14:32.50
however, it's what you
do with those opportunities
00:14:32.53\00:14:35.20
and that's what
will make or break you...
00:14:35.24\00:14:38.17
because at the end of
the day it's about results...
00:14:38.21\00:14:41.04
and "getting the job done".
00:14:41.08\00:14:42.68
Absolutely, it's
not about, you know,
00:14:42.71\00:14:46.48
just having the door opened...
00:14:46.55\00:14:47.88
it's about, "That door is open
now, you have to walk through,
00:14:47.92\00:14:51.19
and you have to keep
yourself in that spot... "
00:14:51.22\00:14:54.22
which means... "Good
is not enough" correct?
00:14:54.26\00:14:57.19
Absolutely, and
one of the things
00:14:57.23\00:14:59.49
I've stressed... and
you touched on it earlier,
00:14:59.56\00:15:01.36
I talk about,
00:15:01.43\00:15:03.03
"You have to stay
current to remain relevant. "
00:15:03.06\00:15:05.30
You have got to be a
continuous learner...
00:15:05.33\00:15:08.07
you have got to be
someone who has, what I call,
00:15:08.10\00:15:10.51
"intellectual curiosity"
always asking, always seeking,
00:15:10.54\00:15:14.51
the day that you
think you know it all...
00:15:14.54\00:15:16.31
the day you get your degree
and you think that... you know,
00:15:16.34\00:15:19.01
"I'm Mr. and Ms. Wonderful... "
00:15:19.05\00:15:20.78
is really the day
that you are in trouble...
00:15:20.82\00:15:22.98
because you can
never stop learning...
00:15:23.02\00:15:25.35
we live in the information age,
00:15:25.39\00:15:26.79
and if you rest on the laurels
of what you know 'yesterday'
00:15:26.82\00:15:30.33
you will be lost tomorrow
because it changes that fast!
00:15:30.36\00:15:34.00
That's right, you'll be obsolete
so fast, your head will spin
00:15:34.00\00:15:36.93
because you have to stay
on top of what's going on...
00:15:36.97\00:15:40.27
so that you can,
again, remain relevant...
00:15:40.30\00:15:43.34
Yeah... and it doesn't stop...
00:15:43.37\00:15:45.17
there's a story
I like to tell...
00:15:45.21\00:15:47.01
I was
interviewing to be President
00:15:47.04\00:15:49.24
of a 2 billion
dollar grocery chain...
00:15:49.31\00:15:51.41
and I had no grocery background,
so I go prepared to meet
00:15:51.48\00:15:54.68
with the Chairman
of this Organization...
00:15:54.72\00:15:56.05
and I study all
of this information
00:15:56.12\00:15:58.19
about grocery
stores and what have you...
00:15:58.22\00:16:00.12
the gentleman
asked me two questions...
00:16:00.16\00:16:01.99
he said, "Keith,
where do you get your
00:16:02.06\00:16:03.96
information
from... on a daily basis?"
00:16:03.99\00:16:05.83
and I talked about the fact
that typically before 9 o'clock
00:16:05.89\00:16:09.26
I've read the
Wall Street Journal
00:16:09.30\00:16:11.00
I've read the
Industry Publication
00:16:11.03\00:16:12.50
and to stay current,
I'll read USA Today...
00:16:12.53\00:16:14.67
He said, "Great... "
00:16:14.70\00:16:16.04
he says, "now, what's the last
great business book you've read"
00:16:16.07\00:16:18.54
and I shared with him
the book I had read...
00:16:18.57\00:16:20.78
and he said, "Good... "
00:16:20.81\00:16:22.14
he said, "I can teach
you the grocery business...
00:16:22.18\00:16:24.71
what I can't teach is...
intellectual curiosity...
00:16:24.75\00:16:27.42
what I can't teach is a
hunger for knowledge... "
00:16:27.45\00:16:30.12
and that's what
we have to have...
00:16:30.15\00:16:31.85
Absolutely, wow! that
is so... that's deep...
00:16:31.89\00:16:35.79
so he wasn't as concerned
about your knowledge...
00:16:35.82\00:16:39.66
about the field... as he
was... the fact that you are
00:16:39.69\00:16:42.83
eager to obtain knowledge...
00:16:42.86\00:16:44.97
and you're consistent
in your efforts to do so...
00:16:45.00\00:16:49.34
Consistent and
systematic, yes! Yes...
00:16:49.37\00:16:52.24
and when I speak now,
00:16:52.27\00:16:53.61
I ask that
question to my audience
00:16:53.64\00:16:54.98
I said, "If I were to ask you,
00:16:55.01\00:16:56.34
'where do you get your
information from every day'
00:16:56.38\00:16:57.71
what would your answer be?"
00:16:57.75\00:16:59.08
If I were to ask you,
what's the best... you know...
00:16:59.11\00:17:00.92
the latest business
book that you've read...
00:17:00.95\00:17:02.38
what would your answer be?
00:17:02.42\00:17:04.15
and don't raise your hand...
00:17:04.19\00:17:05.89
but I see a lot of
sheepish faces out there...
00:17:05.92\00:17:08.69
What would
you... two questions...
00:17:08.72\00:17:12.23
what do you see as the current
00:17:12.26\00:17:15.36
trend with young
minority professionals...
00:17:15.40\00:17:18.27
what do you see...
00:17:18.30\00:17:19.63
the path that they
tend to be going down?
00:17:19.67\00:17:24.41
Yeah, that's interesting...
00:17:24.47\00:17:26.31
I'm on the Board of
an Organization called,
00:17:26.34\00:17:27.88
"The National
Black MBA Association"
00:17:27.94\00:17:29.84
and so we hold the largest
career fair for minorities
00:17:29.88\00:17:33.08
every year in the
world... and what I see...
00:17:33.11\00:17:35.38
some of it is generational...
they're the millennials...
00:17:35.42\00:17:38.29
they grew up with
instant everything...
00:17:38.35\00:17:41.12
and they want it...
and they want it now...
00:17:41.16\00:17:43.86
and so, some of it is...
helping them to understand
00:17:43.89\00:17:47.13
the importance of experience...
00:17:47.20\00:17:48.66
the value of...
before you worry about the
00:17:48.70\00:17:51.37
next job... learn
to master this one...
00:17:51.40\00:17:54.00
but I will tell you... that they
also grew up with technology
00:17:54.04\00:17:57.94
in the crib... and so...
they have forgotten more about
00:17:57.97\00:18:01.88
technology than you
and I will ever know...
00:18:01.91\00:18:03.68
they're very creative,
they're very innovative...
00:18:03.71\00:18:06.88
but what I'm trying to
help them understand is to...
00:18:06.92\00:18:10.02
appreciate, again,
the value of patience
00:18:10.05\00:18:12.89
and doing a good
job... the fact that,
00:18:12.92\00:18:15.69
"yes, you may have grown
up in a microwave society but
00:18:15.72\00:18:18.26
the real world...
doesn't work that way
00:18:18.29\00:18:21.06
there is no elevator to success,
you got to take the stairs... "
00:18:21.10\00:18:23.93
Yes, for sure... and
there are no short cuts
00:18:23.97\00:18:27.14
you have to get in there
00:18:27.17\00:18:30.24
and you have to sink your teeth
00:18:30.27\00:18:31.61
into what you've
been given to do...
00:18:31.64\00:18:34.14
you also brought up something
really important earlier
00:18:34.18\00:18:38.18
and that is the importance
of knowing how to communicate
00:18:38.21\00:18:42.18
knowing how to communicate
with different people
00:18:42.22\00:18:45.69
and so, it would seem
to me... and you tell me
00:18:45.75\00:18:48.56
because you're the
expert in this field
00:18:48.62\00:18:50.03
it would seem to me...
that it's more important
00:18:50.09\00:18:53.33
to know how to
communicate with various people
00:18:53.36\00:18:56.63
than again, perhaps
even, knowing initially...
00:18:56.67\00:18:59.70
the subject matter...
because you have to know
00:18:59.77\00:19:02.80
how to deal with... your
people skills are critical.
00:19:02.84\00:19:06.04
Yeah, one thing I
tell everyone I work with
00:19:06.07\00:19:08.88
or coach or consult with
is... no one goes to the top
00:19:08.91\00:19:11.68
by themselves...
someone was already there,
00:19:11.71\00:19:13.98
was already at
the top of the ladder
00:19:14.02\00:19:15.98
or the other side
of the glass ceiling
00:19:16.02\00:19:17.95
has to see you...
recognize your value
00:19:17.99\00:19:19.99
then pull you through...
00:19:20.06\00:19:21.39
so it all happens
with and through people
00:19:21.42\00:19:24.03
that's the first
thing... the second thing is...
00:19:24.06\00:19:26.80
when we are in the Board Room
00:19:26.83\00:19:28.86
or are looking
for who to promote
00:19:28.90\00:19:30.47
or who to hire... one
of the things we ask is
00:19:30.50\00:19:33.23
"How well does he or she
fit with this Organization?"
00:19:33.27\00:19:36.67
"Is he or she a
team player?" you know,
00:19:36.71\00:19:39.84
one of the things that hindered
me early in my career was
00:19:39.87\00:19:42.71
I was a bull in the
China shop, you know,
00:19:42.74\00:19:44.85
I was that guy, who... you know,
00:19:44.88\00:19:47.12
"Get out of my way...
I'm going to get it done...
00:19:47.15\00:19:49.08
but I'm going to break a
lot of glass in the process... "
00:19:49.12\00:19:51.25
and what I learned is...
00:19:51.29\00:19:53.29
people tolerated that when
you were at the entry level
00:19:53.32\00:19:57.09
but at some
point... you got to mature
00:19:57.13\00:19:58.73
to understand...
00:19:58.76\00:20:00.10
you have to have
the interpersonal skills
00:20:00.13\00:20:01.70
to get along with everyone...
00:20:01.86\00:20:03.20
particularly if
you're going to be a leader
00:20:03.23\00:20:05.40
and particularly if
you're not comfortable
00:20:05.43\00:20:07.57
with certain environments,
you've got to be comfortable.
00:20:07.60\00:20:11.61
Yes, yes, what role did
mentors play in your journey?
00:20:11.64\00:20:15.64
It was huge because
I've been very self aware
00:20:15.68\00:20:20.22
my whole life... and my thing is
00:20:20.28\00:20:21.95
"I know my strengths... but
I have these lesser strengths"
00:20:21.98\00:20:25.82
I don't call them weaknesses...
00:20:25.85\00:20:27.19
that I need people
to help supplement...
00:20:27.22\00:20:28.82
and so, what I have
found... and this was amazing...
00:20:28.86\00:20:32.29
that when I put myself in
a position to be humble...
00:20:32.33\00:20:35.30
to ask for help...
00:20:35.33\00:20:36.67
there were people
there to give it...
00:20:36.70\00:20:38.50
Now, surprisingly, and
maybe somewhat disappointingly
00:20:38.53\00:20:42.07
most of my mentors did
not look like me, Yvonne,
00:20:42.10\00:20:44.17
they were not Black men,
00:20:44.21\00:20:46.34
they were not
African American typically
00:20:46.37\00:20:48.58
they were all... the
whole colors of the rainbow
00:20:48.61\00:20:51.55
but the fact of the matter is,
00:20:51.58\00:20:52.91
is that, when you
show initiative...
00:20:52.95\00:20:54.28
when you show
that you want to learn
00:20:54.32\00:20:56.69
and that you're receptive
to learning and to feedback...
00:20:56.72\00:20:59.19
people will come
in... to help you.
00:20:59.22\00:21:01.52
And that's something,
that, I think we need to embrace
00:21:01.56\00:21:06.39
that there are people of
every culture that want to help,
00:21:06.43\00:21:09.70
that want to see you
successful, that are there...
00:21:09.73\00:21:13.13
to kind of help you
along in your journey, so...
00:21:13.17\00:21:16.54
I think that's awesome...
00:21:16.57\00:21:17.97
you have a philosophy...
P E P what is that?
00:21:18.01\00:21:21.98
P E P... it's a philosophy
that basically talks about
00:21:22.01\00:21:26.05
"Performance,
Exposure and Perception"
00:21:26.08\00:21:28.25
and in a nutshell...
what it is... is that
00:21:28.28\00:21:30.39
most of us think that
success in the business world
00:21:30.45\00:21:33.02
in our organizations
00:21:33.05\00:21:34.39
is strictly based on
how well we perform...
00:21:34.42\00:21:36.89
how well we do the job...
00:21:36.93\00:21:38.26
and make no mistake...
00:21:38.29\00:21:39.63
that is critical...
that's number one...
00:21:39.66\00:21:41.63
I'd say that's 50
percent of the equation...
00:21:41.66\00:21:43.73
the other 50 percent
00:21:43.77\00:21:45.47
is made up of what I
call 25 percent exposure...
00:21:45.50\00:21:48.77
"who do you know...
00:21:48.80\00:21:50.17
what do you know...
and who knows you... "
00:21:50.21\00:21:52.77
and then perception...
"what is your brand...
00:21:52.81\00:21:55.34
what are you known for... "
00:21:55.38\00:21:57.48
and where a lot of us fail is
00:21:57.51\00:21:59.51
that we manage
performance quite well...
00:21:59.55\00:22:01.65
but we don't do the other two...
00:22:01.68\00:22:03.65
and what I tell
people all the time is...
00:22:03.69\00:22:05.29
"Performance may be the key,
but it's exposure and perception
00:22:05.32\00:22:09.62
that unlock the
door to your future... "
00:22:09.66\00:22:11.43
So, how can you...
00:22:11.46\00:22:13.46
and I think that's
great... great information...
00:22:13.50\00:22:15.56
how can you increase exposure,
you're in the Corporate World...
00:22:15.60\00:22:21.50
and... how do you
then... increase your exposure
00:22:21.54\00:22:25.94
within that context?
00:22:25.97\00:22:27.31
Yeah... that's a great question
00:22:27.34\00:22:29.11
and the number one
thing I tell people to do
00:22:29.14\00:22:32.01
is to use "Thought Leadership"
00:22:32.05\00:22:33.68
find ways to bring creativity,
00:22:33.72\00:22:35.95
innovation and
thought leadership to bear...
00:22:36.02\00:22:38.19
so, for example,
most companies will have
00:22:38.22\00:22:40.39
Company Town Hall
Meetings or Company meetings
00:22:40.42\00:22:42.92
where the Leaders will speak
00:22:42.99\00:22:44.33
and then there is a
Q and A session, right?
00:22:44.36\00:22:46.19
Well, no one wants
to be the first one
00:22:46.23\00:22:47.86
to raise their hand
and ask a question...
00:22:47.86\00:22:49.50
well, that's an
exposure opportunity
00:22:49.53\00:22:51.60
and so what I teach the
folks that I mentor is...
00:22:51.67\00:22:53.54
"You go prepared to
every business meeting
00:22:53.57\00:22:55.94
with two business-related,
thought-provoking questions
00:22:55.97\00:22:59.11
to ask during Q and A...
00:22:59.14\00:23:00.68
because no one's going
to raise their hand first...
00:23:00.74\00:23:02.74
and you'll get to ask
that... and you'll demonstrate
00:23:02.78\00:23:04.58
'Thought Leadership'
that's the first thing... "
00:23:04.61\00:23:06.35
the second thing is...
"Always be well-read about your
00:23:06.38\00:23:09.55
industry and your
career and leverage technology
00:23:09.58\00:23:12.92
if you see a great article
on the internet... you know...
00:23:12.95\00:23:15.39
send it to your co-workers...
send it to your boss...
00:23:15.42\00:23:17.86
send it to
folks... who can, again,
00:23:17.89\00:23:20.10
demonstrate "Hey,
this is a person who is
00:23:20.13\00:23:22.06
thinking about the business...
00:23:22.10\00:23:24.07
thinking about how to
look at things differently... "
00:23:24.10\00:23:26.84
so those are some of the
bigger ways to gain exposure
00:23:26.87\00:23:29.60
and then some of
the more subtle ways,
00:23:29.67\00:23:31.21
and this is one
of the things I did
00:23:31.24\00:23:32.67
horribly wrong in my
career, was make sure to know
00:23:32.71\00:23:36.51
who the key players in
your Organization are...
00:23:36.54\00:23:38.58
you know... who they are...
00:23:38.61\00:23:39.95
I had this crazy
philosophy in mind
00:23:39.98\00:23:41.98
that if you didn't pay me
for it I didn't do it, right...
00:23:42.02\00:23:43.95
and so, when there
was a retirement party
00:23:43.99\00:23:47.32
for a beloved executive,
if it was after hours...
00:23:47.36\00:23:49.66
I didn't go... what I
didn't realize was that
00:23:49.69\00:23:51.99
that was an
exposure opportunity...
00:23:52.03\00:23:53.46
because all the other
senior leaders would be there...
00:23:53.53\00:23:55.90
you know, take advantage of it,
00:23:55.93\00:23:57.97
there was a time
when I became the Chairman
00:23:58.03\00:24:00.50
for the Employee Giving
Campaign with United Way...
00:24:00.54\00:24:02.90
people said, "Why
would you do that?"
00:24:02.94\00:24:04.64
Well, it gave me exposure
00:24:04.67\00:24:06.04
to the Senior Leaders
of the Organization...
00:24:06.07\00:24:08.28
and so, you know, at
the end of the day...
00:24:08.31\00:24:10.08
you want to know
00:24:10.11\00:24:11.45
you want people to
know who you are...
00:24:11.48\00:24:12.81
and that's how
you get exposure...
00:24:12.85\00:24:14.18
and that leads to your brand
and the perception to use...
00:24:14.22\00:24:16.99
and that's where
I wanted to go to...
00:24:17.02\00:24:18.92
because that whole idea
of branding and your brand
00:24:18.95\00:24:22.92
and the perception of you...
00:24:22.96\00:24:25.53
unpack that a little
bit for us if you would...
00:24:25.56\00:24:27.86
Yeah, you know,
the little secret is..
00:24:27.86\00:24:31.10
we all have a brand
whether we realize it or not
00:24:31.13\00:24:33.84
people know or think
they know what to expect
00:24:33.87\00:24:36.54
when you walk into a room...
and it's particularly important
00:24:36.57\00:24:40.68
for people of
color... to understand...
00:24:40.74\00:24:42.84
"You are always on the clock"
00:24:42.88\00:24:44.31
you are always being watched...
you are always being viewed...
00:24:44.38\00:24:47.38
and so, what are you known as,
00:24:47.45\00:24:48.95
are you known as that person
who always brings creative ideas
00:24:48.98\00:24:52.35
or are you known as the person
00:24:52.39\00:24:53.76
who always comes
late to meetings?
00:24:53.79\00:24:55.12
Are you known as the person
who will go the extra mile...
00:24:55.16\00:24:59.43
or are you known as the person
who'll do just enough to get by?
00:24:59.46\00:25:02.66
And you always have to
manage that perception...
00:25:02.70\00:25:06.13
I know we were taught that
00:25:06.17\00:25:07.50
"Sticks and bones
may break my bones
00:25:07.54\00:25:08.87
but words will never hurt
me" but you've got to realize
00:25:08.90\00:25:10.64
that what people think
of you in Corporate America
00:25:10.71\00:25:13.38
and organizations
can have an impact...
00:25:13.41\00:25:15.81
You have to manage
all three of those...
00:25:15.84\00:25:18.11
Absolutely, absolutely,
so your performance...
00:25:18.15\00:25:21.42
your exposure... and perception
00:25:21.45\00:25:24.62
Yes... the P E P... PEP
00:25:24.65\00:25:27.19
Yeah... those
things are critical pieces
00:25:27.22\00:25:30.16
if you could summarize...
if you could summarize...
00:25:30.19\00:25:34.00
let's say you're talking
to "you" as a teenager...
00:25:34.03\00:25:37.77
what would you say to
"you" when you were a teenager?
00:25:37.80\00:25:42.60
Yeah, if I could go back
and talk to "Teenage Keith"
00:25:42.67\00:25:46.51
I would say that
there were five things
00:25:46.54\00:25:48.51
that will help you in
your journey... young man,
00:25:48.54\00:25:51.08
the first is "Faith"
00:25:51.11\00:25:52.45
you have got to be
a person of Faith...
00:25:52.48\00:25:54.65
Faith... first of
all... in a Higher Power...
00:25:54.68\00:25:57.45
and for me... that's the Lord...
00:25:57.52\00:25:58.85
but also, faith in yourself,
00:25:58.89\00:26:01.36
and faith that "with
Him... all things are possible"
00:26:01.39\00:26:03.79
because your
faith will be tested...
00:26:03.83\00:26:05.19
the second thing I want
to say is, "Maintain focus"
00:26:05.23\00:26:07.96
it's so easy to get
distracted in this world
00:26:08.03\00:26:10.93
with 600 television
stations and the internet...
00:26:10.97\00:26:13.84
but you have to stay focused
00:26:13.87\00:26:15.20
on all of those
things that are important
00:26:15.24\00:26:17.01
and that are meaningful...
00:26:17.04\00:26:18.47
then I'd talk about "Fortitude"
00:26:18.51\00:26:20.78
you have to have that
ability to stick through it
00:26:20.81\00:26:24.51
and to not give
up... and to not quit
00:26:24.55\00:26:26.48
at the first sign of
trouble or what have you...
00:26:26.51\00:26:29.68
I would talk
about "Fearlessness"
00:26:29.72\00:26:31.45
not being afraid...
00:26:31.49\00:26:32.95
to take calculated risk...
00:26:32.99\00:26:34.72
you know, we weren't
give a spirit of fear...
00:26:34.79\00:26:37.39
and so don't let
that really engulf you...
00:26:37.43\00:26:39.86
and then I would say,
00:26:39.89\00:26:41.20
"understand and appreciate
favor, praise and mercy"
00:26:41.23\00:26:45.30
there are things and
opportunities I've gotten Yvonne
00:26:45.33\00:26:47.40
that I was not equipped
for... when I got them...
00:26:47.47\00:26:49.50
but through God's
grace, favor and mercy,
00:26:49.54\00:26:51.87
I was able to make it happen...
00:26:51.91\00:26:53.44
and so, those are the
things I would tell a young man
00:26:53.51\00:26:55.51
if I could go
back... 40 years ago...
00:26:55.54\00:26:59.08
Well, you know what
Keith, what you have given,
00:26:59.11\00:27:02.28
is... you've
passed on your legacy
00:27:02.32\00:27:05.92
of sharing and being transparent
00:27:05.95\00:27:09.46
and helping
others... in their journey
00:27:09.52\00:27:12.29
in their Corporate
journey... so I thank you...
00:27:12.33\00:27:16.23
thank you so much
for being with us...
00:27:16.26\00:27:17.67
I can't believe
our time is up...
00:27:17.70\00:27:19.03
Oh, thank you for having
me so much... I enjoyed it...
00:27:19.07\00:27:22.37
And hopefully you'll come again.
Any time, just say the word.
00:27:22.40\00:27:26.11
Awesome, awesome, thank you...
00:27:26.14\00:27:27.98
Well, that's the end of
our Program for today...
00:27:28.01\00:27:31.38
You know, Keith
really made some good points
00:27:31.41\00:27:34.35
and I really pray that
00:27:34.38\00:27:35.72
that you'll be
able to internalize them
00:27:35.78\00:27:38.29
whether you're a
minority or not...
00:27:38.32\00:27:41.42
these are
success-oriented pointers...
00:27:41.46\00:27:44.49
that you can take
and apply to your life...
00:27:44.53\00:27:48.06
so, I pray that
these words have been
00:27:48.13\00:27:50.23
words of encouragement
and enlightenment to you...
00:27:50.27\00:27:52.70
Well, that's the end of
our Program for today...
00:27:52.73\00:27:55.10
Thanks so much for tuning in...
00:27:55.14\00:27:56.67
Join us next time...
because you know what?
00:27:56.71\00:27:59.37
It just wouldn't be
the same without you...
00:27:59.44\00:28:02.11