On the Bright Side

        I was asked to speak to a group of undergraduates at the State University of New York at Geneseo (my alma mater) for their GOLD program’s “Pearls of Wisdom” series. The program prepares students for leadership roles in college and beyond through workshops and lectures. Preparing for this forced me to take a candid look at my own leadership style to garner what ‘pearls’ I could from my 26 year career that would speak to a young, hopeful audience at the beginning of theirs. This was challenging considering I haven’t done anything that I would consider speech-worthy. I haven’t started a charity or volunteered for the Peace Corp; I’m not a CEO of a high-tech company; I haven’t run for office or published a book (yet!). I teach. I parent. I continue to learn and grow. I chase my dreams. I work hard and play hard and try to “be the change I wish to see in the world.” But those sound more like refrigerator magnets than secrets to success. So, what’s my secret? Succ...