Working With Wisdom
Tucker Yarbrough
CFO/ General Manager at Yarbrough & Sons Heating, Cooling & Plumbing
Clay Shamblin, a supervisor for Chesapeake Energy, started his presentation with a quote, "Everything -- a horse, a vine -- is created for some duty... For what task, then, were you yourself created?" -Marcus Aurelius. This hooked me, along with my peers. Instantly we were willing to listen to what he had to say simply based upon the confidence he instilled on his audience. This quote reminded me that no matter where you are in life, life itself is worth living to the fullest simply because you were created.
Clay then started into the body of his presentation, how to find a job, and how to keep a job. Clay did not introduce any revolutionary idea's no ground breaking thoughts on jobs, but what he did do was present the fundamentals. Like any good coach says, "We've got to get back to the basics." You see, we are so enamored with this idea of self-help and life-hacking, that we forget that most of the time is comes back down to the basics. So, instead of having to "come back" to the basics, why not just start there? To get the job you've got to network, never go back on your word, find a good mentor, make a good first impression, all of the afford mentioned help you build your brand. You have to ask yourself, whats my brand worth? Once you have the job, Clay recommended, asking questions, promote others (give credit where credit is due), lead, take responsibility, and reject passivity. Like I said, nothing ground breaking, but man oh man, do we forget the basics.
Making it poignant, wisdom is not the esoteric byzantine ideology. Wisdom is thinking first, acting second. Wisdom is listening first then speaking. Wisdom is knowing you you do not have all the answers, but being willing to search them out. With wisdom comes understanding. Understanding that you are created for a purpose, that you are gifted, loved, and intentionally created. So, I leave you with a challenge, find your why. Because, "far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." -Theodore Roosevelt.