During a 2010 Agricultural Media Summit (AMS) session, Steve Drake, of Drake and Company, gave a presentation titled “The Toys and Tools of Leadership and Success,” and group members from Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University and the University of Wisconsin River Falls worked together to determine the three most important “toys and tools” utilized by Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT): Balance, bouncing back, and thermostat/thermometer.
When our group sat down and began brainstorming ideas, it was difficult to narrow the tools down to three because the presentation proved that all 14 “toys and tools” were important in all settings and aspects of life. Eventually, we decided on the three that best exemplified our experiences at AMS and in college.
The first tool we chose was balance. As students in college, we have to be balanced during all aspects of our life, including activities through school, professionally, and socially. AMS is often the first time for many ACT members to interact with business professionals and it is important for them to act professional and genuine. Students need to prove to professionals that they are willing to engage in conversation and learn about what their company or organization has to offer. ACT members are young business professionals seeking future internships or job opportunities, and keeping the tool of balance in mind while participating in networking allows us to remain mentally and emotionally steady.
Another important tool to utilize is bouncing back. ACT members receive a great deal of criticism throughout their lives. However, when ACT members receive bad criticism, it is important to bounce back, remain positive, and not let it delay them on their path to reaching their goals. A prime example of bouncing back as an ACT member at AMS would be not getting the networking opportunity from the professionals, such as internship information, that they may have wished to receive otherwise. Additionally, when an ACT member enters the ACT Critique and Contest and doesn’t place, they should be motivated to work harder for the following year and use the constructive criticism they received.
Lastly, the third tool chosen from Drake’s “Toys and Tools of Leadership and Success,” was: Thermostat/thermometer. Drake pointed out that thermometers tell the temperature whereas thermostats control the temperature. Many times in life one can just live with the surroundings around them, or they can choose to be the change. At AMS, our group realized that setting the standard, or setting the thermostat, and choosing to network with everyone, starts with our own initiative. Drake made a good point during his presentation, “It’s not necessarily who you know, but it’s who knows you.” If ACT members work hard and set the thermostat they can catch the attention of others and prove that they are leaders.
The three tools chosen from Drake’s “Toys and Tools of Leadership and Success:” Balance, bouncing back, and thermostat/thermometer, will help ACT members and students alike gain valuable leadership skills and bring them one step closer to succeeding in their endeavors.
A big thank you to Steve Drake and his insight provided from his presentation “Toys and Tools for Leadership and Success.” It proved to be an invaluable experience where we all learned something and how to apply it to our own lives.
Submitted by Brandi Lattimore and McKenzie Watkins of Texas A&M University, Sarah Wilson, Sarah Raber and Faith Jurek of Texas Tech University, and Nerissa Retz of University of Wisconsin River Falls.
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