Conference Stresses Leadership, Hard Work

A key part of success is looking for ways to build upon your strengths and improve on your weaknesses, the dean of the Arkansas State University College of Business told members of the Jonesboro Young Professionals Network Friday.

Dr. Shane Hunt spoke to the group as they hosted the 7th annual leadership conference at the Donald W. Reynolds Charitable Food Distribution Center in Jonesboro.

At least 75 people attended the meeting and heard from Hunt and several speakers about leadership. Hunt asked the group to think about their lives and their careers.

“What is it that you are good at?,” Hunt asked the group. “You should showcase and harness that.”

Part of the work, Hunt said, involves promoting yourself and what you have to offer.

Hunt told an interesting story about a recent trip he and his son took to Memphis to attend a WWE professional wrestling pay-per-view at FedEx Forum.

He said he and his son got good tickets and were close enough to see everything near the ring. Hunt said he wore an ASU sweatshirt with a Red Wolf emblem and the letters, ASU, written across the top.

Then something interesting happened.

Hunt said he and his son took a photo using a cell phone, but noted that the WiFi service at the arena was bad.

At the same time, two of the wrestlers – Sting and Triple H – were near the ring and Sting had a baseball bat pointed at Triple H’s neck, Hunt said.

“There we were (in the photo), Sting, Triple H, me and a man who looks like Marilyn Manson,” Hunt said to laughter.

The photo was later posted by someone on the Arkansas State University Facebook page; and the photo went viral.

Hunt said nearly 900 people have “liked” the photo so far and he received nearly 50 phone calls from people after the event.

VALUES KEY
Hunt said there has been a focus for people to know how to multi-task, as well as a focus on building a top-notch resume.

He spoke about a book, written by New York Times columnist David Brooks, called “The Road to Character.”

Hunt noted that while a good resume and career are important, what a person will say about you is key as well.

Hunt also told the group “not to lose the moral authority” in their lives and that they should “be a part of something bigger than yourself.”

The group also heard from KAIT weatherman Ryan Vaughan, a panel on entrepreneurship and local commercial real estate developer Josh Brown among other speakers.