Posted 12:01 am Wednesday, September 05, 2012
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Speaker offers tips to having best year ever
Bryan Dodge, professional speaker, author and radio show personality, offered tips Tuesday to "have the best year ever" to Leadership Tyler members.
About 300 people filled the Rose Heights Community Life Center for the Class 26 kickoff luncheon, organizers said. The organization welcomed 35 members into the class.
Dodge, of Lucas, a town in the Dallas area, said the Leadership Tyler members at the luncheon are Tyler's greatest asset.
During his highly energetic speech involving the audience, he gave a slew of one-liners for people to live their lives by to be good leaders.
"You can't begin to do what matters in life until you find out what counts in life," he said. "Nothing is going to change, until you change. Once you change, everything changes."
Dodge makes more than 250 appearances a year, has written several books and is on a radio show broadcasting on 21 stations.
He talked about his E.A.T. philosophy, which stands for eager, argue and thankful.
Dodge said to be an eager learner. Bad news and advice always come to people while they have to seek out good advice.
When talking about arguing, he asked what it is going to take for people to say they have finally had too many distractions. "The less excuses you allow in, the more room for opportunity ..." he said.
Being thankful is about inspiration, he said. Leaders are inspired to follow their calling, get the best out of people and are more driven to give than to receive.
"Good people always appreciate what they have while they have it," he said.
Dodge said the average American reads zero books each year. "You wonder where we lose our competitive edge," he said.
"Leaders know, go and show," Dodge said, adding that the average chief executive officer reads four books a week.
Dodge has written several books, including "The Good Life Rules: 8 Keys to Being Your best at Work and at Play."
Dodge said there are three laws in leadership.
No. 1 is, "When put in charge, take charge."
He said people should not be critical while standing on the sidelines.
The No. 2 law is, "It never gets better than the interview." And the third law is, "If you can't change the people, change the people."
He said he loves helping companies grow through their people, not their products.
Dodge asked the group to wake up tomorrow with just one goal: "choosing to help the person next to you have a better life."
Leadership Tyler President Roy Martinez said Leadership Tyler has an impact on the community, although most people don't see it directly. He said they brought Dodge to speak at the event to look at the impact Leadership Tyler has.
"He's definitely one of the most energetic speakers that I've ever heard," Martinez said of Dodge.
Leadership Tyler Executive Director Colleen Colby introduced the Class of 26, which she said was "the next group of leaders that are focused on what matters."
Leadership Tyler Class 26 includes Christopher Alexander, Kristi Boyett, Toby Breland, Shelby Brown, David Butler, Cammie Camp, Lisa Chatterton, Cody Corley, Regina Davis, Jesus Delgado-Charles, Suzzone Fletcher, Leighann Florey and Darryl Flynn.
Also: Marcia Garrett, Paula Gean, Mila Hightower, Ingrid Klein, Jaquita Lee, Philip Lindsey, Jerry Massey, Laura Mattheis, Robert Mauldin Jr., Christopher Molina, Kimberly Morris, Sandra Owens, Don Sciba, Lisa Stroud, Patrick Swindle, Renissa Wade, James Wansley, Brad Watson, Darrell Welch, Travis White, Rodney Witcher and Kelvin Woodfin.
