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Set Goals, Be Willing to Adjust(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) NATCHITOCHES, La., Oct. 14 -- Northwestern State University issued the following news release: Set goals, make plans, be willing to adjust and keep pushing. These were the common sentiments from speakers at Northwestern State University's 49th annual J. Walter Porter Forum sponsored by the School of Business. This year's theme was "Insights into the Game of Life: Critical Lessons" featuring Barbara Jo Pease, Michael Fox and Wes Breeden offering students advice on finding success in their careers. "When I went to work for Shell, there were few women and still fewer in management positions," Pease said, sharing her philosophies, outlined as "Navigating the Whitewater Rapids in Corporate America." Her top five were tips elaborated on how an individual should define their own success, know the game being played, play the game to get where they want to go, seek help and make a plan but adapt Pease earned a degree in accounting at NSU in 1973, following a long successful corporate career and retired from Shell Oil as chief ethics and compliance officer. She is also founder of the Louisiana Youth Seminar, a leadership program for high school students, and consults and teaches in the field of ethics and compliance for a variety of companies. "Be proactive. Make a list of goals, five on the personal side, five on the career side," Pease said. "When you make choices in life, always think about the unintended consequence of your choices. Add to great skills with a great work ethic and skills for where you want to go." Fox, who is president and CEO of CP-Tel, has more than 30 years experience in the information and communications technology field with a focus on business planning and developing financial business and ownership models. "Be a planner, but learn to adjust," Fox said, as he described beginning his college career as a voice and music major, then studied political science with the intention of going to law school but changed after taking an economics course and went on to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in that field. He described how the world of telecommunications changed and his experiences working abroad. "Business comes down to money," Fox said. "The game will change. Be prepared to adapt. Job security means being important to the bottom line. Take changes, have fun. Don't wait for all the lights to be green. Have a plan but be willing to adjust. Know your value so you have options." Breeden, a 2003 NSU graduate is regional vice president for the Association Member Benefits Advisors, which specializes in benefits for the largest state and teacher retirement association in the country. He volunteers with students to develop organizational and leadership abilities. "You are not special and you are not unique," Breeden told students. "The quicker you realize that, the quicker you can get on your career path." According to Breeden, successful individuals maximize the 1 percent that makes them different from all others. "Have a goal, have a plan, have a positive attitude and create action. Do it now," he said. "The goals have to be yours. It's better to aim high and miss than to aim low and hit it every time. There are clearly defined winners and losers. Keep pushing. Be fireproof, bulletproof and waterproof. It's not easy. What you do with that 1 percent can make an unbelievable life." Northwestern State's J. Walter Porter Forum was established by family and friends of the late Mr. Porter in recognition of his interest in improving the image of business a career field for college students. Bill and Lisa Porter of Dallas represented the Porter family at the Forum. For more information on the J. Walter Porter Forum, visit business.nsula.edu/j-walter-porter-forum. For information on the NSU School of Business, visit business.nsula.edu or e-mail Dr. Margaret Kilcoyne, director, at [email protected]. TNS 30TagarumaMar-141015-4899584 30TagarumaMar (c) 2014 Targeted News Service |