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G R A P H I C S - P R O. C O M S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2 • G R A P H I C S P R O 7 7 seasons. He coached his team to over 600 victories. He became the first basketball player to be named All-American three times, winning him a spot in the Hall of Fame as a player, and as a coach – another first. e Coach had a favorite saying, and we had it on a banner hanging in our sign fabrication area for many years: "If you don't have time to do it right, when do you have time to do it over?" Coach Dozier and my dad played golf often and were great friends. I'm sure that was another reason he took a deeper interest in me. He invested extra hours of his busy life as a dad, coach, and teacher to mentor me. He embodied leadership and he was a great role model. Little did he know, he would shape my life. Since 1985, I've been in the sign industry in sales, sales management, and as a com- pany owner. I've sold over $100 million in signage to local, regional, national, and international clients. I'm passionate about marketing, education (my mom was also a teacher), and helping others become entrepre- neurs. I believe you should do your best to give back to the industry and your community. As I enter the "fourth period" of my life and career, I spend more time thinking about what my legacy will be. So, the follow- ing are rules that I've gleaned from my experiences to help you be a better leader. And leadership will help you grow your sales. Little steps, compounded over time, make a difference. e things you do every day do matter. ey may not look dramatic, but they make all the difference. RULE NO. 1 - GET A MENTOR e future belongs to the competent. A mentor can help you model good behavior through trust and their expertise and life skills. ey can help you set goals, develop key contacts, iden- tify resources, and define your career goals. A mentor is usually a good listener and can give you feedback in a nonjudgmental way. When these things click for you, you gain confidence. When we're con- fident, we move forward with opportunities and even embrace risk. Better still, when we fail, confidence allows us to get back up and move forward. RULE NO. 2 - GET INVOLVED Volunteer. Join a civic club or organiza- tion in your city. Once you are part of the local chapter, join a committee. Pick one that interests you or appeals to your innate abilities. Become a servant leader. It is gratifying to be part of something big that has a common goal of your peers, friends, and community. RULE NO. 3 - BE ACTIVE IN YOUR INDUSTRY Get active in this industry; we need you and your spe- cial set of talents and expe- riences. For almost four decades, the sign and graph- ics industry has been very good to me. I felt it was my duty to give back. My men- tor taught me this ideal. I've been honored to be president of our state associ- ation and a charter member of our Dallas-Fort Worth local chapter. It takes a time commitment and when you own a shop; it isn't easy. But the benefits of life-long "I think that in any group activity — whether it be business, sports or family — there has to be leadership or it won't be successful." – John Wooden "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." – Winston Churchill "If you are not committed to getting better at what you are doing, you are bound to get worse." – Pat Riley