PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: From my perspective, one of the biggest challenges in Maine is the absence of true leaders in our communities, regions and at the state level: people who are willing to do the right thing for the right reasons regardless of how popular their decisions might be.

I know we have a lot of people who have been put in leadership positions — in “command” if you will — but that doesn’t make them leaders, at least not in my book. True leadership is given by those being led, not by being hired or appointed into a position. Leaders inspire a shared vision; imposters inspire … well … nothing at all.

I’m fortunate enough to know a number of remarkable leaders — successful in life, their business, and families. As a “young guy,” I still tend to look to these folks to be my mentors. Chip Morrison, the president of the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce, is one of those folks. Recently, he sent me an article about leadership that I would like to share with you. I think it is a great snapshot of the kind of folks we need to lead Maine:

1. Time doesn’t fill me. I fill time. Forget deadlines, at least as a way to manage your activity. Tasks should only take as long as they need to take. Do everything as quickly and effectively as you can. Then use your “free” time to get other things done just as quickly and effectively. Average people allow time to impose its will on them; remarkable people impose their will on their time.

2. The people around me are the people I chose. Some of your employees drive you nuts. Some of your customers are obnoxious. Some of your friends are selfish, all-about-me jerks. You chose them. If the people around you make you unhappy, it’s not their fault. It’s your fault. They’re in your professional or personal life because you drew them to you — and you let them remain. Think about the type of people you want to work with. Think about the types of customers you would enjoy serving. Think about the friends you want to have. Then change what you do so you can start attracting those people.

3. I have never paid my dues. Dues aren’t paid, past tense. Dues get paid, each and every day. The only real measure of your value is the tangible contribution you make on a daily basis. No matter what you’ve done or accomplished in the past, you’’re never too good to roll up your sleeves, get dirty, and do the grunt work. No job is ever too menial, no task ever too unskilled or boring.

4. Experience is irrelevant. Accomplishments are everything. You have “10 years in the web design business.” So what! I don’t care how long you’ve been doing what you do. Years of service indicate nothing; you could be the worst 10-year programmer in the world. I care about what you’ve done: how many sites you’ve created, how many backend systems you’ve installed, how many customer specific applications you’ve developed. Successful people don’t need to describe themselves with hyperbolic adjectives like passionate, innovative, driven, etc. They just need to describe what they’ve done.

5. The extra mile is a vast, unpopulated wasteland. Everyone says they go the extra mile. Almost no one actually does. Most people who go there think, “Wait … no one else is here … why am I doing this?” and leave, never to return. That’s why the extra mile is such a lonely place. That is also why the extra mile is a place filled with so many opportunities.

As I look over these characteristics and qualities of leadership — and there are many more not on this list — it reminds me of just how much of a difference a true leader can make in a key position. Please remember this as you look at the many federal and state candidates running for office this year — we need men and women of integrity. Imposters need not apply.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Tonight, is Chamber After Hours at Sista’s BBQ, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. (note later start than normal). There’s a pig roast under the tent. Business people are encouraged to make use of the networking power of the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber. This event is free to attend. Sista’s is located at 154 1/2 Pleasant St. (Route 1), Brunswick. Please car pool. Parking is available at the shared parking lot with Dawgtopia and around the outer edges of Sista’s building. Register at www.midcoastmaine.com/calendar/ event/2852.

Welcome the Bel Tone Hearing Aid Center at its ribbon cutting and grand opening on Aug. 1, 4 to 5 p.m. It is located at 14 Thomas Point Road, Brunswick.

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS: SMMC welcomes Tides End Farm and B & B (Georgetown), Postal Center USA (Newcastle) and Hearts & Hands Reiki (Brunswick) to its membership. To discover more about each of these businesses, go to www.midcoastmaine.com.

The chamber proudly serves 660 businesses and organizations in the following communities: Arrowsic, Bath, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Brunswick, Dresden, Edgecomb, Georgetown, Harpswell, Phippsburg, Richmond, Topsham, West Bath, Westport Island, Wiscasset and Woolwich.

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