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(Cracking the Code with Greg Kozera - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

The hardest person to teach is the one who knows everything, or thinks they do.

One of the most important lunches of my life was at the WVU Towers cafeteria in the second semester of my freshman year. It was an unusually late lunch for me. The cafeteria was almost empty. I sat at a random table with only one other student, who turned out to be an engineering senior. I asked lots of questions. His experience was extremely helpful. He left me with this wisdom, “After four years of engineering, the most important thing you will learn is how to learn.”

With an engineering degree, I thought I would be smart. The engineering senior burst my balloon with wisdom.

First week on the job after graduation, my manager dumped two stacks of manuals on my desk and stated, “This is what you need to know.” Being book smart was only a beginning. It was important to understand how the real world worked. I quickly gained respect for those who had spent years in the field. They are a wealth of practical knowledge.

We are in graduation season. Students will be moving on to college, tech school or graduate studies. Some will enter the real world by choosing a career; others will look for a job.

This year’s graduates have choices. My children all had to leave West Virginia to find jobs. With the economic growth our region has experienced, good jobs are plentiful for those who are prepared. Engineers, nurses and technical jobs in manufacturing, to name a few, need qualified people. The building trades, like welders, plumbers and electricians are looking for apprentices who get paid while they learn a well-paying career.

After Shale Crescent USA’s successful Road Show to Turkey and SelectUSA, we know more jobs will be coming to our region. This week we talked to three manufacturing companies expanding to the Shale Crescent from overseas. They are working with the individual states to determine where they will settle.

Based on where they are looking, all three states will benefit. These three companies alone will bring over 400 direct jobs to The Crescent. They will need managers, engineers, technicians, accountants, HR and other support people. The building trades will construct and maintain their facilities. They will need insurance, healthcare, legal and other professional services. Their employees will buy jewelry, clothing, flowers, beauty services, car care and other products. They will pay taxes. Shale Crescent USA and the states are talking to numerous other companies who are likely to come to our region but are not as far along in their decision-making process.

Our high school soccer team had a lot of seniors this year. This week I attended Baccalaureate, where Bishop Mark Brennan of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston spoke. The bishop asked the graduates, “Are you weak enough?” – a very unusual and surprising question. We usually hear the opposite.

Bishop Brennan clarified, “Are you humble enough to accept God’s grace?” That can mean the wisdom of others. This can be difficult. I struggle admitting I need help. Are we humble enough to ask for help, even from God?

I like to be self-sufficient. After my soccer injury in 2019 I was confined to a wheelchair for weeks. I needed help getting to the bathroom. I couldn’t reach the coffee cups or coffeemaker. Lynnda had to move almost everything to my level. I needed help getting dressed and even getting outside in my wheelchair. Our house wasn’t wheelchair friendly. I had to be humble enough to ask for help.

When I admit I can’t do something and turn to others, good things happen. Lynnda is more computer literate especially in social media than I am. When I ask for help, I find a lot of time is saved.

Great leaders learn to “be weak enough.” They know they don’t need to be the brightest bulb. Great leaders are not intimidated by others. They surround themselves with people who are smarter, stronger, more creative and have skills the leader needs. An orchestra conductor doesn’t need to play all the instruments better than anyone. The conductor brings out the best in the symphony members, creating music sounding better than any individual.

To our graduates: Know this is a time of opportunity. You can be or do almost anything if you want it bad enough. The late sales expert Zig Ziglar said, “You can have anything you want if you first help enough other people get what they want.” Be weak enough so you can be humble. Be a good team player. Develop your strengths. Know your weaknesses. Develop leadership skills to find people who are strong where you are weak.

Most importantly, develop a positive attitude. You will be the same in five years as you are today except for two things: the people you spend time with and the books you read.

I am under contract for my next book. My publisher has a weekly Manuscript Momentum Session to help their authors focus. For an hour, we just write. A coach is available but doesn’t say anything unless asked.

This week, I pondered why some people and teams are consistently successful and others consistently fail or fall short. I wrote about examples in my life. Every success started with belief. Lynnda and I expected to stay married “’til death do us part.” I am not always successful in sales, but I have never made a sale I didn’t expect to make.

Shale Crescent was on the main stage at the World Petrochemical Conference because our chairman changed my thinking from “No way” to “What if we could?” Once our high school soccer players believed, we won 20 regional and eight state championships.

Avoid just say “no,” negative-thinking people. They don’t win championships. Angry, unhappy, negative people expect to fail and will drag you down. They get what they expect, failure and unhappiness. Spend your time with positive, successful, happy people who will support and encourage you. Be weak enough.

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Greg Kozera, gkozera@shalecrescentusa.com, is director of marketing for Shale Crescent USA. He is a professional engineer with a master’s in environmental engineering and more than 40 years of experience in the energy industry. Greg is a leadership expert, high school soccer coach, professional speaker and author of four books and many published articles.