LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Inspirational speaker Dan Clark addressed Lackland Airmen at Bob Hope Performing Arts Theater Aug. 19 and 20, beginning and ending the speech with the question, "What legacy will you leave behind?"
This question begged the audience's consideration of how they view themselves and the ancillary effects they have on the people around them.
Throughout his speech Mr. Clark drew upon personal life experiences - interactions with NFL football, trips to Iraq visiting troops - all integrating the importance of the Air Force core values of integrity, service before self and excellence in all we do in military and civilian life.
A bulwark of Mr. Clark's speech that parallels Lackland's mission as the Gateway to the Air Force is transformation and change.
Mr. Clark encouraged a theory of change from the "inside-out" (leader) rather than the "outside-in" (victim), advocating an attitude of using what is in your control to change your situation and not allowing external pressures to shape your perspective.
"Some people with a victim mentality see it's raining, they'll look outside and say, 'Oh what a horrible day.' No, it's not. If you live in Los Angeles, it's a good thing. It actually dissipates the smog and you can see what you're overpaying for."
Mr. Clark remarked on a recent trip to Iraq and his gratitude and appreciation for the capability of the military to overcome and find solutions to difficult situations.
"When I was taken to these job sites, one of the most critical things that I came back with was the significance of how they were told. They were told what needed to be accomplished and why it needed to be accomplished, and then the leader in charge just basically walked away and allowed these young Airmen, these young enlisted folks, to figure out the how to use their own ingenuity to figure it out."
Mr. Clark's frank speech and insights into leadership and teamwork made an impression with many of the Airmen in attendance. "He hit on a lot of what people here already think that individual action is what is important. It was refreshing to hear someone say it," Tech. Sgt. Mike Mintz, 344th Training Squadron, said.