William Stephenson, On Doing More In Life
My name is William Stephenson, I grew up in Manasquan and have most of my life in New Jersey. I would like us to talk about achieving your best, about making the most of your assets and realizing your biggest dreams.
I was raised with the adage that my performance was limited to the heights I could imagine. This was a popular and inspirational line that many parents shared with their children. At the moment, these words do not mean a lot to me. After further thought, the spirit of those words was always present in my sub-conscience blind.
When I was only 9 years old, I had two paper routes on opposite ends of town. It was a morning newspaper, The Start Ledger, therefore both routes had to be completed by 7am. I biked back soon to get the Manasquan Beach and change in time for school. The early wealth that I enjoyed provided many crucial lessons that would later fuel my future performance.
By learning the power of hard work and money at such a young age, an age where we are all very touching, it definitely solidified the relationship between the two. I am incredibly grateful to my parents for supporting me in those early desires. The significance of this work may not be highlighted, for me, it helped form one of my core values in life, responsibility.
By learning to do for myself and not wait for someone else to take responsibility, I not only gained things faster, but I had the good feeling that they themselves earned.
This early money was invested wisely, not an IRA, not a 401K, I have these funds are used for lessons at Allaire Airport flight. At age 13, I spoke with an uncle of mine. He was a war hero for me, who fought in Korea. He explained that he always regretted not learning how to fly. For some reason, sorry warned me not enough to follow his path. I clipped a coupon of 50% an Entertainment Guide for an interview flight lesson. Well, high above my city and central New Jersey served two purposes. First sold me directly to the joys of flight. Second, and more importantly, it extended my reach in the world, actually reduced the level of IT and led me to believe that it would be easier now to conquer. Again, I have to thank my parents for giving me their home circle at 1000 meters. She had obviously not read all the reports on the accident scenario.
About one year after that first flight lesson, I reached one of my most satisfying achievements. I had officially been involved in Boy Scout Troop 59 of Manasquan for only 4 years when I had peaked by attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. To date, less than 2% of all Scouts make it that far. To this day, I still do not know why that percentage has remained so low. Even at the age of 14 years, my drive has exceeded my moments. Every Eagle Scout applicants must appear before a board to consult his prize to validate and confirm that he actually praises the virtues appropriate to the milestone. The notice of the review of the candidate sits between and across a number of elders in his flock, and a representative of the level of the Council, the governing body for many troops.
I’m stunned them all that night, not on purpose of course. All I had to do was answer a few questions and I would be a Eagle Scout. I was later told that the elders of my troops were kicking themselves under the table. She would have preferred that I had said less rather than more of that night.
I was questioned about my awareness of the high honor that they would soon give me. My answer and my feelings in general about the rank of Eagle Scout at the time were somewhat dismissive. Frankly, I saw the rank of Eagle as another step in the scouting trail. In fact, when they pressed me about why I am not enthusiastic about it seems like perhaps the elders were, I told them that every scout, the logical path that I took and reaching the rank as well follow. My point unrefined that night that I was the act of the company, which rank on a special pedestal felt was one of the obstacles for most scouts achieve this goal. I think that more scouts could be crowned as the benefit is not as high above them on top. Of course, this may dilute the experience at the same time.
After much back and forth, I agreed and agreed that it was indeed a tremendous achievement. I was now one of the younger Scouts in our troop Eagle storied history. My years in scouting if too many memories and stories to share with you this evening, however, the leadership skills I cultivated in those early years would prove crucial. They have played an important role in every major performance and after that milestone. I think the Boy Scouts with a fine organization for our youth, when coupled with active parenting are. The influence can not be overlooked.
Psychologists say that the majority of our education is acquired by the age of 16 years, if this is indeed the case, the importance of our first decisions of the utmost importance. The more healthy habits and useful ventures we participate during this phase of life, the better.
Soon I go to college at the University of South Carolina. I worked almost continuously through the years and my virtues to the job sites. I found myself in an environment where the status quo excluded. It is certainly easier in the short term lead to follow, but leads the pack at the workplace provides much more efficiency in the long term. Standing out and shake the system requires courage, or just a set of beliefs that ignore the consequences. This is why the market leader in life is crucial. If you find yourself in the driver’s seat will have less indebted to the peer pressure that can lead people astray.
During all those years my love for flying never ceased. I worked to learn and that the correlation seemed to always reach me through the harder days. After graduating with a Bachelor degree in a field unrelated to flying, I came home and ended the flight ratings needed to call myself a professional pilot. I was now getting paid for sightseeing tours around the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty it. It was a great feeling right back where I started 10 years earlier is not so much further ahead. I was now getting paid for each one of those coveted flying hours required for progress, how ironic, I felt?
Another crucial lesson learned during this phase of my life was what two steps back one could lead miles ahead. I left that wonderful job at Allaire Airport and gambled on a new venture to Teterboro Airport in North Jersey. I made less money and one hour added to my commute each way. Many people thought I was crazy, but I had to look beyond tomorrow.
For the next 6? year I participated in a niche market in the business aviation world. I flew organ transplant teams around the country in Lear jets, King Airs and Barons. It was hard work, we were often in action at the last minute and it was usually midnight. Years later I would be rewarded for the effort in a much better way than my pay. More on that shortly deal.
The challenges that my cohorts and I forced the latter position codified that work ethic learned as a newspaper boy years earlier. One of the lessons has taught me that we continue to grow and influence any act or omission, we participate in our future. We should not look at every day as any day. Every morning we wake up is another opportunity to better ourselves. Rarely will any of us continue to stagnate, we are either moving back or a head in life. We make these choices every day and all day.
After only nine years in the aviation industry, I had another peak. I have a job on a Challenger jet flying the flag of a Fortune 200 company and its owners throughout the world. That first paper route that I invested $ flight training in the circle. Delivering The Star Ledger has broadened my horizons in the literal sense. My world was actually shrunk that afternoon at age 13 when my first flight and took my first flight lesson.
To help you drive this point home, and how each action we take today to lend our successes and failures tomorrow, let me tell you about my high school prom date. Edie was one of the more unique individuals attend Manasquan High School during my years there. I soon discovered something special about her. At the time of our graduation party, she had a boyfriend from another school. Under these circumstances, I was certainly not in the short term search for her when I asked for my date for this event. I was much looking for my future and recently that has paid dividends for me. On May 5 this year Edie and I were married in Manahawkin, NJ, my high school sweetheart is so much more and for all.
Now, as promised, the reward worth so much more than a salary. About a year ago I found a watch for my friend’s grandmother. In the wake of this I was introduced to the parents of a 6-year-old boy. I expected these people to meet, because I knew their son had received a personal tour of the Giant’s Stadium a few years before, compliments of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. We had some mutual friends in the soccer organization. As I talked with the parents of the boy, I was less interested in the NY Giants and more interested in what their child had endured to the attention of the foundation to justify. The Father told me that his son Stephen had a heart transplant in early 2001. When they asked me about the NY Giants, I persisted with questions about the heart of his son. Well, it turned out, around midnight in early 2001, my co-pilot and I flew into Bradley International Airport in Connecticut and found Stephen’s heart. Confirmation of the details of the mission after waking up made me very emotional. This was the closest I’d ever been to realizing the fruits of my labor. Approximately two weeks later, we all gathered at the home of Stephen’s little and enjoyed the Super Bowl together. Stephen told me after a few hours, “Thank you for my heart.”
Now, finally, I’m no different than anyone else in this room. The only privilege I had growing up was my parents’ blessing on the multitude of desires I came home every week. Fortunately she had the courage to leave my own things to take to their conclusion. Well, I’m still reaching. When I was flying along at 41,000 feet and I stare at the stars at night, but they do not seem so far away. Every one of those stars seem inviting me to go. I know there is something behind all stars and the more that I can look back, I grow more confident. Vehicles every day you live, and before you know it, life leads you, and not just housing.
Thank you very much for having me share some of the things I’ve learned about life in my first 34 years.
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