TCCE Winter Conference - April 7, 2021
8:00-9:30am CT
“Scrubbing Toilets with Enthusiasm”
Miles Burdine, President and CEO of the Kingsport Chamber will present his thoughts on leadership. His remarks, titled “Scrubbing Toilets with Enthusiasm,” emphasize that everyone is a leader or at least has the opportunity to lead. Miles, who is also a retired Colonel in the United States Marine Corps and who has fought in three separate wars describes how he has been led by, inspired by and taught by those he was supposed to lead, inspire and teach. Instead of being the leader he proudly became the follower and the people he followed were not always those usually thought of as leaders. They were not always people of great titles or rank. Instead, they were often people we interact with daily and, yet, they were still people who faced, accepted and overcame unbelievable adverse situations with a positive “I will never give up” attitude.
So being a leader is an opportunity for everyone, regardless of title, rank, wealth, position, status or age. Everyone has the opportunity, but what kind of leader…positive or negative…good or bad…is a personal choice.
Miles incorporates lessons in accountability, determination and self-sacrifice by telling stories of people who chose to be positive leaders…stories such as “It’s Okay to Lie for a Dollar”…“Everybody Loves Grunt”…
“I Don’t Want to be the Senator’s Wife”…“Drink Orange Juice and Do Pushups”…“Gosh, I Wish I Could Still Dance with You”…“Lamb’s Blood”…”Do you know the custodian’s name?” and “Men Don’t Follow Titles—They Follow Courage”…among others.
After Miles’ presentation, we will have a session to share ideas between the local chambers.