I had the opportunity to address Beta Gamma Sigma, when honored this past March, and shared comments concerning what I thought it takes to be successful in today’s business world. Without intentionally referencing clichés heard before……I have witnessed these personality traits in successful associates over the past 30 years since my graduation.

• PERSISTENCE; a person goal oriented and diligent with a sense of urgency
• CONSISTENCY; a person patient in thought process and actions
• A TEAM PLAYER; someone realizing the efficiencies and talents of the people around them that support the team agenda
• RESPONSIBILITY & ACCOUNTABILITY; a person who identifies what accompanies success and accepts the demands that equate as a result of success
• FOCUSED; someone able to define the difference between performance and mediocrity
• BE A GOOD LISTENER; a person who is resourceful and seeks opinions of others constructively
• CONTINUE EDUCATION; Never stop learning, seek knowledge and experience
• MENTORING; search out and find a mentor AND become one…..life is too short and precious to know it all; seek and set examples
• COMMUNICATE; hone verbal and written skills to produce action and results
• BE OPEN MINDED; someone constantly evaluating change and seeking challenge
• DEMOCRATIC; be fair to all concerned, weigh all points of view before acting
• GLOBAL; a person who sees the big picture and constantly asking “where do I fit in? How can I make a difference?”
• TRUST; someone respected for their opinions, participation and convictions
• CONFIDENCE; a person able to perform at levels exceeding their own expectations
• HUMILITY; someone able to face failure as a new opportunity for greater challenge

I grew up during a time of change. I witnessed war, civil disobedience and a race wishing their oppression be heard with the expectation of action. I witnessed political turbulence; assassinations and dissent test the very conscience that perpetuates free enterprise. I experienced technology and discovery change my work and my family’s way of life. I have witnessed our “right to know” translate into words like invasion of privacy, disclosure, impairment and media imbedded with our soldiers on a hostile front. Sound familiar? Your generation has and will share the same anomalies as I have only in a different arena.

Success doesn’t just happen…..It occurs when an opportunity is recognized and acted upon with the tools and a mind-set enabling the participants to freely maximize their assets or contribution toward specific results. Participate in making those decisions and contribute to achieve those results!

Dennis Iversen, President/CEO

UnionBank, West Region October 2003