.floatimg-left-hort { float:left; } .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 12px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;}
As someone who has tried to schedule keynote speakers for a college, I know that many of them are almost cost prohibitive. For example, I was told by the agent of Malcolm Gladwell, author of “The Tipping Point” and “Blink,” that he can command $75,000 a talk.

Fortunately for Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Dr. Harold Walter Siebens endowed a fund to bring internationally recognized speakers to campus. Likewise, Drake University has the Martin Bucksbaum Distinguished Lecture Series, which has brought people such as Bill Moyers, Tim Russert and Jane Goodall to Des Moines.

As a result of a gift from the De Cooks in Pella, Central College has started the Mark and Kay De Cook Distinguished Speaker Series. This year’s featured speaker was Barry Griswell, recently retired as CEO of Principal Financial Group Inc., and his talk was priceless.

The saying goes that “you can’t be a hero in your hometown”, but Des Moines has a hometown hero. This was not a fancy PowerPoint presentation; Barry spoke from the heart without using one note. The title of his speech was “The Adversity Paradox – An Unconventional Path to Building Character and Leadership Skills.” The audience was captivated.

Barry started with his life story, which is moving and has been shared in Des Moines in various venues. Then he shared his sage advice, much of which had to do with the human spirit. His points not only were easy to remember; they were thought-provoking:

• Who you are matters most.

• There is no substitute for hard work. When you think you have done enough, do more and then some.

• Purpose and passion take the work out of work.

• Never underestimate the power of lifelong learning.

• The mirror is the most important tool there is. Understand yourself by always seeking feedback.

• Lead with a servant’s heart.

It was the “and then some” that everyone talked about afterward, because it can be used in so many ways. Give back to your community and then some. Pay attention to what is important in life and then some. Do the job that is expected and then some. Be the best person and leader you can be and then some.

It was a moving speech that could have been a commencement address for students of all ages.

He closed by paraphrasing a statement from Robert Joss, dean of the Stanford Graduate School of Business. When Joss was asked what he wants his business students to remember about leadership, he said: “That leadership is not about position, power or prestige. Real leadership is about taking responsibility for the organization that you’ve been entrusted with and making it a better place than when you took it. It is about servanthood and stewardship.” To which Barry added, “To the extent that we would do this, the world would be a better place.”

Principal Financial Group, the city of Des Moines, and soon the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation are all better because of Barry Griswell’s leadership. He walks the walk and then some. Thanks, Barry.

Jann Freed holds the Mark and Kay De Cook Endowed Chair in Leadership and Character Development at Central College in Pella.