News

Chief shares secrets of leadership success

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Stephanie Englar
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  A chief master sergeant came to speak to the group gathered at the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Induction Ceremony July 11 at the Columbus Club.

Chief Master Sgt. Carl Collins, Air National Guard Advisor to the Commander of Maxwell Air Force Base, addressed the audience on the importance of persistence, passion and perspective.

"It all starts with having the right perspective, and when you have that, it tends to drive that purpose that you need to have in what you do and what it is that you try to accomplish in helping us have the world's most respected Air Force," said Collins.

Collins continued by saying, "When you have that purpose inside of you, it really ignites that passion that you have to have. That passion that leads you to ultimately inspire others, and you all know that when you get that passion, the last piece of that to carry forward is persistence."

Collin's speech took a more serious note as he told the story about a friend of his, a technical sergeant he had met six months ago, and his persistence and his will to live during a time of crisis.

Collins said that before the life-altering event, the technical sergeant was persistent about personal fitness and taking care of himself, even when he moved to Greenland as part of a permanent change of station. However, in Greenland, his health started deteriorating.

Numerous visits to a doctor could never tell him what was actually wrong- that he had a severe case of congestive heart failure. He found out about the illness when on leave in the United States, where doctors told him after surgery that his will to live and persistence about personal fitness saved his life.

As a senior non-commissioned officer, Collins listened to the technical sergeant's story and to this day, still stays in touch. Along with persistence, passion and perspective, Collins said that something he feels is important for all Airmen to care.

Quoting John Maxwell, Collins said, "People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care."

"I think once we truly learn how to care about what it is that we do, and the people that we work with, I think that's when you really get that opportunity to start making a difference."