Dean Niebuhr: You read so many books on leadership, so much is like I've got to take charge and set the strategy and vision for the organization, but if you lose sight of the individuals you're dealing with and don't have the concern for them and their families; everybody brings baggage to the organization. I remember I was in the Blue Ridge Leadership Conference, which is held over in Ashville. One of the speakers had been a production line worker for years in the textile industry. For 25 years she had been a production worker. And then begins speaking on leadership. I remember one thing she said. “If you're my boss, don't walk by me without knowing my name and knowing something about me.” A lot of times we get lost in all the leadership phenomena of wanting to be a leader and we forget about the individuals. I think the examples you gave of just dealing with the people from their problems of alcoholism to family shows you have a concern.

Otto Wheeley: There are also many other opportunities and we don't realize sometimes the leader needs to be corrected. My mentor, a fellow named Fletcher Byron, who in the 60s and 70s was considered one of the top three CEOS in the nation. If he gave you and me a job to do and we went out and got it done and we maybe accomplished more than we expected or he expected and he heard us talking to somebody someday and it sounded like we were being a little braggadocios, as I put it; he was only 5 feet tall and he'd come sauntering over with a big frown on his face and look up at you and point his finger right at the end of your nose and say, “just remember fellows, when you see a turtle on top of the fence post, you know it didn't get there by himself. “