Welcome to our November 2016 Thanksgiving edition of BIC Magazine — your business and industry connection. A lot of challenges have occurred in the past few months across the Gulf Coast and here at BIC Alliance. The devastating floods in Louisiana have affected about one-quarter of our staff, including me, causing us to lose our homes, vehicles or, in some cases, both. According to statistics from the Baton Rouge Area Chamber included on page 56 of this issue, over 145,000 homes and 12,000 businesses employing 136,000 people are located within the flood area. Over 360,000 people live and work within the flood area. Most did not have flood insurance to deal with the estimated $20 billion in damages. Our hearts go out to those affected, and we appreciate those who have reached out to help.
With the adversity facing our region, our industry and our country, I think a “From the Publisher” focused on leadership and the importance of gratitude is very timely. In times of great adversity and great opportunity, we need strong leadership more than ever. One distinguishing characteristic of a great leader is the ability to lead during times of crisis.
Real leaders are good role models, and they know how to keep cool in times of crisis. Whether you’re a CEO or a trainee, it is important to know who the best leaders in your company are. Oftentimes these individuals make good mentors and trainers because people tend to learn more from those they admire and respect. In fact, in my Alligator Management & Marketing presentation on “Leadership Strategies for Doing Business in Industry,” I outline some characteristics I believe go hand in hand with strong leaders, with the first “E” in L.E.A.D.E.R.S.H.I.P. representing energy, enthusiasm and empathy. The last of those traits — empathy — is key, as you must be willing to take a leadership position in a crisis and serve as a role model to others. Perhaps we should add to that the trait of being encouraging. In a time of challenges, a strong leader should encourage those around him or her, whether they are friends, family or co-workers, to stay the course, be all they can be and not throw in the towel when the going gets tough.
I really like what actor Mark Wahlberg said in the movie, “Deepwater Horizon”: “Hope is not a strategy.” In my opinion, happiness is a choice; it is something you can learn. And one of the cornerstones to achieving happiness is counting your blessings instead of your challenges. I like to think of problems as challenges because oftentimes, whereas a problem can feel overwhelming, a challenge inspires something within you to rise to the occasion and march on. We all know what the challenge is. Let’s spend time thinking instead of a solution.
You’ve likely heard the phrase “an attitude of gratitude.” I believe that is critical in making strides toward a solution. Two of the greatest words we can ever say are “thank you.” We have made gratitude a cornerstone of our operations here at BIC Alliance. We like to say you might be able to outthink us at BIC Alliance, but you will never be able to outthank us. We believe in giving thanks and saying thanks, and we express our gratitude both verbally and in writing.
To that end, I would be remiss not to thank you, our loyal readers and BIC Alliance members, for your continued support as we approach the close of another year. I also want to thank those who have shared their stories over the years of rising again after adversity and becoming leaders and shining examples for others to learn from.
In this issue of BIC, we can learn from a range of great leaders, including BASF Senior Vice President and Geismar Site General Manager Tom Yura, ExxonMobil Baytown Chemical Plant Site Manager Bob Catudal, Central Gulf Industrial Alliance Executive Director Frank Jelercic, Scaffold & Access Industry Association Executive Director R. Granville Loar, Stork Director of Gulf Coast Operations Bob Frawley and Wyatt Field Service Co. Senior Vice President/General Manager Todd Riedlinger, among others.
We also feature topics including improving your safety culture, controlling risk, paving the way for mastery for new employees, contractor relations for turnaround success and more.
I will be speaking at the Port Arthur, Texas, Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet Jan. 19 on the topics of leadership and the power of networking. We hope you will join us to discuss these worthwhile topics. We also hope you will continue to share life lessons, new technologies, and messages of leadership and inspiration by passing along this and other issues of BIC Magazine to your friends and colleagues, or referring them to BICMagazine.com.
earlheard@bicalliance.com