Saint Leo University eNews | MLK Day Speaker, Al Duncan

University Campus students were able to spend valuable time on Martin Luther King Jr. Day hearing from one of the nation’s up-and-coming youth empowerment advocates, Al Duncan. Duncan easily engaged campus students in a give-and-take on the qualities needed for true leadership. Above all other characteristics, Duncan believes the power of choice––exercised daily––is indispensable. “Choice is the steering wheel for your life,” he said. “You have a choice to exhibit exceptional service to other people.” Each day, he likes to ask himself: “What do you know that you could be using to make your life or someone else’s life better?”

Duncan, now 39, recalled the story of how his life shifted at age 24. He was then enjoying a carefree lifestyle as a professional saxophone player, but on a more serious level was also reconnecting with the written works of Frederick Douglass and Dr. King. Then one day he received a disturbing call from his mother, back in the dangerous inner-city Philadelphia neighborhood where he had grown up. Duncan’s younger brother, only 12 at the time, was headed for trouble. He returned home to stay with the family and help, but determined he couldn’t shield his younger sibling from the violence of the neighborhood.

So the two relocated to Atlanta, and at 24, Duncan took on the responsibility of getting a new place, finding a new line of work, and raising his 12-year-old brother. Although challenging, it all turned out for the best. Consequently, the advice he shares with young people who have grown up in a celebrity-oriented media culture is this: “Leadership is about much more than what you do when you’re in the spotlight. It’s about what you do when you’re on the spot.”

Saint Leo University eNews | MLK Speaker, Al Duncan:

[VIDEO] Duncan Nugget® #202: Live Your Life

A few years ago, I saw the following statement on a student’s Facebook status:

“Oh I get it! The point of life is to live.” 

As you can imagine, his status immediately generated a couple of sarcastic comments:

“omg”

“lol”

“AHAHA you hit the nail on the head didnt you?”

People were clowning him and I’m not sure if he was serious or not , but that is a profound statement: the point of life is to live.

A lot of people spend their whole life dying. Dying from stupidity. Dying of mediocrity. Dying of boredom. Dying of loneliness. And the list goes on. They do nothing. They just fade away and completely waste a precious gift.

Enjoy your life.

Do something awesome with your life.

LIVE your life. You deserve it.

Million-Dollar Question:
Are you really living your life?

___________________
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

[VIDEO] Duncan Nugget® #26: Contagious

There are few things more nerve-wracking than being stuck at work or on a plane next to someone who is constantly coughing.

You’re sitting there thinking, “I better not get sick or I’m going to hurt somebody.”

When people are coughing like that it’s easy to see that they might be contagious, but we are often unaware of the subtle ways that people are contagious.

The limbic system is the part of your brain that produces emotions. Scientists have discovered that it’s an open-loop system. Which means the moods and attitudes of one person transmit signals that can alter the heart rate, hormone levels, sleep rhythms and immune functions inside the body of another person. And the person may not even realize what happened.

That’s deep.

People are always contagious.

Million-Dollar Question:
What attitudes and moods are you and the people you hang around infecting each other with?

______________________
ACTION STEPS AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Q & A: 4 Tips For Success In Your College Career

Q: I truly appreciate having the opportunity to listen to you speak. Next fall I will be attending the University of South Carolina and will be double majoring in International Business and Finance. I was wondering if you have any tips for what to expect in the college world, and how to continue striving for success in my college career. —Nicholas C., Colorado

Al Duncan – FBLA Colorado District 1 Conference – Testimonials

Testimonials from members after Al Duncan’s keynote address and workshop at the 2012 FBLA Colorado District 1 Conference.

“Mr. Duncan, Thank you SO much for flying in all the way from Georgia to speak to the Colorado FBLA District 1 members. I hope your wise words travel with them as they embark on the journey of the rest of their lives. Thank you very much for everything! You’re awesome! Much love! ♥”

—Kae, District 1 Vice President

[VIDEO+ACTIVITY] Duncan Nugget® #211: The Deciding Factor

Exxon Mobile Corporation conducted a study that shows that price isn’t always the main deciding factor for choosing a gas station. It’s other things like cleanliness, brightness, and safety.

That’s interesting because it shows that…

When someone makes a decision about you and what you have to offer, many times the deciding factor isn’t what you think it is.

I’ve seen plenty of people get tripped up over this. If you are a parent, educator, or mentor whether or not someone heeds your advice is seldom based on common sense. The deciding factors are things like trust, respect, and authenticity.

When you’re in an interview, seldom are your GPA and technical knowledge the deciding factors. It’s often a matter of soft skills like leadership, communication, teamwork, and decision making.

Million-Dollar Question:
When making a choice about you
and what you have to offer,
what will be the deciding factor?

_______________________
ACTIVITY AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

[POSTER] The Path To Success

Man…I wish I figured this out sooner. The path to success looks like spaghetti.