the one I tried to draw...

What is your Ultimate Career Lifestyle?

To be able to work hard when I'm inspired, and be able to play hard when I'm not...to be surrounded by people who bring out the best in each other...to constantly produce results that make me step back and happily say, 'I did that.'

Current Company

Talent Revolution

Job Title

Brand Catalyst & Writer

School(s)

University of Kentucky

About me:

With Definition Brings Clarity:
How One Employee Uses His Values To Pursue His Passion.

Making decisions always involves the consideration of alternatives. For Chris Reed, the alternatives for his next career path came front and center in August of 2006. After discovering a passion for marketing, branding, and communications, and pursuing that passion for 10 years, he was presented with the opportunity to go back to school and complete his degree. Now, after completing his degree, Chris has found his next long-term career. The values that have provided the foundation for his personal and professional success seem to play a major role in any decision he makes.

“First and foremost, you must be honest,” says Chris. “Being honest with yourself instead of trying to be something you’re not is just as important as not telling lies. If you can’t be honest with yourself, how can you expect to be honest with someone else?” Honesty is the first thing Chris considers whether at home or at work. He adds, “So many organizations say they want to achieve ‘this’ or will provide ‘that’. And I think they do have good intentions. But you don’t have to look very far to see those that aren’t being honest with themselves, their employees, or their customers. If your business practices aren’t honest, if you’re dishonest with consumers and with your employees then, honestly, the future of your business is uncertain.”

Experienced adults that return to school will, at some point, question their decision. Chris reached that point, admittedly more than once, and it was at that point where his ability to maintain a long-term focus helped him reach his goal. “There were a couple of late nights in particular when I was asking myself, ‘Why are you putting yourself through this?’ Long-term focus allowed me to keep an open mind, to learn from others, and ultimately, to realize my goal.” On the subject of business, Chris comments, “Everything you do must be a building block for the future. It’s so easy to get caught up in the daily trap of putting out fires and lose long-term focus in the process. Long-term objectives must be clearly defined for long-term clarity.”

Sipping a cup of coffee and looking at pictures from a recent family vacation to Walt Disney World, Chris begins to reminisce about when he was first introduced to true customer service. “Most kids at Disney World are concerned about seeing the characters and experiencing the attractions. I was busy telling my parents that I was going to work there someday.” Enamored with Disney’s ability to exceed expectations, Chris did exactly what he said he was going to do. “It’s one thing to exceed the expectations of your guests. The real accomplishment is establishing a culture in which you can exceed the expectations of your employees. You can’t fully attain one without the other, and Disney taught me how to achieve both.”

Basing decisions on these values has allowed Chris to exceed the expectations of those around him and, in turn, pursue his passion.

My address at my favorite social networking site

http://twitter.com/c_reed

How did you hear about TALENT revolution?

Amanda Hite

Interest

The guitar ('thank you' Jimi, SRV, Clapton, and JM), golf ('thank you' Golden Bear and Tiger), branding and marketing ('thank you' Apple, Disney, and Nike), exercise ('thank you' strong will), travel ('thank you' places outside of Kentucky), reading ('thank you' Berenstain Bears), and Disney ('thank you' Walt and Mom & Dad).

My strengths are:

My ability to combine a sense of creativity with an analytical mind.

What generation are you apart of?

Generation X

My favorite thing about my generation is?

The cool name, of course. It's a brand by itself.