The 7 Secrets of Neuron Leadership

Chapter 12Wise Scarecrow—Neuron Secret Seven

Experience is the only thing that brings knowledge, and the longer you are on earth the more experience you are sure to get.

—THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ (FIGURE 12.1)

Figure 12.1 The Scarecrow

Source: Anna Velichkovsky, Dreamstime.com.

NEURON SECRET SEVEN

The Principle of Wisdom: Patience and dependability are the cornerstones of great leadership.

When Sean O'Keefe was born in Monterey, California, in 1956, his parents, like most, had visions of grandeur for their son. As Sean matured, he never gave much heed to those visions, but they found him all the same. Sean's mother and father hailed from New Orleans and persuaded him to attend Loyola University after he graduated from high school. Sean earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and then pursued a Masters of Public Administration at Syracuse University one year later. Unsure of what his next steps should be, he decided to let the gentle waters of fate guide him toward his destiny.

“I recall a great book written by James Stavridis called The Accidental Admiral,” said Sean. “I may write a book one day called The Accidental Public Servant.”

In post graduate school, Sean was “accidentally” selected to the inaugural class of the Presidential Management Intern Program and later served as a budget analyst for the Department of the Navy. That accidentally led to a stint with the U.S. Senate ...