RCK Director Virginia Babb introduced this week’s speaker, Justin Bailey, CEO of Realty Executives. Justin is a fourth generation realtor who routinely introduces himself as “Laura Bailey’s son”, and is the Past President of the Realtor’s Association. He also believes his Great Uncle was a founding Rotary member.
Justin focused his discussion on Identity & Leadership and shared a humorous anecdote about meeting the “love of his life” (in fifth grade anyway) and listed several subjects, Math, Data Analysis, Organizational Efficiency, Economics, and Accounting, all as things he is not good at, his point being Know what you are AND what you are not. He shared how his therapist told him he sounded like a cheerleader. When he pushed back and said he didn’t want to be a cheerleader, he wanted to be a quarterback, the therapist asked, ”you mean you don’t want to celebrate others successes and be there for them when they fall short? You don’t want to encourage people unconditionally to be their best?” and he realized he might be a cheerleader. Justin listed four Presidents, FDR, George W. Bush, IKE and Reagan, all of whom were cheerleaders in high school or college.
Justin has come to see himself as a cheerleader, a community builder, a story teller, and untangler of knots. He was enamored with Muhammad Ali and realizes that while he might not be a champion boxer, he makes a good “Corner Man”. Justin also touched on the challenges of raising three children, all with different personalities, with one completely opposite from his own personality, pointing out the importance of celebrating differences.
Justin ended the presentation asking people to partner up at their tables and share their best attributes and what they feel are their worst.