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>> COMING UP NEXT ON "ALUMNI SUCCESS" MY CONVERSATION
WITH ELAINE LYERLY.
(THEME MUSIC)
>> WELCOME TO "ALUMNI SUCCESS" ON CPCC TELEVISION.
MY GUEST TODAY IS ELAINE LYERLY.
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IT'S GREAT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU.
YOU AND I HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A GREAT LENGTH OF TIME.
FOR OUR VIEWERS WALK BACK THROUGH YOUR FIRST CONNECTION
WITH CPCC MAYBE AS A STUDENT.
>> YES, I WAS TRYING TO DECIDE WHERE TO GO TO COLLEGE.
I THINK I WAS ONE OF THOSE RARE STUDENTS THAT KNEW WHAT I WANTED
TO DO PRETTY EARLY ON, AND I KNEW I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING?
THE CREATIVE FIELD, DESIGN, ADVERTISING,
AND I SEARCHED SCHOOLS AROUND THE STATE,
AND FOUND CENTRAL PIEDMONT, AND CHECKED IT OUT.
>> AND WHAT WAS IT IN YOUR EARLY BACKGROUND
THAT YOU SAID IT WAS CREATIVE FOR YOU?
>> WELL, I USED TO LOVE TO DRAW, AND I SPENT A LOT
OF TIME DRAWING AND COMING UP WITH IDEAS FOR THINGS,
AND INVENTING PRODUCTS AND PRODUCT NAMES, AND TALKED A LOT
ABOUT MY -- WITH MY FAMILY ABOUT IT, AND THEY ENCOURAGED ME.
SO, THEY SAID, WE THINK YOU SHOULD PURSUE THAT,
AND I HAD A LOVE FOR IT, SO THAT'S HOW I ENDED
UP IN THE MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS FIELD.
>> AND SO, IN THE MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS FIELD HERE
AT CPCC, WHAT WERE SOME OF THE KIND OF COURSES
THAT YOU WERE INVOLVED WITH AT THAT TIME?
>> THERE WERE MASS COMMUNICATIONS COURSES,
THERE WERE DRAWING COURSES, COMMERCIAL DESIGN, PHOTOGRAPHY,
ALL THINGS THAT I JUST REALLY LOVED, AND ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WAS EXCITING TO ME ABOUT IT WAS THAT I COULD START SCHOOL,
AND JUMP IN DAY ONE DOING WHAT I REALLY LOVE TO DO.
SO, THE OTHER POSITIVE FOR ME WAS THAT SO MANY
OF THE TEACHERS WERE WORKING IN THE FIELD.
SO, IT WAS RELEVANT INFORMATION OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
>> AS A STUDENT COMING IN TO CPCC,
AND THIS IS THE CASE TODAY, THE WIDE RANGE AND MIX OF STUDENTS,
THE DEMOGRAPHICS WITHIN THE CLASS, WAS THAT SORT
OF INTERESTING TO YOU AS WELL?
>> IT WAS.
IT WAS VERY INTERESTING, AND I MET A LOT OF GREAT STUDENTS
THAT BECAME FRIENDS, AND THEY WERE
FROM THE REGION, I WOULD SAY.
THEY WERE OUT OF STATE STUDENTS AS WELL,
BUT SOME GREAT FRIENDSHIPS FORMED, AND LOVED THE TEACHERS.
VERY DEDICATED TEACHERS.
>> AND AT THAT TIME, PROBABLY, WE WERE EITHER ONE
OR TWO CAMPUSES WHEN YOU CAME ON TO THE SCENE AT CPCC.
>> MM-HMM.
>> TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BEING JUST A COMMUNITY LEADER
AND FROM YOUR VANTAGE POINT NOW,
AS A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSWOMAN SORT OF THE ROLE
THAT YOU THINK CPCC PLAYS IN THE BROADER COMMUNITY.
>> I THINK THAT SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE HUGE
IMPACT THAT CENTRAL PIEDMONT HAS IN THAT THERE'S
SO MANY STUDENTS HERE.
I THINK WHEN I WAS HERE, THERE WERE LIKE 60,000 STUDENTS,
AND IT'S JUST -- SERVES SUCH A STRONG COMMUNITY NEED,
AND THE WHOLE AREA OF TRAINING THE WORKFORCE FOR TODAY IS
SO IMPORTANT, AND JOBS ARE CHANGING, THE NEEDS THAT ARE --
NEEDS -- BUSINESSES HAVE NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY
THAT ARE CHANGING AS WELL.
SO, CENTRAL PIEDMONT REALLY PLAYS A HUGE ROLE
IN WORKFORCE TRAINING FOR OUR AREA.
>> IN YOUR BUSINESS FOR PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR,
ONE WITH THE BUSINESS, AND TWO, WITH YOUR FIRM,
MAYBE SPEND A MINUTE OR TWO ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS, THE FIRM,
AND SORT OF WHAT YOU ALL ARE ABOUT.
>> YES. MY COMPANY IS LYERLY AGENCY, AND WE DO MARKETING,
BRANDING, COMMUNICATION, P.R., ADVERTISING.
SO, WE ARE IN THE COMMUNICATIONS FIELD, AND OUR TAG LINE IS
"BUSINESS TO PEOPLE COMMUNICATIONS."
>> MEANING WHAT?
>> WELL, WHAT WE'RE EXPERTS AT IS HELPING BUSINESS TALK
TO THE AUDIENCES THAT THEY WANT TO REACH,
WHETHER IT'S A CUSTOMER, A POTENTIAL CUSTOMER,
POTENTIAL DONOR, OUR CLIENTS REALLY RANGE FROM BUSINESS
TO ASSOCIATIONS, TO LOTS OF DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES.
SO, WE HELP THEM TELL THEIR STORY TO THEIR AUDIENCES.
>> AND I WANT TO COME BACK TO TELLING THE STORY PART.
I BELIEVE THIS IS CORRECT -- YOU AND YOUR SISTER ARE PART
AND PARCEL IN THE BUSINESS?
>> WE ARE.
WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER ABOUT 30 YEARS,
AND IT'S JUST REALLY GREAT AND EXCITING
TO HAVE MY SISTER THERE.
>> YEAH. AND WHAT -- YOU CAN PROBABLY ANSWER THIS BETTER
THAN ANYBODY -- WHAT DO YOU BRING TO THAT EQUATION,
AND WHAT DOES SHE BRING TO THE EQUATION?
>> WELL, I AM MORE -- GREW UP ON THE CREATIVE SIDE
IN THE BUSINESS AND THEN ONE OF THE CLASSES THAT I HAD
AT CENTRAL PIEDMONT WAS A SALES CLASS
AND I DIDN'T REALLY THINK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IF I WOULD LIKE IT, AND I LOVED IT.
I EXCELLED IN THAT CLASS.
IN FACT, THEY EVEN VIDEOTAPED MY PRESENTATION TO SHOW IT
AROUND TO OTHER CLASSES.
SO, I LEARNED THAT I ALSO HAD AN ABILITY
FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND SALES.
SO, THAT'S ALSO A PART OF WHAT I DO IS NEW BUSINESS
FOR LYERLY AGENCY.
MA LEAH, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS SO ORGANIZED.
SHE IS IT A GREAT BUSINESS HEAD, AND --
>> SORT OF MORE BEHIND THE SCENES?
>> IN SOME WAYS, RIGHT.
SHE WORKS WITH CLIENTS, TOO, BUT I TELL YOU, SHE IS --
SHE CAN DEVELOP THE PROCESS MAKE THINGS
ON TIME, ON TARGET, ON BUDGET.
MAKE SURE THE WORKFLOW HAPPENS.
>> AND YOU'RE MORE ABOUT SORT OF THE VISIONARY BIG PICTURE.
>> RIGHT.
>> DETAILS WILL WORK THEMSELVES OUT, ON DOWN THE LINE?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
SO, WE'RE ONE COMPLETE PERSON, IF YOU WILL.
HER STRENGTHS ARE NOT MINE, AND MINE ARE NOT HERS.
SO, IT'S LIKE -- IT'S A GREAT BALANCE.
>> IS IT HARD FOR BUSINESSES OR COMPANIES
TO REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW TO TELL THEIR STORY,
OR DO THEY BELIEVE WE KNOW OUR STORY, SO THEREFORE,
WE CAN JUST COMMUNICATE IT, NO PROBLEM, YOU KNOW?
>> YEAH. I THINK SOME COMPANIES DO IT BETTER
THAN OTHER COMPANIES, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE REALLY BIG
ON IS MAKING SURE THAT WHEN THE STORY IS TOLD THAT YOU APPEAL
TO BOTH THE LEFT BRAIN AND THE RIGHT BRAIN.
>> MEANING WHAT?
>> WELL, SO MANY COMPANIES ARE VERY LEFT-BRAINED KINDS
OF COMPANIES, AND THEY HAVE FACTS AND INFORMATION
THAT THEY GET OUT TO TALK TO CUSTOMERS,
AND PROSPECTIVE CUSTOMERS.
AND BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT PEOPLE MAKE DECISIONS
WITH THEIR RIGHT BRAIN.
>> WITH THEIR HEART, TOO?
>> YES. WITH HOW THEY THINK AND FEEL.
AND THAT'S WHERE THE HEART COMES IN.
SO, BRANDING AND COMMUNICATION IS NOT JUST LEFT-BRAIN,
IT'S GOT TO BE THE RIGHT BRAIN, TOO.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE REALLY SKILLED IS MAKING SURE
THAT A CUSTOMER OR A DONOR
OR A PROSPECT UNDERSTANDS WHAT A BUSINESS OR A NON-PROFIT DOES,
BUT THEY NEED THE FACTS AND FIGURES, BUT IF YOU DON'T TELL
THAT STORY IN A COMPELLING WAY, YOU'RE MOTT GOING
TO MOTIVATE THEM TO ACT.
AND THAT'S THE RIGHT BRAIN.
THAT'S CALLED EMOTIONAL BRANDING.
>> OKAY. AND IS EMOTIONAL BRAND, IS THAT A NEW PHRASE
OR A NEW TWIST OF A PHRASE?
>> WELL, IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE, BUT WE'RE SEEING LOTS
OF DIFFERENT TWISTS ON BRANDING.
SO, EMOTIONAL BRANDING, YES.
COLORS HAVE A BIG PART OF THAT.
MESSAGING, YOU KNOW, HOW YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU DO.
AND THEN ALSO WE'RE SEEING AN EMERGENCE
OF PERSONAL BRANDING, TOO.
SO, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE STARTING WITH WORK
WITH MORE OF OUR CLIENTS ON.
YOU KNOW, THE COMPANIES GOT THE BRAND, BUT HOW ABOUT YOUR BRAND.
HOW DOES YOUR BRAND FIT
WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION THAT YOU WORK WITHIN.
>> YOU MEAN THE SPECIFIC OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S BRAND.
>> YES, INDIVIDUAL'S BRAND.
>> THEY REALLY ARE.
NOBODY ELSE IS REALLY SELLING THEM EXCEPT THEMSELVES.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
SO THEY'RE PART OF A COMPANY AND ORGANIZATION.
BUT THEN THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING LOOKING
TO CHANGE UP THEIR BRAND BECAUSE MAYBE THEY HAVE BEEN DOWNSIZED,
OR THEY HAVE ANOTHER CHANGE THAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR LIFE,
AND THEY'RE LOOKING TO KIND OF RECREATE THEMSELVES,
MAYBE THEY HAVE GONE BACK AND GOTTEN MORE EDUCATION.
WE'RE WORKING WITH SOMEONE WHO WAS A PROFESSIONAL TENNIS PRO
THAT NOW SHE HAS SPENT MANY YEARS GETTING HER DOCTORATE,
SO SHE IS REBRANDING HERSELF TO BUILD HER PRACTICE IN THE AREA
THAT SHE HAS HER DOCTORATE.
>> IS IT HARD FOR PEOPLE TO SORT OF SELF--
PROMOTE OR TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEIR BRAND IS?
>> I THINK EITHER YOU HAVE A BRAND BY DEFAULT
OR YOU HAVE A BRAND BY DESIGN.
THAT'S TRUE FOR A BUSINESS OR IT'S TRUE
FOR AN INDIVIDUAL AS WELL.
>> BY DEFAULT MEANING WHAT?
>> THAT IF YOU'RE NOT DEFINING IT YOURSELF,
THEN OTHER PEOPLE ARE DEFINING IT FOR YOU.
SO, IT'S ABOUT TAKING AN ACTIVE APPROACH IN WHAT YOU DO,
HOW YOU DO IT THAT REALLY CREATES WHO YOU ARE,
AND PROJECTS YOURSELF IN A WAY THAT IS PROFESSIONAL THAT LINES
UP WITH YOUR PASSION AND WHAT YOU WANT DO IN LIFE.
>> I'M GOING TO COME BACK AND TALK SOME
ABOUT PASSION IN A SECOND.
IF YOU WANT TO JOIN OUR CONVERSATION WITH ELAINE LYERLY
AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CPCC AND HER FIRM AND HER BUSINESS.
BUSINESSES, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE AN OBJECTIVE THIRD PARTY
THAT CAN STEP BACK AND SEE THE BILLING PICTURE.
IN THAT REALLY IS SORT OF THE ROLE THAT YOU CAN HELP PLAY.
>> IT IS.
>> THEY'RE SO CLOSE TO IT.
>> IT IS. THAT'S SO TRUE.
SOMETIMES BUSINESSES TODAY, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE CHALLENGED
TO DO MORE WITH LESS, WHETHER IT'S LESS BUDGET, LESS PEOPLE,
AND THEY'RE FOCUSED ON DOING WHAT THEY NEED DO --
TO DO TO DO THEIR JOB EVERY SINGLE DAY.
SO, BEING ABLE TO STEP BACK AND BRING SOMEONE IN TO SAY, OH,
LOOK, HERE'S AN AREA THAT YOU REALLY ARE GOOD AT,
BUT YOU'RE NOT TELLING ANYBODY ABOUT IT.
THEY'RE LIKE -- OH -- SO,
>> BECAUSE THEY'RE SO CLOSE TO IT.
THEY SEE IT EVERY DAY.
>> THEY'RE SO CLOSE TO IT.
THAT IT'S NOT SEEING THE FOREST FOR THE TREE, IF YOU WILL.
>> YOUR BUSINESS, AND SORT
OF THE WHOLE COMMUNICATION MARKETING BUSINESS,
HOW HAS IT CHANGED OVER THE LAST --
I DON'T KNOW, FIVE YEARS, TEN YEARS?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS
THAT HAVE CHANGED GREATLY.
OBVIOUSLY, SOCIAL MEDIA PUTS PEOPLE IN TOUCH
IN DIFFERENT WAYS, AND QUICKLY.
YOU KNOW, THE SPEED WITHIN WHICH THINGS ARE COMMUNICATED HAS GONE
FROM HERE TO HERE.
IT'S LIKE SECONDS WHEN YOU CAN GET INFORMATION OUT.
SO, BEING ABLE TO USE THOSE SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLS EFFECTIVELY
AND TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO INFORMATION THAT'S BEING PUT
OUT THERE ABOUT A COMPANY,
ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE SO IMPORTANT.
BUT THEN THERE'S SOME BASICS THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE THE SAME.
THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WANT TO BE TREATED WELL.
AND YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S MAYA ANGELOU WHO SAID,
"AFTER IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE,
PEOPLE WON'T REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID OR WHAT YOU DID,
BUT THEY'LL REMEMBER YOU HO YOU MADE THEM FEEL."
SO, THERE ARE TOOLS THAT ARE USED
IN THE COMMUNICATION BUSINESS THAT MAKE PEOPLE FEEL GOOD
ABOUT BEING ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR COMPANY, YOUR BUSINESS,
YOUR ORGANIZATION THAT ARE BASICS FROM THE PHONE CALLS
TO THE NOTECARDS TO THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, THERE'S MORE OF A COMBINATION
OF TOOLS TODAY THAN EVER.
>> BECAUSE YEARS AND YEARS AGO, THEY WOULD SAY, OH, WELL,
IT'S A PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM,
AND THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MANAGING A MESSAGE,
OR TRYING TO MANAGE A PARTICULAR SITUATION, NEWS EVENT,
AND NOW IT'S MUCH MORE BROAD AND DEEP
THAN IT PROBABLY EVER HAS BEEN.
>> YES, THAT'S TRUE.
YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE EVERYTHING FROM CRISIS COMMUNICATION
TO HANDLING A SITUATION WHERE SOMETHING BAD HAS HAPPENED
WITHIN A COMPANY OR TO A COMPANY TO --
YOU KNOW, JUST MAKING SHOO YOUR THAT --
MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TOUCH POINTS
WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS, AND MAKING SURE
THAT THEY KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND ARE SUPPORTING YOU
AND ARE LOYAL TO YOUR BRAND.
>> THIS IS A PERCEPTION, AND I HAVE KNOWN YOU A LONG TIME,
BUT MY PERCEPTION IS, THERE ARE HIGH-TECH COMPANIES,
AND THERE ARE HIGH TOUCH COMPANIES.
AND MY PERCEPTION OF YOUR FIRM IS IT'S A HIGH TOUCH FIRM, TRUE?
>> YEAH. I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT.
>> NOT THAT YOU CAN'T DO THE TIE TECH SIDE OF IT.
BUT THE ABILITY TO REALLY GET IN WITH THE CLIENT
AND THE INDIVIDUAL THINGS THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO DO TO BRING VALUE
TO THE COMPANY AND TO THE FIRM ITSELF.
>> RIGHT. YES.
WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CLIENTS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED,
AND THAT YOU KNOW, WHERE WE'RE OFFERING THEM RESULTS
FOR THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, SO WE'RE VERY FOCUSED
ON WHAT IS IT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH,
AND DEVELOPING A PLAN AND A STRATEGY
TO HELP ACCOMPLISH THAT.
>> AND CAN THEY ARTICULATE THAT FOR YOU?
BECAUSE AS YOU TALKED ABOUT IN YOUR EARLY YEARS CREATIVE
AND THE DRAWING AND ALL OF THAT SORT OF PIECE OF IT,
BUT THERE MAY BE LOTS OF BUSINESSES OR FIRMS
WHO CAN'T REALLY ARTICULATE WHAT IT IS THEY WANT.
DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE TO YOU?
>> YES. IT DOES.
>> WHERE YOU HAVE TO EITHER PULL IT OUT OF THEM OR --
IS THAT WHAT YOU REALLY WANT?
>> YES. WELL, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE
TO ADDRESS THAT, BECAUSE WE HAVE LEARNED OVER THE YEARS
THAT THE MORE YOU CAN PULL OUT, AND INFORMATION YOU CAN GET
UP FRONT FROM THE RIGHT PEOPLE, THE STAKEHOLDERS,
THE BETTER THE RESULT'S GOING TO BE.
SO, WE HAVE COPYRIGHTED TWO PROCESSES THAT ARE KIND
OF PROPRIETARY TO LYERLY AGENCY, AND ONE IS CALLED BRAND SAVVY,
STRATEGIC BRANDING PROCESS, AND THE OTHER IS MARKET SAVVY,
STRATEGIC MARKETING PLANNING.
AND THE WAY WE DO THAT IS WITH HAVING STAKE HOLDERS
AT THE TABLE AND FACILITATING MEETINGS UP FRONT
SO THAT WE GET THE INFORMATION, AND THEN WE TAKE
THAT INFORMATION AND LOOK AT IT STRATEGICALLY.
AND WHAT'S ALWAYS KIND OF FUN
ABOUT THOSE PROCESSES IS YOU GET PEOPLE AROUND THE TABLE
IN THE SAME BUSINESS AND DIFFERENT IDEAS COME OUT.
IT'S LIKE, OH, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU THOUGHT THAT.
OH, REALLY?
WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE DOING THAT.
SO, IT'S A WAY TO KIND OF LEARN AND OTHERS HEAR FROM EACH OTHER,
BUT ALSO TO BUILD CONSENSUS.
AND IT HELPS US COME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS
THAT HELP THEIR COMPANY GROW AND --
YOU KNOW, MOVE THE NEEDLE IN THE AREAS THAT THEY.
THE WANT TO FOCUS ON.
>> AS YOU LOOK AT PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES,
AND PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING OUT OF PLACES LIKE CPCC,
MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE,
WHAT KIND OF SKILLS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR AS THE BUSINESSWOMAN
WHO IS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE AN IMPORTANT AND STRATEGIC HIRE?
>> RIGHT.
>> BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO MAKE EVERY ONE
OF THEM THAT YOU HIRE COUNT.
>> RIGHT. FOR US IN AN AGENCY ENVIRONMENT,
OUR FIRST QUESTION IS, HOW QUICKLY CAN THIS PERSON PAY
FOR HERSELF OR HIMSELF?
>> OKAY.
>> SO, WE'RE LOOKING FOR SKILLS THAT ARE RELEVANT,
THAT WE CAN PUT TO USE RIGHT AWAY, AND SO,
THE MORE CONNECTED THEY ARE TO THE COMMUNITY WITH --
YOU KNOW, GREAT PORTFOLIOS,
BUT ALSO PERHAPS THEY HAVE HAD AN INTERNSHIP,
OR THEY HAVE HAD A TEACHER THAT CONNECTED THEM WITH A BUSINESS
THAT ENABLED THEM TO VOLUNTEER TO WRITE COPY OR LAY
OUT A BROTHER BROCHURE, OR TO OR TO SET UP A BLOG
AND RESPOND TO A BLOG.
THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL TO US,
BECAUSE THEY'RE RELEVANT RIGHT THIS MINUTE.
>> AND DO THE CO-OP AND INTERN PROGRAMS DO WELL?
DOES THAT SORT OF WORK, OR DO YOU REALLY NEED SORT
OF AT YOUR LEVEL A LITTLE MORE AGENCY EXPERIENCE TO SORT
OF MAKE THEIR WAY INTO YOUR FIRM?
>> WELL, WE --
>> KIND OF DEPENDS?
>> YEAH, IT KIND OF DEPENDS
BUT WE USUALLY ALMOST ALWAYS HAVE AN INTERN,
AND WE LOVE INTERNS BECAUSE IT GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY
TO BUILD THEIR PORTFOLIO, AND TO BUILD WORK THAT'S RELEVANT,
THAT WHEN THEY GO OUT AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A JOB,
THEY HAVE GOT -- OH, HERE'S THING
THAT I WORKED ON AT LYERLY AGENCY.
SO, WE LOVE HAVING INTERNS.
THEY SUPPORT US, AND THEY ALSO HAVE GOOD MATERIAL
THAT THEY CAN USE GOING FORWARD.
>> WHEN THEY GO FORWARD, THEY'RE CARRYING YOUR NAME ALSO
WITH THEM.
>> RIGHT. RIGHT.
>> SO, YOU HAVE TO MAKE THOSE PICKS COUNT ALSO IN TERMS
OF YOUR SELECTIONS AND HOW YOU APPROACH THAT.
>> YES. EXACTLY.
>> WHAT COULD YOU SAY TO OUR VIEWERS OR SOMEONE
WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN AWAY
FROM THE EDUCATION FOR A PERIOD OF TIME?
BUT MAY NEED FOR WHATEVER REASON THE CHANCE TO GO BACK
AND RETOOL, RESKILL, BUT HAVEN'T BEEN AT IT FOR A LONG TIME.
I'M NOT SURE I CAN GO BACK, AND --
YOU KNOW, LAST TEST I TOOK WAS THE S.A.T. TEST.
I DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANY MORE OF THEM.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY FROM A POINT OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO FOLKS
LIKE THAT, THAT MAY BE OUT THERE?
>> YEAH. WELL, I THINK TODAY THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER,
IS KEEPING YOUR SKILLS UP TO DATE, AND MAKING SURE
THAT WHEN YOU HAVE TO OFFER IS RELEVANT
TO WHERE YOUR COMPANY IS GOING, OR IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A JOB,
MAYBE YOU HAVE BEEN DOWNSIZED, THEN WHAT'S IT GOING
TO TAKE -- WHERE ARE YOU RUSTY?
AND YOU KNOW, CENTRAL PIEDMONT IS A GREAT PLACE TO DO THAT.
IT'S JUST SO IN TOUCH WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND WHAT IS NEEDED
THAT THERE'S A CLASS FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.
>> MM-HMM.
>> AND WHEN YOU'RE WORKING WITH BUSINESS LEADERS
IN THIS PARTICULAR CLIMATE, I GUESS FIRST YOUR SENSE OF --
DO YOU SENSE CHARLOTTE IS SORT OF AHEAD IN TERMS OF COMING
OUT ON THE RECOVERY SIDE,
OR KIND OF WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS PULSE OF THE ECONOMICS NOW
IN CHARLOTTE AND MECKLENBURG COUNTY.
>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I THINK CHARLOTTE HAS
SUCH POSITIVE LEADERSHIP, AND A POSITIVE OUTLOOK THAT I THINK
THAT IS A REALLY CRITICAL FOUNDATION BLOCK.
I DO TRAVEL A LOT.
I DO SPEECHES AROUND THE COUNTRY, SO,
I'M IN VARIOUS CITIES,
AND I THINK THAT EVERYBODY IS OPTIMISTIC THAT THEY ARE LOOKING
FOR THINGS TO GET BETTER QUICKLY.
SOME CITIES ARE DOING BETTER THAN OTHERS.
PARTICULARLY EXCITED ABOUT YOU HO OUR REGION IS RE-INVENTING
ITSELF, AND TO SOME NEW SECTORS WITH ENERGY AND OTHER THINGS.
SO, I THINK THAT CHARLOTTE HAS A LOT
OF SUCH POSITIVE THINGS GOING ON AND A GREAT STORY TO TELL,
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF CITIES THAT DON'T HAVE THAT.
SO --
>> AND AS PART OF THAT, ONE OF THE INDUSTRIES THAT CONTINUES
TO SORT OF OPEN UP, THAT THEY'RE SPENDING MORE TIME WITH IS SORT
OF THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY WHICH LENDS ITSELF TO WHAT YOU DO,
KIND OF WHAT WE DO AS WELL.
STUDENTS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL,
YOU SAID IN THE BEGINNING OF OUR INTERVIEW,
I WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT KIND
OF KNEW WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO.
I WAS THE SAME WAY.
BUT FOR THOSE STUDENTS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL
THAT MAY BE NOT SURE OF WHAT THEY MIGHT WANT TO DO OR NEED
TO DO, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THEM?
>> WELL, YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THAT'S STUDENT IS GOING
TO BE INSPIRED BY SOMEONE OR SOMETHING,
SO I THINK THAT THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO GET IN --
TO START YOUR EDUCATION SOMEWHERE.
AND TO BEGIN TO FOLLOW SOME PURSUIT,
AREAS WHERE YOU THINK YOU'RE INTERESTED,
AND LOOK FOR TEACHERS THAT REALLY ARE GOING
TO TAKE AN INTEREST IN YOU, AND HELP YOU KIND OF FIND YOUR PATH.
SO, THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS TO DO THAT.
CERTAINLY CENTRAL PIEDMONT IS A GREAT WAY TO DO THAT.
I THINK THAT COMPANIES TODAY, AND WHAT WE'RE NEEDING
IN OUR CITY, OUR REGION AND OUR COUNTRY,
IS THAT INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY OTHER COUNTRIES THAT ARE DOING,
YOU KNOW, THE MANUFACTURING AND THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW,
THE UNITED STATES USED TO EXCEL IN.
SO, I THINK THAT INTELLECT AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
AND NEW IDEAS AND INNOVATION IS REALLY WHAT IS GOING TO TAKE US
AND TAKE BUSINESSES, YOU KNOW, INTO THE FUTURE.
SO, I WOULD ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO NOT SIT AND WAIT
TO ENTER COLLEGE AFTER THEY'RE OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL BUT TO JUMP
IN AND SEE WHERE THEIR PASSION IS
AND WHERE THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
>> YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT PASSION THREE
OR FOUR TIMES IN OUR INTERVIEW.
WHY IS THAT SO PIVOTAL?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE
THAT REALLY DON'T ENJOY WHAT THEY DO, AND YOU KNOW,
THEY END UP IN A CAREER THAT THEY DO EVERY DAY, BUT YOU KNOW,
WHEN THEY LOOK AT THEIR LIVES AT 40 OR SO, IT'S LIKE --
YOU KNOW, I DON'T REALLY ENJOY THIS.
SO, IT'S BETTER TO FIND THAT ON THE --
WHEN YOU ARE YOUNGER SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE A BIGGER DIFFERENCE
IN THE WORLD.
SO, WHEN YOUR PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO, YOU'RE EXCITED.
YOU ENGAGE OTHER PEOPLE AND IN ADDITION TO WHAT YOU DO
FOR A LIVING, THAT PASSION USUALLY CARRIES INTO, OKAY,
I HAVE -- I'M SO BLESSED, I HAVE SO MANY RESOURCES,
HOW CAN I HELP OTHER PEOPLE?
THERE'S SO MANY OTHER WONDERFUL NON-PROFITS AND ORGANIZATIONS
TO TAKE YOUR SKILLS AND SHARE.
SO, I THINK THAT PASSION MULTIPLIES IN YOUR LIFE
AND TOUCHES MORE LIVES.
>> YEAH.
>> MY FINAL QUESTION, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TOUCHED LOTS
OF LIVES DURING THE COURSE OF YOUR CAREER.
MY FINAL QUESTION FOR YOU, ALWAYS ASK IT,
IS HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?
>> WELL, IT GOES BACK TO PASSION.
IT'S FINDING YOUR PASSION IN LIFE AND DOING WHAT YOU LOVE
TO DO, AND BEING LOVED AND LOVING OTHERS.
SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE TWO HUGE THINGS,
AND THEN FINDING A WAY TO GIVE BACK.
>> GOOD.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING TIME TO SPEND A LITTLE TIME
WITH US AT CPCC TELEVISION.
CONTINUED GOOD LUCK IN THE BUSINESS
AND AS ALWAYS, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
ENJOYED BEING HERE.
>> GREAT.
>> HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED OUR CONVERSATION WITH ELAINE LYERLY,
FOR THE CREW HERE AT CPCC TELEVISION, I'M DAVID RHEW.
THANKS FOR WATCHING, GOOD NIGHT.