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LIGHTS, CAMERA, COFFEE: Classic Rock Coffee was the 2018 Men of the Year photo shoot sponsor.
SBJ photo by Wes Hamilton
LIGHTS, CAMERA, COFFEE: Classic Rock Coffee was the 2018 Men of the Year photo shoot sponsor.

Opinion: Leaders’ service to others provides greatest reward

2018 Men of the Year

Posted online

I was very honored last year to be recognized as one of the Springfield Business Journal’s Men of the Year. I consider it an honor and privilege to be included with so many other men in our community who make our area a great place to live and work.

The award also is very humbling. I know many men and women that give of their time, talents and gifts to advance our world. I could make a long list of people who make a positive impact on others and aren’t recognized publicly with an award. I can give many examples of service above self. I could list men from my church, Wesley United Methodist Church, who help, support and mentor homeless youth, to men who work to help educate needy kids in the Nixa Public Schools, or neighbors who live next door that help other neighbors, or men I work with at Missouri State University who assist a co-worker in need because of health issues.

Another great example of service above self is the men in the SBJ’s 2018 Men of the Year. These 20 men are making a difference in our community. They are a great inspiration, and I am grateful for the work they do and the examples they set.

The world is indeed a better place when people give so freely. I am fortunate to work at an organization where public affairs is a central theme in all areas of study. Ethical leadership, cultural competence and community engagement are our three pillars of the public affairs mission. This mission should be ingrained in our everyday lives.

It doesn’t matter your job title, the number of boards you serve on, the neighborhood you live in or the number of awards you receive in your lifetime. Being recognized is nice, but making life better for someone else is the best award.

John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church who lived out the MSU public affairs mission, said it best: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

Brent Dunn is vice president of university advancement at Missouri State University and executive director of the MSU Foundation. He can be reached at brentdunn@missouristate.edu.

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