I gave A Tip of the Hat to Stetson University, my alma mater, in this space one year ago. The remarkable experience of participating in Leadership Stetson 2024 was fresh and top of mind then. I reconnected with my formative past in a unique way and it changed me going forward. This year I was honored to be invited back to present key insights from my book, Leadership Worthy – How Leaders Are Made, to the Leadership Stetson 2025 cohort. It was a humbling experience and also great fun!

I also had the opportunity to listen in to presentations from the Deans of Stetson’s colleges, learn about what’s happening in student life, and attend a moving dedication for the rebuilding of iconic Hully Tower in the center of campus. As I looked around the packed hall, I realized that our inheritance is more than what may first come to mind.

Some may first think of our inheritance as the bequest of personal property and other assets from someone who precedes you in this life. Others may think of the unique DNA that each of us have inherited from our forbears. On this day, I was focused on our inheritance of experiences and interactions within a community that has a 140 year plus heritage; one of the speakers even spoke of the Soul of Stetson that infuses purpose and energy into our life’s pursuits.

Your own inheritance will be unique to you and, in large part, will develop from your life experiences. I realize now, with the clarity of 50 years of hindsight, what my inheritance from Stetson has been:

1. Love of Life-long Learning
2. Ability to Analyze Complex Situations and Solve Problems
3. Perseverance to Finish Difficult Things

What we do with our inheritance determines ultimate outcomes. We are all the result of an incredibly complex set of inputs and no two of us are exactly the same. As humans, our strength is embodied in our diversity, coupled with the power of shared purpose and experiences along the way.

The passage of time and accumulation of experiences increases long-term value, when we invest them wisely and for the benefit of those who will, in turn, inherit them from us.

Tempus Maximize!