My name is Tom Sparks. I began working in business in 1984. Before that I was a nuclear technologist for the Navy and then as a civilian. I received my Bachelor of Science in Finance with a minor in Economics/Accounting. Straightaway I went off to work as a supervisor in the food industry. Frito-Lay here I come! Anyway, it was a rude beginning.
Let me reverse myself a bit. I married the love of my life in 1978 and we subsequently went on to raise a family of six healthy children. My wife helped me to see that management was not just learned in the classroom. Leading was a developed trait that took exercise and practice.
Just so those of you who wonder about such things, my children don't do drugs, are in jail, or other menaces to society. In fact, they have turned out GREAT! My oldest son is in Dental School where he is supporting his wife and two great grandkids. My oldest Daughter has her Master's Degree in Sociology and works at Utah Valley University. My next oldest son is currently teaching in Teach for America in the inner city of Bridgeport, Connecticut. The next in line, my daughter is married after getting her degree. Her husband is in Law School at University of Utah. They also have two wonderful grandchildren. My second youngest son is a Certified Diesel Mechanic and my youngest plays NCAA Rugby for Utah Valley University. My wife works as a Physician's assistant and I am temporarily retired from over 22 years of Leadership.
In my years of leadership I ran into all types of individuals who were given the responsibility to affect my and others' lifes on a daily basis. Some did not know what their own "center of decision making" was. There were no guiding rules by which they made their decision. A great example was Phony John. This of course was the name that was spoken behind his back, however, it stuck because his actions showed that he did not really care about his subordinates. When we would ask him for help or a needed answer, P.J. would invariably reply "I'll get back to you." Well now you know how he got his tag.
Of course I decided not to become a P.J. I'll bet that some of you have some of those same types of experiences in your lives as well. I'd love to here them.
Let me reverse myself a bit. I married the love of my life in 1978 and we subsequently went on to raise a family of six healthy children. My wife helped me to see that management was not just learned in the classroom. Leading was a developed trait that took exercise and practice.
Just so those of you who wonder about such things, my children don't do drugs, are in jail, or other menaces to society. In fact, they have turned out GREAT! My oldest son is in Dental School where he is supporting his wife and two great grandkids. My oldest Daughter has her Master's Degree in Sociology and works at Utah Valley University. My next oldest son is currently teaching in Teach for America in the inner city of Bridgeport, Connecticut. The next in line, my daughter is married after getting her degree. Her husband is in Law School at University of Utah. They also have two wonderful grandchildren. My second youngest son is a Certified Diesel Mechanic and my youngest plays NCAA Rugby for Utah Valley University. My wife works as a Physician's assistant and I am temporarily retired from over 22 years of Leadership.
In my years of leadership I ran into all types of individuals who were given the responsibility to affect my and others' lifes on a daily basis. Some did not know what their own "center of decision making" was. There were no guiding rules by which they made their decision. A great example was Phony John. This of course was the name that was spoken behind his back, however, it stuck because his actions showed that he did not really care about his subordinates. When we would ask him for help or a needed answer, P.J. would invariably reply "I'll get back to you." Well now you know how he got his tag.
Of course I decided not to become a P.J. I'll bet that some of you have some of those same types of experiences in your lives as well. I'd love to here them.
1 comment:
HAHA. Your kids are all menaces to society.- Just kidding! I love them all! Glad you started a blog. It should be fun to hear what's going on up there in Logan every now and then. I also work eith a PJ. She drives me insane! --LESLIE
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