| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | It’s certainly easier in the short term to follow |
| My name is William Stephenson; I grew up in | | | | the lead; however, leading the pack at the workplace |
| Manasquan and have spent most of my life in New | | | | provides far greater returns in the long run. Standing |
| Jersey. I’d like to speak with you about | | | | out and shaking up the system takes courage or |
| achieving your best, about making the most of your | | | | simply a set of convictions that disregards the |
| assets and realizing your biggest dreams. | | | | consequences. This is why leading in life is critical. |
| I was raised with the adage that my accomplishments | | | | When you place yourself in the driver’s seat |
| were only limited to the heights I could imagine. This | | | | you are less beholden to peer-pressures which may |
| was a commonly used and inspirational line that many | | | | lead people astray. |
| parents shared with their children. At the time, those | | | | Throughout these years my love for flying never |
| words didn’t mean so much to me. Upon further | | | | ceased. I worked to learn and that correlation always |
| reflection however, the spirit of those words was ever | | | | seemed to get me through the tougher days. After |
| present in my blind sub-conscience. | | | | graduating with a Bachelors degree in an area |
| When I was only 9 years of age, I had 2 paper routes | | | | unrelated to flying, I returned home and finished the |
| on opposite ends of town. It was a morning paper, The | | | | flight ratings required in order to call myself a |
| Start Ledger; therefore both routes had to be | | | | professional pilot. I was now getting paid to give |
| completed by 7am. I pedaled fast to get back from | | | | sightseeing tours up the Hudson River and around the |
| the Manasquan Beach and change in time for school. | | | | Statue of Liberty. It was a tremendous feeling being |
| The early riches that I enjoyed afforded many crucial | | | | right back where I started 10 years earlier yet so much |
| lessons which would subsequently fuel my future | | | | further ahead. I was now getting paid for every one of |
| achievements. | | | | those coveted flight hours necessary for |
| By learning the power of hard work and money at | | | | advancement, how ironic, I felt? |
| such an early age, an age where we’re all | | | | Another crucial lesson learned during this phase of my |
| highly impressionable, it forever solidified the correlation | | | | life was how two steps back could lead oneself miles |
| between the two. I am incredibly grateful to my | | | | ahead. I left that wonderful job at Allaire Airport and |
| parents for supporting me in those early desires. The | | | | gambled on a new venture at Teterboro Airport in |
| significance of this work should not be underscored; to | | | | North Jersey. I made less money and added one hour |
| me, it helped form one of my core values in life, | | | | to my commute each way. Many thought I was crazy, |
| responsibility. | | | | but I was looking beyond tomorrow. |
| By learning to do for myself and not waiting for | | | | For the next 6½ years, I participated in a niche |
| someone else to take responsibility, I not only acquired | | | | market in the business aviation world. I flew organ |
| things more speedily, but I had the good feeling of | | | | transplant teams around our country in Lear jets, King |
| having earned them myself. | | | | Airs, and Barons. It was hard work; we were often |
| This early money was invested wisely, not an IRA, not | | | | called into action at the last minute and it was typically |
| a 401K, I used those funds for flight lessons at Allaire | | | | midnight. Years later I would be rewarded for those |
| Airport. At age 13, I was speaking with an Uncle of | | | | efforts in a far greater way than just my pay. More on |
| mine. He was a war hero to me, who fought in Korea. | | | | that treat soon. |
| He stated that he always regretted not learning how | | | | The challenges that forced my cohorts and I in this last |
| to fly. For some reason, his regret cautioned me | | | | position codified that work ethic learned as a paper |
| enough not to follow his path. I clipped a 50% off | | | | boy years earlier. One of the lessons there taught me |
| coupon from an Entertainment Guide for an | | | | that we are continually growing and every action or |
| introductory flight lesson. Well, soaring above my home | | | | inaction we participate in affects our future. We |
| town and central New Jersey served two purposes. | | | | mustn’t look at each day as just any day. |
| First, it sold me instantly on the joys of flight. Second, | | | | Every morning we wake up is another opportunity to |
| and more importantly, it extended my reach out into | | | | better ourselves. Rarely will anyone of us remain |
| the world; it effectively reduced the size of it and led | | | | stagnant; we’re either moving a head or behind |
| me to believe that it would be easier to conquer now. | | | | in life. We make these choices everyday and all day. |
| Again, I have to thank my parents for allowing me to | | | | After just nine years in the aviation industry I had yet |
| circle their home at 1000 feet. They clearly | | | | again reached a pinnacle. I have taken a job on a |
| hadn’t read all of the accident reports on that | | | | Challenger jet flying a Fortune 200 company and its |
| scenario. | | | | proprietors around the globe. Those early paper route |
| About one year after that first flight lesson, I | | | | dollars that I invested in flight training have come full |
| accomplished one of my most rewarding feats. I had | | | | circle. Delivering The Star Ledger has broadened my |
| officially been involved with Boy Scout Troop 59 of | | | | horizons in the literal sense. My world had in fact |
| Manasquan for only 4 years when I had reached a | | | | shrunk that afternoon at age 13, when I took my first |
| pinnacle by attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. To this | | | | flight and my first flight lesson. |
| day, less than 2% of all scouts make it that far. To this | | | | To help drive this point home, as to how each action |
| day as well, I still don’t know why that | | | | we take today lends to our successes or failures |
| percentage has remained so low. Even at age 14, my | | | | tomorrow, let me tell you about my high school prom |
| drive was surpassing my moments. Each Eagle Scout | | | | date. Edie was one of the more unique individuals |
| applicant must appear before a board of review to | | | | attending Manasquan High School during my years |
| validate his award and confirm that he in fact extols | | | | there. I quickly noted something special about her. At |
| the virtues befitting the milestone. At this board of | | | | the time of our senior prom, she had a boyfriend from |
| review the applicant sits among and across from | | | | another school. Because of those circumstances, I |
| several elders in his troop as well as a representative | | | | was certainly not looking short term when I asked her |
| from the council level, the governing body for many | | | | to be my date for that event. I was looking far into my |
| troops. | | | | future and recently that has paid off for me as well. |
| I perplexed them all that evening, not on purpose of | | | | On May 5th of this year Edie and I were married in |
| course. All I had to do was answer a few questions | | | | Manahawkin, NJ; my high school sweetheart is now so |
| and I would be an Eagle Scout. Later, I was told that | | | | much more and forever. |
| the elders of my troop were kicking themselves | | | | Now, as promised, the reward worth so much more |
| underneath the table. They would have preferred that I | | | | than a paycheck. About a year ago I found myself at |
| had said less rather than more that evening. | | | | a wake for my friend’s grandmother. At this |
| I was questioned about my awareness of the high | | | | wake I was introduced to the parents of a 6 year old |
| honor they would soon bestow upon me. My answers | | | | boy. I was expecting to meet these folks because I |
| and my feelings in general about the rank of Eagle | | | | knew their son had been given a personal tour of |
| Scout at the time were slightly dismissive. Quite frankly, | | | | Giant’s Stadium a couple of years prior, |
| I saw the rank of Eagle as just another step along the | | | | compliments of the Make-a-Wish Foundation. We had |
| scouting trail. In fact, as they pressed me about why I | | | | some mutual friends in that football organization. As I |
| didn’t seem as excited about it as perhaps the | | | | spoke with the boy’s parents, I was less |
| elders were, I told them that every scout should follow | | | | interested in the NY Giants and more interested in |
| the logical path that I had taken and achieve the rank | | | | what their child had endured to warrant the attention |
| as well. My unrefined point that evening was that I felt | | | | of the foundation. The Father told me that his son |
| the very act of holding that rank up on a special | | | | Stephen had received a heart transplant in early 2001. |
| pedestal was one of the impediments to most scouts | | | | As they were asking me about the NY Giants, I |
| attaining it. I believe that more scouts would enjoy the | | | | persisted with the questions about his son’s |
| accolade if it were not placed so high above them. Of | | | | heart. Well, as it turned out, at about midnight in early |
| course, this could possibly dilute the experience at the | | | | 2001, my copilot and I flew to Bradley International |
| same time. | | | | Airport in Connecticut and retrieved Stephen’s |
| After much back and forth, I acquiesced and agreed | | | | heart. Confirming the details of the missionafter the |
| that it was indeed a tremendous accomplishment. I | | | | wake made me very emotional. This was the closest I |
| was now one of the younger Eagle Scouts in our | | | | had ever been to realizing the fruits of my labor. About |
| troop’s storied history. My years in scouting | | | | two weeks later, we all gathered at little |
| provided far too many memories and tales to share | | | | Stephen’s house and enjoyed the Super Bowl |
| with you this evening, however, the leadership skills that | | | | together. Stephen told me after a couple hours, |
| I cultivated during those early years would prove | | | | Thank you for my heart. |
| pivotal. They have played a key part in every major | | | | Now, in conclusion, I’m no different than anyone |
| accomplishment and milestone after that. I believe the | | | | else in this room. The only privilege I had growing up |
| Boy Scouts to be a fine organization for our youth | | | | was my parents blessing on the myriad of desires I |
| when accompanied by active parenting. Its affects are | | | | came home with each week. They thankfully had the |
| incalculable. | | | | courage themselves to let me take things to their |
| Psychologists say that the majority of our basic | | | | conclusion. Well, I’m still reaching. When I fly |
| learning is acquired by the age of 16; if this in indeed | | | | along at 41,000 feet and I gaze out into the stars at |
| true, the importance of our early decisions is | | | | night, they just don’t seem so far away. Each |
| paramount. The more healthy habits and useful | | | | and every one of those stars seems to be inviting me |
| ventures we take part in during this phase of life, the | | | | towards it. I know there is something behind each one |
| better. | | | | and the more stars that I can look behind, the more |
| Soon, I was off to college at the University of South | | | | confident I grow. Harness each and every day you live |
| Carolina. I worked almost continuously through those | | | | and before you know it, you’ll be leading life, not |
| years and took my virtues to the job place. I found | | | | simply living it. |
| myself in a setting where the status quo ruled. | | | | |