Setbacks, challenges and resilience are just as necessary in taking a leader from good to great as successes.

That's according to a higher education leader in Kentucky who's penned a new book about leadership.

Whether it's handling criticism, emotional intelligence and navigating politics inside and outside the workplace.

Doctor Anton Reese, the president of West Kentucky Community and Technical College, draws on 30 years of leadership experience and penning his advice.

We pick up part two of our conversation from Friday and this book segment that we call Turning the Page.

Thank you, Doctor Anton Reese.

You know, we had such a good conversation.

We wanted to continue that.

And I'm real curious about when you think about the good leaders and you write about what makes steady, solid leadership.

There are so some examples of some bad leadership out there.

Where is it that you see and not naming names, but that some leaders just don't get it right repetitively?

So there's a temptation to assume, because you're popular, that you're effective as a leader.

There are also charismatic leaders who are popular but not necessarily effective.

Why?

There's a distinction between are we making headlines?

Or are we making headway?

We need more workhorses and less sawhorses.

And so oftentimes people get, the allure of power and position, the trouble the problem becomes when you get in, you can't really hide, right?

There's a lot of, skill sets to effectively lead and manage people who are very, very, very complex.

So I think at first blush, it is we see, visible leaders and come to really quick conclusions.

They're really effective at what they do.

But upon closer inspection, that is not the case.

And ultimately, to motivation, you know, some people are motivated, to be in positions with a specific agenda that may not necessarily be in alignment with meeting the needs over the people are sort of the old adage the leaders seem to be doing very well, but the followers are already struggling and suffering, and that goes across the, disciplines, cultures, etc.. You are the president of West Kentucky Community and Technical College, so you help mold the minds of young people.

Is this a book for them at their depending on where they are?

Many of them are nontraditional age, but wherever they are in their educational journey, what can they get from this book?

Chapter five.

Tell them to start their chapter five.

I actually pan as a almost as a letter.

Dear college students, I've had the opportunity to work at universal, the four original University of Tennessee, Knoxville, a research one and West Kentucky Human Technical College now on two tours.

I will tell you what I feel that I see students who don't understand the purpose of college don't come in prepared to engage to maximize that opportunity.

And what I mean by that at the two year level is the sophomores at the four year level, they see seniors and they go, all right, graduation is a month away.

What's the plan?

They've never done an internship.

They've never done a practicum.

How in the world is that possible?

I also say to students that college is one of those rare opportunities in life where you get incubated a little bit from society within that incubation, at a minimum, take a course in finance.

Money matters and a lack of knowledge of money, really creates problems for a lot of students, both coming out.

Depending on their situation, it may be a student loans or we get grandiose ideas about, how much money we will make, etc.. Right.

And as a shock to the system, also, if the opportunity to provide the self learn another language, a student who is bilingual has a competitive advantage.

And I believe that college is one of these unique spaces where you can really fulfill, basically what I say, the sky's the limit.

On my desk, I have a personal mission statement.

It says I have found my voice.

Literally.

My task is to help students to find their voice and achieve their academic and career dreams.

But I got to do the heavy lifting.

You got to meet me halfway.

So our mantra is, we never underestimate you, but you got to come in prepared, engaged and ready to work.

And we believe that is an essential quality, for students who come to EDC, you come in to maximize the opportunity.

One of the I think it's maybe conventional assumptions.

I'm not saying it's true that older folks have about younger folks, as they want to run the joint as soon as they get on the payroll.

Yes, indeed.

How can your book help address the anxious or eager CEO?

He's not quite ready.

Yeah, CEO.

Some, some of them were telling me that they are quick studies.

Friday.

They want to be CEOs on Monday, right?

Right, right.

The challenge becomes, again, you get into the position.

There's a whole lot that is involved in managing people.

So I say to them, you know, keep that, goal in mind.

Yes.

But then you've got to put in the work.

And unfortunately, if you try to fast forward the skill sets that are needed as you, elevate to.

But this is a leadership.

It will be it will be short lived.

So so it's really you know, patience is a challenge for most of us.

Challenge, discipline, focus, intentionality.

And to me, that struggles back again to mentorship.

I think a good mentor helps you know, those that are eager to guide them, how to channel that energy, to be prepared to be successful.

You know, Whitney Young says it is better to be prepared and not get the opportunity than it is to get the opportunity and not be prepared.

And I've seen that story many times where a lot of young talent comes in roaring and ready to go, but they're not prepared until they get tested.

Yeah.

Good advice.

More advice can be read about and Secret Recipe for success by Doctor Anton Reece, who is also the president of West Kentucky Community and Technical College.

Good to see you again, sir.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Thank you.