News Releases

Chandler lecturer Robert Herndon emphasizes importance of a positive attitude

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

BY LAURA WOLFE

FBI Special Agent Robert Herndon gave the crowd at the Fall 2009 Chandler Lecture a little advice: "Attitude is everything," he said. Herndon explained that attitude is a decision a person makes every day. "Anything is possible when you choose your attitude," he said.

During his lecture, "CLuEs from the Convicts: Life Lessons on Character, Leadership, and Ethics from the Files of the FBI," Herndon related many stories, encouraging his audience to choose a positive attitude. These stories came both from his personal experience and from experiences of others. Herndon also emphasized the importance of leadership that is based on character, morals, and ethics.

Herndon talked about another speech he had once given in which he met Keith Harrell, known to many as Mr. Super Fantastic, and author of "Attitude is Everything." He encouraged everyone in the audience to begin their day by saying they are "super fantastic," and he guaranteed they couldn't do it without a smile.

Using cases he had worked in his career as examples, Herndon highlighted the consequences of not choosing a good attitude on a daily basis.

"The philosophy of president Jim Randall blew me away," Herndon said of the Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) price-fixing case, now the basis for the film The Informant. Herndon showed footage from the real investigation in which Randall tells his competitors, in what he thinks is a secret meeting, that their company considers competitors to be friends, and the customer is the enemy. "Never say anything in a business meeting you do not want the FBI to record," Herndon joked.

Herndon encouraged students to make the decision to do the right thing in their careers and lives now, before they are put into any difficult situations. "Let people know what you stand for and what you won't stand for. Let character, ethics, and morals be your only choice," he said. "If you never tell that first lie, you never have to tell that second, or that third lie."

Herndon also encouraged the audience to be humble, compassionate, positive and, of course, "super fantastic."

"Live a balanced life," Herndon told the audience. According to him, this is not a matter of time, or a matter of more multi-tasking. Herndon's keys to living a balanced life are Faith, Family, Fidelity, Fitness, and Firm. "It's a matter of proper vision, having your priorities in order, and staying focused." He emphasized that one's Firm should not be the most important thing on the list.

Herndon drew a crowd, estimated at 1,700 people, to the free, public lecture. The Anderson Chandler Lecture Series is offered each year by the KU School of Business. It began in 1997 and is made possible by School of Business alumnus Anderson Chandler.

Mr. Chandler is CEO, president and director of Fidelity State Bank and Trust Co. of Topeka and vice president and director of First Bank of Newton. He has received the School's Distinguished Alumni Award and has remained actively involved at the University and the School of Business.