The Difference Maker

It was a Tuesday in September of 2004 shortly after lunch. I found myself seated at the head of a round table with seven strangers in a well-lit room with a few leadership posters hung on the wall. You know the one where there is an image of a flock of geese flying in vformation with the inscription below, “Teamwork”. As I was finishing my response from the question asked by the third person from my left, “…one of my weaknesses is that I am a laid-back person, not easily angered or rushed.” Feeling confident about my responses to this point and my interaction with the mysterious seven, I looked straight ahead to face my last hurdle. He was a short, stocky fellow with a few grey hairs peppered in his neatly trimmed goatee. This man glanced down on the table to take one last look at my resume, then, looking up, he calmly gazed straight in my eyes and asked, “Mike, I see that you have an associate’s degree in machining technology and that you have about seven years of experience in your field, so what, why should we hire you?” I was taken back and words failed to reach my tongue as I searched my mind for an appropriate response. I do not know what it was about that question but as I sat there with a distant look on my face, I reflected back over the last 32 years of my life and I asked myself the same question, “So what” “So what kind of difference have I made?” That was the igniting point! I wanted to be able to have a great response to that question. I wanted to make a difference. I just did not know how!

On a Monday morning in March of 2014, I walked in a room filled with twenty-five students who were strangers just three weeks before. I was both shocked and overwhelmed when I entered to hear the words, “Congratulations Dr. Ammons.” As I began processing this statement, my mind reflected back to when I was an undergraduate student at the young age of 32. I had just finished a class assignment in which I was required to give a 5 – 10 presentation on my leadership style in which I called, “Superman Leadership.” Growing up I have never been too afraid of many things but one of my greatest fears in life was to stand in front of a group of people to speak. Feeling relaxed that I have finished my speech without dying or passing out, I took my place back at my seat. After class, my management professor called me to the back of the room where he was finishing our grades. He asked, “Mike, I really enjoyed hearing your Superman Leadership presentation.” He continued, “You are a great student and have you considered going to graduate school?” Relieved to discover that I did not fail the class I responded, “Well no. To be honest, I will be happy just to complete my bachelor’s degree.” “Congratulations Dr. Ammons!” I thought for a minute, “Are my ears playing tricks on me?” Then, I heard the phrase again, “Congratulations Dr. Ammons!” For the last ten years I have been trying to answer the “So what” question that I was asked in that small room years before. I did not discover the answer to the “So what” question until I came across the Difference Maker, my college professor, David Rendall. I wanted to become a college professor too so that I could have the same impact in the lives of students that he had in my life. For the last ten years I have been preparing myself for this role by completing a masters degree, and just recently, a doctorate degree. Despite my intentions of making a difference in the lives of these students, by them recognizing and honoring me for my recent achievements, they were the difference makers in my life. Thanks to all you Difference Makers!