Making a Difference in the Lives of Others
I’ve had the great honor of being surrounded by some extraordinary personalities. But none I admire more than Hyrum W. Smith.
I first heard of Hyrum from my friend George Bannon back in 1970. George and Hyrum were Field Artillery Officer Candidate School classmates. Hyrum’s company, Franklin Quest, had helped organize my life. I had become an early adherent of the Franklin Planner and had attended many time management seminars.
When I was appointed the CEO of the CGSC Foundation in 2006, I remembered the stories about Hyrum and his extraordinary achievements. I called George and through him, I invited Hyrum to Fort Leavenworth to learn about the U.S. Army Command General Staff College. At the time Hyrum met our commanding general, David Petraeus. We invited Hyrum to become a trustee of our new Foundation and he gratefully accepted the challenge. Two years later Hyrum was elected president. For the next 6 years Hyrum coached, mentored and provided inspiring leadership to the Foundation Trustees. Together we exceeded our fundraising objectives and developed the fastest growing military staff college foundation in history.
Throughout the 6 years we worked together Hyrum regaled our Board with numerous stories about values-based leadership and achievement. He has spoken to and inspired each class at the Army’s Command and General Staff College for the past 10 years.
Recently Hyrum published a new book entitled, The 3 Gaps: Are You Making a Difference? You see, Hyrum defines success as the ability to help others achieve success. In his new book, Hyrum has summarized what he has been teaching for the past 40 years about the importance of managing one’s Beliefs, Values and Time. The book is written in a lively and engaging style with real, and at times, heart breaking stories that reinforce each section. In the conclusion he notes that Character is the ability to carry out a decision after the emotion of making that decision has passed. His point is that saying you will do something to improve your life and actually doing it, takes character.
This little book is well worth the read. Powerful, compelling ideas that if applied, will change your life. The 3 Gaps: Are You Making a Difference? Hyrum W. Smith, Barrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc, 2015.