by Miranda G. McLeod
Staff Writer
ImprovJacksonville provided more than just laughs to Jacksonville’s young professionals Tuesday. The comedy theater was the venue for JCCI Forward’s Leadership Development workshop called The Time of Your Life! Successfully Managing Work, Family and Community.
After being loosened up by the ImprovJacksonville comedy cast, 40 young professionals 25-45 years old listened to community leaders on how to handle their time.
Ray White, founder of One Source Leadership Institute, usually gives two-day seminars. He spoke for an hour to the group about various time management techniques, especially handling “time bandits.”
“You have to stop the time bandits,” said White. “Time bandits are activities that steal your time in a day which don’t add value. Time bandits cause you to ask, ‘Where did the day go?’”
White also stressed the importance of managing “rocks.”
“Big rocks are roles we fulfill in life, ones we have relationships with,” he said. “Little rocks are the less important things.”
John Delaney, president of the University of North Florida and former mayor, knows all about the big rocks. He spoke to the group about managing his family and trying to pass the bar, then his role as mayor and father of four.
“My wife and I had rules. I wouldn’t miss any kids’ events — whatever they may be, it was on the calender,” said Delaney. “It made it easy to plan my day.”
Delaney recounted an invitation to the White House Christmas Party that he had to decline so he could go to his daughter’s basketball game. He said he wasn’t sure he’d ever get invited to the White House again, but he had his priorities to his family.
Other speakers at the event included City Council member Elaine Brown, Sonny Bhikha, a local real estate investor and hotel manager and Susan Hartley, co-owner of Coffee Perks, a national franchise operation.
Karen Kempf, JCCI Forward planner, said the speakers were chosen because they are exemplars of being able to sustain the engagement and management of their time for family, work and community.
“This is a great way for new, young professionals to develop leadership skills. All of our committees try to tie upcoming leaders with established leaders so they may learn from them,” said Kempf.
JCCI’s Forward program is in its sixth year and hosts two workshops a year.