ESX Keynote Explores Fearless Leadership

The Keynote Luncheon on Wednesday hosted Carey Lohrenz on the stage, the first female F-14 Pilot in the U.S. Navy. The luncheon was sponsored by Security America Risk Retention Group and Security Systems News.

Lohrenz spoke to a full room about the importance and necessity of fearless leadership — a mentality that includes taking risks, being deliberate and passionate, and continually challenging yourself to do better.

Lohrenz advised attendees to take action in their businesses now instead of waiting until it’s perfect. Industries are changing at a rapid rate, so the target of perfection is always moving, she explained.

“It’s okay to applaud achieving 80 percent of a goal,” she said. “If we wait until it’s perfect, our opportunity for success has passed,” she said.

It’s important to stay focused. Figure out what your purpose is and what the needs of your customers are, and knowing that will afford you some stability. Knowing your purpose is half the battle. It will focus you.

“If we are not able to adapt and understand what our purpose is, we will be significantly challenged. If you lose sight, you lose the fight,” Lohrenz said.

She instructed the audience to set an action plan, communicate with their teams, and do the things they said they wouldn’t do.

“Plan out how you’re going to do something,” she said. “No matter how many times you’ve done it in the past. Challenge yourself and your team to do better.”

At the end of the address, attendees were challenged to do one thing a day that scared them for the next 30 days. After this period, they could measure how much progress was made towards their ultimate goal.