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I'm David Henson and I serve as Campus Chief Information Officer with Apogee, a Bolden Networks company. Welcome to Control Alt Lead. I show my age a bit by relating a story about a performer from my Youth in Nashville, Tennessee. Her name was Mrs. Sarah Cannon, better known by her stage name of Minnie Pearl. Minnie Pearl appeared on the Grand Ole Opry for well over 50 years and was a regular performer on the long running Hee Haw television program. Many years ago, my wife met her where she was speaking at an event relating her past career successes and sometimes failures. Mrs. Pearl related a bittersweet story. Minnie and her troupe were performing at a poorly attended afternoon matinee. Rather than performing to her best for the very small audience, she instead mostly joked around with her band and completely phoned in the performance. When Minnie came off the stage, the show's promoter was furious. She asked him what was the problem. I mean, after all, it's not like anyone was even there. The promoter said, you don't understand. A producer from Broadway was there in the audience that day specifically to see her and potentially cast her in the musical Oklahoma. Instead, the producer walked away shaking his head and said, I wouldn't have her. Mrs. Cannon retold that story of missed opportunity for the rest of her life, even after she went on to have a very long and highly successful career. You Never Know who's Watching Now. While I may be a practicing CIO by day, my nights and weekends I occasionally spend playing the odd guitar gig just in case this higher education thing really doesn't pan out. A few weekends ago I performed at a local charity event. It was a bike ride with several comfort, hydration and music stops set up along the way. The stop where I was performing was well off the main event course and so it was lightly traveled and even less lightly attended. All told, perhaps a dozen people stopped at our station throughout the entirety of my 90 minute set. There was, however, one gentleman who did stop to listen for just a very few songs. After a few minutes, he dropped something into the tip jar and left, the only person to do so the entire day. When my time was over, I packed up and went home. Maybe a little disappointed in the lack of an audience, but I mean, it's not exactly like I haven't played to an empty room or two in my past. But when I got home I emptied the tip jar and found a brand new crisp $100 bill. You never know who's watching now. These two antidotes really aren't about being rewarded or not rewarded for how well we perform, but rather they're stories about mindfulness, about being present, about understanding how what we do has an impact regardless of the size of our audience. Remember, your voice has impact, your actions have impact. Your title, your position, the school where you work not only has impact, but also its own gravitas that you may choose to ignore at your own potential regret, peril. Use your talents and voice for good, but use it always with intention. Show up. Be present for every interaction, every presentation, every stand up meeting. Like it could be your very last or your very most important, because one day it will be, regardless of the size of the room. Give your best. Your undivided, present and intentional best, because you never know who's watching. Thanks for listening and I hope I'll see you soon.