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So, welcome to the 2015
NASA Ames Summer Series.

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If you look at NASA, you see
lots of great achievements.

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You usually think of missions:

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missions to Mars,
mission exploring other planets,

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or what used to be planets
like Pluto,

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currently in the news.

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What we miss
is behind all of that,

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is lots of different expertise,

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not just science
and technology expertise.

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It really takes a group
of lots of professionals

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to achieve the greatness
that we achieve as an agency

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and as a nation.

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Also, as we develop and build

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what NASA will do in the future,

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it is really important
to take lessons learned

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from the people who have come
before us.

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Today's talk, entitled, "Taking
the Rearview Mirror Test

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and Passing With Flying Colors!"

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will be given by Chuck Duff,

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NASA Ames
Director of Center Operations.

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Chuck started his career
at the U.S. Air Force

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as a civilian,

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and he started as a contract
specialist in California,

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and then moved on to Washington,
Maryland and Washington,

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and became
a procurement analyst.

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Within that time span
of eight years,

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he rose to actually
being the sole

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Air Force Action Officer

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responsible for developing,
coordinating, and implementing

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Air Force actions relative
to a Department of Justice

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Ill Wind procurement fraud
investigation.

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And after that he saw the light
and said,

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"Let me go join NASA,"

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and so he spent
the last 20 or so years

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here working for NASA.

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First started
at Washington, D.C.,

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then came
to NASA Ames Research Center

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where he is right now the
Director of Center Operations.

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During that time,
he did decide to go to D.C.

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for a little stint of a detail.

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He has many certificates
and awards

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that came through his career.

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One, for example,

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is NASA Exceptional Achievement
Medal for Service

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as Deputy Center Director here

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when he was the acting
Center Director.

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Please join me in welcoming
Chuck Duff.

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[applause]

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Thank you, bud.

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Appreciate it.

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Well, it's apparent that
my friendship dues to Jacob

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are due at the moment right now,

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so I will settle up with you
afterwards, Jacob.

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Thank you for that kind
introduction.

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As Jacob said, a lot
of the talks that are given

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in the Summer Series
are covering a lot of

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different
technical areas and the like.

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I would like to submit that,
as Jacob pointed out,

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technical areas are not just
science, math, and engineering.

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There's a lot of folks
behind the scenes,

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and right in the middle
of the scenes,

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often in the forefront,
that pull it off,

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and so some of these lessons
are actually--

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I'm gonna touch on a little bit
of that as I go.

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Jacob, why don't we go
to the next slide.

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First things first, snapshots.

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You know, I say it will
be a little bit different

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than the normal.

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It is a chance to chat.

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Like I say, it's about things
like relationships

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and it's about the people
you know

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and it's about
what you stand for

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that it often makes
the backbone

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of the things that we do
at NASA possible.

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Takes a whole team.

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The most important person
on the planet that day at NASA

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could be
the human resources specialist

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who's hiring the scheduler
for a program

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that can't move forward
without it.

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It could be someone
in facilities.

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It could be someone
in security,

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in our fire department.

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It could be anywhere--
in public relations.

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It takes a whole team,

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and I think it's really
important to emphasize

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that point.

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Believe me, I'm not one
for regrets at all.

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The "Woulda, shoulda, could've"
team,

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that one I'm not on.

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There's only "Get on it,
get with the program,

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and make some decisions
as you go,"

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and what I've tried to do today
is I'm gonna share a combination

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of some of my experiences with
what I refer to as the rules.

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Now, I don't know if there
are any fans in the audience

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of "Pirates of the Caribbean."

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They--what was it?
Parlay?

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They said,
"They're more like guidelines."

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Actually, they should be applied
in moderation

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as I'll point,
with the exception of only one,

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and that'll be the first one,

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so with that, why don't we go
ahead and launch into it,

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and I'm gonna bounce around
my career.

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Jacob made some references
to various places I've been

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over time, and I--so, we're not
gonna do this chronologically.

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Okay?

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We're going to use the "rules"
as the backdrop,

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so bear with it, and at the end,
if you have any questions

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I'll be happy to answer those

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about why did I do what I did
at that time or what have you.

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I'm all game.

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No questions are off the table
today.

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The first one.

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I think it goes without saying,
okay?

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It's up to all of us
to own it, right?

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You have to own your integrity.

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No one can take it away.

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You can only give it away.

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Many of you probably heard
like expressions.

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I happen to really, really,
really believe it, okay?

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And I think it also builds
the basis and the backbone

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for the structure
of who you are,

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what you stand for,
what you believe in,

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and by the way, how you're
going to apply that in a way

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that allows you and your
missions to be successful, okay?

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So, at the end of the day,
the reference to Ill Wind--

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Jacob made a reference to that.

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Believe it or not, yes, I did
have on many a foggy night

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down at the old torpedo factory,

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and I kid you not, meetings
with gentlemen in trench coats

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with brimmed hats
under the foggy light

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talking about things
that people did,

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and I was on a team that helped
make sure that

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that didn't continue.

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What was happening was people--
I hate to say it this way.

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Government--
senior government officials--

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were selling their soul,

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giving away source selection
information and the like

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to other contractors
and the like

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for personal gain.

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I know it sounds
like I'm an attorney

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in an ethics briefing.

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Believe me, it'll get a lot
more fun after this,

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but the point was, believe me,
I learned an awful lot

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about me, about people,

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about the integrity
of the process,

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and how valuable that is.

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It gave me no great pleasure
to be part of a team

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that actually caused people
to have to go to jail.

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That wasn't a highlight for me.

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That part wasn't.

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What was is that the process
really took the opportunity

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to learn and correct itself in
ways thatactually improved it.

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But it was an amazing
experience, actually,

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going through that kind
of relationship.

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Here I am, a contracts guy
at the time.

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What the heck are you doing
involved in that kind of thing?

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Well, it was because we needed--

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I call it
my "Gilligan's Island" tour,

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for those in the audience
old enough to recall.

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Three-hour cruise.

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I actually went
to Washington, D.C. for--

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to work
at Andrews Air Force Base,

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and I'll talk about that
in a sec,

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but the bottom line is I ended
up at the Pentagon

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for about four years
instead of three weeks.

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So, learned an awful lot working
for a two-star general

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at the time, and--
about organizing,

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about working with people,
about multiagency interactions,

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all the services.

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It was really quite
an amazing experience,

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but at the core of it,
rule number one applies.

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Rule number two:

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"be true to yourself."

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Believe me, that one--

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I was with the Air Force
that Jacob mentioned

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for about eight years.

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That rule--this one comes
to mind and I apply this example

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because it was one
of the hardest decisions

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I made in my life,

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and that was to actually
leave the Air Force.

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I had no reason to leave.

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I loved it.
I was on a great path,

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working on amazing programs.

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There were things
I was getting to do

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that most would never have
the opportunity.

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But NASA calls and said,

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"Hi, how about you come
our way?"

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And when I sat and looked at it,
I said, "Hey.

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This just looks
too interesting."

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It was about civilian space
rather than military space.

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It was about cost reimbursable,
and university work,

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and research work rather than

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large weapon systems
procurement.

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So, again, there was
this large void in experience

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I didn't have,

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and believe me,
it was really hard walking into

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my two boss' offices and saying,

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"I've been offered
this opportunity.

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I think I'm gonna take it."

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And that was Ira Kemp
and John Slinkard,

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and two heroes in my life.

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Amazing, amazing people.

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So...but I made the choice,

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and now, "Not at the expense
of others."

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Well some of you,
"Wait a minute, you left.

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Well, maybe they wanted
you gone."

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Hopefully that wasn't the case,
but the point is

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that how you avoid
the expense part,

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especially while
you're employed,

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is to really, really give it
your all while you're there.

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In other words, spend the time
and invest.

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You know,
you'll see another rule

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called "give more
than you take."

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Take those experiences,
and actually sit down

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and give it your all
while you're there.

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So tough decision, but it's been
amazing, and here, you know,

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20 years later I'm, you know,
with NASA still,

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and it's been an amazing
experience.

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Ironically, I do still do work
with the Air Force.

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Actually, in the same
program area as I did

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when I started my career,

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which is really, really,
really cool,

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so I get--I'm kind of closing
a circle,

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beginning at an end
as I get ready to retire here.

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Okay, Jacob.

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All right.

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"Never give up,
never surrender."

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This is a really easy one, okay?

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I have to contribute
"Never surrender"

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to "Galaxy Quest,"

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I mean, one of those highly
technical movies.

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You know, but the kids loved
it, and I always told them,

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"Never give up."

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Then Courtney, of course,
my daughter,

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jumps in,
"Never surrender,"

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and we go,
"Good for you, Court."

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And same with Karl,
so the key to this one is

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any of you ever been told no
to something you wanted before?

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Especially as you're looking
for a job?

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I was a graduate
of Whitman College.

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Actually, I had more hours
in my first major

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which is economics

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until I switched it
to political science

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with an emphasis in
international security affairs

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with a thesis on MX missile
system basing options.

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I'm a really interesting guy,
aren't I?

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Anyway, it's--what happened was
is I was committed

250
00:10:57,066 --> 00:11:00,333
to actually going to pursue
not just a career in business,

251
00:11:00,333 --> 00:11:02,966
but I love--
I've always loved my spaceships

252
00:11:02,966 --> 00:11:04,266
and airplanes.

253
00:11:04,266 --> 00:11:06,333
Now matter how you wanted to fit
into that community--

254
00:11:06,333 --> 00:11:08,400
and I don't fit in, like I say,
from the technical side,

255
00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:10,900
even though I'm
an "armchair engineer"--

256
00:11:10,900 --> 00:11:14,166
the fact remains that it took me
about 18 months

257
00:11:14,166 --> 00:11:15,700
of a lot of "no."

258
00:11:15,700 --> 00:11:19,033
If I had been
a computer scientist in 1981,

259
00:11:19,033 --> 00:11:21,066
I'd have had 20 job offers

260
00:11:21,066 --> 00:11:22,333
on the spot.

261
00:11:22,333 --> 00:11:23,800
But I wasn't
a computer scientist,

262
00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:27,466
and, "no," and, "no," and, "no,"
and, "no" again.

263
00:11:27,466 --> 00:11:29,033
I wasn't gonna take no
for an answer.

264
00:11:29,033 --> 00:11:31,233
Not gonna happen.
I'm going to do this.

265
00:11:31,233 --> 00:11:32,700
I'm not just going
to do generic.

266
00:11:32,700 --> 00:11:34,533
I'm not going to settle.

267
00:11:34,533 --> 00:11:37,466
Well, fortunately it worked out.

268
00:11:37,466 --> 00:11:40,466
Someone decided to take
a chance, and as they say,

269
00:11:40,466 --> 00:11:42,066
the rest is history, so...

270
00:11:42,066 --> 00:11:44,300
"Never give up,
never surrender."

271
00:11:44,300 --> 00:11:46,266
Okay.

272
00:11:46,266 --> 00:11:49,100
"Do what you say
you're gonna do."

273
00:11:49,100 --> 00:11:51,933
This--I threw ATOBTO
in because I had to

274
00:11:51,933 --> 00:11:54,233
because only a couple people
in the room know what it means.

275
00:11:54,233 --> 00:11:55,800
It means above the line,
below the line.

276
00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:57,300
It's a budgeting tool,

277
00:11:57,300 --> 00:12:00,400
basically, you know,
activity-based costing tool

278
00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:02,800
to try to track
what's tantamount to about

279
00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:07,066
$150-million budget
that I manage.

280
00:12:07,066 --> 00:12:08,333
I don't manage it.

281
00:12:08,333 --> 00:12:11,133
My chiefs, several of which
are in the audience, do.

282
00:12:11,133 --> 00:12:14,466
Jim, actually, my deputy,
he really takes care of it,

283
00:12:14,466 --> 00:12:19,033
but the concept behind it is
that we run a complex spend

284
00:12:19,033 --> 00:12:20,100
in Center Operations.

285
00:12:20,100 --> 00:12:22,633
We, Jim and I,
have about half

286
00:12:22,633 --> 00:12:24,966
of the center's institutional
money here,

287
00:12:24,966 --> 00:12:27,466
so it's our job and our
responsibility to make sure

288
00:12:27,466 --> 00:12:30,166
that money's well spent
and that we can explain it.

289
00:12:30,166 --> 00:12:32,533
So we said,
"We're going to do

290
00:12:32,533 --> 00:12:34,366
what we said we were
going to do.

291
00:12:34,366 --> 00:12:35,833
Let's show people what we did."

292
00:12:35,833 --> 00:12:37,400
So we actually built a system

293
00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:39,333
that actually has helped
our customers.

294
00:12:39,333 --> 00:12:42,600
Our clients all understand
when they give us a dollar

295
00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:43,933
what the heck
we're doing with it,

296
00:12:43,933 --> 00:12:46,033
and by the way, what kind
of process did we use

297
00:12:46,033 --> 00:12:50,333
to actually understand that
that was the best spend,

298
00:12:50,333 --> 00:12:52,633
not the perfect spend,
but the best,

299
00:12:52,633 --> 00:12:55,933
given all things considered
that we knew at that moment.

300
00:12:55,933 --> 00:12:59,000
By the way, it's highly dynamic,
so we continue to adapt,

301
00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:00,066
don't we, Jim?

302
00:13:00,066 --> 00:13:01,366
Absolutely.

303
00:13:01,366 --> 00:13:05,133
All right, so let's move on.

304
00:13:05,133 --> 00:13:06,333
Okay.

305
00:13:06,333 --> 00:13:08,533
I'm a consummate learner.

306
00:13:08,533 --> 00:13:10,733
Well, I try to be.

307
00:13:10,733 --> 00:13:14,700
It means continuing to go back
to school over my career.

308
00:13:14,700 --> 00:13:17,266
One thing about NASA that makes
it one of the--

309
00:13:17,266 --> 00:13:20,566
I'd argue the greatest
organization in the government,

310
00:13:20,566 --> 00:13:22,033
maybe in the country--

311
00:13:22,033 --> 00:13:25,433
is that it is a huge
advocate and proponent

312
00:13:25,433 --> 00:13:26,866
of people wanting to learn,

313
00:13:26,866 --> 00:13:28,566
and I think that that is huge.

314
00:13:28,566 --> 00:13:32,700
I've had the opportunity to--
I've been to Harvard six times,

315
00:13:32,700 --> 00:13:34,433
you know,
and there's just been a number

316
00:13:34,433 --> 00:13:35,733
of different opportunity with--

317
00:13:35,733 --> 00:13:38,000
that--where you get exposed
to things

318
00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:40,533
that you would not otherwise
get exposed to.

319
00:13:40,533 --> 00:13:43,200
NASA, its SES,
its Senior Executive Service

320
00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:45,133
Candidate Development Program
is second to none

321
00:13:45,133 --> 00:13:46,400
in the government,

322
00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:48,200
so for those of you
who are coming up the ranks,

323
00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:49,466
pay attention to things like

324
00:13:49,466 --> 00:13:51,200
the Mid-Level
Leadership Program,

325
00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:52,333
NASA First, and others.

326
00:13:52,333 --> 00:13:53,866
There's people
in this audience today

327
00:13:53,866 --> 00:13:55,633
that have been through
those programs,

328
00:13:55,633 --> 00:13:58,966
and believe me,
take it for all it's worth.

329
00:13:58,966 --> 00:14:00,266
Okay?

330
00:14:00,266 --> 00:14:03,633
So, keep learning,
never lose that thirst to learn

331
00:14:03,633 --> 00:14:05,700
because that's what keeps
motivating you,

332
00:14:05,700 --> 00:14:07,433
gives you that new perspective,

333
00:14:07,433 --> 00:14:08,566
refreshes you.

334
00:14:08,566 --> 00:14:11,100
It's just a wonderful,
wonderful tool,

335
00:14:11,100 --> 00:14:14,166
and nobody beats NASA in that.

336
00:14:14,166 --> 00:14:16,066
Take us for everything
we're worth.

337
00:14:16,066 --> 00:14:18,000
Rule number six:

338
00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:20,633
"Extra 5% of effort often
defines the difference

339
00:14:20,633 --> 00:14:22,666
between excellence
and mediocrity."

340
00:14:22,666 --> 00:14:23,966
Okay?

341
00:14:23,966 --> 00:14:26,100
I actually use that a lot.

342
00:14:26,100 --> 00:14:29,566
If you want to know
the real test that I use,

343
00:14:29,566 --> 00:14:34,566
I attribute it to my Uncle Karl,
for whom our son is named,

344
00:14:34,566 --> 00:14:39,533
and that test is the short
departure will be--

345
00:14:39,533 --> 00:14:42,633
he had son going into
seventh grade, Michael.

346
00:14:42,633 --> 00:14:44,966
Michael was going to play
basketball.

347
00:14:44,966 --> 00:14:47,400
Karl wanted to make sure that he
could put up a basketball hoop,

348
00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:49,900
so he could practice
in the garage area.

349
00:14:49,900 --> 00:14:51,333
That sounds great.

350
00:14:51,333 --> 00:14:54,466
Okay, so enter me.

351
00:14:54,466 --> 00:15:00,100
I walk in, I've got a sky crane,
I-beams, big trucks,

352
00:15:00,100 --> 00:15:03,433
concrete mixers,
footings ready to go in.

353
00:15:03,433 --> 00:15:05,433
Okay, there's mine.

354
00:15:05,433 --> 00:15:07,366
Then there's Uncle Karl.

355
00:15:07,366 --> 00:15:09,000
"Have any bubblegum?

356
00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:11,500
If we need it,
any duct tape?"

357
00:15:11,500 --> 00:15:13,133
And that was his version of it.

358
00:15:13,133 --> 00:15:16,700
And so, what I do is I use
the Uncle Karl test

359
00:15:16,700 --> 00:15:18,500
in everything I make,
every decision I make,

360
00:15:18,500 --> 00:15:19,766
which is: Wait a minute.

361
00:15:19,766 --> 00:15:24,066
I know, and Jim will attest
to this, I overdo...

362
00:15:24,066 --> 00:15:25,733
everything.

363
00:15:25,733 --> 00:15:27,033
Out of the start, anyway.

364
00:15:27,033 --> 00:15:28,700
At least
that's where it starts.

365
00:15:28,700 --> 00:15:30,766
But I apply
the Karl Frankie test

366
00:15:30,766 --> 00:15:33,666
and immediately am quickly
finding myself

367
00:15:33,666 --> 00:15:35,500
adjusting on the continuum.

368
00:15:35,500 --> 00:15:37,266
So, there's Karl,
and there's me,

369
00:15:37,266 --> 00:15:39,933
and usually every decision
you make is gonna drop somewhere

370
00:15:39,933 --> 00:15:41,833
on that continuum.

371
00:15:41,833 --> 00:15:45,400
So, I--look, we all think
we're bright and intelligent

372
00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:46,900
and we just know what to do.

373
00:15:46,900 --> 00:15:48,900
Well, we're gonna get to that
in a minute too,

374
00:15:48,900 --> 00:15:51,400
but the point is
apply your own version

375
00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:52,433
of the Karl Frankie test.

376
00:15:52,433 --> 00:15:53,800
I think you'll find it helpful.

377
00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:58,066
Believe it or not, bubblegum
may be just the right fix.

378
00:15:58,066 --> 00:16:00,733
And like I say, I got Jim and
Rhonda and Gene and everybody

379
00:16:00,733 --> 00:16:04,266
to make sure, you know,
that I stay to the bubblegum,

380
00:16:04,266 --> 00:16:05,966
and whenever possible,

381
00:16:05,966 --> 00:16:09,100
but it's well worth exploring.

382
00:16:10,566 --> 00:16:11,733
Okay.

383
00:16:11,733 --> 00:16:13,233
Interesting.

384
00:16:13,233 --> 00:16:15,466
"Perfection is the enemy
of close enough."

385
00:16:15,466 --> 00:16:17,900
You'll note the reference
to the prior rule.

386
00:16:17,900 --> 00:16:20,366
These two rules, six and seven,
actually give you

387
00:16:20,366 --> 00:16:22,333
the Karl Frankie test, okay?

388
00:16:22,333 --> 00:16:24,733
Which is, take your situation.

389
00:16:24,733 --> 00:16:28,133
Some things absolutely--I
mentioned this Ill Wind thing.

390
00:16:28,133 --> 00:16:32,266
It required perfection
on almost every point.

391
00:16:32,266 --> 00:16:35,133
Almost on every point.
There was no room for error.

392
00:16:35,133 --> 00:16:38,900
Other things we do,
the same level of rigor,

393
00:16:38,900 --> 00:16:41,800
the same cost,
the investment level,

394
00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:44,266
the stress...no.

395
00:16:44,266 --> 00:16:46,466
You've got to know how to pick
and choose between them.

396
00:16:46,466 --> 00:16:50,566
So, six and seven, you use them
kind of against each other,

397
00:16:50,566 --> 00:16:52,600
is kind of the way I look at it.

398
00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:53,766
Go ahead.

399
00:16:53,766 --> 00:16:55,700
All right.

400
00:16:55,700 --> 00:16:58,700
Life is a clock,
and by the way,

401
00:16:58,700 --> 00:17:01,933
it doesn't stop
for the two-minute warning

402
00:17:01,933 --> 00:17:03,600
and everything else, right?

403
00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:05,100
It keeps ticking,

404
00:17:05,100 --> 00:17:09,500
so the reality is
you better decide

405
00:17:09,500 --> 00:17:11,400
as you're fussing through
something

406
00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:14,733
or you're quibbling or you're
gonna be mad at somebody

407
00:17:14,733 --> 00:17:17,133
or whatever have you,

408
00:17:17,133 --> 00:17:18,800
that minute's not retrievable.

409
00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:20,033
It's kind of like a hotel room.

410
00:17:20,033 --> 00:17:22,233
It's--there's a perishable
quantity.

411
00:17:22,233 --> 00:17:23,900
Attribute.

412
00:17:23,900 --> 00:17:26,866
So, that's where we kind of have
to step back, go out of body,

413
00:17:26,866 --> 00:17:28,166
no fear every once in a while.

414
00:17:28,166 --> 00:17:31,933
Even if--and I do it.
I'm wrong a lot.

415
00:17:33,433 --> 00:17:35,233
You have to try to have
the gumption to stand up

416
00:17:35,233 --> 00:17:36,733
and say, "Wait.
Wait a minute.

417
00:17:36,733 --> 00:17:38,766
Can we reset?
Can we reset?

418
00:17:38,766 --> 00:17:40,366
I just screwed that up."

419
00:17:40,366 --> 00:17:41,366
You know?

420
00:17:41,366 --> 00:17:42,533
"But could we reset?"

421
00:17:42,533 --> 00:17:43,966
And that takes a relationship
to do that,

422
00:17:43,966 --> 00:17:46,266
and we'll get to that too.

423
00:17:46,266 --> 00:17:48,300
Use the information available
to you.

424
00:17:48,300 --> 00:17:51,233
Well, how about you're driving
through Europe and, you know,

425
00:17:51,233 --> 00:17:53,500
the sign says this,
but your instinct says that.

426
00:17:53,500 --> 00:17:55,000
Well, hmm.

427
00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:56,200
What's the GPS say?

428
00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:57,500
Oh, just kidding.

429
00:17:57,500 --> 00:18:00,466
The point is there should be
a lot of data you'll get.

430
00:18:00,466 --> 00:18:02,233
Use it.

431
00:18:02,233 --> 00:18:03,733
You know, what was that...

432
00:18:03,733 --> 00:18:05,000
"Bruce Almighty."

433
00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:06,533
Can I quote that here?

434
00:18:06,533 --> 00:18:08,600
"Bruce Almighty" went,
"Give me a sign!"

435
00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:10,366
Remember the truck goes
in front of him,

436
00:18:10,366 --> 00:18:12,400
and it's full of road signs?

437
00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:14,233
Just give me a sign.

438
00:18:14,233 --> 00:18:16,966
You know, they're there on
almost everything you run into.

439
00:18:16,966 --> 00:18:18,366
There are signs,
and by the way,

440
00:18:18,366 --> 00:18:21,266
a lot of them come from your
friends, colleagues, and family.

441
00:18:21,266 --> 00:18:22,933
Pay attention.

442
00:18:22,933 --> 00:18:26,100
It matters because perspective
doesn't matter where you sit,

443
00:18:26,100 --> 00:18:27,333
by the way.

444
00:18:27,333 --> 00:18:30,166
Doesn't make someone else right
and you wrong,

445
00:18:30,166 --> 00:18:32,266
but we'll get to that too.

446
00:18:32,266 --> 00:18:33,466
All right.

447
00:18:33,466 --> 00:18:35,533
Nobody--give more than you take.

448
00:18:35,533 --> 00:18:39,033
My dad always said,
"Nobody likes a taker."

449
00:18:39,033 --> 00:18:40,500
Let me tell you.

450
00:18:40,500 --> 00:18:41,866
That's so true.

451
00:18:41,866 --> 00:18:44,000
That also comes
at some personal risk.

452
00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:45,200
Right?

453
00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:47,333
That means,
you know,

454
00:18:47,333 --> 00:18:48,933
you probably overdo
it sometimes,

455
00:18:48,933 --> 00:18:51,633
and maybe pick up bills or
whatever that your shouldn't do

456
00:18:51,633 --> 00:18:53,466
or whatever, but you know what?

457
00:18:53,466 --> 00:18:56,500
At the end of the day,
it's better to be a giver

458
00:18:56,500 --> 00:18:57,566
than a taker,

459
00:18:57,566 --> 00:19:02,600
and there--I've run into both.

460
00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:04,066
Most people
are actually a hybrid,

461
00:19:04,066 --> 00:19:05,066
which is the right answer.

462
00:19:05,066 --> 00:19:06,433
Right?

463
00:19:06,433 --> 00:19:10,300
But I happen to err in the camp
of it's better to give

464
00:19:10,300 --> 00:19:11,533
than to take,

465
00:19:11,533 --> 00:19:16,200
so I practice that in some
regards to a fault maybe

466
00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:19,166
in some areas, but it is,
you know, your friends,

467
00:19:19,166 --> 00:19:21,066
they need--your friends
and family have to know

468
00:19:21,066 --> 00:19:22,066
you're there for them.

469
00:19:22,066 --> 00:19:23,766
No matter what.

470
00:19:23,766 --> 00:19:25,166
Be there for them

471
00:19:25,166 --> 00:19:28,133
because that's all they have,
and that's all you have.

472
00:19:29,666 --> 00:19:30,666
Okay.

473
00:19:30,666 --> 00:19:32,666
LOB.

474
00:19:32,666 --> 00:19:34,066
Even though some
might accuse me,

475
00:19:34,066 --> 00:19:35,366
I think I have it.

476
00:19:35,366 --> 00:19:39,000
I can assure you I do not.

477
00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:40,233
Lock on brilliance.

478
00:19:40,233 --> 00:19:41,433
Ah-ah-ah.

479
00:19:41,433 --> 00:19:42,966
I have another expression
I like to use

480
00:19:42,966 --> 00:19:44,966
which is, "An idea plus another
idea almost always

481
00:19:44,966 --> 00:19:46,166
makes for a better idea."

482
00:19:46,166 --> 00:19:47,633
Many of you who worked with me
over the years

483
00:19:47,633 --> 00:19:49,766
have heard me say it,

484
00:19:49,766 --> 00:19:52,233
and I think you all know
I mean it,

485
00:19:52,233 --> 00:19:55,733
but am I ever bashful?

486
00:19:55,733 --> 00:19:57,833
Do I have an opinion?

487
00:19:57,833 --> 00:20:00,766
On about everything.

488
00:20:00,766 --> 00:20:02,833
Probably to a fault,

489
00:20:02,833 --> 00:20:04,866
but nonetheless, I also like
to use that as a way

490
00:20:04,866 --> 00:20:07,133
to start a conversation

491
00:20:07,133 --> 00:20:09,066
because of if it starts with me
opening my mouth,

492
00:20:09,066 --> 00:20:11,800
and it ends with me
closing my mouth,

493
00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:14,900
I guarantee you it's only got
a x percent small chance

494
00:20:14,900 --> 00:20:17,333
of being anything worth a hoot.

495
00:20:17,333 --> 00:20:19,366
It's way better when I take
something I got to say

496
00:20:19,366 --> 00:20:21,833
and put it with Ingrid or put it
with Steve or Gene

497
00:20:21,833 --> 00:20:24,066
or any of you all out here.

498
00:20:24,066 --> 00:20:25,900
You know, it's way better
when we take the ideas

499
00:20:25,900 --> 00:20:27,033
and assemble them

500
00:20:27,033 --> 00:20:28,800
because out of those
are gonna become a much,

501
00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:30,133
much better ideas,

502
00:20:30,133 --> 00:20:32,700
and that's another thing
that makes NASA great,

503
00:20:32,700 --> 00:20:34,733
and one of the things I've been
really happy to watch

504
00:20:34,733 --> 00:20:37,200
over the last--particularly
over the last decade

505
00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:39,500
is NASA,

506
00:20:39,500 --> 00:20:43,466
to say each center
has its own culture

507
00:20:43,466 --> 00:20:45,833
is absolutely true.

508
00:20:45,833 --> 00:20:47,133
Absolutely true.

509
00:20:47,133 --> 00:20:50,433
I would argue we all have it
sometimes to a fault,

510
00:20:50,433 --> 00:20:51,900
but I've been so happy to watch

511
00:20:51,900 --> 00:20:53,333
particularly over
the last decade,

512
00:20:53,333 --> 00:20:56,433
as I mentioned, is how teaming.

513
00:20:56,433 --> 00:20:59,966
Nothing anymore in this world
gets done without a team.

514
00:20:59,966 --> 00:21:01,500
Nothing.

515
00:21:01,500 --> 00:21:03,800
You can try and jam something
through on your own.

516
00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:06,400
You'll get to some level
of success,

517
00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:08,733
but I wonder if you'll make it
all the way.

518
00:21:08,733 --> 00:21:10,833
I'd be willing
to bet against that.

519
00:21:10,833 --> 00:21:12,800
That--I've been watching
the center's pe--

520
00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:14,733
you know, people being on
each other's teams,

521
00:21:14,733 --> 00:21:17,300
understand each other's roles
and responsibilities,

522
00:21:17,300 --> 00:21:20,600
and step up,
and actually work together,

523
00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:23,300
and, by the way,
it starts at home.

524
00:21:23,300 --> 00:21:27,933
I'm talking about home at Ames
about institution and program.

525
00:21:27,933 --> 00:21:29,866
As I mentioned, the most
important person that day

526
00:21:29,866 --> 00:21:32,433
could be that HR person I used
as an example.

527
00:21:32,433 --> 00:21:33,766
You don't get that schedule,

528
00:21:33,766 --> 00:21:35,566
your program
does not move forward.

529
00:21:35,566 --> 00:21:37,100
You don't get that contract
to work,

530
00:21:37,100 --> 00:21:39,300
you don't get that facility
upgraded,

531
00:21:39,300 --> 00:21:42,100
you don't get the protective
services officers out there

532
00:21:42,100 --> 00:21:43,833
guarding that test?

533
00:21:43,833 --> 00:21:46,100
Doesn't happen.

534
00:21:46,100 --> 00:21:47,766
It takes a team,

535
00:21:47,766 --> 00:21:49,366
so go on from there.

536
00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:52,800
Okay.

537
00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:54,433
[chuckles]

538
00:21:54,433 --> 00:21:58,433
We've all been surrounded by all
kinds of colorful personalities

539
00:21:58,433 --> 00:22:00,600
over our lives,

540
00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:05,766
and believe me, I probably--
well, no.

541
00:22:05,766 --> 00:22:09,800
I definitely am in the camp of,
"I will have an opinion.

542
00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:11,833
I'll probably be really strong
about it.

543
00:22:11,833 --> 00:22:13,966
Probably too strong sometimes,"

544
00:22:13,966 --> 00:22:16,933
but one thing I've always tried
not to do is I don't yell,

545
00:22:16,933 --> 00:22:19,800
I don't scream,
I don't get upset.

546
00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:22,633
I might be firm,
but I think that what we do

547
00:22:22,633 --> 00:22:25,200
is we owe it to ourselves
and those around us

548
00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:27,400
to actually--if you've got
something to say,

549
00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:28,800
you should say it.

550
00:22:28,800 --> 00:22:32,100
Everyone has the right to say
whatever is on their mind,

551
00:22:32,100 --> 00:22:34,433
but I think
it's got to--whether--

552
00:22:34,433 --> 00:22:38,166
in whatever environment
you want to put that in.

553
00:22:38,166 --> 00:22:42,366
The fact remains that in this
example the one I was gonna use

554
00:22:42,366 --> 00:22:46,566
was I was kind of upset
because I was a GS-7

555
00:22:46,566 --> 00:22:49,000
at space division
down in LA.

556
00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:52,866
They asked me to take on the job
of being the contracting officer

557
00:22:52,866 --> 00:22:55,433
for a billion-dollar program

558
00:22:55,433 --> 00:22:56,933
as GS-7.

559
00:22:56,933 --> 00:22:58,933
Well, there was another
individual that was for

560
00:22:58,933 --> 00:23:01,633
the spacecraft bus side
of the defense program,

561
00:23:01,633 --> 00:23:03,666
which is now open to talk about,

562
00:23:03,666 --> 00:23:06,400
that the other person--we had
a sensor side,

563
00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:07,633
so you had the bus
and the sensor

564
00:23:07,633 --> 00:23:09,966
came together
as a space vehicle, right?

565
00:23:09,966 --> 00:23:12,333
Well, it wasn't really working
out on the sensor side,

566
00:23:12,333 --> 00:23:15,033
so they came to me,
"Guess what.

567
00:23:15,033 --> 00:23:16,633
You got the sensor too."

568
00:23:16,633 --> 00:23:19,100
I go, "Okay.
Really?

569
00:23:19,100 --> 00:23:20,600
People--can't people
do their jobs?

570
00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:21,966
I mean, wait a minute."

571
00:23:21,966 --> 00:23:23,666
I had a choice to make.

572
00:23:23,666 --> 00:23:26,500
Get all upset about it,
and carry on, and flail,

573
00:23:26,500 --> 00:23:28,133
and I said,
"No.

574
00:23:28,133 --> 00:23:29,133
No.

575
00:23:29,133 --> 00:23:31,000
Sure.
I'll do it,"

576
00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:32,300
and we did it.

577
00:23:32,300 --> 00:23:35,400
The only Air Force
multi-air contract.

578
00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:37,200
$1 1/2 billion,
$2 billion,

579
00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:40,000
and the fact that the government
trusts us to do that?

580
00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:42,633
It also means you have to work
in a team,

581
00:23:42,633 --> 00:23:44,166
so stand up even though
the situations

582
00:23:44,166 --> 00:23:45,933
you're running through
every once in a while

583
00:23:45,933 --> 00:23:46,966
which upsets you,

584
00:23:46,966 --> 00:23:49,700
and by the way,
probably justly.

585
00:23:49,700 --> 00:23:51,500
Probably justly.

586
00:23:51,500 --> 00:23:56,266
Ask yourself before the old,
"I have to vent first,

587
00:23:56,266 --> 00:23:58,066
and then I'm fine" model.

588
00:24:01,333 --> 00:23:59,533
No.

589
00:24:01,333 --> 00:24:02,633
so think about it,
and by the way,

590
00:24:02,633 --> 00:24:04,333
you should always feel
that you can discuss

591
00:24:04,333 --> 00:24:05,333
those kind of situations.

592
00:24:05,333 --> 00:24:06,633
I did.

593
00:24:06,633 --> 00:24:09,666
I went and talked to
the senior procurement officer

594
00:24:09,666 --> 00:24:10,700
responsible for the firm.

595
00:24:10,700 --> 00:24:12,600
I said,
"I--you know, I'll do it.

596
00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:14,266
Okay, this is what it's gonna
take to do it.

597
00:24:14,266 --> 00:24:15,600
If you want me to do this
and that,"

598
00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:17,133
and we sat down and had
a conversation.

599
00:24:17,133 --> 00:24:18,166
It was really quite good,

600
00:24:18,166 --> 00:24:19,566
and in the end
it all worked out.

601
00:24:19,566 --> 00:24:21,333
We came in ahead of schedule,

602
00:24:21,333 --> 00:24:24,266
we saved more money than anyone
could--ever thought,

603
00:24:24,266 --> 00:24:26,300
and off it went, so...

604
00:24:26,300 --> 00:24:27,466
there you go.

605
00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:31,600
Next.

606
00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:32,600
All right.

607
00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:34,600
[laughs]

608
00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:37,200
Before you all came in,
there was--I love these guys.

609
00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:38,533
That's why I come over.

610
00:24:38,533 --> 00:24:40,866
They always have
"Star Wars" music on, right?

611
00:24:40,866 --> 00:24:42,500
I'm a huge "Star Wars" fan.

612
00:24:42,500 --> 00:24:47,733
In fact, the license plate
on my motorcycle is RTDII,

613
00:24:47,733 --> 00:24:51,466
and it stands for--
that it's an RT--BMW RT bike,

614
00:24:51,466 --> 00:24:53,733
and I'm Duff the second,
so--and actually the name

615
00:24:53,733 --> 00:24:56,300
came from the kids
that were working on

616
00:24:56,300 --> 00:24:58,966
on the robotics program
in the first robotics.

617
00:24:58,966 --> 00:25:01,200
My son was on the team,

618
00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:03,666
and they named the bike 'cause
they knew I loved "Star Wars"

619
00:25:03,666 --> 00:25:06,566
so much, and so they said,
"Why don't you call it RTD2?"

620
00:25:06,566 --> 00:25:07,733
I'm going,
"Good thinking."

621
00:25:07,733 --> 00:25:08,900
So I did.

622
00:25:08,900 --> 00:25:11,033
Out on my bike,
that's the license plate,

623
00:25:11,033 --> 00:25:14,000
and, you know, there really is--
the rule is, "Do or do not,

624
00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:15,300
there is no try."

625
00:25:15,300 --> 00:25:18,133
In the end of the day,
remember six and seven now.

626
00:25:18,133 --> 00:25:19,300
Remember rules six and seven.

627
00:25:19,300 --> 00:25:20,966
"Perfection is the enemy
of close enough"

628
00:25:20,966 --> 00:25:23,266
versus "Extra 5%,"

629
00:25:23,266 --> 00:25:26,066
but at the end of the day,
on the important things,

630
00:25:26,066 --> 00:25:27,266
"Do or do not,
there is no try."

631
00:25:27,266 --> 00:25:28,900
Really,

632
00:25:28,900 --> 00:25:32,566
and that's in relationships,
that's in your day-to-day job,

633
00:25:32,566 --> 00:25:34,333
that's in setting goals
for yourself.

634
00:25:34,333 --> 00:25:35,333
Right?

635
00:25:35,333 --> 00:25:37,900
It's who are you as a person?

636
00:25:37,900 --> 00:25:40,700
And in the end of the day,
deliver when it matters.

637
00:25:40,700 --> 00:25:41,700
Okay?

638
00:25:41,700 --> 00:25:42,700
All right.

639
00:25:42,700 --> 00:25:43,700
John Mellencamp.

640
00:25:43,700 --> 00:25:46,966
I'm also a huge music guy.

641
00:25:46,966 --> 00:25:49,633
Happen to love John Cougar.

642
00:25:49,633 --> 00:25:52,266
The record company wouldn't let
him use his real name,

643
00:25:52,266 --> 00:25:54,900
Mellencamp,
until his second album

644
00:25:54,900 --> 00:25:57,233
because he was so successful,

645
00:25:57,233 --> 00:25:59,633
but, "Stand for something
or you'll fall for anything."

646
00:25:59,633 --> 00:26:03,800
Actually, my son used this line
in writing one of his best

647
00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:06,900
college essays ever written.

648
00:26:06,900 --> 00:26:08,533
I read a few of them,

649
00:26:08,533 --> 00:26:10,900
and it was really a kind of
interesting backdrop

650
00:26:10,900 --> 00:26:13,266
for, you know,
take a position.

651
00:26:13,266 --> 00:26:14,766
People don't have to agree
with you.

652
00:26:14,766 --> 00:26:17,033
They don't have to even like it,

653
00:26:17,033 --> 00:26:20,333
but take a position
and support it,

654
00:26:20,333 --> 00:26:21,933
and then, by the way,
how about you listen

655
00:26:21,933 --> 00:26:24,100
to the other people's positions,
and maybe you find out

656
00:26:24,100 --> 00:26:26,666
that there's a lot of merit
to their argument as well,

657
00:26:26,666 --> 00:26:29,300
and again, welcome to an idea
plus another idea,

658
00:26:29,300 --> 00:26:31,300
so as you'll see, there's a lot
of relationship

659
00:26:31,300 --> 00:26:33,533
between all these things, so...

660
00:26:33,533 --> 00:26:35,366
all right.

661
00:26:35,366 --> 00:26:38,033
"Levers and decisions," okay?

662
00:26:38,033 --> 00:26:40,000
There's the levers
and decisions part,

663
00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:42,266
and then there's
the serenity prayer,

664
00:26:42,266 --> 00:26:44,400
for those of you--
probably all know it.

665
00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:46,833
You know, "Give me the grace
to deal with the things

666
00:26:46,833 --> 00:26:48,766
I can deal with,
and to not worry about those

667
00:26:48,766 --> 00:26:50,166
that I cannot."

668
00:26:50,166 --> 00:26:53,033
Now, that's a terrible
destruction of the real words,

669
00:26:53,033 --> 00:26:54,866
but that's the essence of it,

670
00:26:54,866 --> 00:26:57,700
but on the other side is welcome
to--use the information

671
00:26:57,700 --> 00:26:58,800
available to you.

672
00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:01,033
That's the same kind of think,

673
00:27:01,033 --> 00:27:04,600
but in the end though,
ideas are only ideas.

674
00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:05,900
They're only as good
as the idea,

675
00:27:05,900 --> 00:27:07,600
and by the way,
they're probably forgotten

676
00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:09,333
in the next 20 minutes,

677
00:27:09,333 --> 00:27:12,133
but there are levers
you can pull,

678
00:27:12,133 --> 00:27:14,533
both in your--whether it be in
your personal finances,

679
00:27:14,533 --> 00:27:17,400
whether it be in how you treat
your family,

680
00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:21,433
be it how you deliver on your
work assignments, okay?

681
00:27:21,433 --> 00:27:22,800
It all does matter,

682
00:27:22,800 --> 00:27:25,400
and you do have more control
than you think you do.

683
00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:27,333
Make the choice to believe
that you have leverage

684
00:27:27,333 --> 00:27:28,366
that you can pull,

685
00:27:28,366 --> 00:27:31,666
identify them,
and then pull them,

686
00:27:31,666 --> 00:27:35,600
and if you're wrong,
reset, and do it again.

687
00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:37,566
Assess what went wrong
and do it again,

688
00:27:37,566 --> 00:27:39,000
but make decisions.

689
00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:41,433
There's nothing worse than
the armchair quarterback, right?

690
00:27:41,433 --> 00:27:43,200
The Monday morning person
that comes in and says,

691
00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:44,600
"Well, they should've
done this."

692
00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:46,600
You remember that "woulda,
coulda, shoulda" stuff?

693
00:27:46,600 --> 00:27:47,900
That's the deal
that many of us face.

694
00:27:47,900 --> 00:27:48,933
Well, wait a minute.

695
00:27:48,933 --> 00:27:50,766
I have no respect
for any of that.

696
00:27:50,766 --> 00:27:52,666
Don't tell me what I woulda,
coulda, shoulda done

697
00:27:52,666 --> 00:27:54,333
or, "Well..."
no, no, no.

698
00:27:54,333 --> 00:27:55,700
Get in here and help.

699
00:27:55,700 --> 00:27:57,166
Get in here.
You got something to say?

700
00:27:57,166 --> 00:27:58,200
Bring it.

701
00:27:58,200 --> 00:27:59,666
You know?

702
00:27:59,666 --> 00:28:01,933
Let's just sit down and have
a chat about what it all means,

703
00:28:01,933 --> 00:28:04,900
and let's put all of our ideas
together on the table.

704
00:28:04,900 --> 00:28:07,333
All right.

705
00:28:07,333 --> 00:28:08,966
16.

706
00:28:08,966 --> 00:28:12,433
By the way, you should probably
know that the order

707
00:28:12,433 --> 00:28:14,766
that these rules were written--

708
00:28:14,766 --> 00:28:16,800
The first rule.

709
00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:18,900
"Honesty and integrity
at all times," right?

710
00:28:18,900 --> 00:28:20,766
The next rule
that I wrote was 17,

711
00:28:20,766 --> 00:28:22,100
and I'm gonna get that
in a minute.

712
00:28:22,100 --> 00:28:23,600
I'll explain that
in a minute,

713
00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:27,733
but 16 kind of became
the backdrop of the talk,

714
00:28:27,733 --> 00:28:30,866
which was take the rearview
mirror test.

715
00:28:30,866 --> 00:28:33,533
Now, a lot of people would
instantly assume

716
00:28:33,533 --> 00:28:36,133
what that means is,
"Well, what did I do?

717
00:28:36,133 --> 00:28:37,933
And whatever is done
is done."

718
00:28:37,933 --> 00:28:39,133
Right?

719
00:28:39,133 --> 00:28:42,600
I would argue it is
180 off of that,

720
00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:45,300
and the way you do it is you
use the rearview mirror test

721
00:28:45,300 --> 00:28:47,666
as a predictive tool.

722
00:28:47,666 --> 00:28:49,733
Before you make a decision--
I talked about leaving

723
00:28:49,733 --> 00:28:51,433
the Air Force to go to NASA.

724
00:28:51,433 --> 00:28:54,700
I used 16, okay?

725
00:28:54,700 --> 00:28:57,366
To say, "All right,
don't think."

726
00:28:57,366 --> 00:29:00,166
Ask yourself,
"I now left the Air Force,

727
00:29:00,166 --> 00:29:02,833
I'm at six months or a year
into NASA.

728
00:29:02,833 --> 00:29:03,833
What do I think about it?"

729
00:29:03,833 --> 00:29:05,166
Just--don't think about it.

730
00:29:05,166 --> 00:29:07,400
What's your gut tell you?

731
00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:08,666
For me, I said,
"You know what?

732
00:29:08,666 --> 00:29:09,733
I'm good with it.

733
00:29:09,733 --> 00:29:11,033
I think it's gonna
work out fine."

734
00:29:11,033 --> 00:29:13,733
I hadn't even left
the Air Force yet.

735
00:29:13,733 --> 00:29:16,966
I think the key was that
you use it as a predictive test.

736
00:29:16,966 --> 00:29:20,200
If you go,
"Oh, God, I don't"--

737
00:29:20,200 --> 00:29:23,600
you better think twice about
making the decision.

738
00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:26,166
Use that tool
as a predictive tool.

739
00:29:26,166 --> 00:29:29,233
Not as one that discusses
your fate.

740
00:29:29,233 --> 00:29:30,466
Okay?

741
00:29:30,466 --> 00:29:32,966
I--it's very much to me
a prospective effort.

742
00:29:32,966 --> 00:29:34,966
It's not a--I don't look back.

743
00:29:34,966 --> 00:29:37,266
There's nothing I'd change.

744
00:29:37,266 --> 00:29:42,200
Almost 32 years, and I wouldn't
change a thing in my career.

745
00:29:42,200 --> 00:29:44,933
Not one minute.

746
00:29:44,933 --> 00:29:46,400
Now, would I say that some
of the days,

747
00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:48,433
particularly in center
operations, right, Steve?

748
00:29:48,433 --> 00:29:51,300
We could probably do without?

749
00:29:51,300 --> 00:29:52,900
But, you know what?
At the end of the day,

750
00:29:52,900 --> 00:29:54,333
I've never seen
organizations--

751
00:29:54,333 --> 00:29:56,600
whether it's in that one
or when I was working

752
00:29:56,600 --> 00:29:59,600
with Mike and David over in
safety mission assurance

753
00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:02,366
or when I was working in
procurement where Kelly is now,

754
00:30:02,366 --> 00:30:05,733
I--at the end of the day,
we worked through everything.

755
00:30:05,733 --> 00:30:08,000
We've never let the center down.

756
00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:10,166
Never let the agency down.

757
00:30:10,166 --> 00:30:14,333
Despite, you know, shrinking
budgets and the like.

758
00:30:14,333 --> 00:30:16,400
How could someone
not be thrilled

759
00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:17,800
to have had
the opportunity to work

760
00:30:17,800 --> 00:30:19,166
in that kind of environment?

761
00:30:19,166 --> 00:30:20,666
How could you not be?

762
00:30:20,666 --> 00:30:24,200
And then never mind--look at all
the technical successes

763
00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:25,766
and failures,

764
00:30:25,766 --> 00:30:27,333
and I'll look at how we learned
from that,

765
00:30:27,333 --> 00:30:29,333
so it's very, very cool,

766
00:30:29,333 --> 00:30:31,300
so use the rearview mirror test.

767
00:30:31,300 --> 00:30:32,300
All right.

768
00:30:32,300 --> 00:30:34,466
The two in the picture there,

769
00:30:34,466 --> 00:30:35,900
they're the culprits that--

770
00:30:35,900 --> 00:30:39,200
well, they're now 22 and 25.

771
00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:41,466
They're the ones that use
this rule against me

772
00:30:41,466 --> 00:30:44,300
with the most force and effect
of anyone on the planet,

773
00:30:44,300 --> 00:30:46,266
so I'd say,
"What did you do that for?

774
00:30:46,266 --> 00:30:48,066
Da da da da da,"

775
00:30:48,066 --> 00:30:50,533
and they said,
"Dad, rule 17,"

776
00:30:50,533 --> 00:30:52,433
and they'd come up with some
eloquent rational,

777
00:30:52,433 --> 00:30:55,033
and I'd have to go,
"Can't argue with that.

778
00:30:55,033 --> 00:30:56,633
Can't argue with that,"

779
00:30:56,633 --> 00:31:00,133
because that's actually where
most great idea come from

780
00:31:00,133 --> 00:31:04,266
is by actually thinking in
a non-linear, non-standard way.

781
00:31:04,266 --> 00:31:05,966
I'm sure a lot of folks
probably consider me

782
00:31:05,966 --> 00:31:08,266
to be a very linear thinker.

783
00:31:08,266 --> 00:31:12,066
I can assure you it's very much
not that way.

784
00:31:12,066 --> 00:31:14,766
I prefer actually to think
about the wackiest stuff,

785
00:31:14,766 --> 00:31:19,100
and even if it's the old bridge
too far, bring it back in.

786
00:31:19,100 --> 00:31:20,633
Bring it back in.

787
00:31:20,633 --> 00:31:23,800
Use that tool because it's--
that is how we actually solve

788
00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:26,233
most things is through
this particular tool,

789
00:31:26,233 --> 00:31:28,933
and that's why
it got created second.

790
00:31:28,933 --> 00:31:31,400
Okay?

791
00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:32,666
All right.

792
00:31:32,666 --> 00:31:37,366
At the end of the day--
this is the last one, okay?

793
00:31:37,366 --> 00:31:38,866
At the end of the day,
as I said,

794
00:31:38,866 --> 00:31:40,966
I've mentioned a little bit
about team in this talk

795
00:31:40,966 --> 00:31:42,766
and my viewpoints.

796
00:31:42,766 --> 00:31:46,666
Trust me,
it isn't what you know--

797
00:31:46,666 --> 00:31:48,233
oh, yeah it is, actually.

798
00:31:48,233 --> 00:31:50,700
You better be a respected
subject matter expert--

799
00:31:50,700 --> 00:31:51,900
Discipline expert.

800
00:31:51,900 --> 00:31:55,133
Or a person who
can collect those positions

801
00:31:55,133 --> 00:31:57,900
and use them in the team,

802
00:31:57,900 --> 00:32:00,866
but at the end of the day,
it's, you know,

803
00:32:00,866 --> 00:32:02,266
those--it's who you know,

804
00:32:02,266 --> 00:32:04,833
and it's kind of said
despairingly.

805
00:32:04,833 --> 00:32:06,866
I argue it's very positive.

806
00:32:06,866 --> 00:32:08,166
Why?

807
00:32:08,166 --> 00:32:11,866
Because with great
and strong relationships

808
00:32:11,866 --> 00:32:14,566
comes credibility,

809
00:32:14,566 --> 00:32:17,266
and believe me, I've been
in more than one situation

810
00:32:17,266 --> 00:32:20,600
where my job brought
an issue to it

811
00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:22,600
that...

812
00:32:22,600 --> 00:32:25,633
I have no idea how it happened
or why it happened

813
00:32:25,633 --> 00:32:27,200
or even what we're gonna
do about it yet,

814
00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:28,366
and the phone would ring.

815
00:32:28,366 --> 00:32:29,900
It would be NASA headquarters
or whatever,

816
00:32:29,900 --> 00:32:31,200
"Ah da da da da da da,"

817
00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:32,433
and you know what?

818
00:32:32,433 --> 00:32:34,366
We'd be able to just sit
and talk, and they said,

819
00:32:34,366 --> 00:32:38,033
"You know,
we know you'll work it,"

820
00:32:38,033 --> 00:32:39,766
and then the phone
would hang up,

821
00:32:39,766 --> 00:32:41,033
and that'd be it.

822
00:32:41,033 --> 00:32:42,100
Never hear from them again.

823
00:32:42,100 --> 00:32:43,266
Why?

824
00:32:43,266 --> 00:32:44,900
Because then the relationships
locally kick in,

825
00:32:44,900 --> 00:32:46,200
and we'd just sit down
and we'd work it,

826
00:32:46,200 --> 00:32:48,400
then we close the loop

827
00:32:48,400 --> 00:32:49,766
that we took care of it,

828
00:32:49,766 --> 00:32:51,233
and off you go,

829
00:32:51,233 --> 00:32:55,533
but most of it's done because
people actually know you,

830
00:32:55,533 --> 00:32:58,266
trust you, okay?

831
00:32:58,266 --> 00:32:59,666
That, you know,
who are you?

832
00:32:59,666 --> 00:33:01,433
What do you stand for?

833
00:33:01,433 --> 00:33:02,733
Okay?

834
00:33:02,733 --> 00:33:07,666
Well, this has been my little
collection of rules,

835
00:33:07,666 --> 00:33:11,666
but let me say there is some
enveloping of that,

836
00:33:11,666 --> 00:33:15,200
and that's what the little
fine print is about, okay?

837
00:33:15,200 --> 00:33:19,400
The--my own words
about rule one,

838
00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:21,133
there's no deviation, right?

839
00:33:21,133 --> 00:33:22,966
It applies, okay?

840
00:33:22,966 --> 00:33:25,666
And by the way, once you go
down the slope,

841
00:33:25,666 --> 00:33:26,766
you're...

842
00:33:26,766 --> 00:33:28,866
may or may not be able
to get back,

843
00:33:28,866 --> 00:33:32,800
and, so keep that in mind.

844
00:33:32,800 --> 00:33:35,500
The crosscutting principles.

845
00:33:35,500 --> 00:33:38,500
This was also something
that kind of came to mind

846
00:33:38,500 --> 00:33:41,766
as a result of kids,
for those that have them.

847
00:33:41,766 --> 00:33:44,700
When they start getting older,
especially,

848
00:33:44,700 --> 00:33:46,500
"Where's the--
could I have a few bucks

849
00:33:46,500 --> 00:33:48,733
and where are the car keys?"

850
00:33:48,733 --> 00:33:51,866
You know, we always had
an expression, Beth and I did,

851
00:33:51,866 --> 00:33:54,733
we said, "Have fun.
Be safe."

852
00:33:54,733 --> 00:33:55,733
Right?

853
00:33:55,733 --> 00:33:57,100
"Make good decisions,"
right?

854
00:33:57,100 --> 00:33:58,333
That kind of thing.

855
00:33:58,333 --> 00:34:01,166
The last two is we expected them
to ask themselves

856
00:34:01,166 --> 00:34:02,166
those two questions:

857
00:34:02,166 --> 00:34:03,366
"Are you going to be safe?

858
00:34:03,366 --> 00:34:04,766
"And are the people around you
going to be?"

859
00:34:04,766 --> 00:34:06,100
Okay?

860
00:34:06,100 --> 00:34:10,066
So, I mean, that's kind of
what surrounds them.

861
00:34:10,066 --> 00:34:11,066
Okay?

862
00:34:11,066 --> 00:34:13,966
All right, last area.

863
00:34:13,966 --> 00:34:16,233
A few tidbits to sum up.

864
00:34:16,233 --> 00:34:18,200
I don't even know
how I'm doing on time.

865
00:34:18,200 --> 00:34:21,633
All right.

866
00:34:21,633 --> 00:34:23,100
Do become an expert.

867
00:34:23,100 --> 00:34:26,100
In whatever your chosen field
is, it matters not.

868
00:34:26,100 --> 00:34:28,333
Get noticed
by delivering product,

869
00:34:28,333 --> 00:34:29,833
by taking on more
responsibility

870
00:34:29,833 --> 00:34:31,100
than your pay grade.

871
00:34:31,100 --> 00:34:34,166
Welcome to the U.S. government,
by the way.

872
00:34:34,166 --> 00:34:36,900
Each position does offer new
opportunities.

873
00:34:36,900 --> 00:34:38,633
Seize them.

874
00:34:38,633 --> 00:34:40,233
They're yours to lose.

875
00:34:40,233 --> 00:34:41,333
Right?

876
00:34:41,333 --> 00:34:44,166
I took that one
from Lou Braxton,

877
00:34:44,166 --> 00:34:46,166
my old boss in Center Ops.

878
00:34:46,166 --> 00:34:48,400
He and I were awesome together.

879
00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:50,100
Being willing to move.

880
00:34:50,100 --> 00:34:54,200
Beth had to tolerate
the game of Pong.

881
00:34:54,200 --> 00:34:56,333
I've been to Washington, D.C.
and LA.

882
00:34:56,333 --> 00:34:58,066
Got--

883
00:34:58,066 --> 00:34:59,600
brought to Washington, D.C.

884
00:34:59,600 --> 00:35:00,800
Ames brought me back.

885
00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:02,400
Headquarters tried to get me
back again.

886
00:35:02,400 --> 00:35:04,000
Beth said,
"No way am I staying."

887
00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:05,000
Just kidding.

888
00:35:05,000 --> 00:35:07,300
No, she was right,
by the way.

889
00:35:07,300 --> 00:35:09,200
Awesome job opp--
awesome opportunity,

890
00:35:09,200 --> 00:35:11,500
but what did is open the door
to the Center Operations world

891
00:35:11,500 --> 00:35:12,566
when I came back.

892
00:35:12,566 --> 00:35:15,066
Everything does work out
for a reason.

893
00:35:15,066 --> 00:35:17,033
Take a chance.

894
00:35:17,033 --> 00:35:20,266
Always, always, always
watch each other's backs.

895
00:35:20,266 --> 00:35:21,700
Okay?

896
00:35:21,700 --> 00:35:25,600
Okay, that's what we're here
to do at the end of the day.

897
00:35:25,600 --> 00:35:26,833
Share what you've learned.

898
00:35:26,833 --> 00:35:28,600
Last thing I'm gonna--
last story I'll share

899
00:35:28,600 --> 00:35:31,066
before I get off the stage.

900
00:35:31,066 --> 00:35:33,533
I've been for the last six years
doing volunteer work

901
00:35:33,533 --> 00:35:37,033
in a little rural town called
Emmett, Idaho.

902
00:35:37,033 --> 00:35:39,800
The SESs at the center go out
and do volunteer work.

903
00:35:39,800 --> 00:35:42,866
We have--I've been with
that school almost six years.

904
00:35:42,866 --> 00:35:45,966
Mike Lou goes with me
on those trips,

905
00:35:45,966 --> 00:35:47,600
as does Brian Smith,

906
00:35:47,600 --> 00:35:51,766
where we work with K through 12,
and I'll tell you

907
00:35:51,766 --> 00:35:54,233
you've never seen a community
more grateful,

908
00:35:54,233 --> 00:35:57,066
so remember that "give more
than you take" kind of thing?

909
00:35:57,066 --> 00:35:59,766
Believe me, they're--
I'm taking from them.

910
00:35:59,766 --> 00:36:01,433
Based on the experience
and the exposure

911
00:36:01,433 --> 00:36:02,633
and the commitment.

912
00:36:02,633 --> 00:36:05,000
When you have 414 students
in a classroom,

913
00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:08,266
and 598 come to family night,

914
00:36:08,266 --> 00:36:11,500
what does that tell you about
a little 6,000-person city?

915
00:36:11,500 --> 00:36:13,033
Little town.

916
00:36:13,033 --> 00:36:14,500
Don't tell me
they don't have it great

917
00:36:14,500 --> 00:36:16,033
out in the little areas
in this country.

918
00:36:16,033 --> 00:36:17,066
They do.

919
00:36:17,066 --> 00:36:18,833
They do,
and they should be applauded.

920
00:36:18,833 --> 00:36:20,733
Last--I'll close with this.

921
00:36:20,733 --> 00:36:23,433
Always, always, always
tell the truth.

922
00:36:23,433 --> 00:36:26,566
No matter how ugly.

923
00:36:26,566 --> 00:36:30,666
Even if I screw up completely,
I will stand up and say it.

924
00:36:30,666 --> 00:36:32,300
Do the same.

925
00:36:32,300 --> 00:36:35,833
With that, I'd like the thank
Jacob for the opportunity

926
00:36:35,833 --> 00:36:38,066
and for all of you
for joining me today,

927
00:36:38,066 --> 00:36:39,600
and I'd be happy to take
any questions.

928
00:36:39,600 --> 00:36:40,933
Thank you.

929
00:36:40,933 --> 00:36:43,933
[applause]

930
00:36:46,600 --> 00:36:49,066
- So, if you have any questions,
please line up in the aisle,

931
00:36:49,066 --> 00:36:51,366
and we'll take your question.

932
00:36:55,166 --> 00:36:58,000
So, while we wait for somebody
to get up and have a question,

933
00:36:58,000 --> 00:36:59,866
I will ask you a question.

934
00:36:59,866 --> 00:37:02,200
So, one of the things
that I have in my career

935
00:37:02,200 --> 00:37:07,366
is looking at the balance of
deciding when to stick it out

936
00:37:07,366 --> 00:37:10,433
in that position,
and when to move forward

937
00:37:10,433 --> 00:37:12,633
to an outside location.

938
00:37:12,633 --> 00:37:15,600
What I saw in your career
is this back and forth

939
00:37:15,600 --> 00:37:18,066
from California to Washington,

940
00:37:18,066 --> 00:37:20,533
which in my career so far
I did once, right?

941
00:37:20,533 --> 00:37:23,633
Going California, Washington,
back, and so on.

942
00:37:23,633 --> 00:37:28,666
In each particular position,
did the opportunity come first?

943
00:37:28,666 --> 00:37:30,833
Or were you searching
for something

944
00:37:30,833 --> 00:37:34,400
as you were looking at it
through your career?

945
00:37:34,400 --> 00:37:37,000
- To be--to be blunt, my dad
had another expression,

946
00:37:37,000 --> 00:37:40,533
"Be sought after because looking
is really hard."

947
00:37:40,533 --> 00:37:41,800
Trust me, he's right.

948
00:37:41,800 --> 00:37:44,066
I explained how, up front,
it took me a long time

949
00:37:44,066 --> 00:37:49,033
to actually weasel my way
into the aerospace business.

950
00:37:49,033 --> 00:37:50,566
I was very fortunate, Jacob.

951
00:37:50,566 --> 00:37:53,700
I haven't looked for a job
since I got hired,

952
00:37:53,700 --> 00:37:56,600
and the phone would ring,
like the Air Force called,

953
00:37:56,600 --> 00:37:59,066
and all of a sudden NASA
calls me at the Air Force,

954
00:37:59,066 --> 00:38:01,633
and then I'm out here,
and then out here calls NASA,

955
00:38:01,633 --> 00:38:03,066
if I come out to a center,

956
00:38:03,066 --> 00:38:06,966
so the flipping of center
and headquarters experience

957
00:38:06,966 --> 00:38:09,866
has been intensely valuable,
but it's really been at the--

958
00:38:09,866 --> 00:38:11,433
at the behest of others.

959
00:38:11,433 --> 00:38:13,200
I can take no credit for that.

960
00:38:13,200 --> 00:38:15,333
They--they've taken a chance
on me,

961
00:38:15,333 --> 00:38:17,100
so I can't thank all of them
enough.

962
00:38:17,100 --> 00:38:19,933
Tom Litkey in particular
in D.C.,

963
00:38:19,933 --> 00:38:21,700
and there are many,
many others.

964
00:38:24,000 --> 00:38:26,433
- Going back to your first rule.

965
00:38:26,433 --> 00:38:28,666
I imagine people will find
themselves in a situation

966
00:38:28,666 --> 00:38:30,800
whether they're working
in a NASA center,

967
00:38:30,800 --> 00:38:35,533
Air Force, private industry,
where leadership is perhaps

968
00:38:35,533 --> 00:38:37,233
trying to lead them astray.

969
00:38:37,233 --> 00:38:39,166
Whether it be, you know,
a center manager,

970
00:38:39,166 --> 00:38:42,333
a general, a CEO,

971
00:38:42,333 --> 00:38:45,633
and what would you advise
somebody to do

972
00:38:45,633 --> 00:38:48,133
when they're--when rule
number one tells them

973
00:38:48,133 --> 00:38:51,733
to go one direction,
and their leadership tells them

974
00:38:51,733 --> 00:38:53,766
to go in a different one,
and the consequences

975
00:38:53,766 --> 00:38:55,066
can be dire.

976
00:38:55,066 --> 00:38:57,666
So, what would you say
to somebody in that state--

977
00:38:57,666 --> 00:38:59,133
situation?

978
00:38:59,133 --> 00:39:01,500
- Well, a pretty easy answer
for me.

979
00:39:01,500 --> 00:39:02,933
I remember delivering a paper.

980
00:39:02,933 --> 00:39:05,066
We got called at
5:00 on a Wednesday.

981
00:39:05,066 --> 00:39:07,033
Sam Nunn and
the Center of Armed Services

982
00:39:07,033 --> 00:39:12,833
wanted to have our associate
or deputy secretary of defense

983
00:39:12,833 --> 00:39:14,733
to come testify
and do class control

984
00:39:14,733 --> 00:39:16,533
the next morning at 10:00,

985
00:39:16,533 --> 00:39:19,733
so at 2:00 in the morning
I'm delivering a paper

986
00:39:19,733 --> 00:39:21,466
to him on one aspect of that,

987
00:39:21,466 --> 00:39:23,866
and he looks at it,
throws it down on his desk,

988
00:39:23,866 --> 00:39:26,066
says, "Get out of here.
This is terrible."

989
00:39:26,066 --> 00:39:29,333
You know, and, you know,
what I did is came back

990
00:39:29,333 --> 00:39:31,600
in another hour, and he said,
"Where was this an hour ago?"

991
00:39:31,600 --> 00:39:33,700
And this guy was amazing.

992
00:39:33,700 --> 00:39:35,000
Probably the most brilliant man.

993
00:39:35,000 --> 00:39:36,500
This is John Slinkard.
General John Slinkard.

994
00:39:36,500 --> 00:39:38,366
Major General,

995
00:39:38,366 --> 00:39:41,466
and, but what he also long
always said was,

996
00:39:41,466 --> 00:39:44,800
"I pay you to think."

997
00:39:44,800 --> 00:39:46,766
That was the essence
of that story in the paper.

998
00:39:46,766 --> 00:39:48,300
"Where was this an hour ago?

999
00:39:48,300 --> 00:39:49,866
I pay you to think."

1000
00:39:49,866 --> 00:39:52,300
So, two rules on that:

1001
00:39:52,300 --> 00:39:53,300
think.

1002
00:39:53,300 --> 00:39:54,466
Okay?

1003
00:39:54,466 --> 00:39:58,833
But then how you deliver
your dissenting view.

1004
00:39:58,833 --> 00:40:00,266
Many of you who work with me
know that

1005
00:40:00,266 --> 00:40:03,300
that is also absolutely vital
to me.

1006
00:40:03,300 --> 00:40:05,233
You can disagree with me
until the cow comes home.

1007
00:40:05,233 --> 00:40:06,900
Doesn't bother me at all.

1008
00:40:06,900 --> 00:40:08,666
Now, assume it starts getting
all emotional

1009
00:40:08,666 --> 00:40:11,100
or it starts getting,
you know, whatever.

1010
00:40:11,100 --> 00:40:12,633
That's gonna be hard for me
to react to.

1011
00:40:12,633 --> 00:40:14,100
Okay?

1012
00:40:14,100 --> 00:40:16,433
But on the other side, I think
the key is that people need--

1013
00:40:16,433 --> 00:40:19,766
if they can deliver a cogent,
you know, reasonable--

1014
00:40:19,766 --> 00:40:21,500
sometimes you have to wait
a little bit.

1015
00:40:21,500 --> 00:40:22,633
You don't corner--

1016
00:40:22,633 --> 00:40:25,766
you tend not to poke at
a wounded animal, right?

1017
00:40:25,766 --> 00:40:27,933
I mean, you know,
you got to be smart

1018
00:40:27,933 --> 00:40:30,533
about how you deal with
your dissent,

1019
00:40:30,533 --> 00:40:33,400
but I have no--there's nothing
I have less respect for

1020
00:40:33,400 --> 00:40:35,833
than the people who do not have
the guts to dissent

1021
00:40:35,833 --> 00:40:38,633
when they know they should.

1022
00:40:38,633 --> 00:40:40,666
When they know they should,

1023
00:40:40,666 --> 00:40:43,433
but how you do it matters a lot.

1024
00:40:43,433 --> 00:40:44,433
Okay?

1025
00:40:44,433 --> 00:40:45,733
So, I--please.

1026
00:40:45,733 --> 00:40:46,733
We're humans.

1027
00:40:46,733 --> 00:40:48,400
We're smart people.

1028
00:40:48,400 --> 00:40:50,466
If you have an opinion that--
especially if you think

1029
00:40:50,466 --> 00:40:52,700
something's wrong,
and you don't speak up,

1030
00:40:52,700 --> 00:40:55,300
all you have to do is read
the CAIB report

1031
00:40:55,300 --> 00:40:58,400
on the lost "Columbia" or on
the lost "Challenger,"

1032
00:40:58,400 --> 00:41:02,000
and you'll see exactly what
not speaking up will get you.

1033
00:41:02,000 --> 00:41:04,233
Probab--possible loss of life.

1034
00:41:04,233 --> 00:41:05,400
Let alone loss of mission,

1035
00:41:05,400 --> 00:41:07,700
so speak up,

1036
00:41:07,700 --> 00:41:10,133
but do it in a respectful,
thoughtful,

1037
00:41:10,133 --> 00:41:13,533
well-timed,
proper environmental way.

1038
00:41:13,533 --> 00:41:14,533
Okay.

1039
00:41:14,533 --> 00:41:15,533
Jacob.

1040
00:41:15,533 --> 00:41:16,833
Any other questions?

1041
00:41:16,833 --> 00:41:19,933
Otherwise I would like to thank
all of you for coming,

1042
00:41:19,933 --> 00:41:24,600
and for letting one guy share
his view of life, a career,

1043
00:41:24,600 --> 00:41:28,200
against a bunch of guidelines
with one really hard rule.

1044
00:41:28,200 --> 00:41:29,433
Thanks a lot.

1045
00:41:29,433 --> 00:41:32,433
[applause]