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FALL 2020
AN APOLLO ASTRONAUT
MADE ME DINNER
Why Character is
Essential in Leadership
ciLive! Remembers
Al Worden, 1932–2020
RETURNING TO A SOURCE OF DELIGHT:
A Talk About Brand Loyalty
WHY WOMEN ARE EXCLUDED FROM POWER:
Lessons From Cleopatra, Nefertiti,
and Other Egyptian Queens
HOBBY TO HERO: www.ci.Live
How I Built A Career From Scratch COVER PHOTO: AL IN THE COCKPIT
OF HIS T-38. (PHOTO CREDIT: NASA)
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7 | AN APOLLO ASTRONAUT
MADE ME DINNER
Why Character is Essential in Leadership
BY DR. ANTHONY PAUSTIAN
13 | RETURNING TO A SOURCE
OF DELIGHT:
A Talk About Brand Loyalty
BY KEN SCHMIDT
22 | WHY WOMEN ARE EXCLUDED
FROM POWER:
Lessons from Cleopatra, Nefertiti, and
other Egyptian Queens
BY DR. KARA COONEY
31 | HOBBY TO HERO:
CELEBRATE! INNOVATION MAGAZINE
IS PUBLISHED BIANNUALLY
BY DES MOINES AREA COMMUNITY
How I Built A Career From Scratch
COLLEGE WEST DES MOINES CAMPUS.
BY NICK OVERTON
FOR ADVERTISING/CONTENT INQUIRIES, CONTACT:
DR. ANTHONY PAUSTIAN
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CONTRIBUTORS:
PUBLISHER: ANTHONY D. PAUSTIAN, PH.D.
CO-EDITOR: BETH BAKER-BRODERSEN
CO-EDITOR: JASON BRANDT SCHAEFER
DESIGNER/PRODUCTION: AMINA MIRAJ ALI
ALL PHOTOGRAPHY IS USED WITH PERMISSION.
COPYRIGHT 2020
DES MOINES AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) shall not engage in nor allow discrimination
covered by law against any person, group or organization. This includes in its programs, activities,
employment practices, hiring practices or the provision of services. The full
DMACC Nondiscrimination policy is available online at https://nd.dmacc.edu. 13451-1200-11-20
4 | ciMagazine
EDITOR’S NOTE
When I was an impressionable young music student at the University of North Texas,
my greatest obsession was learning how only added more disciplines to it, and I am past to identify opportunities for change.
to be the best saxophonist. Not better; better for it. Writing to me now includes Pursue your passions, but keep your
the best. Because I was told only the best lyrics, performance now embraces reading options open. Make informed decisions,
in the industry thrive. Only the best leave my work before an audience, and business- and remember that what potential fans
a legacy. Only the best succeed. And ownership now drives my artistic practices. and customers crave is the same as what
long after I’d switched majors to creative you want: joy. Live for joy, and you’ll never
writing, I still believed it. To my eye, the authors in this issue have go wrong.
all lived similar stories. Egyptologist Dr.
Criticism has always been hard for me, Kara Cooney is a cofn specialist, but she I, for one, am joyous for the new
not because I’m an unyielding believer in writes captivating monographs on ancient, opportunity to introduce you to these
everything I think and make and do, but powerful women to shake the cage of the brilliant minds. I hope they inspire you
because I’m my own worst critic. In my modern patriarchy. Ken Schmidt, former to trust in possibility, just as they have
head, I carry the stinging words of every Director of Communications for Harley- inspired me.
naysayer in my life—worried parents, Davidson Motor Company, now delivers
doubtful siblings, jealous friends, ambitious his business wisdom as a public speaker
competitors, even trusted advisors—and to on brand development. Professional
this day, before I can invite in any feedback, gamer and content-creator Nick Overton
I must frst silence the ghostly voices of the efectively monetized his obsession with JASON BRANDT SCHAEFER, CO-EDITOR
fears that haunt me as a professional writer. winning video games into a custom career JASON@EMPATHICEDITORS.COM
that earns half a million dollars a year. And
In the 13 years since my graduation, I’ve author Dr. Tony Paustian shares a personal
learned these voices will always be with lesson from the late Apollo 15 Astronaut Al
me, but also that they’re fgments as false Worden—that simple virtues like resilience
as an overblown ego. Who’s the best is up and generosity can send you to the stars.
for argument, and legacies, sadly, are often
won by the worst. Success is measured by Build from what you love, strive for
what you make of your life, by how well you constant reinvention, and understand that
feed what captivates you, and the search money isn’t necessarily success. That’s
for it is perpetual. I never gave up music; I what these authors advise. Examine the
FALL 2020 | 5
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AL WORDEN. PHOTO CREDIT: MARK USIACK
AN APOLLO
ASTRONAUT
MADE ME DINNER
BY DR. ANTHONY PAUSTIAN
Why Character is Essential in Leadership
In March, we lost an Apollo astronaut, a beloved member of the space community, and in my
own case, a personal friend––Al Worden, the Command Module Pilot for Apollo 15.To those
who knew him, his passing may have come as a bit of a shock, especially in light of his outgoing
personality and unlimited energy despite his advanced age.
This article frst appeared in adAstra for the National Space Society
FALL 2020 | 7
AL STANDING IN FRONT OF HIS MISSION
SIGNING BOOKS AT SPACEFEST 2018. PHOTO CREDIT: MELISSA HOLSMAN IMAGE AT JOHNSON SPACE CENTER.
PHOTO CREDIT: ANTHONY PAUSTIAN
Al and I became close later in his life. to make and serve me dinner, let alone question whether we’ve lost sight of
While visiting him last fall at his home in treating an ordinary guy as an equal. Some character. Thousands of books have been
Houston, I assumed we would simply do say a person’s true character reveals itself written on leadership style, but few have
what we always did—talk space, but also when no one is watching. One’s character been written on character. This may be
discuss family and politics, while eating can inspire or discourage others as well because character is difcult to defne, is
out for every meal, as was our routine. as infuence how someone interprets and seen as old-fashioned, or there’s no clear
This trip was diferent. While we did dine shapes the world around them. Al Worden consensus on what it is or how to assess
at restaurants, Al decided he wanted to inspired many because he genuinely it objectively. Words like authentic and
make dinner. Despite my telling him it transparent are frequently tossed around
wasn’t necessary, he was determined, and as desired leadership qualities, but are they
there was no altering his trajectory once
One’s character can inspire actually qualities, or the result of a leader
it was set. While he prepared the lavish or discourage others as well simply behaving in a manner consistent
spread of steak, potatoes, asparagus, and as infuence how someone with their character?
dessert, I could only watch as he wanted
absolutely no help. At that moment, I
interprets and shapes the Some have defned character as the
realized here was one of my personal world around them. sum total of an individual’s personality
heroes, a global celebrity, and one of only traits and values. However, there are
a handful of people to travel to another believed in people and was willing to freely limitless possible personality traits, and
heavenly body, making and serving a help whenever asked, and often even values are often based on a personal set
common guest dinner. That one simple when he wasn’t. of beliefs that can vary widely. Take the
act completely summed up Al’s character. concept of quality as an example. Most
While I’ve gotten to know many important However, when observing the behavior would agree that having good quality
people and celebrities over the years, of some of today’s leaders in both the is an essential value in the context of
I can’t see any of them taking the time public and private sectors, it’s easy to producing and purchasing things, yet
8 | ciMagazine
the degree of quality for anything rests
with the perception of the person doing
the evaluating. This perception is formed
through an assessment of the objective
qualities specifc to the product in
question—the separate elements, features,
points of comparison, or components—
that help to set it apart.
On the other hand, the thing in question
also has subjective qualities—softness,
roughness, ft, favor, and others—that
aren’t specifc to either the object itself
or its observer. These qualities come as
a result of the interaction between the
thing, the observer, and the environment
surrounding them. The diference then
between objective and subjective qualities
is that the former is based on a sense of
measurement while the latter is based on
feeling or emotion.
It’s this sense of feeling that creates
the perception of quality: a sense of
attractiveness, excellence, superiority,
AL TRAINING FOR HIS APOLLO 15 LUNAR FLIGHT. PHOTO CREDIT: NASA
and worthiness—attributes that are very
difcult to observe or quantify, but much
easier to have a gut feeling about. Thus, While the list is long, I believe character 2. GENEROSITY: Generous leaders are
the value of quality is associated with a is primarily perceived through these fve grateful, and realize their success is
thing insofar as it is perceived to be an behavioral habits: often due in large part because of what
instrument for achieving some goal others have given to them. They freely
or objective. 1. AUTHENTICITY: Authentic leaders give to both people and causes without
are genuine, and lead with both their expectations because they hope for a
People are not things, but the quality of hearts and minds. They walk the talk better world. They live by example,
one’s character is often determined in the regardless of the role they’re serving don’t ask for anything in return, and
same manner. Whether through regular and inspire respect through their truly care and work to enhance the
observation or a single interaction, people actions, not just their words. They don’t well-being of others.
will assess another’s character based on need the spotlight and are happy to cast
their perception of that person’s qualities, it onto others. They are open-minded, 3. TRUSTWORTHINESS: Trustworthy
and that perception is often based on approachable, and often vulnerable. leaders are honest and transparent,
a number of behavioral habits—actions They are aware of their strengths, possess personal integrity, and people
exhibited on a fairly consistent basis. limitations, and emotions, don’t profess are naturally drawn to them. Their
Habitual behavior is developed over to be something they’re not, and behavior is consistent and they provide
time and is therefore a good unapologetically do what they believe constant support. While they naturally
representation of character. is right. see the best in other people, they are
also willing to “tell it like it is.”
FALL 2020 | 9
DR. ANTHONY PAUSTIAN IS
THE PROVOST OF THE DMACC
WEST DES MOINES CAMPUS
AND THE AWARD-WINNING
AUTHOR OF FOUR BOOKS.
HIS MOST RECENT BOOK, A
QUARTER MILLION STEPS, HAS
WON SEVEN INTERNATIONAL
AND NATIONAL LITERARY
AWARDS FOR BEST BOOK
IN THE AREAS OF BUSINESS,
LEADERSHIP, MANAGEMENT,
MOTIVATION, SUCCESS, AND
COACHING. DR. PAUSTIAN
IS THE CHAIR FOR THE 2021
INTERNATIONAL SPACE
DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
AND A REGULAR CONTRIBUTOR
FOR ADASTRA, THE JOURNAL
OF THE NATIONAL SPACE
SOCIETY (NSS).
DMACC.EDU/WEST
QUARTERMILLIONSTEPS.COM
©
2020 ANTHONY PAUSTIAN. USED WITH PERMISSION.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
AL SPEAKING TO A GROUP OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN IOWA. PHOTO CREDIT: ANTHONY PAUSTIAN
4. HUMILITY: Humble leaders are secure Some say a person’s true He was never concerned about what
in themselves regardless of their people thought of him. While many with
character reveals itself when
popularity and wealth. They are able his celebrity status work hard to put on a
to put aside their egos, recognize their no one is watching. One’s great show and create a perception of how
weaknesses, and seek and acknowledge character can inspire or they want people to see them, Al exhibited
the input and ideas of others. They are an authentic care and concern for others,
discourage others, as well
service-oriented and frequently put which is why he was adored by so many.
others before themselves. In the words as infuence how someone In the long term, you can’t hide your heart,
of Ken Blanchard, the author of The One interprets and shapes the good or bad, and his was good.
Minute Manager, “People with humility
do not think less of themselves; they just
world around them. Everywhere Al Worden went, he left
think about themselves less.” a lasting, positive impression. He was
astronaut, a global celebrity, and a national exceptionally generous, especially with the
5 RESILIENCE: Resilient leaders see hero. Al’s character was developed through one commodity he had the least of: time.
failure as temporary setbacks. They have his many life experiences and interactions He approached life with a thoughtful yet
grit, remain positive despite adversity with people. laid-back, almost poetic, mindset. Whether
or negative outcomes, and fnd ways it was meeting the world’s wealthiest
to move forward. They are unyielding His character was always on display people, the leaders of nations, famous rock
in the face of hardship and lean on regardless of whether anyone was stars, or a few wide-eyed third-graders, Al
their relationships with others when watching. Whether it was taking the time would frequently respond, “No big deal.
necessary to overcome obstacles. to speak to groups of children, presenting There are no strangers in this world, only
to civic and community groups, having friends I haven’t met yet.” r
No one is perfect, and developing lunch with strangers at a fast-food
character is a lifelong journey. For 88 years, restaurant, or interacting with people on
Al Worden lived a life most of us only social media, Al made everyone feel like he
dream about. He was a graduate of West was their best friend.
Point, an Air Force test pilot, an Apollo
10 | ciMagazineDMACC URBAN CAMPUS
NEW STUDENT CENTER
SUMMER 2021
COMING
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#DSMUSAWOULD YOU WANT YOUR BUSINESS’S CUSTOMERS TO BE LOYAL TO YOUR PRODUCTS OR TO YOUR BUSINESS?
PHOTOS USED WITH PERMISSION.
RETURNING TO A
SOURCE OF DELIGHT:
BY KEN SCHMIDT
A Talk About Brand Loyalty
QUICK: Think of something you love—maybe your phone, your car, your favorite food—then
imagine what it would take to convince you to have the logo of the corporation behind that thing
tattooed onto your body for the world to see for the rest of your life. Who’d do that? Not me. I love
KFC Extra Crispy, but there’s not enough money or booze in the world to have The Colonel inked
onto my skin.
FALL 2020 | 13and make excuses when their customers
take their dollars elsewhere. But you’re
never going to say stuf like that.
In the two decades that have passed
since I left the greatest job in the world
to discover even greater opportunities
advising business leaders and delivering
speeches around the globe, I’ve found a
few common threads that fow through
just about any company of any size.
Foremost among them is the very wrong
belief that their product (or service or
whatever it is they do) is key to their
competitive advantage. “If we have a
great product, price it attractively, back it
and continuously improve it, the market
will prefer us to our competitors.” Sounds
reasonable, right?
To those people, I ofer a little self-
IMAGINE ADMIRING A BUSINESS SO MUCH THAT YOU HAD ITS LOGO PERMANENTLY INKED ONTO YOUR SKIN.
invented axiom, six words long, and easy
to remember and repeat: Live by product,
die by product. Or substitute “service” if
But keep an eye out this weekend, and I Live by product, die by appropriate. (Lock “Remember and Repeat”
promise, if you happen upon any Harley- into your memory bank. If you tell people
Davidson riders, you’re going to see Harley
product. Or substitute things they can’t remember and tell others
logo tattoos. Whether or not you’ve paid “service” if appropriate. about, you didn’t tell them anything!)
attention, you’ve seen them your entire life.
There’s no corporate symbol in the world testaments to their loyalty to the people It’s understandable that business
that’s been inked onto more bodies than behind their bikes—the organization that leaders embrace a product-above-all
Harley’s has, and nobody would be crazy designed, engineered, built, sold and ethic because, for most of them, that’s
enough to argue that isn’t true. Bet you services them and gives its customers what they have been taught. I think
can’t name another business that has even access to incredible lifestyle experiences it’s a hangover efect from business
one logo-tattooed customer. all over the planet. They’re professing their philosophies embraced back in the 1980s
loyalty to Harley-Davidson Motor Company. and ‘90s, when seemingly every business
I’ve heard it said thousands of times that was focused on quality and efciency.
those tattoos are the most profound The mistaken belief that businesses can Whoever had the best stuf routinely made
symbols of brand loyalty in the world. I somehow make customers loyal to the the most money and had the highest
even said it myself countless times during stuf they produce and/or sell shines a market share.
my working years at Harley-Davidson, bright light on one of the biggest problems
especially when I was talking with potential bedeviling the business world, where you The world has changed and opened a lot
investors in the business. But here’s the work or soon will. The problem: People since then, though, and businesses were
thing I wish I’d learned before I’d said it: don’t understand what loyalty is. Which is quick to pounce on globalization, which
My aim was of. I’ve come to discover that why they struggle to keep their customers created new supply chains that made their
those tattoos aren’t testaments to their and other important publics loyal. Which is oferings better while making them faster,
owners’ loyalty to their beloved bikes, why they say things like, “Loyalty is dead,” cheaper, and easier to produce and bring
as most folks naturally assume. They’re and “People only care about low prices,” to market. They weren’t so quick to notice
14 | ciMagazinethe impact this was having. An unfortunate Anytime I’m advising business leaders or you? Less—maybe way less—than $250.
dividend of globalization was the parity speaking somewhere, I always start by That’s nuts! Those things used to cost
it brought to markets. Within a few short ofering up a simple truth: “There’s nothing upward of a thousand bucks, now they’re
years, that “quality” businesses sought you can sell me that I can’t get from practically given away, and their prices
so feverishly became commonplace. someone else, probably for less money.” are typically just a few dollars diferent
Suppliers that couldn’t keep up with new Folks running businesses don’t like to hear brand-to-brand. If you went to your favorite
demand dynamics were replaced by that because it forces them to confront the big-box or electronics store to buy one, you
an almost endless supply of those that painful reality that, even though their pride know what you’d see before you got there:
consistently improved their oferings. made them believe they have “the best Rows of identical shiny, black rectangles
stuf,” and “the highest quality,” because with identical high-def images lighting up
Simply put, stuf got real good, real fast, their working cultures “have an iron-clad their screens. Your eyes and brain would
and quality became taken for granted in commitment to customer satisfaction,” in quickly deduce that all of the fatscreens
the marketplace. It got harder and harder truth the market sees no real diferences look identical and are very similarly priced.
for us as consumers to know who made between them and their competitors. Because they are. So which would you buy?
what. And we started to care less about
that because, as we learned through Here’s proof that illustrates my point Now think of the center bars on the base
personal experience, the stuf we were in an easy-to-visualize way and shows of the TVs where the producers’ logos are
buying was fully meeting our expectations. what nearly every business on Earth is up displayed. You know they’re there to tell
And, of course, it still is. The companies against and has allowed to endure. you something, or to trigger a memory
selling shoddy stuf and performing badly or message in your brain, right? Maybe
just … disappeared. Everybody’s good at Say you needed to buy a fat-screen TV, a an emotional connection. Something that
what they do now! nice 40-incher. What’s that going to cost says, “You know who we are and what
But here’s the thing: When it’s hard to
know the diferences between products
and their suppliers and customers assume
it’s “all the same,” bad things happen.
What do businesses do when faced with
a marketplace where buyers see parity
between suppliers? They lower their
prices. And that’s where things go from
bad to really bad because lowering prices
simply isn’t sustainable. Squeezed proft
margins mean businesses have less to
invest in their payrolls, to say nothing of
their research and development—the stuf
that drives innovation.
Then consider the impact of the
digitalization of everything—in particular,
how things are bought and sold—and
how that created dynamics in which we,
as buyers, can quickly assess options, fnd
whoever’s willing to sell us what we’re after
at the lowest price, hit the “buy” button
and await the brown box that shows
up two days later. Like clockwork. Who THE UNIQUE ROAR OF A HARLEY-DAVIDSON ENGINE HAS BEEN THE COMPANY’S CALLING CARD FOR NEARLY
doesn’t shop this way? 120 YEARS.
FALL 2020 | 15HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S EFFORTS TO BE A SOURCE OF CONTINUOUS DELIGHT FOR ITS CUSTOMERS RESULT IN UNMATCHED LOYALTY.
we stand for. This is the one you want.” At least you think you do. So you start to same as ERR? Is 120 a better number or
But all of the names tend to blur. You can study the spec tags or the display stickers worse? You can check every tag, and you’ll
probably name 10 without thinking— below each unit. The frst one you see has see nonsense like this. You’ll see it pretty
Samsung, Panasonic, Sharp, Vizio, Sanyo, language like “240 Efective Refresh Rate” much any time you shop for anything
Mitsubishi, JVC, Toshiba, Pioneer, LG—but as the primary message its producer wants you’re not deeply familiar with (like your
which stands out? Or which would you you to know. You have no idea what that laptop or health insurance). This is the
be embarrassed to own? They’re all means because you’ve never heard of it monkey-see, monkey-do glorifcation of
great products from household-name before. And what of that “240”? Is that a product that drives commoditization.
businesses. So you’re confdent you can good number?
choose any one of them and not go wrong, But guess what? There’s always one piece
which is true. Here’s the self-inficted problem this of data you do understand. And that’s the
creates for the manufacturers: What do price. Which is why the TV you buy today
As bad as this product parity is for the fat- we do, as buyers, any time a potential is the one that’s only a buck less than its
screen producers in the above scenario, supplier gives us terminology and data we closest competitor. And you’re going to
it’s about to get worse. Why? Because don’t understand? The answer’s easy: We be happy with what you bought, but you
you’re a consumer. Even at the great prices compare it to other suppliers’ terminology won’t tell anybody about it. It’s just an
on these TVs, you don’t want to just grab and data hoping to fnd something we do appliance that’s going to do precisely what
one at random and hope for the best; understand. The next TV’s tag says “120 it was designed to do. It’s a commodity.
you want to make an informed choice. Clear Motion Rate.” What? Is CMR the Quick: Can you name any industry or
16 | ciMagazinewww.ci.Live WATCH LIVE ON:
IT’S NOT THE DESTINATION, IT’S THE JOURNEY.
product category that isn’t commoditized But that’s fxable! youth, I’d always assumed this was a cultural
like the TVs with lookalike, similar stuf with thing we Harley riders did to announce our
only price as a diferentiator? (I can’t.) Understanding a few basic drivers of human presence and be diferent from the dorks
behavior can create incredible opportunities (sorry) on quiet bikes. Then one day, while
What does this have to do with loyalty? for businesses to build their reputations, watching a rider revving his engine and
Well, if you’re like most people, you’d have create more demand for what they do and looking for reactions across the intersection
to think long and hard to recall the names vastly improve the loyalty of the people they from me, a lightning bolt hit me. And my
on the fatscreen TVs in your home right serve (and employ). And what I’m going to career hasn’t been the same since.
now even though you see them every teach you will involve motorcycles, which is
day. If you needed to buy one for another always a good thing. You see, something magical happens
room in your house, which brand would when we rev our engines. As we do it,
you look for? Or if a friend asked you for I’m sure you’ve noticed that we Harley we’re talking to you. And what we’re
a recommendation, what would you say? riders like to make our bikes loud, and that saying comes through crystal clear: “Look
See? No loyalty. Nothing to talk about. any time we’re stopped at a red light or at me!” It’s that split second when you look
Nothing to remember and repeat. And stop sign, we refexively rev our engines. at us, and we see you looking at us, that
that’s not good. It’s impossible to miss. As a rider since my the magic occurs. We—that’s everybody—
18 | ciMagazineUnderstanding a few basic
drivers of human behavior
can create incredible
opportunities for businesses
to build their reputations,
create more demand for what
they do and vastly improve
the loyalty of the people they
serve (and employ).
someone delights us, we’re going to keep
coming back for more. It’s why people
get so addicted to their phones. When
people respond to your social media posts
with likes, it feels good to you. So you
post again and again to feed that little
dopamine buzz. Do you think you’d keep
posting stuf if nobody gave you likes?
There’s a huge bonus here, too, in that
buzz. When something consistently
delights us, we tell other people about it.
That advocacy is solid gold in the business
world. It’s what drives demand and attracts
new customers. And so on and so on.
This begs an obvious question: Should
businesses be focused on promoting and
glorifying the stuf they make, sell and
are so accustomed to being invisible, to When we see you seeing us as we rev service—and you’ve seen where that leads—
not eliciting a reaction from the people our motors, that quick blast of validation or on glorifying and delighting people?
we pass by every day, to simply blending and its accompanying boost to our self-
into the background, that when somebody esteem causes the release of dopamine, The smart answer is to serve as a source
actually notices us, it feels good. Even the pleasure drug, into our brain. We get a of delight for everyone important to
though it’s just for a split second. quick blast of delight, the stuf we all live the business. That’s my challenge to
for but don’t get enough of. business leaders everywhere. It’s easier
All humans have the same needs, as I’m than you think. We all know what passion
sure you recall from your middle school Now let’s take this deeper so we can and enthusiasm look and sound like
classroom days. We all share the same weaponize it. (“Please hold!” and “May I help you?”
physiological needs for food, water, shelter aren’t particularly inviting statements).
and security, all of which are easy for What do we, as humans, do anytime we Businesses that focus on that (and
businesses to provide. But we also have experience delight? We return to that teaching how to do that is a big part of
other needs that are much harder to attain, glorious source of delight faithfully until how I earn a living) will consistently out-
namely our emotional need for validation, it fails to delight us. Guess what? I just perform those who act like it’s still the
a need to feel special and important. defned “loyalty.” When something or last century, which is nearly everybody.
19 | ciMagazineKen Schmidt is a
marketing expert,
known for playing
a key role in one of
the most celebrated
turnarounds in
corporate history.
In 1985, Schmidt
was asked to work
with then-struggling
Harley-Davidson to
help restore the company’s image and create
demand for its motorcycles. Within a few
short years, Harley-Davidson became one of
the most visible and frequently reported-on
companies in the world. Schmidt would go
on to become director of Harley-Davidson’s
corporate and fnancial communications,
and served as the company’s primary
spokesperson to the media and fnancial
communities. He is also the author of the 2018
HARLEY RIDERS FEEL LIKE THEY’RE PART OF A FAMILY OF LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS—A FEELING THE book, Make Some Noise: The Unconventional
COMPANY WORKS HARD TO MAKE REALITY.
Road to Dominance (kenspeaks.com).
I can prove it. Try telling a story about a
business, any business, without using the
word “they.” They’re cool. They suck. They’re
the best in town. See? We all do that.
Now think of those fatscreens again.
Do you have a great “they” story about
any of their namesakes? As in, “I like
Panasonic because they…” When we don’t
have a positive “they” story to tell about
businesses vying for our attention, low
price is our primary purchase criteria every
A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW ALL HUMANS SEEK VALIDATION. WHEN HARLEY RIDERS REV THEIR ENGINES,
THEY’RE SAYING, “LOOK AT ME!” time. It’s that simple.
Remember, the marketplace sees your Another fun discovery: Humans—that’s On my frst day of work at Harley-Davidson,
business as an equal. So if customers and us—humanize everything. Of course we I developed three questions. They get
potential customers like you just a tiny do! When we’re thinking or talking about to the heart of what makes a business a
bit more than your competitors, because a business, we tend not to think about dominant competitor with loyal customers
you’ve made an obvious efort to give that business in terms of “what they do,” and employees or sinks that business as
them a little joy, and what you stand for but instead “who they are.” When we’re another look-alike also-ran. Every business
pleases them, you win. And don’t fool thinking or talking about a business, we’re in existence should be focused on these
yourself. Any business can do this. talking about their culture, what they stand three things: What are people saying about
for, and the efort they make to delight us. us? What do we want them to say? And
Or not. what are we doing to make them say it? r
20 | ciMagazineRELIEF FROM HATSHEPSUT’S RED CHAPEL DEPICTING HATSHEPSUT AND THUTMOSES III (CA. 1479-1458 B.C.E.)
(IMAGE SOURCE: PUBLIC DOMAIN)
WHY WOMEN ARE
EXCLUDED FROM POWER:
Lessons from Cleopatra, Nefertiti,
BY DR. KARA COONEY
and Other Egyptian Queens
I am a coffin expert, a strange thing to say. If you put a picture of an Egyptian coffin in front of
me, I will know what dynasty, and maybe even what king’s reign, it was built in. It’s a strange
skill set to have, but I don’t look at coffins because I’m obsessed with death or the Egyptian
afterlife; I study them like others study a car or an outfit or a wedding dress coming down the
aisle—for socioeconomic information.
Parts of this article frst appeared in Time, https://time.com/5425216/ancient-egypt-women-in-power-today
22 | ciMagazineCLEOPATRA AND HER SON CAESARION AT DENDERA TEMPLE (CA. 52 – 31 B.C.E.) FAIENCE AMULET OF A LIONESS-HEADED GODDESS
(IMAGE SOURCE: PUBLIC DOMAIN) (CA. 664-525 B.C.E.) (IMAGE SOURCE: PUBLIC DOMAIN)
I look at cofns to understand how the I have written two books on ancient World. This work allows me to jump back
ancient Egyptians competed with each Egyptian women in power, one a into a diferent side of my brain, one that
other socially—who could aford gold and biography about the female king muses and poses big questions, one that
Egyptian blue, who had to emulate what Hatshepsut called The Woman Who Would makes the ancient world relevant to the
they could with what they could aford. Be King, published by Crown Books in modern, one that uses the lens of antiquity
This work is complicated, heavily footnoted 2014, and the other a synthetic work of all to help me fgure out why the modern
and full of tables and spreadsheets. It’s the Egyptian women who claimed political world functions the way it does.
complex and data-heavy. Thus, writing power as leader of state called When
books comes as a breath of fresh air and a Women Ruled The World, published by Modern society still has a problem with
way for me to bring Egyptology to a wider National Geographic Books in 2018. I’ve women in power. But why didn’t the
audience and connect ancient history to also completed an Audible Original called ancient Egyptians? They allowed six
our modern world. Powerful Women Who Ruled the Ancient women to act as leaders of state during
FALL 2020 | 23their 3,000-year history: Merneith of no real power in Abrahamic religions, as a marker of progress in governments
Dynasty 1, Neferusobek of Dynasty 12, including Judeo-Christian-Mormon and corporations, history shows that what
Hatshepsut of Dynasty 18, Nefertiti of traditions, with the exclusion of a handful matters is not how many women rise to that
Dynasty 18, Tawosret of Dynasty 19, and of Protestant denominations. They are level, but what they do once they get there.
Cleopatra of the Ptolemaic Dynasty. What also largely excluded from Buddhist
can we learn from them? What secrets and Hindu leadership positions. Finally, In ancient Egypt, at least six women rose
can they whisper to us from the past? although females are making great strides up to reign as the highest decision-maker
in pushing the ofcer corps to almost one- in the land, not counting the dozens
Since 2014, I have taught a popular quarter women, few females are allowed of others who acted as queen-regents
undergraduate class at UCLA called into combat in military institutions. The or high priestesses or infuential wives.
Women and Power in the Ancient World, truth is we don’t allow women into Ancient Egypt allowed more females into
and I start every quarter with these two power often, even today. Why? Why isn’t power than any other place on Earth,
slides—one of a female political leader at 50 percent of the population allowed at any time. Was that society somehow
a podium, and the other of a male. I ask 50 percent of the power? Was it ever more progressive than we might expect?
the students how they feel when they diferent in the ancient world? The answer is a quick and defating no.
look at the woman versus the man. The
discussions are enlightening, and I hear We seem to be afraid of the female’s Merneith of Dynasty 1 only ruled to see
comments on how the women seem to power. She is too ferce for us, too her young son Den ascend to the throne
be acting more forcefully than the men. mercurial in its most stereotypical form. unmolested, and it’s how he ended up
We are distracted by the makeup, hair, For example, ancient Egypt’s female feline becoming his Dynasty’s longest-lived
clothes, and age of the female leaders, but goddess had two sides. As Bastet, she and most successful king. Neferusobek
not by the men. The men wear suits and could nurture and protect; as Sakhmet, of Dynasty 12 ruled only because an
ties, get away with short and simple hair she had a propensity to brutally attack anemic and inbred family lineage was
(most of the time) and no makeup (again, and maim without control. But in both
most of the time), drawing much less forms, she had one raison d’être: to
scrutiny of their appearance. Emotionally, protect and nurture the patriarchy. These
we feel the female leaders are angry at goddesses were the Daughters of Re,
us, challenging us, threatening us, but protectors of their father, the king of all,
somehow, we don’t feel these same ready to strike against any who would
emotions from the male leaders. Yes, harm him.
there are many opinions in the class, and
no, gender and sexuality aren’t really Such was the case for strong Egyptian
binaries, better arranged more along a goddesses in general, and for the real
gradient, but the overall class discussion female leaders of that time. They weren’t
indicates we are still challenged by female in it for themselves, to help a sisterhood
ambition and female power. rise up, to change the playing feld for
all women; they used their great and
Indeed, statistics from around the world mercurial power to help the men around
highlight this hostility toward women who them—to protect them with their ferocity,
want power. There are few female leaders to shield them from harm, to keep the
of state from around the world, and same system going.
those that exist come from parliamentary
systems, not direct elections. In the United The stories of the women I study reveal
States, we have still not elected a female a troubling and difcult aspect of female
President. We have few female CEOs—six power in history, and one worth keeping
percent female in the United States, two in mind today. Though a high number of
BUST DEPICTING A 12TH DYNASTY QUEEN, PROBABLY
percent worldwide. Women have almost women in positions of power is often seen NEFERUSOBEK (CA. 1991-1802 B.C.E.)
(IMAGE SOURCE: PUBLIC DOMAIN)
FALL 2020 | 25to us today for his intact tomb in the Valley
of the Kings. Tawosret of Dynasty 19 also
found power by ruling on behalf of a boy-
king before taking the kingship for herself
alone. Tawosret didn’t hide her ambition;
she had competitors eliminated. But such
female ambition would not be tolerated,
and Tawosret was removed by a warlord
who positioned himself as restoring law
and order to an increasingly militaristic
Egypt. And then there was Cleopatra, who
led insurrections against her own brothers,
both of whom were taken out by her
ruthless actions, and who used powerful
men like Julius Caesar and Marc Antony
more as sperm donors than as husbands
who could control her. But even Cleopatra,
who styled herself after the goddess of love
and beauty, Hathor, couldn’t stop herself
from becoming more of a maternal Isis in the
end, paving the path to the kingship for her
son Ptolemy XV—better known as Caesarion,
the name that, fttingly, emphasizes his
father rather than his mother. In the end, if
he had lived to rule Egypt rather than being
murdered by Octavian, she too would have
acted as a mere placeholder in the larger
patriarchal system.
Six powerful queens, fve of them becoming
pharaohs in their own right. Yet each and
every one of them had to ft the patriarchal
RELIEF OF NEFERTITI AND TWO OF HER DAUGHTERS (CA. 1353-1336 B.C.E.) (IMAGE SOURCE: PUBLIC DOMAIN) systems of power around them rather than
fashion something new. The story of female
power in ancient Egypt is a tragedy.
withering on the vine. She was the last reminds us all that when women succeed
person standing of her great dynasty, a in the workplace, the credit can always be So when we look at female power in the
mere placeholder until another man from reassigned to the patriarchy.) world, today or yesterday, we must not
another dynasty stepped in. Hatshepsut assume that a woman in a high position
of Dynasty 18 ruled to maintain the power Nefertiti of Dynasty 18, if she really ruled at is there to lay the groundwork for other
of her young nephew, only to have her all, knew she had to cloak her ambition and women to follow or for any larger feminist
legacy as female king—the word “queen” feminine self with new masculine names. agenda. Instead we must ask whom these
connoting a mere sexual helpmate, not (She likely ruled as co-king Ankhkheperure women are really serving. In most cases,
a ruler—ripped away from her some 20 Neferneferuaten and, perhaps later, as sole- these women are serving an agenda in line
years after her death when her names king Ankhkheperure Smenkhkare.) Nefertiti with keeping men as the leaders of society.
and images were erased and smashed, must have known she was just paving the
her great achievements relabeled for her path for the next male in line—none other Take the U.K., with its parliamentary
father or brother instead. (Hatshepsut than the young Tutankhamun, so famous system that has elected two female prime
26 | ciMagazineDr. Kara Cooney
The Egyptian female king was only allowed is a professor of
Egyptian Art and
to enter the political fray for a short time
Architecture at UCLA.
to support the male-dominated system She produced and
around her. Her memory and legacy were hosted a comparative
erased afterward if she was successful archaeology television
series, Out of Egypt,
(think Hatshepsut), or her mistakes which aired on the
aggrandized as a cautionary tale if she was Discovery Channel and
a failure (think Cleopatra). Female power is currently available
online via Netfix and Amazon. Cooney
was forced upon a people during moments
specializes in craft production, cofn studies
of great crises like kingly succession, civil and economies in the ancient world. Her
war, or imperial aggression, but only when frst book, The Woman Who Would Be King:
all hope for a male leader was lost. For the Hatshepsut’s Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt,
relies on her years of experience at various
Egyptian system of divine kingship, women
excavations in Egypt and expert perspective
were actually the best choice to maintain on Egypt’s ancient history to share the
the status quo because their caretaking biography of its least known female king. Her
for family could be so easily turned into ongoing research takes her around the world
to study and document nearly 300 cofns in
protection of the patriarchy itself. collections, including those in Cairo, London,
Paris, Berlin and Vatican City.
And that is the tragedy of female power (karacooney.squarespace.com).
that the Egyptian female kings whisper to IMAGES:
Faience amulet of a lioness-headed goddess (ca. 664-525 B.C.E.)
us from the past. Breaking glass ceilings (public domain) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Egyptian_-_Lioness_
Headed_Goddess_-_Walters_481546.jpg
is one thing, but until women can act with
BUST DEPICTING A 12TH DYNASTY QUEEN, PROBABLY Bust depicting a 12th Dynasty queen, probably Neferusobek
their own agendas, most women in power, (ca. 1991-1802 B.C.E.) (public domain) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/
NEFERUSOBEK (CA. 1991-1802 B.C.E.) (IMAGE SOURCE: File:Statue_of_Sobekneferu_(Berlin_Egyptian_Museum_14475).jpg
PUBLIC DOMAIN) today and yesterday, are just serving the
Relief from Hatshepsut’s Red Chapel depicting Hatshepsut and
status quo—like Nefertiti and Cleopatra, Thutmoses III (ca. 1479-1458 B.C.E.) (public domain) https://commons.
wikimedia.org/w/index.php?sort=relevance&search=red+chapel&title=Special:Search&pr
ministers over the last four decades. part of a long line of women protecting ofle=advanced&fulltext=1&advancedSearch-current=%7B%7D&ns0=1&ns6=1&ns12=1&ns14
=1&ns100=1&ns106=1&searchToken=8872mmxossaukdi7gej9pagrj#%2Fmedia%2FFile%3AR
Consider whether Margaret Thatcher or their masculine overlords. It’s not always ed_Chapel_detail2.jpg
Theresa May challenged or protected the easy to tell the diference between merely Relief of Nefertiti and two of her daughters (ca. 1353-1336 B.C.E.)
(public domain) https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=nefertiti&
male-driven agendas around them. India working in a patriarchal system and those title=Special%3ASearch&go=Go&ns0=1&ns6=1&ns12=1&ns14=1&ns100=1&ns106=1#/media/
File:Meketaten-Nefertiti.tif
and Pakistan have both seen great female who have chosen not to advance causes
Foundation deposit brick with the names of Tawosret (ca.
leaders over the last half-century, but that help other women, but it is crucial that 1191-1189 B.C.E.) (public domain) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/
File:Brick_with_the_Names_of_Tawosret_MET_32.2.44_(93910tf).jpg
these women have stepped into the halls we try. r Cleopatra and her son Caesarion at Dendera Temple (ca. 52 – 31
of power on behalf of their fathers and B.C.E.) (public domain) https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleopatra_VII#/media/
File:Denderah3_Cleopatra_Cesarion.jpg
husbands and brothers. Ivanka Trump has
an (informal) position in the White House
as an infuencer of her father, President
Trump, but that authority comes from her
unthreatening role as a daughter. When
a woman does directly challenge the Though a high number of women in positions of power is often
privilege of a man, she faces the possibility seen as a marker of progress in governments and corporations,
of threats like the ones experienced by
Christine Blasey Ford. And there is perhaps
history shows that what matters is not how many women rise to
no better symbol for this dynamic than that level, but what they do once they get there.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, whose power
was derived from speaking on behalf of a
man (perhaps a reason why this particular
woman makes so many other women so
very angry).
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FORTNITE WORLD CUP 2019. USED WITH PERMISSION.
HOBBY TO HERO:
BY NICK OVERTON
How I Built A Career From Scratch
If you’re reading this, you’re probably wondering how someone could build a profession by
playing video games.You may have a child, a friend, or a relative who adores gaming or at the
very least, you may know someone you believe plays way too many video games.The modern
generalization we all hear is that video games have a negative impact on gamers’ lives, but that’s
simply not true.Tons of opportunities exist within the gaming world, and I’d like to share with you
my story of earning a formal education at DMACC and the University of Iowa and applying it to
create an unconventional job.
FALL 2020 | 31FORTNITE WORLD CUP 2019. USED WITH PERMISSION.
Before we get into the how-do-you- ‘90s to modern-day Xbox, PlayStation, and and YouTube would serve ads over that
make-money-playing-games spiel, I’d PC games. If I enjoyed playing it, I wanted content and give the creators a portion of
TWO YEARS
like to frst give you some context. I grew to be the best I could be. That led to a lot the money.
up in Iowa and always had a fascination of game time, though.
with technology. I enjoyed the outdoors, Only a very small number of creators
spending time fshing, catching minnows My parents didn’t see me playing games generated enough trafc to make a living
down in the creek, and playing hide-and- as much as I did as a good thing, which solely from ad revenue, so everyone
seek outside on warm summer nights. I probably isn’t a big surprise. There really was trying to think of additional ways to
was involved in some sports, I terrorized wasn’t any precedent for people making a monetize content. Fast forward a decade.
my younger brother, and I liked watching living through video games. It wasn’t even By 2019–2020, gaming entertainment has
TV on Saturday mornings. I had played on the radar until people began uploading blown up and continues to grow. It’s one
some video games at friends’ houses video game footage of their exploits on of the largest genres of entertainment
before because I didn’t own any consoles YouTube. Some of these earlier clips might in the world coming from live-streamed
myself, but my parents were nice enough have captured a cool highlight, presented a content on Twitch.tv or prerecorded/edited
to notice my interest in them and grace me how-to video, or mimicked TV sports with content on YouTube. Tons of websites have
with a Nintendo 64 for Christmas in the commentary over simple footage. After a cropped up that help creators of all types
late ‘90s. I was able to compete against few years of gamers creating content on generate additional revenue. These could
my dad, brother, neighbors and friends YouTube and growing their channels, they be competitors that promise better deals
in whatever games we had, and that were able to generate revenue from it. It than platforms like YouTube or Twitch
competitive streak is what got me hooked. became a mutual relationship between and ofer signing bonuses, or sites like
Because of this, it’s fair to say I grew up creators and YouTube where the creators Patreon that are essentially crowdfunding
with video games, from the N64 in the would provide content for people to watch, for creators. Additionally, platforms
32 | ciMagazineANIMATION AND RICH MEDIA
Now at the DMACC West Des Moines Campus.
The Animation and Rich Media AAS HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
prepares students for positions in the Students in this program learn from faculty with
animation industry. Throughout the industry experience in storyboarding, motion graphics
and video game animation.
program, you will create your own
characters, personify objects, generate DMACC’s Animation program teaches three main
animation software packages: Autodesk 3D Studio Max,
dynamic motion graphics and more. Autodesk Maya and Maxon Cinema 4D.
Apply the Principles of Animation to
The Adobe Creative Suite is also used to create and
your unique ideas!
prepare assets for animation.
FINISH YOUR AAS DEGREE IN TWO YEARS!
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT
ANIMATION.DMACC.EDU
A33 | ciLive! Magazinethemselves have looked to other places like to make funny videos or share wacky having some fun, a kind of little pet project.
to help creators monetize their content. highlights. Those are a perfect example of Have you ever planted a few seeds in a
A model was created that allows fans to Entertainment videos. They don’t require small pot of soil, then water it and leave it
subscribe to content for a small monthly any necessary skill; they just need to on the window sill? That’s basically how
fee and take advantage of extra benefts entertain the viewers. Some people like to I treated YouTube. I created some videos
over normal users. The creator would model high-level gameplay—crazy tactics, on a consistent basis that people enjoyed,
then receive a portion of the funds from insane plays, amazing shots, you get the and the channel grew slowly over time.
those subscriptions. These extra forms point. That’d be classifed under the Skill During that time, though, I went to school
of monetization helped make full-time category. Finally, Informative videos are and looked toward the future, which I had
content creation a reality for many mid- basically the “how-tos” of gaming. How to no expectation would be what it is now. I
sized creators. Now we can move to the beat a certain boss or level, how to fnd this fgured I’d keep content-creation as a hobby
real story. secret Easter egg. You don’t have to pick a and work toward a career within gaming,
certain type of content to create— plenty like development. I decided the smart
I grew up surrounded by technology. Not of people mix categories—but usually decision would be to attend a community
only has my generation grown up with the you’ll be known for one style of content. college at DMACC West Campus and
Internet, but my dad also worked in the tech complete my core classes, then transfer to
industry. I had access to computers and As I played games online and tried to hone the University of Iowa for my bachelor’s
gaming consoles from a young age. They my skills, I started looking up videos on degree. Again, I had absolutely no
were fun to play with friends and I enjoyed how to improve myself. I’d watch top-level expectation that being able to play games
them, but my gaming never became a players to fnd some tip or trick I could try and create content around them could be a
serious career until games met the Internet. to implement in my gameplay or build of career choice for me. In my head, educating
Online play was what sucked me in more of to create something new. The more I myself on things I was interested in was a
than anything. Being the best player among watched, the more I became convinced good way to improve and raise my odds of
your group of friends is one thing, but that I was as good as some of the people fnding a career in those interests. School
when you start getting stacked against in these videos and in some cases, better. I was the obvious decision.
other good players around the world, you fgured if they could do this, why couldn’t
start to see where your skills are lacking. I? I tried to record footage, add a voiceover I took two years of classes at the DMACC
Plus I absolutely hated losing. If there was explaining what I was doing, and upload West Campus and even held a gaming
something I found enjoyable, I wanted to what I would consider high-tier gameplay. event there for a couple of days one year.
win while doing it. If I was going fshing, I If future me could tell past me anything, Students could come and play games in
wanted to catch the most and the biggest it would be that just because you’re a the main atrium while on break between
fsh. If I was playing any type of game or good player doesn’t mean you can make classes. Here’s where things get tricky.
sport, I’d do everything I could to get my entertaining videos. It’s rare to have both Before my last semester at the DMACC
team the win. I became very good at the of these talents. I was a pretty good player, West Campus, I was on summer break
games I was playing due to that drive to but I royally sucked at editing and creating and landed an internship at Justin.tv, now
win and my exposure to better and better gameplay fun to watch. I spent years Twitch.tv, the largest gaming streaming
players in online matches. These obsessions learning and improving, and there’s still platform in the world. I was able to get
played a major role in making my career as a room for improvement today. If you listen hands-on experience at a company
professional gamer successful. to my frst video, though, which is still on focused on gaming content creation.
YouTube, the diference between then and I had sporadically produced videos, but I’d
Let me backtrack for one quick moment: now is pretty apparent. never really known I could also livestream
you don’t have to be good at a game to gameplay. It opened up an entirely new
make a living playing it. It doesn’t hurt, but Obviously, you can’t just start making world of content creation to me. I couldn’t
it isn’t required. When it comes to gaming- videos and then, boom!, you’re a full- focus on making content nearly as much,
related content, people prefer three main time creator. Your growth needs to be though, since I was working full-time. It
categories—Entertainment, Skill and sustainable. I made videos as a hobby was a paid position, which was cool, but I
Informative. You can choose what type while I worked and went to school. It was a had to fy from Iowa to San Francisco on a
of creator you’d like to be. Some people way to express some creativity while also week’s notice and start helping them build
34 | ciMagazineYou can also read
