This column is part of a 2024 series celebrating learnings from NST’s 50 years in business.
Each year, Nuffer, Smith, Tucker facilitates a meeting called Food Foresight where we pull together the brightest minds in food and agriculture to talk about everything from artificial intelligence and robotics, to shifts in demographics and values, and the evolving geo-political environment. The brainpower in the room is humbling. It’s also one of my favorite events of the year.
The Food Foresight meeting was held last month, and it reminded me of an expression we’ve all heard: “if you are the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room.” Food Foresight was one of several occasions I was reminded of this lesson and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who challenge you to level up.
This was also the case at a recent Worldcom Public Relations Group meeting, where I was lucky enough to hear down in the trenches stories from other owners of public relations firms in our network. And lastly, I was reminded of this lesson while in a planning meeting with our full agency team, some of which may have only a few years of experience under their belt but who can no doubt take on my job one day.
As we celebrate our 50th year in business, I’m reminded of the importance of surrounding yourself with people who challenge you. People who bring different perspectives and expertise to the discussion. And people who encourage you to think big. Doing so goes hand in hand with NST’s commitment to exploration and pushing the status quo. It’s also, undoubtedly, part of what has made us successful for five decades.
NST has always sought the best and the brightest – in our team, for professional development and to aid our clients to do their best. When we are fortunate enough to be surrounded by such great minds, we are sponges and thankful to be in their company.
Read about other lessons learned during our 50-year journey.
