This week we had a video call with a company from Europe we met at SelectUSA. They are looking for a site in the USA for a major project that will create several hundred jobs. The CEO said they wrote off Texas but were impressed with Alabama. The discussion turned to state economic incentives. When the CEO mentioned Alabama, the state EDO person with me on the call looked like someone ran over his dog. He competed with Alabama before. We learned how aggressive Alabama is with incentives when the CEO added, “Alabama said they would beat any incentive package by any state.”

In addition to SelectUSA, we had other calls with the CEO. I knew a little about him and his projects so I added, “Alabama can’t put you in the center of 50% of the U.S. population, your customers. You will have to truck your products over 1,000 miles to get to your customers. Alabama produces very little natural gas. The Shale Crescent Region is fueling the eastern USA. These permanent competitive advantages outlast any state incentive package.”

Our region is still in the running. This CEO is a leader and an independent thinker. He will do what is best for his company instead of following followers. We should lead or follow a good leader but never blindly follow a follower. Working corporate sales, in one company, if an engineer tried something new and failed it hurt his career. If they followed their predecessors and there was a failure that was okay. A senior VP stepped in and changed the culture to encourage creativity and reward those who try new things, the company saved millions of dollars in the next three years.

Nine years ago, Shale Crescent USA began talking to the chemical industry about expanding to our region. An IHSMarkit study showed our region’s advantage, but there was still no influx of petrochemical growth. It was safer to follow the followers and expand on the Gulf Coast rather than expand to a new area. We heard, “No CEO ever got fired for building on the Gulf Coast.” It takes good data and courage to lead and take a new direction.

Growing up, I rarely got in trouble following a leader, usually one of our older friends. Our friends cared about us and weren’t out for themselves. When we followed someone we didn’t know well, who focused on their own pleasure and used us to get what they wanted, bad things happened. Those were important lessons. Years later in corporate America, I learned everyone in positions of leadership were not leaders. Some were out for themselves at the expense of their employees and the company.

When I joined Shale Crescent USA ten years ago, the executive committee members set an example to follow. All were volunteers giving their time, talents and treasure (financial support) to the Shale Crescent USA mission of bringing high wage jobs to our region because it was the right thing to do. They were successful corporate leaders who understood servant leadership. Those early team meetings were several hours long since we were getting organized. The leaders took time away from the company they led or their day job because they wanted to see the region prosper again. They are people of integrity.

My wife, Lynnda tells me, “You are consumed by Shale Crescent.” Making a positive difference in the lives of people is easy to get consumed with. All three of our children left the region to find good jobs. I have been coaching long enough to see and even get to work with my former players in the real world. One is my dentist. One was Lynnda’s surgeon. Today my players can leave the region if they want to experience to world. Many have chosen to stay because of the opportunities here. They are working as engineers, doctors, dentists, attorneys or other positions in business.

With the USA’s 250th birthday coming up, it is a good time for reflection. In 1787 Benjamin Franklin was asked, what the Constitutional Convention had created, “A republic, if you can keep it.” To keep our republic, we need to be like the Founding Fathers and Mothers and think creatively. We must educate ourselves and look for leaders with integrity to follow.

A few years ago, at a conference in Pittsburgh there were anti-fracking protestors. They carried plastic signs made from natural gas liquids from fracked natural gas wells. I said to my buddy, “I’m going to have some fun with them.” When I approached one the protestors he said, “They are paying me $15 to carry this sign. That is beer and cigarette money.” People were following him.

When Lynnda had surgery last week, in the prep room while waiting I noticed almost everything in the room were petrochemical products. There are people leading groups whose mission is to get rid of fossil fuels. They don’t offer a plan for replacements. This makes them either ignorant or worse, they want people like my wife to die without modern healthcare. Just because something is on the internet, even if it is AI doesn’t make it true. Emotion from a leader is no replacement for facts, truth and integrity. In our republic we need to educate ourselves before we protest. Be careful what you protest you might get it. Groups have protested pipelines and LNG facilities on the east coast. We know people in India personally who see the cruel negative results this has caused.

In our republic we need to seek truth and hold our leaders accountable if we expect to keep it for our children. We should never blindly follow a follower. Be a servant leader with integrity. We have been blessed with abundant energy we can use to create jobs and help others around the world. Think before you act. Seek truth. Don’t assume. Be a leader or follow a leader with integrity who cares about others. Create a positive future.

Greg Kozera, gkozera@shalecrescentusa.com is director of marketing for Shale Crescent USA. He is a professional engineer with a masters in environmental engineering and over 40 years of experience in the energy industry. Greg is a leadership expert, high school soccer coach, professional speaker, author of four books and many published articles.