ASNT 2021: The Annual Conference kicked off Monday evening with the Keynote address from P!NK drummer Mark Schulman. In addition to his gig with P!NK, he has worked with Foreigner, Cher, Stevie Nicks, and Billy Idol, among others.
In “Hacking the Rockstar Attitude: Harness the Energy, Spirit, and Passion of Rockstars,” Schulman emphasized the huge impact that having the right perspective in our careers, in our business relationships, and in our personal lives can make. He talked about how we have complete control over our mindset and shared a few ways for us to remind ourselves that we are in control and are responsible for our attitudes—good or bad!
The words we speak and the perception we have of ourselves are also incredibly important, according to Schulman. I have long believed that over our lifetime, the things we say have the same effect as the rudder on the direction of a ship or plane. We must create a vision for our future, believe in it, speak it over our lives, and execute it!
Schulman explained how passion and purpose feed each other in what he calls the “cycle of empowerment.” Passion is the “how” we do it but purpose is the “why” we do it. Lastly, he talked about the value of time management because, “every millisecond matters.” It was an inspirational talk to say the least, and it left attendees feeling optimistic!
After the Keynote, the Welcome Reception took place in the exhibition hall. I took advantage of this time to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. Social media has given me the opportunity to network with many people I’ve never met in person, so I’m taking advantage of this time to meet up at the ASNT Annual Conference! The Welcome Reception was packed with people to see and talk with.
Inside the exhibition hall, representatives of NDT companies were demonstrating their state-of-the-art equipment and greeting attendees. I was able to spend time at a few booths, but plan to visit many more over the next few days. I was too busy chatting to grab a drink or a light snack (maybe next time), but I did see many people indulging.
I didn’t have a chance to talk with as many people as I would have liked to at the reception, but I’ve got the next three days to see them as I visit booths and attend technical sessions. I look forward to getting back to the convention center and making the most out of this year’s ASNT Annual Conference!
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Stetson Watkins is an NDT technician for Virgin Galactic, watkinsstetson@gmail.com. Watkins was selected to be a guest blogger for ASNT 2021.