Be Careful of Inward Thinking: Interview with South Carolina State Senator John L. Scott Jr.
I recently went one on one with Senator John L. Scott Jr. Senator Scott has been a member of the South Carolina Senate since 2009 and served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1991 to 2009.
Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. How did you get here? What experiences, failures, setbacks, or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?
Senator Scott: Initially, I began working as an accountant in the governor’s office. After graduating with a degree in finance with a minor in economics; politics has always been of interest to me, primarily because I’ve always wanted to make a difference in society. I am often asked why I chose to pursue a career in politics – and I say it was more like politics chose me. There are certain topics that are of critical importance to me, and I truly want to change some aspects that are not fair or just and need to be changed and improved. I was born and raised here in South Carolina, and I care deeply for the state and the welfare of the people who live here. Although I’m officially a Democrat, I am committed to building a reputation as a strong independent voice while working with both Democrats and Republicans to find common-sense solutions to issues facing South Carolina.
I have represented the Columbia-based 19th district of the South Carolina Senate since 2009; I previously represented the Columbia-based 77th district of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1991 to 2008. Before that, I served as Vice Chair for Richland County Council from 1988 to 1990 and worked as a Field Representative for the Office of the Governor in 1975. I considered running for the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate in the 2014 special election but was reluctant to leave this beautiful state. My current term ends on November 11, 2024. I’m also owner and Broker-in-Charge of J.L. Scott Realty Company Incorporated since 1981 as well as the owner/president of C and S Consulting Group Incorporated, since 1999.
As far as setbacks, if you’re going into this line of work, you must attempt to keep your ego out of it and not take it too personally. You will put yourself on the line time and time again – to raise funds, to win votes, to debate issues – and inevitably people will come for you. To use an old adage, you’ll win some, and you’ll lose some, and when it’s your turn to lose, you need to take it in stride, dust yourself off, and get back out there. That took me a bit of time to learn, but it has made me stronger and far more resilient.
Adam: What are the best lessons you’ve learned from your career in politics?
Senator Scott: Aside from not taking the occasional loss too personally, because sometimes you just aren’t going to win no matter how good you are or how right you are, I would say when you say something, make it count. Every time you give a speech, strive to be interesting and authentic. Never just go through the motions. Each speech is an opportunity. If your lips are moving, you should be thinking about whether what you’re saying rings true to you and if it’s adding value to the people who can hear you. Keep a level head and a modest ego. People whose self-worth is wrapped up in their title have a hard time with this, but you must remember that your power is not yours, it belongs to the institution and the constituency you serve. When you leave that office or that position, you leave the power to your successor; it’s not yours to keep. All in all, if you keep your ego in check, your mind open, and your feet grounded, you can achieve anything you set your mind to. Every speech, project, and relationship is a chance for growth, and it’s an opportunity to have a positive impact on the people around you. There will be highs and lows, but if you do those things, you can be proud of every step of your journey
Adam: What are your best tips for anyone interested in running for office or working in politics?
Senator Scott: First and foremost, have a good reason to run. If it doesn’t matter to you, it isn’t going to matter to anyone else. Ideally, you’re running because there is a problem people believe you can solve.
The research shows that most voters don’t really care about you. We care about our own families and our own kids and are interested in you if it connects to how you can help us. So, tell us how you can make a difference on an issue we care about. Get your elevator pitch down. If you are going to run for political office, you must be able to explain your reason for running in a few sentences. As a candidate for office, you will be asked again and again why you are running, who you are, and why your race matters. Make sure your family (and your boss) is with you. If your spouse or partner hates the idea, please don’t make yourselves miserable. I made absolutely sure that my wife was completely on board; in fact, she was in favor of my running, because she believed in what I could do. Be prepared to involve everyone you know. Good political campaigns have good lists. Make a list of everyone who might possibly remember your name. Do your homework. To be a good candidate, you need to know what you’re talking about. To be a good office holder, you need to know what you’re talking about. Read the agenda packages for the last ten meetings. Spend a weekend reading the last 25 articles published on subjects that will affect you. Go to the websites of respected organizations following these issues and read their position papers. Talk to people who are experts on the subject. Make sure you’re comfortable with scrutiny. People will look into your background and history; be sure you’re aligned with that.
Adam: What do you believe are the defining qualities of an effective leader?
Senator Scott: Integrity is an essential leadership trait for the individual and the organization. It’s especially important for politicians who making countless significant decisions. Delegating is one of the core responsibilities of a leader, but it can be tricky to delegate effectively. It’s not just about freeing yourself up — it’s also to enable your direct reports to grow, facilitate teamwork, provide autonomy, and lead to better decision-making. The best leaders are skilled communicators who are able to communicate in a variety of ways, from transmitting information to inspiring others to coaching direct reports. And you must be able to listen to and communicate with, a wide range of people across roles, geographies, social identities, and more. The quality and effectiveness of communication among leaders across your organization directly affects the success of your business strategy, too. Self-awareness and humility are paramount for leadership. The better you understand yourself and recognize your own strengths and weaknesses, the more effective you can be as a leader. Gratitude can make you a better leader. Few people regularly say “thank you” in work settings, even though most people say they’d be willing to work harder for an appreciative boss. Treating people with respect on a daily basis is one of the most important things a leader can do. It will ease tensions and conflict, create trust, and improve effectiveness. Respectfulness can be shown in many different ways, but it often starts with simply being a listener who truly seeks to understand the perspectives of others.
Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to leaders and aspiring leaders?
Senator Scott: 1. Be careful of inward thinking, and instead consider from others’ perspectives. Considering situations only from your own perspective can potentially be insular and become self-destructive and self-limiting. Interpreting neutral situations negatively can lead to a reputation as a negative person too. This outside-in viewpoint can be very helpful in reframing a situation for yourself and developing empathy for how others are affected by it.
2. Compromises and thinking on your feet. The reality of leadership means you need to adjust and become comfortable with the fact that you cannot polish everything. Every day there is a compromise.
3. Look for team members’ strengths and lead with them. You can inspire confidence and greatness if you motivate your team by harnessing team members’ talents and energies and putting them front and center.
Adam: What should leaders understand about the importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities?
Senator Scott: I am a graduate of an HBCU and a passionate advocate of HBCUs as a whole. On average, more than 300,000 students attend HBCUs each year, and 80% of them are African Americans. It’s also worth noting that HBCUs are serving those who need it the most — more than 70% of all students at HBCUs qualify for federal Pell Grants and 80 percent of HBCU students receive federal loans.
Though 43 million Americans across the racial and socioeconomic spectrum have nearly $1.3 trillion in college loans, black households are far more likely to have student debt at all income levels. About 54% of African Americans between the ages of 25 and 40 have student loans, compared with 39% of white Americans in that age group. By providing a best value in education, HBCUs help to eliminate or reduce student debt for low- to middle-income families, which could dramatically narrow the racial wealth gap between black and white households. For more than 150 years, HBCUs have been providing diverse learning environments — from students to faculty to administration — ensuring that every student has a chance to succeed.
The nation needs HBCUs now more than ever. By early 2015, the underemployment rate for recent college graduates had reached 44%. For African American college graduates, that rate was even higher — 56% .At the same time, the unemployment rate for African American college graduates between ages 22 and 27 is roughly 12.4%, more than twice the rate of their white counterparts.
Given their proven track record of influencing the academic success of African Americans, now more than ever greater investment is needed in HBCUs.
HBCUs are rooted in faith, community, and service. Black churches have long been pillars of the black community and the history and life of black colleges are closely intertwined with faith, values, and service to others. That is why I often say that HBCUs offer a true value/values proposition: not only are they are a great value to their students, but they also produce students with great values.
Over and over, we are reminded of the heroes and leaders who have emerged from HBCUs. Whether it’s the kindness of parishioners at the Emanuel Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston who perished after opening their doors to a complete stranger, or the inspired, nonviolent leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., HBCUs produce the very best kind of values-based leadership. For more than 100 years, HBCUs have been educating minorities, giving them economic opportunities and instilling great values. Not only have they consistently produced leaders in their communities and across the nation, but HBCUs today are consistently and affordably producing the leaders of the future.
Adam: What can anyone do to pay it forward?
Senator Scott: Anyone and everyone can pay it forward! I like to do something for someone to pay it forward every day. We live with so much anger and disconnect around us, so if you can do even one small thing for someone that brightens their day, you’ve at least made the day better for another person out there, and in turn, that person might do something kind for someone else… and so on.
Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?
Senator Scott: The verse in the Bible, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” a.k.a. The Golden Rule. Treat others as you would have them treat you. Best advice I’ve ever received, and I learned it as a young child.
Adam: Is there anything else you would like to share?
Senator Scott: My motto is “Failure is not an option.”
Adam Mendler is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, educator, and nationally-recognized authority on leadership. Adam is the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one on one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal-winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations. Adam has written extensively on leadership and related topics, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders. A Los Angeles native, Adam is a lifelong Angels fan and an avid backgammon player.
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