Chuck Dudley-Continue Your Education

Chuck Dudley is a 1976 Graduate of the Sam M. Walton College of Business with a degree in Marketing, and holds an MBA from the Walton College in 1977. In addition, he has a degree in banking from the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University. Chuck has 34 years experience in investments, banking, trust, and executive benefit planning. He has spent the last 15 years helping bankers and small business owners retain, reward and retire their key executives as a Vice President for Argent Financial Group.


Chuck and his wife, Martha, live in Hot Springs and have two sons, Robert, a 2010 Information Systems graduate of the Walton College, and Thomas, currently enrolled in the Walton College. Chuck, Robert, and Thomas are members of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. Chuck is a Past President of the Arkansas Alumni Association, and currently is Past President of the Walton College Alumni Society.

GRADUATION IS A FANTASTIC DAY

Yes it is.  It means that you have navigated the twisting path to achievement.  You have successfully completed 4 (or 5…..the victory lap) years of whatever the school has thrown at you.  You are more mature, and have a sense of purpose of what you want to start out doing in your adult life.  And, hopefully, you have proper employment and will be getting your own real paycheck soon.

Congratulations.

Welcome to my world now. 

The real education begins on the first day of your new job.

Forms to fill out.  How many deductions am I supposed to use on the W-9 form?  Which health insurance option do I need to select?  How come I can’t start my 401k until a year later?  They are taking HOW much out of my paycheck for taxes and FICA and Medicare?!?!

You get the picture.  But, you’ll figure this out and move forward, accepting the things you have to accept and count this experience in the “lessons learned” category.

REALLY, CONTINUE YOUR EDUCATION

This is really the point of this blog.

The world is changing fast.  Technology has seen to that.

So you must strive to keep up with it.

I graduated in 1976 with a BSBA in Marketing with a minor in Economics.  Then I got my MBA in 1977.

In the last 34 years, I have been a stock broker, banker, trust company owner, and a benefits advisor to individuals, banks and small businesses.  I learned a lot at the University of Arkansas about some things, but was not at all trained in what I became.

Along the way, I went to brokerage schools in St Louis, bank schools in Illinois, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Arkansas; insurance schools and seminars too numerous to mention here.

Here’s the point:  If your company offers to educate you, jump at the chance.  It enhances resumes and prepares you for whatever the next phase of your life might be.  Never, ever, turn down the chance to go to another school or a learning seminar if you can keep from it.  This includes self-help, motivational and the like.  Always strive to improve yourself, and your marketability.  You never know what you might gain, and who you might meet that will be beneficial for your career.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL!

This is the 5^th and last in my series of blogs for the benefit of current students and recent graduates.  To review, we’ve examined what I would expect of you if you worked for me, how to dress for success in today’s culture, how to build your network, business etiquette and how to continue your education.

We are all a work in progress until the day we decide to hang it up.  You are just getting started, and I hope these words of experience might have been helpful for you.

Thanks for the opportunity to share with the great students of the Walton College, my alma mater.