Putting the Time In Matters

About 15 years ago, we hosted a meeting with eight young professionals who believed their time in politics had arrived. They were ambitious, educated, passionate and convinced they were next in line for leadership. Like many young people filled with vision and energy, they were eager to move quickly into positions of influence.

We gathered at what was then Skippers Seafood on Buena Vista Road for a conversation that would prove far more valuable than many of them realized at the time.

We invited longtime businessman, mentor, community activist and respected Columbus figure Ronzelle Buckner to sit down with them and speak honestly about leadership, service and preparation. What unfolded that evening was not a lecture about politics. It was a lesson about patience, credibility and the importance of putting the work in before expecting the reward.

The message was simple.

Wanting to serve is not enough. Being prepared to serve when the opportunity comes is what truly matters.

They were told that leadership in a community like Columbus is not built overnight. It requires relationships. It requires sacrifice. It requires showing up long before cameras arrive and long after elections end. Most importantly, they were reminded that name recognition without credibility is temporary, but a proven track record of service creates trust that lasts.

Some of those young men eventually moved on to other paths in life. But four of them stayed the course. They listened. They matured. They remained patient while continuing to build their resumes, their relationships and their impact within the community.

Today, those investments are paying dividends.

Adrian Chester is now an ordained minister leading a growing congregation and continuing his commitment to faith and community service.

Dominick Perkins has earned state and national recognition as a respected political consultant responsible for helping guide numerous successful campaigns.

Marquis Averett, known by many as “Skinny,” has become a powerful grassroots organizer for campaigns across the country and now stands in position to potentially become the next Georgia State Representative for District 140.

And Tremaine Reese, better known to many as “Teddy,” has continued his journey of public service after previously serving as a state representative and was recently elected the Democratic nominee for Georgia Senate District 15.

None of this happened overnight.

Their journeys are reminders that real leadership is not built through social media popularity, catchy slogans or political shortcuts. Leadership is developed through consistency, discipline, humility and years of serving people even when there is no spotlight attached to the work.

Too often, people want the title before they develop the temperament. They want influence before they build relationships. They want positions before they establish trust. But the truth is that communities eventually recognize those who consistently put the work in.

Time has a way of revealing who was serious and who was simply impatient.

These men are examples of what can happen when individuals remain committed to growth, continue learning, stay connected to the people and refuse to quit simply because success did not happen immediately.

In a generation where many want instant results, their stories offer an important lesson: sometimes the greatest preparation for leadership is simply surviving the waiting season while continuing to work.

That meeting at Skippers Seafood was never really about politics. It was about understanding that leadership is earned long before it is ever awarded.

And today, their journeys stand as proof of what happens when you truly put the time in.