Bob Biggs’ 44 Lessons in 44 Years of Service to Phi Delta Theta

After 44 years of service to Phi Delta Theta, Robert A. “Bob” Biggs is set to retire this June. Bob is currently the Executive Vice President and CEO of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and the President of the Phi Delta Theta Foundation.

Over the span of a 44-year career, leaders learn and apply many lessons. We asked Brother Biggs to spend some time noting lessons learned over his career that have been the most important to him. We are proud to be able to share them with you.

1. Service above self.
2. Always look over the horizon and not just the hood of the car.
3. Be healthy, happy, and holy.
4. Leadership is an art, not a science.
5. Live and learn.
6. It’s not your aptitude but your attitude that will determine your altitude.
7. Faith in God, faith in family and friends, faith in self.
8. It’s our team, never my team.
9. Do to others what you would have them do to you.
10. We enjoy life by the help and society of others.
11. Have a can do spirit.
12. Be prepared.
13. Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
14. Always do your best.
15. Be a leader, not a manager.
16. Show appreciation and recognition of others.
17. Honor your father and mother.
18. Integrity is doing the right thing even when nobody is looking.
19. Never, never, never give up.
20. Do what is right not what is easy.
21. Avoid NETMA – Nobody Ever Tells Me Anything.
22. Listen with curiosity, speak with honesty, act with integrity.
23. Those who don’t know history tend to repeat it.
24. Love one another.
25. Strive for excellence, not perfection.
26. In five words, stand up and be counted, in two words, get involved, in one word, care.
27. Be a doer.
28. The content of your character is your choice.
29. Plan your work, work your plan.
30. If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll get there.
31. When the outgo exceeds the income it’s the upbringing of the downfall.
32. To thine own self be true.
33. Courage is grace under pressure.
34. What are we not doing that we should be doing?
35. Sometimes you just have to let it go.
36. Duty, honor, country.
37. You learn more from listening than talking.
38. Always go the extra mile.
39. Pray.
40. It’s better to lead from behind and put others in front.
41. Listen first, speak last.
42. Focus on opportunities, not problems.
43. No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.
44. Each person must live their life as a model for others.

Phi Delta Theta will be honoring Bob in many ways throughout the month of June, within the upcoming edition of The Scroll, and in-person at the 2021 General Convention in Pittsburgh. To join us in honoring Bob’s incredible service to Phi Delta Theta, tribute gifts to the Phi Delt Fund can be made here.