Dr. Wright L. Lassiter Jr. became the first black chancellor of the Dallas County Community College District in June 2006. His leadership skills have served him well in the past and present. As the third volume of the Essential Voice series, this guidebook provides lessons and insights that Lassiter has gleaned during decades of public service. Divided into six parts and more than one hundred key topics, he focuses on topics such as • habits you can use to seize the day; • the top ten distinctions between winners and losers; • the power of place in a learning community; • ten lessons learned in over thirty years of higher education. These teachings apply to everyone, especially the thousands of employees of the Dallas County Community College District and anyone involved in higher education. Lassiter’s lessons will help you develop leadership skills that connect to core values and beliefs and that achieve results. Regardless of your position, you’ll improve yourself and those around you with the insights and advice in The Friday Messages: Food for Thought.