Slicing off PIE in work place makes difference Published Feb. 6, 2015 By Chief Master Sgt. Rodney Koonce 60th Maintenance Squadron TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- As we recently celebrated the life and extraordinary efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King and as we honor our great presidents on upcoming Presidents Day, have you ever wondered if you can make a difference or influences others? Have you done your part in your job performance or does your involvement matter? Those answers should be a resounding yes, but if the answers are no, don't worry. There is a recipe that I'll share to hopefully help you. We should always strive to make a difference. Take the simple challenge to make your work place better than you found it. I call upon you to bring some PIE to your work center. The key ingredients are vital to this Airman PIE are Pride, Inspiration, and Excellence. Each of us can bring this PIE because we can mix the ingredients up starting with pride in what we do each and every day. We get to travel to places and have great experiences others only dream about and although sometimes we have to go to austere locations as well, the best thing about this first ingredient is that you don't even have to go to the store to get it. It is homemade. It starts with you. You can take it with you wherever you are in the world. You have an unlimited supply. Whether you serve our great nation for four years or 30 and beyond, you should be proud and have pride in that you have served in the best Air Force in the world. You are indeed making a difference. Mix that pride up real good. Now that you have that pride all mixed up, pour in some inspiration. Merriam Webster's Dictionary definition of inspiration is to fill with an animating, quickening or exalting influence. We all have the power to inspire. You will never know the influence you have on another member or how your actions will inspire that individual. I truly believe that inspiration sparks motivation that can simply be contagious. Mix inspiration in with pride in your work center. What a great combination of ingredients. Don't worry. The great thing about this PIE is that there aren't any calories, so you can have as much as you want. The last ingredient is one of excellence. Put the measuring cup away because this ingredient is limitless. This one is special in that with excellence, it directs us to develop a sustained passion for continuous improvement and innovation that will propel the Air Force into a long-term, upward trend of accomplishment and performance. Now I challenge each and every one of you to mix these ingredients and bring this PIE to your work center. Feed as many co-workers, subordinates, bosses or whomever you want and watch the result. Your involvement matters. Leave your legacy. Bring your PIE to the work center. You can make a difference.