John Leininger

Dr. Leininger is now Professor Emeritus at Clemson University. I became a teacher 35 years ago, because I was independent and did not want to have to answer to a boss all day long (I had a principal to answer too, but I only saw him once a week). I liked being in control of my surroundings. That was 35 years ago and today I see the world completely differently. I love 82% of being a teacher (grading and administrative duties make up the other 18%), but it is not the control over my life that I thought was important back them. It is the feeling I get when the light bulb goes off in one of my students and I can see that “they get it”—that’s what keeps me teaching. In my department I am know for being a hard and demanding teacher, but my goal is really to help prepare my students to be not only good employees, but to good people as well. I want them to care about the quality of work they do, and also the way they serve their family and the community. I hear complaints from my current students each semester about the amount of work they have to do in my class compared to others, but the comments I hear from graduates two, three or five years out encourages me to keep my standards high. When I see them out at an industry trade event after graduation and they remember a lesson or an activity from my class and say, “Now I know why you made us do that.” It helps me fight off the urge to reduce the experience in my class to make it easier to teach. If I lower my standards and what I expect, the end result is a graduate less prepared for life. I truly believe God gave me the talents to take complex thought and break them down into chunks that people can understand, but he also expects me to set an example of how to live and work in the community. I travel a lot for my job, sometimes with students and always make a point to find time to go to church wherever we are. That is not typical when you attend conferences. Seldom do the planners of the event think about leaving the block of time open on Sunday for people to leave the conference to attend church. When I do it makes a statement and many times other will attend with me. I also travel to prison on Sunday nights when I am in town to talk with the prisoners in Oconee County Detention center, my students know this and it makes a statement to them on what I value outside of work. When the projects are due and students need help I tell them I will come in early any morning to help them, except Thursday when I have a church meeting at 7 AM. Keeping your life balanced and remembering where all your talents come from is critical and I know that an important part of my job assigned by God is to show people how to keep their life balanced and focused on overall success.

My Life

Favorite Quote

“There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.”

-W. Clement Stone

Friends describe me

as passionate, hard working, spiritual, helpful.

My hobbies

Attending industry trade events (it lets me travel), woodworking, racquetball, helping my wife do anything for American Cancer Society—Clemson/Pendleton Relay for Life.

Fantasy dinner guests

Mrs. Chaplin (my kindergarten/first grade teacher).

Best advice I ever received

My father told me that if it ever became an issue of choosing between my mother and one of the kids, my mother wins. He picked her, he got me. He did clarify that that was after we were grown. I have never forgotten that and it keeps me focused on how important my wife is in my life, and that I realize she is a true gift from God, just like my children.

My undergrad alma mater

SUNY Oswego, Oswego, NY

My worst subject in school

French.

In college I drove

Chevy Impala (it was called “Mucawush”).

If I weren't a professor, I would

Cabinetmaker—I love making things from wood and while I was in college I thought that would be what I would do on the side as a second job.

Favorite books

Winner Never Cheat, by Jon Huntsman.

Favorite movies

50 First Dates.

Favorite city

Charlotte, NC.

Favorite coffee

Never even had a full cup in my whole life.

Nobody knows I

I am a champion silverware sorter.

My latest accomplishment

I've been invited to speak in Australia this summer.

Current Research

Marketing Analytics and sales prospecting strategies.