I believe good leaders are like good teachers or good coaches. Good teachers and good coaches leave you better than they found you. They help you discover things you didn’t know.  New information.  New skills.  Stuff you didn’t know about yourself. When you’ve been under the influence of a good teacher, you discover your world is bigger than you thought.  The things you gain from being involved with the teacher create a hunger for more. […]

We don’t have to be superstars or win championships.  All we have to do is learn to rise to every occasion, give our best effort, and make those around us better as we do it. – John Wooden This is a statement of impact. “Rise to every occasion” means engage.  Don’t be passive.  Pay attention.  See what’s needed. Summon your energy. “Give your best effort” means contribute.  If you are in the game, be all […]

What makes us a better place to work? My goal is to be the “best blue-collar employer” in the markets we serve.  I use the term “blue collar” as an acknowledgement that our work is hard, exposed to the outdoor elements and not for sissies. So, we aren’t going to have yoga classes and free massages that hi-tech companies are proud of describing.  But we can still create an environment where people feel valued and […]

“Complacency is a blatant disregard for what is right.”  – Nick Saban, Alabama football coach. There is a three-part video series on Alabama football on an app called Athletic. I’m a fan of Coach Saban’s program and the approach he brings to things.  He has a staff member in charge of the health and performance of his players. Turns out each player wears a sensor which records each player’s physical effort in the course of […]

“Adversity is a test of your toughness, not your talent.” Tim Kight. Are you tough?  I’d like to think I’m tough enough.  But, could be tougher.  There’s no chance to pass through this life without facing adversity. I’ve heard it said that toughness is a skill.  Skills are developed through practice. Refined through practice.  Hardened by habit.  Thinking about toughness, I began a list.     You should to. Tough people show up.  They are where they […]

The PalletCentral Magazine, the publication of the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association recently published a report on the economic impact of pallets. Here are some facts to know: The pallet industry has experienced seven straight years of growth, rebounding from The Great Recession of 2008-9. As of 2016, our industry employed more than 67,000 workers, PalletOne employs more than 1000 of these workers.  The output value of our industry is $10.7 billion.  There are […]

“A leader that won’t listen to others will eventually be surrounded by people that have nothing to say.” – Andy Stanley What’s the climate like at work? I believe that communication ought to be constant, transparent, and courageous.  The stage for those three things to happen is set by a leader who listens well. The best teams communicate constantly.  Encouragement flows.  Teaching and sharing are mainstays.  Total, constant communication means everyone takes their turn and […]

“Get it. Got it. Give it!” Was listening to pastor Rick Warren talk about growing spiritually. He said those of us who are growing are doing these three things. “Get it” is the learning stage.  We read books.  We ask questions.  We stay open to upping our game.  If we are improving in life, we are open and “getting” more to build upon. “Got it” is the implementation stage.  It’s one thing to be exposed […]

“We don’t know who we are until someone tells us.” I first identified as a leader in fourth grade.  My teacher, who knew I played organized sports, assigned me the role of putting my class softball team together. I had the right players in the right spot.  They thought we were playing recreational ball.  We kicked their butt. As we returned to our classroom, the teacher from the other class stopped me and said: “Mr. […]

In the book “The Second Mountain”, author David Brooks says – “the key to strong communities is every member maximizing positive relationships and connections.” Of course, it is the key! I think why he says it deserves consideration is for encouraging community members to increase their number of contacts. If you are like me, you’re passive on the contact activity.  I can very easily stick my nose in a book, plop down in front of […]