The Bear and the Two Travelers

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."

– Marcel Proust

“Two men were traveling together when a bear suddenly met them on their path. One of them climbed quickly up into a tree and concealed himself in the branches. The other, seeing that he must be attacked, fell flat on the ground. When the bear came up and felt him with his snout and smelt him all over, the man held his breath and feigned the appearance of death as much as he could. The bear soon left him for it is said that a bear will not touch a dead body. When the bear was gone the other traveler descended from the tree and inquired of his friend what it was the bear had whispered in his ear.

‘He gave me this advice,’ his companion replied. ‘Never travel with a friend who deserts you at the approach of danger.’”

Now, I’ve never been approached by a bear, but I have been in the company of “friends” who at the sight of conflict left my side to protect their own interests. I have also been on the receiving end of great empathy and mercy shown by some truly great friends.

Recently, our family was faced with a situation we could not wrap our minds around. Frankly, we were kind of embarrassed to ask anyone for help, because we weren’t sure what to ask for or what we even needed. We were so caught up by everything we weren’t able to process any of it.

But, even in the mist of confusion, we were surrounded by great friends. We had some strong leaders come beside us; some family members, some church leaders, some long time friends, and even some acquaintances who knew our situation and reached out to help. Almost to the person they would ask, “What do you need? How can I help?” Our reply was always the same, “I don’t know”. And then, each one would say, “We’ll figure it out, together.”

It is amazing to have friends. A support network who can help you figure it out, together.

Sometimes in business and in life we don’t always know what we need. We know we are facing hard times and struggles, but we may not actually know how to communicate our hardship with others. It’s okay. We don’t always have to have all the answers. We just need a little time, a lot of compassion for one another, and a friend or two who are willing to help us figure it out, together.

We have a great community. I have heard time and time again, story after story about people in our community helping each other out. Not only in times of major disasters like tornados or fires or something truly devastating to the masses, but individual and personal times of hardship; financial crisis, family crisis, business issues, and others.

We all have struggles we face. We all have experiences we can share to help others. I hope you will take some time to be a friend to someone who needs it. Take time to listen. Take time to hurt with them. And then, take time to work out a solution, together.

I know if you do, our community will be stronger, our businesses will grow stronger, and our friendships will be bonded tighter, together.

I'm looking forward to your success!


- The story above was taken from Aesop’s Fables.

* This article was originally printed in the Sunday, September 21, 2014 issue of The Chronicle's "Planting Seeds" column.

Woodcutters

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place."

~ George Bernard Shaw

"Two pulpwood cutters from deep east Texas grew tired of cutting pulpwood and decided to go to Dallas to get another job. As they drove, they saw a sign that said 'Love Field'. So they whipped their pulpwood truck into Love Field and drove right up to the main office.

One of the men said to his brother, 'You stay in the truck and I'll go in and see if I can get a job.' He went inside and found the man who was in charge of hiring, and said to him, 'I want a job'. The man asked, 'What can you do?' The brother replied, 'I'm a pile-it (pilot).' The main said, 'We need lots of those around here. You've got a job.' He hired him on the spot.

The pulpwood cutter went back outside to the truck and said to his brother, 'I got me a job. They hired me on the spot. Why don't you go in and see if they have a job for you?' His brother said, 'Okay, you wait here in the truck, and I'll go in and see if they will hire me.' He went inside and told the man, 'I want a job.' The man asked, 'What can you do?' He replied, 'I'm a wood cutter.'

The man said, 'Fellow, this is an air field. We don't need any woodcutters around here.' The woodcutter then responded, 'But, you just hired my brother.' The man responded, 'Yes, but he said he was a pilot.'

The brother responded, 'Well, how do you think he's going to pile it if I don't cut it?”

Clear communication and clearly understood expectations are vital in any business. They are vital in life and they are vital to the interactions we have with each other.

If you don't clearly communicate your needs, you'll end up with what you asked for.

I've come to learn this lesson on a daily basis raising two boys. If I don't specifically tell my son to put his socks on his feet first and then put his shoes on over his socks on his feet, I'll end up having to remove socks from ears and shoes tied on hands, putting us even further behind when we are already late to school.

Do you ever have days like these? Do you ever have projects or goals you didn't meet because your team didn't complete their assigned objectives? Can you say with certainty that the objectives and expectations of those objectives were clearly defined for each team member? Did each member know what the others were doing so that the team understood explicitly the overall goals of the team?

Sometimes we as leaders think we clearly explain goals and objectives because that is how we would like to hear them. Often we have to think about how others interpret our expectations and how we can better communicate so that others will understand.

Whatever you are doing, I hope you take the time to think about how you are communicating with your team members, your coworkers, your family, and your kids. Don't just settle for, and allow extra time to pull socks off ears. Take some time to clearly communicate your instructions. Make sure others understand your expectations. Reward them when they complete them successfully and help them learn when they don't. I know that if you take the time to do these things your teams will be more cohesive, your family will be a little happier and you won't be so frustrated when deadlines are close. And, I know our community will be better off because of it!

I'm looking forward to your success!

* This article was originally printed in the Sunday, September 7, 2014 issue of The Chronicle's "Planting Seeds" column.

The Skin of a Tiger, The Heart of a Mouse

“People won't care how much you know, until they know how much you care."

~ Chuck Ewart

I was recently reminded of a tale about a mouse who was terrified of cats until a magician agreed to transform him into a cat. That resolved his fear…until he met a dog, so the magician changed him into a dog. The mouse-turned-cat-turned-dog was content until he met a tiger – so, once again, the magician changed him into what he feared. But when the tiger came complaining that he had met a hunter, the magician refused to help. “I will make you into a mouse again, for though you have the body of a tiger, you still have the heart of a mouse.”

How many of us would admit that we are in the skin of a tiger but our heart is that of a mouse? We are tough on the outside but we are afraid to follow through with action of the same stature. We want to be direct and honest with those we lead, but we want to avoid conflict. Or how about the other extreme - you lead by shouting, yelling and throwing tantrums and lack the courage to admit you are wrong. Or lack the courage to put aside your pride and exhibit patience and kindness, to simply say "I'm sorry" or "I don't know".

We probably can all relate to leaders (or people in leadership positions) who have exhibited these behaviors. All through the life of such leaders one skin is traded for another. With every new skin comes new responsibilities or positions that make these leaders feel like they are a cat, dog or tiger, but fundamentally inside they might remain a mouse, lacking important courage.

Each new position or title might impress people initially, and a leader might feel like he or she has power. However, great leaders don't seek power for the hope that it will provide more recognition, honor, and glory. Or a skin for the hope it will provide more courage. True leaders seek to positively affect the lives of others. Great leaders have the skin of the tiger in terms of position, but they also have the heart as well. They do things because it is the right thing to do regardless of how difficult it might be. They act with courage because they care.

A leader can change his or her skin as often as they would like, but a leader's integrity, character and heart will have to be intact with the skin in order to be effective.

I hope you have found to love the skin you're in. If not, are you seeking that new position, role, or next level for the right reasons? How will it effect those around you? How will it effect those you lead and influence, whether they be coworkers, spouses, kids, or friends? Whatever the case may be, lead with courage, lead with honesty, and lead with integrity.

As my momma always told me, "boy, you're never too big to say I'm sorry." I hope you create a culture of positive influence in whatever you do. I know that if you show those you work with and those you are around how much you care, they will amaze you with the lengths they will go to to support you. And, I know our community will be better off because of it!

I'm looking forward to your success!


* This article was originally printed in the Sunday, August 17, 2014 issue of The Chronicle's "Planting Seeds" column.

A Burden of Purpose

“Find a purpose in life so big it will challenge every capacity to be at your best.”

~ David O. McKay

One day a merchant was driving his donkey towards home from the seashore with a heavy and burdensome load of salt.

They came upon a river they had crossed many times without any incident. However, this time the donkey accidentally slipped half way across the river and fell.

By the time the merchant had gotten his donkey to his feet much of the salt had dissolved away. Having his burden much lighter, the donkey was very happy for the rest of the journey.

The next day the merchant went for another load of salt. The donkey, having a good memory and had not forgotten how easy his journey was the day before.

When he got about half way across the river again he purposefully fell into the water and was once more able to rid himself of most of his burden.

This angered the merchant. He immediately turned and drove the donkey back to the seashore and loaded him with two big baskets of sponges for the journey home.

Once more, half way across the river the donkey tumbled over hoping to lighten his load. This time however, once he had scrambled to his feet, a disconsolate donkey dragged himself home under a load ten times the weight of his other loads.

Like the donkey, some people just don’t like their job. They see their employment as something they HAVE to do, as opposed to something they want to do. They often find ways to cut corners, regardless of how it affects the team or company they work for.

Leaders have an obligation to instill a mission and drive a team purpose with those they lead. Doing so creates a greater commitment to the team. Do your team and/or organization understand their purpose? Does each member understand their value in the success of that purpose?

To the donkey, the purpose was simply to do as he was told so he didn’t get scolded or beaten. He didn’t understand that to the merchant the purpose was to provide his family enough income to live for a year, which in turn provided the donkey food and shelter. He also didn’t foresee the consequences of his actions.

The team purpose should be defined and communicated. If it isn’t, team members will define it themselves to the possible detriment of the team or organization.

Every employee of every team needs to know they are part of something magnificent and grand. They need something big to aspire to.

What are you driving your team to do? Do you know? If the purpose of your organization, small group, family, church, and community were clearly communicated, do you think your success would improve? Do you think your members could achieve things no one thought possible? I do.

If we clearly and concisely communicate the value and purpose each team member provides and we tie that to the overarching purpose for our team, I think we can accomplish amazing things. Our organizations would prosper. Individuals will excel and our community will be better off because of it!

I'm looking forward to your success.


* This article was originally printed in the Sunday, July 27, 2014 issue of The Chronicle's "Planting Seeds" column.

Is Your Flaw Infallible?

“We succeed in enterprises which demand the positive qualities we possess, but we excel in those which can also make use of our defects.”

~ Alexis De Tocqueville

There is a story told of an old and weathered water bearer who had hung two large pots on each end of a long pole that he carried across his neck to deliver water each day.

One pot had a fairly large crack and only delivered a small portion of water with each daily trip – about half a pot. The other was perfect and always delivered a full portion.

For two years the bearer only delivered one and a half pots of water to his house each day.

The perfect pot felt it had reason to brag in its accomplishments in doing exactly what it was made to do.

The poor cracked pot felt ashamed that it was only able to accomplish half of what it had been created to do.

After two years of feeling ashamed, the cracked pot mustered up the courage to talk to the water bearer. He said, “I am ashamed of myself. Because of this crack in my side I cause water to leak out all the way back to your house.”

The water bearer said in response to the pot, "Yes, but did you notice the flowers all the way down the side of your path? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and one day I planted flower seeds all along the side of your path. Every day when we walk back you’ve watered them.

And now for two years you have provided beautiful flowers that I have been able to pick and decorate my table with.”

He said, “Without you being just the way you are, I wouldn’t have this beauty along this path or to grace my house.”

Each of us is uniquely and inerrantly made. We have beendesigned with a specific purpose in mind. Each freckle is in the right place. Each eye the right color. Each bit of knowledge learned at just the right time.

Have you ever thought what life would be like if each of us were good at exactly the same thing?

Have you ever thought of what our community would be like if we all thought the same? If we all agreed on the same topics? If we all shopped the same? Walmart would be nuts!

I am personally thankful we are all unique! Each of us has been given and blessed with a unique set of gifts and talents. Together we can do extraordinary things for our community. Through our diversity, we each see obstacles and opportunities through different looking glasses. Each bringing an interesting perspective to our future and where we want to go as a community.

I hope that you are embracing the diversity of your community, those you work with, those in your small groups, and the ones you interact with regularly. I hope you are blessed by their flaws and perhaps the flaws of others help you use your talents in new and interesting ways. I am excited for what our future holds.

Ken Blanchard once said “None of us is as smart as all of us.” I know that I am personally better because of those I surround myself with, flaws and all. I hope they feel the same. Surround yourself with good people. Look past their flaws and cling to their strengths and how they strengthen you. I know that if you do, our community will be that much better off because of it!

* This article was originally printed in the Sunday, July 6, 2014 issue of The Chronicle's "Planting Seeds" column.

Change You Can Keep

“When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world.

I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation.

When I found I couldn’t change the nation, I began to focus on my town.

I couldn’t change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family.

Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.”

~ Unknown Monk, 1100 A.D.

The poem above is one I have heard many, many times. As a younger man fresh out of college I would think on it and say to myself, “Nah, that’s not me. I have the stuff to really make a difference in this world. My generation will be the new greatest generation. There are so many more of us, how could we not be.”

Now, as a husband who has been married for more than ten years and a father of two small boys, I’m lucky if I have enough change on me to buy a Coke. But I did learn a long time ago that change is not an external thing. In order for nations to change and governments to change and large groups of people to be led to change a culture; that change takes place on an individual level. That change is personal.

The Bible tells us in Matthew 7 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

As people with ideas and dreams, desires and goals, we are hard wired to want change (however difficult it may be to accept). We want to see progress and I think we want to see positive change for the betterment of our fellow man and our community. But, we have been instructed to first change ourselves if we are to lead others to change.

As Father’s Day was approaching, I enjoyed remembering the sayings my father and grandfather and older men in my life who were father-figures to me shared with me as I was growing up. I enjoyed seeing others post on social media about what their fathers have shared with them and how those lessons, sayings, and traditions have shaped them into the people they are.

As my wife and I work hard at raising our two boys to be good faith based Southern boys, I hope that we continue to teach them lessons that help them build good character, good morals, and a good foundation for leadership. Through this leadership I hope they are encouraged to lead others to make a difference in their community. I hope their community example is a shining beacon to others and that as a whole their generation drives the change of our nation and the world.

There is an amazing plan laid out for this and every future generation. I hope that we as mothers and fathers, friends, family members, role models and community leaders are striving to lead our young people towards change. I hope that we all are looking at ourselves internally to see where we need to change our own thoughts and actions for the betterment of our community and those around us.

Above all else, I hope we are actively leading the charge for change and progress. There is an old Chinese proverb that says, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” I hope you have begun the journey. I hope you have taken the first step. If not, let this be your wake up call to begin today. I know that if you do, our community will be that much better off because of it!

57 Cents Worth

“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.”

~ Arthur Ashe

Reverend Russell H. Conwell on December 1, 1912 stood in the pulpit of the Grace Baptist (Temple) Church in Philadelphia, PA to recount the story of his friend, a little girl name Hattie May Wiatt.

“Hattie May lived in a house near the church in which we then worshipped, at Berks and Mervine, which is now occupied by the Christian Church.”, he began. “It was a small church and was crowded; tickets of admission were obtained sometimes weeks in advance for every service. The Sunday school was as crowded as the rest of the congregation, and one day when I came down to the church, I found a number of children outside. [The children] were greatly disturbed because they could not get in, on account of the crowd of children already in the Sunday school rooms of the church, and little Hattie May Wiatt, who lived nearby, had brought her books and a contribution, and was standing by the gate, hesitating whether to go back home or wait and try to get in later. I took her up in my arms, lifted her to my shoulder, and then as she held on to my head - an embrace I never can forget - I carried her through the crowd in the hall, into the Sunday school room, and seated her in a chair away back in a dark corner. The next morning as I came down to the church from my home I came by their house and she was going up the street to school. As we met, I said: ‘Hattie, we are going to have a larger Sunday school room soon’, and she said: ‘I hope you will. It is so crowded that I am afraid to go there alone’. ‘Well’, I replied, ‘When we get the money with which to erect a school building we are going to construct one large enough to get all the little children in, and we are going to begin very soon to raise the money for it’. It was only in my mind as a kind of imaginary vision, but I wished to make conversation with the child. The next that I heard about it was that Hattie was very sick, and they asked me to come in and see the child, which I did, and prayed with her. I walked up the street, praying for the little girl's recovery, and yet all the time with the conviction that it was not to be,” he remembered.

Reverend Conwell was asked to perform the funeral. After which the girl’s mother told Reverend Conwell that Hattie May had been saving money to help build a bigger church and gave him the little purse in which Hattie May had saved 57 cents. Reverend Conwell had the 57 cents exchanged for 57 pennies. He told the story of little Hattie May to his congregation and offered the 57 pennies for sale. He raised $250. In addition, 54 of the 57 pennies were returned and displayed as an encouragement to further giving. While Reverend Conwell used the story in a December 1912 sermon, the events actually occurred in 1886 when $250 was a large sum of money. Some members of the congregation formed what was called the Wiatt Mite Society which was dedicated to make Hattie May’s 57 cents raise as much money as possible toward building a new church, primarily Sunday school facilities. A house nearby was purchased and the rest is, as they say, history. The first classes of Temple College, later Temple University, were held in that very house. This house purchased to make room for Sunday school was eventually sold to allow Temple College to move and grow into Temple University which resulted in the additional founding of the Good Samaritan Hospital (now the Temple University Hospital).

Hattie May never had a vision for the lives and minds that would be (and continue to be) changed through Temple University. She only wanted to help her church provide larger rooms so that more children could attend Sunday school.

We don’t always know the outcome of the actions we take. We may have a limited vision for the circumstances in our lives. Others however, may build upon what we start and grow our tiny dreams to be larger than anything in our wildest imagination.

I encourage you to dream. I encourage you to build upon the dreams of others. Most importantly, I encourage you to do. Who knows where Temple University and its more than 35,000 students sprawled across nine campuses would be had it not been for little Hattie May Wiatt and her purse of 57 cents.

There are so many great opportunities for excellence in our community. I know that there are so many more we have yet to realize. Get out there and reach for the stars. I know that if you do, our community will be better off because of it!

Sources for further study: http://library.temple.edu/collections/scrc/hattie

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/h/hattiemaywiatt.htm#.U34f4tJdXh5

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* This article was originally printed in the Sunday, May 25, 2014 issue of The Chronicle's "Planting Seeds" column.

A Dead Duck May Open Your Eyes

A woman walks into her vet’s office with her beloved pet duck that is dying. She says to the vet, “Doc, you've got to save my pet duck.” The doctor looks over the duck and determines the duck is in fact dying and there is nothing that can be done to save it. The woman exclaims, “With all of modern medicine, is there nothing you can do for my duck?” The doctor looks at her and asks, “are you sure you want me to go through with it?” “Yes, yes. Anything” exclaims the woman. The doctor gets on the office phone and says something to his nurse.

A few minutes later there is a knock at the door. The doctor opens the door and in walks a tall black Labrador retriever. The doc looks at the dog and says, “You know what to do”. The lab jumps on the table and begins looking over the duck. He sniffs the duck from bill to tail feathers. Finally, the lab looks up and shakes his head. The dog jumps down and walks out the door.

A moment later a second knock is at the door. The doctor opens the door and this time, in walks a beautiful orange cat. The doctor looks at the cat and says, “You know what to do.” The cat meows and jumps on the table. Sniffing the duck and gently pawing at its feathers, the cat looks up and shakes his head. The doctor opens the door and the cat walks out.

Again the doctor looks at the woman and says, “I’m sorry ma’am, we've done all we can do. Your duck doesn't have much time. You should take it home where it will be comfortable.

With her head hung low, the woman collects her duck and starts out the door. “Just a minute” says the doc. “You need to settle your bill”. He hands her a bill for $5000. Floored, the woman asked how in the world he could charge her $5000 to look at her duck and tell her the duck was dying, something she already knew. “Well,” said the doctor, “when you came in here, I told you your duck was dying. That would have only been a $15 office visit. You insisted I perform more tests, so I had lab work done and a cat scan.”

Aren't we like this woman sometimes? Aren't there a lot of obvious things that we already know, but it takes an “expert” to point them out? What about the obvious things in our community? What about the obvious all around us that because we see it every day, we often overlook?

I recently used this story in a presentation to one of our Leadership Jones County groups. I wanted them to understand that this is one reason why our EDA and Chamber hosts Leadership Jones County programs.

We spend 8 months or so taking a deeper look at our community. We “go behind the walls” of some of our local businesses and industry. We spend time with our state and local government officials. And we take a look at those challenges and opportunities our community has for greatness. We want to open our participants’ eyes to the obvious so that we can collectively engage our community and create a better place to live, work and raise a family.

Each of our teams, both in Leadership Jones County and Future Leaders of Jones County, have done an outstanding job this year with their projects. They have instilled pride in our community. They have overcome obstacles that they identified. They have faced challenges and the outcome has made our community a better place for future generations.

After Abraham Lincoln had won his bid for presidency, he was supposed to head to Washington immediately. He delayed his departure because he had been asked to speak about a young friend who had passed away. In his eulogy, Abraham Lincoln said of his friend, “I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him. ”

I am very proud of each one of our leadership program participants. I am proud of our graduates and past participants. I am grateful for the legacy they are leaving for our community. Each of them has strived for the betterment of our community and none of us will fully know what those seeds planted will accomplish, but if the tradition of our community’s founders stands true, I expect nothing but greatness from each of them and each of you. 

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* This article was originally printed in the Sunday, April 27, 2014 issue

 of The Chronicle's "Planting Seeds" column.

Make Your Mark

“If we are to be really great, we must strive in good faith to play a great part in the world. We cannot avoid meeting great issues. All that we can determine for ourselves is whether we shall meet them well or with ill will.”

- Theodore Roosevelt

Do you ever get dumbfounded by the simplicity of an object or its application. I was recently working on something and every ink pen I could find would not write. With a little modern ingenuity from my pocket knife and a lot of luck, I found a pencil stuck in my desk and I was back in business.

As I began to write, I began thinking about the usefulness of pencils and a story I once heard of a Pencil Maker who was preparing to put an important hand crafted pencil into a gift box. Before doing so, he took the pencil aside and to the pencil he said, “There are five things you need to know. If you can remember these five things you will become the best pencil you can be. “First: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone else’s hand. Second: Sharpening is painful, but it is critical if you want to become a better pencil. Third: Because you have an eraser, you can correct most mistakes you make, though some may be harder than others to erase. Fourth: You may or may not look all that great on the outside, but remember that it’s what’s inside that’s most important; in fact for you, it’s your most important quality. And Fifth: Whatever surface you are used on, make sure you leave your mark. No matter how hard, rough or easy, you must continue to write.”

Pencils have been around for a long time. In doing some quick research I discovered that pencils were first discovered some time before 1565 (some sources say as early as 1500). An enormous deposit of graphite was discovered in Cumbria, England. The locals found that it was very useful for marking sheep. This particular deposit of graphite was extremely pure and solid, and it could easily be sawn into sticks. This remains the only large-scale deposit of graphite ever found in this solid form.

The value of graphite was soon realized to be enormous, mainly because it could be used to line the moulds for cannonballs, and the mines were taken over by the English Crown and guarded. When sufficient stores of graphite had been accumulated, the mines were flooded to prevent theft until more was required. Graphite had to be smuggled out for use in pencils.

England continued to enjoy a monopoly on the production of pencils until a method of reconstituting the graphite powder was found. The distinctively square English pencils continued to be made with sticks cut from natural graphite into the 1860s.

American colonists imported pencils from Europe until after the American Revolution. Benjamin Franklin advertised pencils for sale in his Pennsylvania Gazette in 1729, and George Washington used a three-inch pencil when he surveyed the Ohio Territory in 1762. It is said that William Munroe, a cabinetmaker in Concord, Massachusetts, made the first American wood pencils in 1812. 

A thing as simple as a pencil, something we take for granted (until our ink pen wont write) has a vast and rich history. Kings and Royals guarded its very existence because its usefulness was so valuable. How much more valuable is our usefulness?

We as individuals are very much like pencils. We as leaders and volunteers in the community need to guard our talents, but we need to sharpen them and put them to use toward the betterment of our community, always striving to leave our mark.

Just as pencils, we must first, be humble: we must often be carefully guided through bosses, mentors and people who care. Second, we must stay sharp: feedback is painful at times, but without it we will become dull. Constantly take the time to sharpen your skills through feedback. Third, it’s okay to make mistakes: In the process of becoming a better leader you will make mistakes, but, embrace those mistakes as opportunities to learn. Learn, erase and become better! Fourth, believe in you: We all come in different shapes, sizes and colors – just like pencils. But it’s what is on the inside that matters the most. You can have an important impact on others by believing in who you are and what your purpose is. And lastly, don’t give up: There will be times you will wonder if it is worth it, but people are depending on you so keep on going. Hold to your vision even when it seems it has dulled.

If you continue to remain focused on these five things, I am sure you will become a better leader and a better pencil in our community, always leaving your mark. And I know our community will be better off because of it.

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* This article was originally printed in the Sunday, April 6, 2014 issue
 of The Chronicle's "Planting Seeds" column.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

“When the blazing sun is gone, when the nothing shines upon,
then you show your little light, twinkle twinkle all the night.

Then the traveler in the dark, thanks you for your tiny spark,
he could not see which way to go, if you did not twinkle so.”

— The Star by Jane Taylor

The house lights dimmed. The concert was about to begin. A mother returns to her seat to discover her child missing.

Suddenly, the curtains part and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage.

In horror, the mother sees her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently plinking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

At that moment, the great piano master makes his entrance, quickly moving to the piano, he whispers in the boy's ear: "Don't quit.""Keep playing."

Leaning over the child, Paderewski reaches down with his left hand and begins filling in a bass part.

Soon his right arm reaches around to the other side of the boy, and he adds a running obbligato.

Together, the old master and the young novice transform what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience.

Perhaps that's the way it is with us. Do you have someone in your life that fills in the gaps and makes your feeble attempts into beautiful music? Are you that person for someone else?

I have no idea if this is a true story or not. It is an excerpt from an email I received once, but it sure does make you think doesn’t it? If you are a parent, it tugs at your heart strings a little too.

Don’t we want to wish this story is true? Isn’t it what we wish for our own lives? In our own insecurity, don’t we all want to know that there is a Master reaching his arms around us to make our fumbling attempts at melody into a beautifully orchestrated concert piece?

For many of us, what we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't always graceful flowing music. Sometimes we even see others hunting and pecking for that right key. Perhaps there is a little voice inside us that says we can be the master to others?

The next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You may hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, "Don't quit." "Keep playing." Maybe, you need to be that composer who encourages another. Life is more accurately measured by the lives you touch than by the things you acquire.

Reach out to someone. Take them by the hand and help them place their fingers on the right keys. I’m certain that if you do, you will receive far more reward by helping another, than from just helping yourself. Our community will be a better place because of it too!

It’s hard for me to share this story without recalling the words of my grandmother who said this to me many many times, “Remember, God doesn't seem to call the equipped, rather, He equips the called”.

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"Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" is a popular English lullaby. The lyrics are from an early 19th-century English poem, "The Star" by Jane Taylor. The poem was first published in 1806. It is sung to the tune of the French melody "Ah! vous dirais-je, Maman", which was published in 1761 and later arranged by Mozart.

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* This article was originally printed in the Sunday, March 16, 2014 issue
 of The Chronicle's "Planting Seeds" column.

Who Is Packing Your Parachute

“Great men are rarely isolated mountain peaks; they are the summits of ranges.”

— Thomas Wentworth Higginson

Do you ever take the time to think about the fast food attendant that takes your order or delivers your meal? What about the postal worker or UPS driver that sorts and delivers the packages for you to conduct your daily business? What about the truck driver who delivers fuel to the service station so that you can fill up your car and go about your daily chores. I expect that you, like me, give little, if any, thought about these individuals.

In the daily grind of life we often fail to recognize all of the good that is done on our behalf. I heard this story once that helps me remember all those individuals who are on “my team” and help me accomplish my tasks.

This story is about a jet fighter pilot in Vietnam by the name of Charles Plumb. Plumb had completed 75 combat missions when he was shot down, ejected and parachuted into enemy hands, afterwards he spent six years in a Vietnamese prison. Fortunately he survived and today shares with groups the many lessons he learned.

One day while eating at a restaurant with his wife a man came up and said, "You’re Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!"

"How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb. "I packed your parachute," the man replied. Charles Plumb in surprise and gratitude had to catch his breath. 
The man then shook his hand and said, "I guess it worked!" Plumb assured him it had and said, "If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today."
Charles Plumb is now a motivational speaker telling this story to hundreds. He always ask his audiences after telling it, "Who's packing your parachute?"
Charles Plumb is now a motivational speaker telling this story to hundreds. He always ask his audiences after telling it, "Who's packing your parachute?"

That night Plumb could not sleep. "I kept pondering what he might have looked like in a Navy uniform - a Dixie cup hat, a bib in the back, and bell bottom trousers”, he said. “I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said good morning, how are you or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor", recalled Plumb.

Plumb thought a lot about that man who had packed his parachute and the hours he spent at a wooden table at the bottom of the ship carefully packing his and others chutes. He held in his hands the chute; the fate of someone he didn’t even know. 

In our life many people have a hand in our parachutes. Are we taking the time to acknowledge them, thank them, reward them? It is very easy to overlook the work of the many people we come in contact with each day. When an athletic team has won a championship do you ever hear them thank the trainer, the cook, the bus driver? Do they take the time to reward them too? It takes a lot of people to create a championship team, just as it takes a lot of people to make us successful each day.

We often notice those who aid in helping us be late, miss an appointment or negatively affect the outcome of a deal we are working. What about those who help us get it right? The next time you have the opportunity, thank those who are doing a good job. Reward them. Let them know you notice and appreciate them. I know you will be glad you did and our community will be better off because of it.

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* This article was originally printed in the Sunday, February 23, 2014 issue

of The Chronicle's"Planting Seeds" column.

A Sticky Situation

“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”

— Abraham Lincoln

I hope you have recovered from the “Snowpocolypse of 2014”. I hope we won’t see any ice like that again for a long time, but I hear we do have some frigid temperatures forecast for next week, so restock and let’s get ready to hunker-down again!

While I don’t necessarily like the conditions under which it came, I did enjoy very much spending a couple of days at home with my family and getting to experience my boys’ first real snow days in their own home. (We were in Nashville a few years ago when Ethan got to experience his first snow.) I still don’t think our corgi understands or likes snow, at all.

Every time I hear ice and snow in the forecast I can’t help but think back to the Ice Storm of ’94 that I spent in the Delta. It was beautiful, treacherous, and fun all at the same time. Yes, it was fun for the obvious reasons that we were out of school, we got to head to the levee and slide down those steep hills (they aren't so abundant in the Delta you know), and that I got to throw snow and ice at my sister and didn't get in trouble – that much.

My fondest memories of that time are in regard to my family. We were without power for 14 days. That is an eternity to someone who, at the time, was used to having TV on all the time. We had no power, no TV, no refrigerator, no nothing (it seemed like). Luckily our house at that time was gas. We had a stove to cook on, a floor furnace and gas logs to heat the home, and a gas hot water heater. It was very primitive during that time but we all enjoyed each other as a family. The only form of communication we had was through the one country radio station that wasn't knocked out during the storm. I remember that once they ran out of music, they would play old TV theme songs, just for something different.

As much fun as I remember, I am sure at the time, things weren't so fun. I am sure we got on each other’s nerves. I am sure we bothered each other. And, I am sure at some point we never wanted to see each other again.

Its funny how even the people we love the most get on our nerves and seem to throw off OUR plans and ways of doing things. Sometimes our family’s differences s aren't the only ones that get on our nerves. Some times it’s our co-workers. Other times it may be our teammates. Perhaps still it is a social group or civic club that ruffles our feathers. I heard this great story that illustrates my point and I’d like to share it with you. It goes something like this:

It was the coldest winter ever in January that year. Many animals were dying. There was a group of porcupines that realized their situation was not so good. So they decided to huddle together. By grouping together they would be covered, protected, and their warmth would spread to one another. But huddling together caused a curious problem. The quills of each porcupine began to wound the one next to them.

After awhile it was decided that it would be better to distance themselves from one another. However, it was too cold and one by one they began to die alone and frozen. So the remaining team of porcupines made a choice; either they accept the quills of their companions or succumb to death. 

Wisely they each made the decision to huddle back together. Though it wasn't easy, they learned to make it work and meet their goal to survive the winter in warmth. 

No team is perfect; no family is either. We all have our differences and our own expectations that we bring with us. Sometimes we get on each other’s nerves and sometimes we let others differences effect our performance. Truly successful teams understand these differences, but they also embrace, admire, and celebrate the strengths of their team members.

Just as the story and quote above stated, let’s not die alone in the cold because we could not accept other’s differences; let’s celebrate the beautiful roses and forget the thorns. Problems will arise. It won’t be easy to get around them sometimes, but if we look for the good in each other and celebrate the good and positive things happening all around us, your teams and our community will be better off because of it!

I hope you stay warm as the harsh winter gives way to the beauty of spring, but I also hope you can celebrate the beauty all around you during this time of year. You will never have this time in your life again, so live it to its fullest. I know you will be glad you did.

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* This article was originally printed in the Sunday, February 2, 2014 issue

of The Chronicle's"Planting Seeds" column.

The Second Mouse

“Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought.”

— Henri Bergson

Ever since I was a boy I remember my parents and grandparents telling me, “The early bird gets the worm”. It wasn't until I was in college that I heard the second part of that saying. An alternate version of this statement and one that I am often reminded of states, “It may be true that the early bird gets the worm, but it is also just as well that the second mouse gets the cheese”.

When I was a boy, and still sometimes today, my parents would often scold me for “thinking too much” and not doing enough (or as often was the case, not doing whatever chore they had asked on their set time frame . Many times, it wasn't that I wasn't moved to action or wanting and willing to complete the task, but rather than just “check the box” that the task was completed and done, I wanted to do it right, I wanted to do it better, and I wanted there to be a significant purpose for doing said task. - It was often hard for me to find a meaningful purpose to folding my clothes and cleaning my room, but as I soon found out, losing my driving privileges was a great motivator!

There is a lot to be said for being quick to action. You certainly want to be reactive to issues as they arise and sometimes it is best to go ahead and just get done those chores that we don’t want to do, such as the laundry and housework.  But, there is also a time when being quick to action just might put you in a worse situation. I am reminded of a story I once heard of a Fox and a Goat.

“One day a fox fell into a deep well and could find no means of escape.  A goat, overcome with thirst, came to the same well, and seeing the fox, inquired if the water was good.  Concealing his sad plight under a merry guise, the fox indulged in a lavish praise of the water, saying it was excellent beyond measure, and encouraging him to descend.  The goat, mindful only of his thirst, thoughtlessly jumped down, but just as he drank, the fox informed him of the difficulty they were both in and suggested a scheme for their common escape.  ‘If,’ said he, ‘you will place your forefeet upon the wall and bend your head, I will run up your back and escape, and will help you out afterwards.’  The goat readily assented and the fox leaped upon his back.  Steadying himself with the goat's horns, he safely reached the mouth of the well and made off as fast as he could.  When the goat chastised him for breaking his promise, he turned around and cried out, ‘you foolish old fellow! If you had as many brains in your head as you have hairs in your beard, you would never have gone down before you had inspected the way up, nor have exposed yourself to dangers from which you had no means of escape.’”

Sometimes it is better to think before we act. Sometimes it is better to act before we think too much. The difficult part is knowing when is the right time to take an extra moment and plot your exit strategy before you begin.

I hope that as you begin your new year you have had some time over the holiday to think through the past year. What were those times you might have reacted to quickly? What were those times that you weren't quick enough to action? Can you learn from the actions of your past to improve your future?

As we lead into the New Year with our minds clear and our goals set, let’s take time to pause for half a second before we begin to make sure our actions are oriented to meaningful outcomes, but let’s never be led to not take action because we were trying to over think the solution.

I know that 2014 is going to be a great year for Jones County and I know it will be the result of our mindful and driven community leaders. I hope you are a part of it because I know that if you are, our community will be so much better because you are. Happy New Year everyone!

* This article was originally printed in the Sunday, January 12, 2014 issue
of The Chronicle's"Planting Seeds" column.