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Be the Person You Want to Work With is Working With

A few years ago, I identified the values that I want everyone working with me to embody. These are descriptive values and not purely aspirational values. In other words, to work with our company, you need to be living out these qualities already and not aspiring to live them out. Those values are Humble, Hungry, Honest, and Smart.

Fast forward a couple of years, and Michael Hyatt wrote a blog post about them…thanks Mike! Then, even better, Patrick Lencioni wrote a book about three of these values entitled, The Ideal Team Player. Check out both resources…they are really good reads!

Again, for me and my team, we will be Humble, Hungry, Honest, and Smart. We will be Humble in our words and actions, putting others first by giving up what we think we deserve. We will be Hungry, self motivated to get things done. We will be Honest in whatever we say and do, even when it hurts. And, we will be Smart, showing common sense as we work with others.

Now, I challenge you to also identify the qualities of people you want to work with and then start living out those qualities. Be the person you want to work with is working with. We can all use a little more empathy and compassion these days.

I’m curious, what 2-4 characteristics (from this list or otherwise) do you value most and live by?

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Mighty Muscadines

mighty muscadines

I haven’t published anything here in a while. There’s an almost-two-year-old to thank for the absence from my very own blog (more about him and our family in another post).

Most of my posts are related to improving leadership skills and family health. However, because of the recent global pandemic, I’d like to discuss an idea for personal physical health…and, it’s an idea near and dear to my life….the mighty muscadine!

As you may know, my family grows muscadines, which is a native southern American grape. I like to say we grow America’s native grape at Paulk Vineyards. As it turns out, our muscadines are extremely healthy for you, and I encourage you to read more about this topic at muscadines.com.

If you find yourself wanting to find consumer products to improve your health and immune system, visit Nobility Products. Our Mighty Muscadines can help you take control of your health.

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The Power of a Mentor

I recently spoke at my Rotary International District 6920 Annual Conference. Our District Governor, Hamsa Thota, is encouraging each of our local clubs to begin a mentorship program…and specifically, to encourage agri-business entrepreneurship. He was looking for a story to encourage current Rotarians to mentor students and young adults…and I have just the story.

During my senior year of high school Mrs. Linda Roberts, my math teacher (and, best teacher of all time!) encouraged us to find a PAL. These were Partners in Action for Learning…I think. This could be anyone with a job we wanted to do to someone we thought was cool. I chose Dr. Robert Hingson. Dr. Hingson and his wife, Toby, retired to Ocilla from Pittsburgh, PA.After they retired here, Dr. Hingson and my grandfather became friends through our Ocilla Rotary Club. I remember going to dinners with them as a child. And, I thought he had an interesting story. As it turns out, he lived an incredible life that I was fortunate to learn about my senior year of high school.

Chris & Mrs. Roberts

Dr. Hingson was a retired anesthesiologist, Dr. Hingson was also a professor, inventor, and humanitarian. He spoke at the Rotary International Convention in 1978 as the keynote speaker. He traveled around the globe helping immunize people using technology that he invented. And, he retired to Ocilla! And, as most people do, they had a connection. Mrs. Toby’s grandfather built the home some years prior, using the same bricks used to build our county’s courthouse. How cool is that?!

As we finish another school year, I think about Mrs. Roberts, who was one of the most influential teachers in my life…and, who continues to brighten everyone’s day whom she encounters. And, I think about the tremendous impact Dr. Hingson had on the direction of my life. As he mentored me, I gained a vision of how I can use my talents and resources to benefit others around the world.  I’m very grateful for Mrs. Roberts’ mentorship in my life and her leadership as she encouraged us to seek out a mentor. And, I’m grateful for Dr. Hingson, who simply shared his time and stories with me.

May we all follow their examples and  share our time and resources with those behind and around us.

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The Power of the Other

I recently read one of the most encouraging, powerful, and yet, self-evident, books. The Power of the Other by Dr. Henry Cloud is the great reminder that our culture has, yet again, misguided us. Especially here in the United States, we value independence. We celebrate people who appear to succeed on their own. We aren’t, however, told the entire story.
What you know instinctively, though, is that your best and worst seasons in life weren’t entirely about the market or your skills. Your best and worst seasons were also about who was with you. For better or worse, your friends and family were playing a large part in the results of those seasons and whom you were becoming. I know that my greatest accomplishments and challenges overcome have been, and will be, in close relationship with others.
In his book, Dr. Cloud identifies four approaches, or corners, to connection. In order for you to truly succeed in life, we need to intentionally avoid the first three corners and seek out the fourth corner. His four corners are:
  1. Disconnected, No Connection – I see this corner often in men who say, “I can pull myself up by my bootstraps. I’ve got this!” Or, you might be new to a town or job. Instead of seeking true connection, you maintain your independence, further isolating yourself.
  2. The Bad Connection – Because we are all made for connection, you might find yourself connected to a person who makes you feel inferior, guilty, or something is wrong with you.
  3. The Pseudo-Good Connection – Where Corner Two connections leave you feeling bad, Corner Three connections make you feel good. That can’t be a bad thing, can it? You just might find yourself surrounded by people who only tell you what you want to hear. Remember The Emperor’s New Clothes?
  4. True Connection – This is the corner where you want the best for others, and others want the best for you. As Dr. Cloud puts it, Corner Four connections, much like a Navy SEAL parachuting into hostile territory, ask themselves and seek the answers to three questions:
    1. Where am I?
    2. Where is the enemy?
    3. Where is my buddy?

You can recognize these Corners in just about every aspect of life. And, I believe we will do ourselves and our loved ones well to seek out and cultivate true connection with a handful of people…people who will help us arrive at a better destination.

Question: How has a healthy relationship helped you achieve greatness or overcome a challenge?
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Taking Care of Business

Six weeks ago, the world lost one of the most amazing men to ever live. In case you haven’t heard, my grandfather, Jacob Paulk, went to his Heavenly home on February 24, 2017. Our family has obviously missed him dearly. And, the farm has experienced quite a transition, also. Papa Jacob left large shoes to fill, and I am humbled to carry on part of his legacy. I wrote about his influence in my life and our business in last month’s newsletter. Please check it out here.
One thing I’ve concluded that Papa Jacob did better than anything else was taking care of business. Personally, he took care of himself, his health, his relationship with God, and his relationships with friends and family with great intention. Professionally, he took care of his business every day with great focus on the smallest details and the broadest vision.
I’ve concluded that my mission in life is to take care of all God has entrusted to me…much like Papa Jacob took care of all God entrusted to him. I encourage you to also take care of all that has been entrusted to your care: your time, your health, your job, your family, your friendships.
Question: What are the most important things you take care of?
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Growing in the Same Direction

Last month, Jorjanne and I went to the Catalyst Conference. Attending this event with our closest friends has become an annual tradition. If you aren’t familiar with the Catalyst Conference, check out their content and the people who speak. They are extremely genuine, wise, and inspiring.
Getting away a couple of times per year is a strategic part of our marriage. And, getting away together is a strategic focus of my closest friendships. I’ve learned that getting away together with Jorjanne and my closest friends regularly for a conference or special event provides at least 5 benefits:
  1. Taking a regular trip provides cherished memories that last a lifetime.
  2. These trips also allow us to grow in the same direction through the content we each experience at a conference. This common growth also provides new conversations and vocabulary that we use to continually benefit each other within our group.
  3. We can later share this information with our other friends, family, and team members to help them also grow in this same direction.
  4. By leaving home for the getaway, we are able view our everyday lives with a new perspective that we wouldn’t have recognized by staying home.
  5. Our friends, spouse, and other family can help us solve problems we may not have been able to solve while in the forest of daily life at home.
So, the next time you are invited to a conference GO! Or, if you’ve passed up the opportunity to attend a conference, take the lead next time and invite a few close friends to join you.
Your future healthier family will be glad you did.
Question…What conference has had the greatest impact on your personal, relational, or professional growth?
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Freedom to Fail

This morning I actually got up early to work out…okay, my dog was barking (I think he’s scared of the dark) and woke me up 10 minutes before my alarm, so I got up. In any case, I just read the most refreshing and reassuring passage of scripture.

“…but I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.” Psalm 89:33

This passage of scripture was included in a short devotion by Bob Goff. If you don’t know Bob, read his book, Love Does. Bob must be one of the most joyful, passionate, and whimsical people on the planet. In his devotion, he talks about how God loves us even through our failures. Fortunately, God doesn’t want us to keep score of our screw ups versus successes. He calls us to think differently. Bob closes the devotion with a powerful thought… “I’ve realized that I used to be afraid of failing at the things that really mattered to me, but now I’m more afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.”

As you think about your various projects, responsibilities, and relationships, are you striving to succeed at things that don’t really matter?

If I want a healthy family, I must strive to succeed at things that matter. Engaging conversations with Jorjanne and the boys matter. Staying current on my Facebook feed…not so much. Consistently encouraging my boys matters. Eating dinner at home matters. Staying busy at work or another meeting late into another evening…not so much. Get the idea?

If you’d like to read the entire devotion, check it out here.

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Dinner Time

Next Tuesday MPC hosts Life Lessons Over Lunch. We host lunch on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month and invite the entire farm family. Usually, anywhere from 10-30 people eat together, and we watch a video message by North Point Community Church. The messages are very helpful. In fact, we just completed my favorite North Point Series of all time, Destinations: Direction, not intentions determines destination. But, just as helpful as the messages, is the opportunity for me to pour the drinks and our entire farm family eat together. We don’t all work in the same physical locations, so everyone doesn’t always spend time together throughout the work week. While it is only an hour, Life Lessons Over Lunch allows us to grow  together as a group of people who all have hopes and dreams and fears; and what better place to grow than around a table together with food!
Eating together as a family is very important. Many times during the year, Jorjanne, the boys, and I end up eating at a ballgame or between practices. But, I cherish the evenings when we eat at home. The boys finish their homework, we play a little, and then we eat dinner together,  with no agenda other than enjoying each others’ company.
Every family needs to eat together. If possible, eat at home. And, eat together regularly. Dinner provides such a wonderful opportunity to serve each other, listen to each other distraction free, and grow together.
Bottom line…dinner as a family makes for a healthy family.
Question: What is your favorite dinner?