Think About What?

At the ripe old age of 17 I met the person who would forever change who I am, my high school sweetheart. You know…that person in your life who is loving, beautiful, inspires you to be better, grounded, and in every way the best of all you will ever become. Yes, this person I would eventually marry. Her parents allowed me to date her even considering they could hear my motorcycle coming from miles aways. I guess good manners covers a multitude of faults.

During this time in my life, I would also have the fortune to spend time working with my dad. He taught me many of the skills I use to this day. The list is too long to recount. I have knowledge in just about every aspect of construction and “practical engineering” because of him. He is the example of what it means to engage with others in a way that is genuine and ensures each person understands their intrinsic value. I watched him solve problem after problem with sheer genius and grit. I hope some of that genius rubbed off on me. I know the grit did.

Speaking of grit…I have a victorious tale of riding the Hotter than Hell 100 bike rally in Wichita Falls, TX that doesn’t end so victoriously. While this happens later in my story it is very fitting to tell now.  I wasn’t a seasoned bike rider, didn’t own the appropriate equipment, hadn’t adequately trained…but my best friend and I had the idea that we should go for the 25mile distance since we were newbies to the sport. Being young, fit, and overconfident we knew it would be a piece of cake especially since we did two whole training rides.  We got separated early in the race. He managed to stay focused on the task at hand.  I, on the other hand, missed the turn and was headed for the 100mile! I was soon aware of my mistake, but never one to back down from a challenge decided to take it on! My bike and body failed me that day.

After numerous flat tires and not enough fuel in my personal tank, I still did not want to admit defeat. My buddy was driving the course trying to find his lost friend and finally found me, dazed and confused. I was dehydrated and had what looked like icicles hanging off of the side of my face! As only a great friend would do, he forced me to load my bike. My race was never completed; or was it? The 95-mile marker was the end of the road that day. I went a whole lot farther than I planned but didn’t meet my newly set goal. I learned some things that day. Focusing on the task at hand is critical for success, proper preparation is imperative to execute efficiently, failure is real, and devoted friends are valuable and we all need them! That experience was full of pain and growth. Pain and growth also accompanied me through some actual victorious experiences. Well, not that I stood on a podium and received an award, but I felt like a winner. I completed two marathons and three Spartan races. Each time growing and learning.

With some skills under by belt and the excitement of beginning a new phase away from the hometown, I followed the love of my life to Nacogdoches, Texas. We attended Stephen F. Austin State University where I would graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and play on the Rugby team. Why did I get a degree in Biology? I was itching to be done with school (I was on track for the sought-after 7-year plan!!!) and that subject is something I was genuinely curious about which led to the easier route to getting my diploma. Besides, you can always use a science degree, right?!  Playing on a rugby team is not for the faint of heart. A pregame must was finding the nearest ER. Thankfully, I never had serious injuries, but at a scar on my cheek and remembering the numerous stitching episodes and turgid contusions reminds me of the rugby days. If I thought playing football was tough, I was taught rugby was another level. During my time playing on the SFA rugby team we captured the state championship, the Western US championship, and placed 3^rd at the national finals.  I was blessed to be a part of it and met some amazing (and unique) people.

While going to school and playing rugby, I worked as the maintenance director at a local nursing home. I maintained the building and waxed the floors during the night hours all the while enjoying getting to know the residents. I eventually started my own contracting business. I had a truck and a trailer full of tools.  Business picked up with an ad in the local paper and a network among the university professors. Apparently, doing good work for a fair price went a long way. Arriving on time, being respectful and leaving a clean workspace seemed to be impressive. These things shouldn’t be so unusual or impressive, but I guess they were, and they seem to still hold their value.

Christy and I had our degrees, so we packed our bags and said a sad goodbye to Nacogdoches. With her four-year degree and my seven-year degree we traveled up I 20 toward Dallas. We moved out of our small rent house where no family member dared to stay the night to an apartment complex in Plano. We lived on the third floor because we were young, and the vaulted ceilings were impressive. Here in our new location, I became a financial advisor for American Express Financial Advisors. I knew that biology degree would be useful!! Financial advising opened my eyes to the financial world unseen to most. This time of intense study, passing exams and watching brilliant people helped me to grow professionally and guided me along the path the Lord had for me. Eventually a door into the insurance business opened and I walked through it. Serving people and solving problems was a good fit. I enjoyed learning the ins and outs of insurance. There was much to learn in this adult world. Since I was old enough to work (well, probably sooner actually), I’ve worked. I worked on the farm, in construction, pizza delivery, bar tending, Texas Department of Transportation, waiting tables, nursing home maintenance, and too many odd jobs to recall. Experience adds up and I had learned a lot, but still there was so much more to know…so I kept on to the next chapter.

Christy and I moved out of our apartment and back to Bonham. We were expecting our first child. We bought our first home and with a new coat of paint and light remodeling, we were ready to welcome Reese Renee into the world. She arrived and our hearts have never been the same. She was a bundle of joy then and continues to be. Watching her blossom into a young woman using her talents and serving others is inspirational. Almost three years later, we were excited to learn we would be adding to our family. We were in the middle of building a new home and living with Christy’s parents. We decided not to find out the gender of our baby and let that be a fun surprise. Our baby boy, Colby Doyce, arrived and all things turned blue! Off to the store we went, Christy wanted her baby boy to be welcomed home with all the boy necessities. Colby has been a blessing since day one and we continue to be amazed by all the talent the Lord has given him.

I would begin what would be the most exciting, challenging, and fulfilling professional opportunity anyone could dream of. I joined the team at McCraw Oil and Kwik Chek Food Stores (recently converting to TXB). I had the opportunity to see and take part with this organization going from a single owner and founder to a partnership and from a local geographic operation to a regional corporation serving communities with a footprint over 250,000 square miles in size.

I was blessed to spend many quality years with my Father-in-law. Brilliance with numbers and developing deep, trusting relationships would only begin to describe his natural skills. “They” say the genuinely great ones have a really challenging time explaining how they do it…he was the epitome of that! He was great. He was not going to explain how he did what he did; he was going to show you. Being able to watch him day in and day out as he allowed me to follow closely and imitate what I saw was an education in and of itself and an education that will pay dividends in perpetuity.

So many others to mention during this phase in my life, but I would have to spill over onto another web page to list them all. Simply put, I would just not be who I am or have achieved any success whatsoever if God had not placed each and every person in my life. It is all about everyone else, what they did for me, the examples I observed and God orchestrating every moment. Thank you to everyone…you know who you are!

I began my career running a register and cleaning restrooms. After some counseling by my store manager about the importance of being on time and the importance of having a team around you I took advantage of the next opportunity. Our leader (now the owner and CEO of TXB), offered me the opportunity to manage my first location. He must have seen something in me, and I am glad he did. He has a knack for spotting talent and inspiring continuous improvement. I am glad he took a break on that particular day!!  I managed several single-site locations before being promoted to my first multi-site role. Learning from my supervisor the definition of true character that sticks with me to this day.

After a tenure in a multi-site role, I was promoted to oversee the foodservice operations for the company.  Next, I transitioned to the wholesale operations of the company where I learned the transportation business driving a fuel transport tanker truck.  I then moved into wholesale management where I had the opportunity to combine a newly acquired business into our existing operations. Fortunes would have it that I would meet my replacement and allow me to be promoted to the Director of Operations for the Wholesale division. This transition helped be to realize that you should never shy away from opening a door for someone that is more talented and skilled in virtually every aspect of the job-at-hand than you are.  You open that door!

I was also exposed to new leadership and a new way of thinking about business and what it means to be completely competent at what you do. Processes, metrics, systems, and yes spreadsheets (inside joke) have a significant role in any organization that wants to be more than what it is on any given day.  Many times, it is the lack of those things that keep many organizations from being their best. I learned the balance of having systems and processes in place with being very intentional in connecting with and serving people is the only recipe that works in sustainable organizations. You can have one without the other, but it will not last…or at least not successfully.

As our company continued to grow, we were faced with the challenge of finding our next HR professional. Yet again, I had leaders that believed in me and knew I would embrace the challenge. That began my time learning HR, Risk Management, Legal, and interacting with the entire organization from one position. This would prove to the be the time where I would embrace “how” things got done.

This included a good understanding of “how” versus “why” or “what” is, to me, critical to having sustainable success for any individual or organization.  It also extended into focusing on “how” you no longer play the blame game.  Finally, my grandfather’s words (“Son…think about it”) truly began to resonate.  I then started focusing on “how” you are in constant state of learning, which is my passion.

I completed this phase of my development in my final role as VP of Operations and HR with the Kwik Chek (TXB)/McCraw Oil organization. I was able to put all the experience together in this final role and solidify the understand that the key to anyone’s success is surrounding yourself with people that are better than you.

I’ve got a need. A need for speed. It’s time to fly! Bring on the Pilot’s license. Early mornings and late evenings earning a license while keeping all the other balls up in the air proved to be more than a challenge and even more of a reward. Thanks to the patience and professionalism of my instructor, I would attain my license and learn some unbelievably valuable lessons that would pay great dividends in my next phase…hint I am still here and able to type these words!!

Life happens regardless of who we think we are and how together we think we have things. September 7^th, 2020, I crash landed my plane!!  I like to say it was more of an off-airport landing……. Up for a quick flight and things just didn’t feel right, I decided to turn around and head back to the airport. We hear a loud pop, and the engine is gone…no engine, no staying in the air. We were going down. Talk about learning!!  What a success!!  Success??  Yes. Success. I was prepared, well trained, focused on the task at hand, and executed the plan…albeit it was the plan no pilot every really wants to execute. My friend (crash brothers as we like to refer to ourselves now) and I exited the plane without a scratch. My crash brother said the only injury he had was the ant bite he got as he stood outside the plane trying to embrace what had just happened. We were thankful. It was tough seeing the plane damaged, but we were safe and on the ground. And I had a lot to think about.

This off-airport-landing was in the same month that I had decided to leave the company and people I had loved for over 20 years. The best part about new beginnings…even more learning!  After buying and rehabbing several properties, Christy and I had our real estate venture going and we began to focus our attention on the newest venture where the passion is learning. 

Think About It Advisory Group was born as a result!  Before something is born it is dreamed about, imagined thoroughly, examined through the lens of experience, and quite frankly spurred into existence through the desire of those who would dare to dream the dream.  That continual reminder of my grandfather’s words…” son, just think about it.”  The realities of what happens when people individually and collectively as organizations do not genuinely think about how they do what they do. Day in and day out hearing someone say, “think about it.”  It was time to put the dream and the constant reminders into action.

As with any other success, as I have previously mentioned, other people are where the accolades should rest. Through the advice, counsel and support of many trusted advisors the dream of continuing to engage in a specific and unique way with people and organizations is a reality.  The opportunity to see people and organizations embrace learning and become genuinely curious in everything they do is nothing less than destined.

I leave you with this:  Colossians 3, verse 23 in the Holy Bible says this, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people.”  That is why I do what I do.