The New Girlfriend

Hey Team! All right, here we are. It is another Monday Message. I’m on my back porch sitting here. It’s actually an afternoon. Normally, I do these in the morning, but I had some time this afternoon. Such a beautiful day. I know that you guys are enjoying June as much as I am. I hope so.

We were at an executive meeting, and Sonja told me about a meeting she had with one of our clients. One of our clients described us as “the new girlfriend.” Now, that might sound a little funny, but when you think about it for a second and hear the rest of the story, you’ll understand.

We have been working with this particular client for about six or eight months, and they made the comment that we’re doing such a great job they can’t even remember who did a bad job for them before. We have, like night and day, overshot their expectations. The way he said it, being an older gentleman, he said, “It’s like having a new girlfriend. You forget about all the problems you had with the old girlfriend and why you left her and all that kind of stuff because you got this new girlfriend, and it’s just great.” That made me laugh because, as an old guy, we’re the new girlfriend.

How does that relate to Monday and being a message about core values? Our core purpose is to be valuable because nothing less will do. When you’re valuable because nothing less will do, you make people forget why they left their old thing. It’s kind of like being in love for that first time. It’s like having that new girlfriend. All you can think about is what you’re going to do with that new boyfriend. Is he going to ask me out? Are we going to go to the movies? I wonder if she’ll kiss me. All you can think about, and you drive your parents crazy.

I have a 10-year-old that’s going to be 11 soon, and I’m just thinking about the fact that in a couple of years, I’m going to have one of those in my house. Those of you that are parents might understand what I’m talking about, especially those of you with teenagers. It’s kind of good to be the new girlfriend. To be the one that is so valuable that you occupy their mind, and the only thing they can see is the excellence in you, the things that are wonderful and great.

It’s because of you. It’s because of our great leadership. Ryan, you and your team at night, all the guys working on both front and back half, the team members working at the site, the patrol officers, and patrol leaders stopping by and checking on the officer, doing patrol on the weekends, and so on and so forth. You guys are doing a fabulous job. You are being valuable because nothing less will do.

Next time you walk into patrol or whatever, say, “Hey, you’re the new girlfriend. You guys are looking good.” I’m telling you, I am so pleased to hear that. It sounds silly, but I am so pleased to hear that our clients are loving the value they’re receiving because it just goes to show one more time that you are doing a great job. You guys are fabulous. You’re excellent at what you do. You put your best foot forward, and even when times are hard, when things are tough, you’re still accomplishing the mission every day because you don’t quit, you don’t give up. Our core values ride with you every night, and what a wonderful job you guys are doing.

So thank you for that, and God bless you. Have a wonderful week. It’s an exciting week. Let’s keep moving. All right, I’ll see you. And remember, be valuable because nothing less will do, and you’re the new girlfriend.