Gentleness Louder Than Ambition

Hey team. All right. So, here we are. And today, well, is my birthday. And so, what can I give you on my birthday? You’re saying, Chad, isn’t it supposed to go the other way around? Aren’t you supposed to get something? I get something every day. I get the joy of spending time with you guys, talking to team members, and seeing our company grow.

That is an amazing birthday present that I get to have 365 days of every year. I feel overjoyed to be here with you on my birthday this morning. It’s also kind of a joy to know that today we’re having a barbecue. So as you’re watching this, maybe you’re getting ready to head out the door and go to the barbecue and hang out.

Next week we have another barbecue. I love the fact that we have two officers, and we get to have two barbecues and hang out with team members and hug, and eat hamburgers and hot dogs and all that kind of stuff. But I wanted to give you a quote. I actually put this together. I wrote something a few weeks back, and it kind of stuck with me, so I came up with this quote.

You can tell me what you think about it. So this week, let your gentleness be louder than your ambition. Let your kindness leave footprints where ego won’t tread. Where your ego won’t tread.

And guys, I know something a little bit about that. I know something a little bit about ego. I know what it’s like to have a life that’s filled with ambition and not to be gentle. I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that being gentle and being kind, caring for others, being salt and light in your community, helping others, is a far better way to build relationship and friendships and leave a legacy that is lasting for a long period of time.

They say the best time to plant a tree is 25 years ago. So if you want shade or if you have shade today, it’s because somebody planted a tree many, many years ago. I’ve been to the redwoods where we have thousand-year-old trees and stuff down in the Humboldt County area in California, and they’re massive. They’re just amazing. We were on a golf course just doing an event out here in the Boring, Sandy area, and some of those trees were massive. Imagine what it took. Somebody had to plant that tree. Somebody had to cultivate those trees, water those trees when they were babies. And now there are towering monsters that are standing out there on that golf course today.

So if you’re standing in the shade, you should look backward and be thankful. Be generous and kind to others. Plant some trees yourself, some legacy that will build upon so that decades from now, people will be able to stand in your shade because of your wisdom, because of your generosity, because of your kindness. Others will be able to stand and survive and grow and continue to plant so that our country, our families, our communities can grow in a smarter way.

So often, we get into this belief that the only way for me to prosper is to push somebody else down. It’s not the way to live. So be generous, be kind, go where ego won’t. Leave a legacy that is lifelasting.

All right, God bless you guys, and happy birthday to me. Give me a hug at the barbecue. Don’t throw water balloons at me, though. Well, maybe. Who knows? Who cares? My little boys are going to throw them at you. So, payback is right. It’s awesome.

All right. God bless you guys. You have a wonderful week, and I’ll see you guys at the barbecue.