Latest Insights

The Power of Giving, a story by Kevin Allen

A story told by Kevin Allen

The Power of Giving, a story by Kevin Allen

Here's a true story written by Kevin Allen, a good a friend of mine who lived in Arizona with his wife and wonderful family until his recent passing. Kevin enjoyed publishing a number of true experiences that he had or witnessed at a local Quik Trip convenience store that showcased the everyday uncommon goodness in people. He entitled them QT Chronicles and this is one of my favorites.

Thanksgiving 2018

It happened after prison (ministry) tonight, Wednesday night, Thanksgiving Eve. Knowing I had a lot to do tomorrow in getting ready for a large family event at my home, I hit QT after dropping off my church mates to fill the truck up with diesel. Prison, by the way, was melancholy as it always is for holidays that are connected to family, but everyone was kind and grateful for what they do have, more than I see with those outside who have so much and grateful so little. Anyway.

I pulled into the fourth slot in the diesel lanes, as the other three housed late model hopped-up beauties, all four-door one-ton work trucks, all three different brands. They clearly belonged to three friends who all looked similar, thirty-five-ish, well groomed, fit, the type that played softball a couple of nights a week back in the old days. They were all in construction, one was a painter and another a framer, easily identified by the things sticking out of the beds of their trucks. The other had a clean bed, so maybe a foreman, or a second truck that he kept clean and shiny. They were chatting when I pulled in and they all had questions about my Titan Diesel. After a few minutes, we all ended up inside at the fountain drinks area. A couple of us got drinks and the other two pulled cans (Monster Drinks) from the fridge. It was late, so I was surprised by the caffeine loading. I got unleaded Diet Coke, showing my age, I guess.

We were in two lines on either side of the register with a young female cashier when a lady came around the counter and looked for a register. In one hand she had a loaf of bread and in the other a gallon of milk, just exactly what convenience stores were invented to provide. I was in front, so I motioned her in front of us. She didn’t smile but she did say thank you. She stepped up and unloaded an envelope full of money, including several bills and coins of every size. She said, “Whatever is left put on pump #9.” She turned then and started to walk out. The clerk was fast and spoke out, “You’ve got $11.36 left in gas.” (That’s a little less than four gallons of gas.)

She was hanging up the nozzle when we got back to our chariots. There she was, driving a mini SUV of some sort, old and missing some chrome moldings. Children’s car seats covered the two back seats. The car was dirty inside and out. The three guys never broke stride as they headed her way. One of the guys took the nozzle from her as she hung it up and a second one slid his card into her gas pump. Then he proceeded to fill her tank. That wasn’t all, they engaged her in a personal conversation about her life. She and her two daughters live with her older sister and her three kids. There is no man in the household. They work, but one always stays with all the kids while the other works. They trade-off. That keeps them just above broke all the time, but they are surviving. They asked if she was having Thanksgiving tomorrow and she laughed and said yes, but it would happen over cold cereal or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. She was laughing now at her pitiful existence but seemed to enjoy conversing with adults, male adults, for the moment. She looked older than she is I’m certain, but she was easily forty.

One guy finished pumping while the other two sorta huddled near me. It took less than thirty seconds to determine their next step. The result was that within sixty seconds of hanging up the pump, the three trucks and the little SUV were headed to Fry’s Food Store to buy a couple hundred bucks worth of groceries, including a turkey of course. They were going to make some little kids and a sister very happy! They could see it and they were full of the spirit of gratitude and giving. I contributed my fourth of the donation, ever hungry to take part, and told them they could take it from here. They were jacked up and she was bawling when they left.

This Chronicle will forever stand on its own as exactly what the QT Chronicles are all about. It’s great the way it is, but it’s about to get greater. Are you ready for this? The three young men, forever joined now in this Thanksgiving miracle, had never met before that moment at the pumps when they pulled in together fifteen minutes earlier.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

The Impact of a S.C.O.R.E.S. Analysis

A S.C.O.R.E.S. analysis is defined as an innovative strategic planning technique to identify an organization’s Strengths, Challenges, Opportunities, Risks, Environment and Systems. From a high-level perspective, this technique can provide innumerable advantages to achieve a wide range of [...]

Are You Prepared for the Coming Silver Tsunami?

The world’s population, including the United States, is getting older. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the life expectancy at birth of the average person in America has increased from 76.7 years in 2000 to [...]

Anxiety and Stress in the Workplace

Anxiety and stress, although silent and unseen, can have devastating impacts on the health, safety and productivity of employees in the workplace. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH),  “exposure to stressful working conditions [...]

Why on Earth Would I Hire an Organization Designer?

Whether you are looking at a complex restructuring or simply trying to make a single department more effective, an organization design consultant can help ensure that the changes are well executed and have the desired positive impact to [...]

Ethics in Statistics

Statistics are a set of analytical tools, and like any tool, they can be used for good or bad. A hammer can be used to help build a home, or it can be a weapon. Statistics can educate, [...]

Leadership as a Non-Anxious Presence

Several years ago, I attended a retreat for non-clergy church leaders. The program was excellent, introducing me to the concept of leadership’s role as a “non-anxious presence” for those they serve. The elements were drawn from the work [...]

The Magic of Thinking Positive

Are we in control of THINKING POSITIVE? Yes, we are in control. It may require reframing a mindset but is possible and the benefits will lead us to a better-quality of life. If we keep a positive mind [...]

The Aging Workforce and What it Means for HR

You have probably been hearing it often: the population is getting older and living longer. This shift in population age is posing issues in healthcare, but also the workforce. Millennials have surpassed Baby Boomers as the nation’s largest [...]

The Fearless Organization

It is a pleasure to share with you an overview of Amy Edmonds’ book and its application to each of us. The theme of my message today comes from this book - the idea of leaders creating fearless [...]

Employee Engagement in a Remote Workplace

Given all the pressures and pivots managers have had to make managing in this new world of work, can you imagine how to also be in touch with the engagement level of your remote employees?  Our one-year anniversary [...]

Stories in the Storm

Those of us who experienced the sub-zero Arctic Blast that hit Texas in February of this year will never forget some of the challenges that we encountered and overcame during that unique weather time frame.  Shown below are [...]

Does Executive Coaching Really Work?

Executive coaching gets a bad rap in many situations. Why? Because it is often used as a last resort to deal with difficult performance issues, and not surprisingly, frequently ends with an exit from the organization. Unfortunately, this [...]

Nuestra Brújula de Liderazgo

"Los valores son más importantes cuando los tiempos son turbulentos". — Stephen Paskoff, director ejecutivo de Eli Inc.com 2020 realmente nos ha dejado en un lugar desconocido, dejándonos para buscar nuestra brújula personal.  Tenemos demandas que [...]

Todos compartimos una humanidad común

En una fría mañana de Carolina del Sur, hace muchos años, un joven de la isla caribeña de Granada marchó por la plaza del desfile con un pelotón de marines graduados.  Los puestos de revisión estaban llenos de [...]

Behavioral Assessments – A Beginner’s Guide

Finding great people, keeping them and inspiring them to do great things is a top concern for any business owner.  Many have turned to behavioral assessments to help make hiring, promotional, and development and engagement decisions. If you’re thinking about [...]

Our Leadership Compass

“Values are most important when times are turbulent.” — Stephen Paskoff, CEO Eli Inc.com 2020 has truly dropped us off in an unknown place, leaving us to search for our personal compass.  We have demands coming [...]

The Power of Giving, a story by Kevin Allen

Here's a true story written by Kevin Allen, a good a friend of mine who lived in Arizona with his wife and wonderful family until his recent passing. Kevin enjoyed publishing a number of true experiences that he [...]

We All Share a Common Humanity

On a chilly South Carolina morning many years ago, a young man from the Caribbean island of Grenada marched across the parade square with a platoon of graduating Marines. The reviewing stands were crowded with families who had [...]

Strategic Development Up Close and Personal

Strategic development, also known as strategic planning, is fundamental to creating and running a business or one’s life.  Simply put, it is a blueprint that outlines specific goals and objectives for pre-determined success.  Business goals and objectives are [...]

Facing the Pandemic with a Return to Workplace Plan

It is amazing how quickly six months has changed the way America works. Faced with unprecedented risks under the Covid-19 pandemic, all companies have been faced with orchestrating critical realignments to meet their commitments to both employees and [...]

Covid-19 and Julian of Norwich

As I sit here, staring out the window at all of the apartment windows and balconies surrounding apartment 420, I am struck by the enormity of the current pandemic, juxtaposed against the normal, every-day lives we are all [...]

How to Deliver Feedback with Impact

Getting feedback can be tough. Giving it effectively can be even tougher. Instead of saying what we mean with compassion, as feedback givers we often say nothing at all or short change the message, leaving the receiver bewildered. [...]