LEADERS SHOULD BE SERVANTS FIRST

Almost daily I see so-called leaders fail to maximize the potential of those they are supposed to be leading. I see this as a reflection of what is being taught in colleges and universities across America. I encounter corporations, businesses, schools and institutions that are less than what they should be because of poor leadership. It is sad to see an organization with poor morale and the leader is either not aware or does not care. Sometimes a false feeling of importance keeps a leader acting as though he/she is someone more special than those they should be leading.

Last week, I had the opportunity to meet a lady who serves as she leads. She has built a nation-wide business that is more than flourishing. Maxine Clark is the chief executive of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. Maxine is the past president of Payless ShoeSource, Inc (Sue cannot pass a Payless store without going in). Maxine Clark cares about the employees of Build-A-Bear. She is putting so much in making sure their needs are being met. They can even bring a dog to work. She does not act as though she is above anyone else, rather goes the extra mile to be of assistance. Maxine was named a Customer-Centered Leader in the 2005 Customer First Awards by Fast Company. She was named one of the Wonder Women of Toys by Playthings magazine and Women in Toys. She has authored "The Bear Necessities of Business: Building a Company with Heart," which was published by Wiley.

I told Maxine that she needs to go to Baylor and help the Baylor Bears win some football games. She replied that she is opening a Build-A-Bear store in Waco.

Maxine Clark personifies a great leader. Without a doubt, she is one.

LEADERS SHOULD BE SERVANTS FIRST

Almost daily I see so-called leaders fail to maximize the potential of those they are supposed to be leading. I see this as a reflection of what is being taught in colleges and universities across America. I encounter corporations, businesses, schools and institutions that are less than what they should be because of poor leadership. It is sad to see an organization with poor morale and the leader is either not aware or does not care. Sometimes a false feeling of importance keeps a leader acting as though he/she is someone more special than those the should be leading.

Last week, I had the opportunity to meet a lady who serves as she leads. She has built a nation-wide business that is more than flourishing. Maxine Clark is the chief executive of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. Maxine is the past president of Payless ShoeSource, Inc (Sue cannot pass a Payless store without going in). Maxine Clark cares about the employees of Build-A-Bear. She is putting so much in making sure their needs are being met. They can even bring a dog to work. She does not act as though she is above anyone else, rather goes the extra mile to be of assistance. Maxine was named a Customer-Centered Leader in the 2005 Customer First Awards by Fast Company. She was named one of the Wonder Women of Toys by Playthings magazine and Women in Toys. She has authored "The Bear Necessities of Business: Building a Company with Heart," which was published by Wiley.

I told Maxine that she needs to go to Baylor and help the Baylor Bears win some football games. She replied that she is opening a Build-A-Bear store in Waco.

Maxine Clark personifies a great leader. Without a doubt, she is one.

AN OLD STORY

In going through some materials to be used at the new One Accord website (under construction) I ran across an article from the "Tulsa, OK Tribune." It was dated December 3, 1964 and was an article about my grandmother Smith who had been a sixth grade elementary teacher in Billings, MO ( just west of Springfield) in 1901 and 1902.

The picture in the article shows my grandmother who was 84 at the time was meeting with one of her students, Elmer Jones for the first time in 62 years. Their meeting took place in the home of Mrs. Smith's niece where Mrs. Smith was staying in Tulsa. "I hadn't seen Elmer since the close of school in the spring of 1902," she said."Naturally, he has changed a lot, but he still resembles the boy who was my student, although larger than I had him pictured."

Jones declared that Mrs Smith "looks a lot like I remembered her during all these years - she sure looks good to me. . I guess I have thought of her a million times over the years."

How did the former teacher and student get together after all these years? "My cousin from St. Louis was visiting with my wife and me and we were talking about teachers who had made an impression on us." Jones said.

I mentioned Rose Smith and my cousin said 'Why she's an aunt of my sister-in-law, Mrs. Burd who arranged for our visit. I'm sure happy she did."

For those of you who teach today, you just never know the impact you are having on your students. God bless our teachers.

HOW BLESSED WE REALLY ARE

If you have food in the refrigerator,
Clothes on your back, a roof
Overhead and a place to sleep...you
Are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank,
In your wallet, and spare change in a
Dish someplace...you are among the
Top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If you woke up this morning with more health
Than illness...you are more blessed than
The million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of
Battle, the loneliness if imprisonment, the
Agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation...
You are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear
Or harassment, arrest, torture, or death...you
Are more blessed than three billion people in the world

If your parents are still alive and still married...
You are very rare, even in the United States.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face
And are truly thankful...you are blessed
Because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone's
Hand, hug them or even touch them on the
Shoulder...you are blessed
Because you can offer healing touch.

If you can read this message, you just received
A double blessing in that someone was thinking of you
And furthermore, you are more blessed than over
Two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

Have a good day, count your blessings, and pass
This along to remind everyone else how blessed we all are.