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5 Ways to Stop Babysitting at Work

Do you ever have trouble getting the people who work for you to do what they are suppose to do? Do you ever find yourself needing to just do things yourself since everyone around you can’t get the job done? Do you ever stay late at work doing the work others didn’t do for you? Do you feel like a baby sitter for adults?

I did at one time, but now I don’t.

Here’s why.

I know that I won’t do this forever. I will retire. I will die. Someone else will do my job, and I want them happy to come in after me.

For everyone’s sake, please do this:
1. Focus your time where are most Compentent because the less you do, the more you accomplish.
2. Show Courage because courage establishes leadership.
3. Be Clear when you speak and send that email because uncertainty demands clarity.
4. Coach those around you because coaching enables a leader to go farther, faster.
5. Live with the purest Character because character determines your legacy.

I didn’t make up this list. I am borrowing it from Andy Stanley’s book, Next Generation Leader. If you want the people you spend 40+ hours per week to accomplish more AND be happier you are at work than not, please get a copy now and become a Next Generation Leader.

PS – This is one of the best leadership books I’ve ever read and is my manual in leading MPC.

Question: Have you ever worked for a controlling leader? What lessons did you learn?

I look forward to hearing from you!

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My New Job

When I was in school, I thought I knew what I wanted to do when I grew up. I knew that I wanted to design and build things. I wanted to be an engineer. I didn’t want to teach. I didn’t want to work in the medical field. And, I definitely didn’t want to sell things for a living. When I thought of the sales business, I pictured a slick salesman in a suit offering something I didn’t really need for a price that sounded too good to be true.

Fast forward 13 years since Georgia Tech, and what do I do? I am in the business of sales!

In his latest book, To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others, Dan Pink defines sales as the act of “moving others to give up what they have for what you have.” When we think of sales in this light, I agree with Pink that most of us are involved in the sales business. We are just in the business of non-sales selling.

As I lead my company in processesing regionally grown fruit products for people around the world desiring a healthy, natural life, I must sell our vision and goals to my teammates.

When I go home, I need to sell vegetables at dinner and a regular bed time to our boys.

Chances are, you are probably in the sales business, too. If you ever need to convince co-workers of an idea, you are in the sales business. If you are teaching students how to diagram a sentence, you are in the sales business. Or, if you farm, you are in the sales business.

Because of the variety of situations where I need someone to give up something they value for something I have, To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others is my new sales handbook. I know the new ABCs of sales:
– Be in Attunement
– Be Bouyant
– Be Clear

And, I also know what to do when selling:
– Pitch
– Improvise
– Serve

So, as it turns out, I don’t mind the sales business after all. I actually enjoy it…especially since I don’t have to wear a suit to work every day!

I have a question.

Does your work involve convincing or persuading people to give up something they value for something you have? If so, you might want to pick up a copy of To Sell Is Human and get into the new sales business.

I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

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How I Wake Up at 5am Every Morning

I woke up this morning at 5am to exercise, read, and pray. This is my morning habit…except this morning was only the 2nd time in a week that I’ve woken up on time. Not much of a habit, huh?

I was first inspired to wake up early with purpose in 2012 after reading [Michael Hyatt’s blog post ]http://michaelhyatt.com/slay-your-dragons-before-breakfast.html)about his morning routine. During that summer, I started getting up early with some friends to workout. A couple of the guys had gained a little weight, and I wanted to help. I bought the Insanity workout DVD set, a workout mat, and offered a section of the warehouse for us to shape up together at 5:05 every weekday morning. All was well until the summer ended. The school year started back, our routines changed, and we all went our separate ways. I took the DVDs home and decided to go at it alone. Who needs someone else to help you get out of bed anyway? I am a grown man…can’t I wake up by myself?

Well, after almost two years, I am here to tell you that waking up early by yourself is tough…really tough. I have the most intense motivation at night. But, when the alarm clock sounds the next morning, I can’t seem to get out of bed. I place my alarm clock in another room. I lay out my clothes the night before. I get 7 hours sleep. I have tried every trick in the book…and I have read several books on this topic! But, I can’t get up early every single morning.

This morning I realized I had two benefits in the beginning that I don’t have right now:

  1. Accountability – I knew that my friends would be looking for me. Not only was I the one with the key to the building, I knew that they were expecting me to work out with them. I wanted them to show up, so I needed to do my part and show up, too.
  2. A sense of urgency – I knew that my friends were going to arrive every morning at 5:05am. Waking up at 6:30 was too late.

The most useful thing about these two benefits is that they can be applied to other aspects of life. I can think of a few home improvement projects I put off until the day before guests visited. I accomplish the most in areas of my life where I have strong accountability to myself or a friend. And, I am the most intense with tasks that are due soon. The secret is to self-impose accountability and a sense of urgency to tasks that are important but not urgent.

I hope these two factors can also help you accomplish a goal or form a new habit. Now, I just need to find someone to look for me at 5am!

Question: What have accountability and a sense of urgency helped you accomplish?

I look forward to hearing from you!

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Strategically shrewd and innocent

I recently relaunched my personal blog. After relaunching, I realized that some of my original blog posts didn’t make it over to my new site. The following is a repost from one of my first entries. I still find it very relevant and hope you do, too.

I listened to a recent message by Andy Stanley, which was part of North Point Community Church’s “Christian” series. In this particular message Andy shares with all Christ followers that we are salt and light to the world. Salt always preserves. Light always shows the way. One image in Matthew 5 that especially stood out to me from this message is in verse 14, “A city on a hill can’t be hidden.” Now, cities don’t accidentally appear in a location. They are chosen locations, designed, and settled with purpose. So, has God really strategically place me like a city on a hill? Cities on hills are hard to ignore because their lights do shine and show the way.


Medellín at night



I also read a recent blog post by Brian Volk with Life Lessons Over Lunch. His post was based on Jesus’ statement in Matthew 10:16, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves.” Brian outlines some excellent thoughts and directives for Life Lessons Over Lunch leaders. I am a little intimidated by the shrewd and innocent part, especially if I have been sent out like sheep among wolves. Of the people I know who fit these descriptions, few are both shrewd and innocent. They might be one, but rarely also the other.

So, these two concepts from Matthew 5 and Matthew 14 have resonated with me. I am very comforted and excited to know that God has strategically placed me where I am living and working. But, I am also a little intimidated by the shrewd and innocent part.

As I build relationships with my team, customers, and vendors, I am challenged by these concepts. I am investing in my team and our culture, but I never want to come across as pushy or demanding. I also want the best for my customers and vendors, but I never want to be perceived as obnoxious. So, helping preserve like salt and show the way like a light in a production-focused business world, honestly, takes a little shrewdness and total honesty (or innocence) all of the time.


I don’t have all of the answers. But, what I do know is that when I live and lead on purpose, people notice Jesus’ love. Living and leading shrewd as a snake and innocent as a dove isn’t such a bad idea after all.


So, tell me: When was a time you were shrewd and also innocent? 


Trust me, people notice.

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Have I Lost My Mind?

Monday, I did something for the first time. I qualified as a candidate for the position of an Irwin County Commissioner. I have grown up around local politics as my dad, Gary, serves as an Irwin County Board of Education Member. And, my father-in-law, Billy Zorn, serves as a County Commissioner in Irwin County’s First District.

In 2002, Jorjanne and I moved home to start my family’s processing business, Muscadine Products Corporation (MPC). After our move from Atlanta, I commented that one day maybe I would have the opportunity to serve as a Commissioner and redeem my Georgia Tech Civil Engineering degree. Civil Engineering is essentially solving the problems of society – providing clean water for a region; designing safe roads and bridges for a community; or, constructing hospitals and industrial parks. Except for a few years serving on Ocilla-Irwin County’s Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Irwin County’s Industrial Authority, I have focused my entire professional attention on building my company. MPC produces regionally grown fruit products for people around the world desiring a healthy, natural life. Now, when I think about it, my responsibilities as a civil engineer and President of MPC are similar – to solve problems, improving life for others.

When I arrived at the Courthouse on Monday to complete my application, I realized I was the first person to sign up. All eyes were on me. That was a little awkward. And, then when I arrived at my Ocilla Rotary Club’s meeting three hours later, everyone knew that I qualified. (Who needs social media when there is an election in a small town?) Everyone congratulated me on qualifying…except one good friend. He frankly asked, “Have you lost your mind?!”

I haven’t lost my mind. I am just doing what I have learned to do. God has blessed MPC beyond my wildest dreams, and now I realize I have an opportunity to help solve problems, improving life for my neighbors.

Question: Have you ever volunteered to serve and someone asked if you lost your mind? What was that like?

I look forward to hearing from you!

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3 Reasons To Plan to Get Away

A couple of week ago, our family went on a four day vacation with Jorjanne’s sisters and their families. This year was the fifth annual trip for our families, and we look forward to the time away and together. Each trip is in a new location. We always rent one house for all four families. And, we always make lasting memories. Thinking back on the trip, I realized there are 3 reasons we’ve made this an annual tradition.

1. Scheduling family time teaches our boys to make family a priority. The best way to know my priorities is to look at my budget and my calendar. So, Jorjanne and I plan a few annual trips. Jorjanne and I take 1 vacation per year without the boys. We go on a vacation during the summer with the boys. And, we go on this trip each Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday weekend with extended family.
2. If you really want to know someone better, drive more than three hours away and stay in a stranger’s house for the weekend. No, seriously. We have the best time traveling to a house we have only seen pictures of online and rented. We are all excited about the same destination. We are away from the busyness of life together. We cook together. We play games together. Spending time together in this setting helps us grow closer like nothing else will.
3. We make great memories as a family. This year, we went snow tubing and jumped into Lake Lanier…that was a first! I love hearing the stories my boys tell later as they recount each year’s vacation. Because of the time with their cousins, they can’t wait until next year’s trip.

I know that if I let culture take me along with its current I won’t be happy with the destination. I will be in debt and lonely. Planning regular time with family is very important in arriving at the best destination. I hope these three reasons help you in planning a better destination.

What are some ways you spend time away with family? I would love to hear from you in the comments.

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Why I Can’t Sit Down

During the spring of 2012 I started working out regularly. I love the morning routine of exercising, listening to books on Audbile, and thinking about the day ahead. A friend introduced me to the Insanity workout early on and I was hooked. If you aren’t familiar with this workout, think intense cardio plus strength training for 45 minutes. I’ve completed this 60-day program several times. I run on the weekends, but I keep coming back to Insanity during the week. I just love the mix of cardio with strenth training.

Insanity seemed like the perfect at-home workout…until last Wednesday. I was in the middle of my workout when I quickly stood up and sprained my Sacroiliac (SI) Joint. In just a few seconds I went from running a 22 minute 5K and doing 100 pushups with ease to struggling to dress myself in the mornings…frustrating to say the least. I don’t think I have ever experienced pain like this! WOW! My lower back is uncomfortable when I stand up. My lower back and left hip experience severe pain when I sit down. Oh, and I can hardly bend over.

Fortunately, I remembered Michael Hyatt’s post entitled “A Question That Changes Everything.” In this post, Michael experiences a health setback and asks himself “What does this experience make possible?”

I am very grateful for his blog, and especially this question. I have been tempted to ask myself several questions over the past several days:
Why did this happen now?
What did I do to deserve this?
Why did I not bend my knees more instead of stooping over?

But, the question “What does this experience make possible?” shifts my thinking in a couple of ways.

First, I acknowledge that I am not in total control. God is in control, and I am not. He has a great plan for my life, and I don’t want to miss it by being angry at Him and myself for my current condition.

Second, this question shifts my thinking from the past to the future. I hope this experience makes me a better planner, better leader, better delegator, and better writer since I can’t physically accomplish all I have been doing. I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes by Elanor Roosevelt: “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”

The bottom line is this: Bad things happen, and you are not in total control. But, you can control your response to negative situations when they do happen. Asking yourself the right question can help direct your response.

So, think about a negative situation in your life. Ask yourself, “What does this experience make possible?” I would love your comments.

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How Would You Like It?

I was recently invited to visit someone I have always wanted to meet. I’ve heard about the host for years, read articles about him, admired his work, and frankly, been in awe of his scale of operation. He invited a group of people to visit his office; and by association, I then received an invitation to also attend. This was a very exciting opportunity. I immediately had visions of visiting Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory and the Grand Canyon at the same time…pure excitement, joy, wonder, and awe!

The only problem is that I didn’t receive my invitation directly from the host. In fact, the host doesn’t know I exist. He only knows my friends who invited me. They knew I would enjoy the trip, so they invited me. I really appreciated the invitation.

But, I want to do many things the host also does. I plan on setting up a shop like his. I want to make more products like him. I want to know more about him so I can learn and grow my business.

But, if I’m going to learn from this host, I want him to offer the assistance. I want him to invite me, host me, and coach me. I can’t visit his shop under false pretences.

But, this is the opportunity of a life time!

And, in the middle of this delima, I was listening to North Point Community Church’s series Right in the Eye, and Andy encouraged everyone to memorize Psalm 119:35-37 – “Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.”

How timely!

So, I’m not making this trip to visit. God wants me to treat others the way I want to be treated. He wants me to make wise choices and trust him. This is only one trip. I shouldn’t do what is right in my eyes for the sake of selfish gain and forget the One who has richly provided more than I could ever imagine. I am very grateful for reminders that my desire to do what is right in my own eyes has major consequences for me, the people who care about me, and for those coming after me.

The bottom line is this: God wants great things for you, and you find the most freedom under God’s authority.

So, tell me… Consider a once in a lifetime opportunity. Ask, “What are the consequences if I do what is right in my eyes? What story do I want told later?” Please leave a comment.

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Relaunch Introduction

I have relaunched my blog. A year, or so, ago I started a blog called Southern Superfruit. This blog was originally launched to help tell stories about muscadines and my experiences leading a company that processes my family’s fruit. But, one thing led to another, and now I haven’t blogged in almost 9 months! So, I am relaunching my blog as my name. This name change will allow the blog to grow and develop as my life grows and develops. I am writing about organizational leadership, personal development, productivity, relationships, and muscadines. I have been reminded lately that life takes exciting twists and turns, and I want my blog to allow for these changes.
Thanks for joining me.