I
was completely astounded this week while studying about different company
motivations, hiring practices and employee engagement practices. I read about a software company SAS
Institute. This company has an internal
daycare, personal ergonomic coach, employee cafeteria, employee gym and
unlimited sick leave for employees to enjoy.
Jim Goodnight believes that a company will only succeed as long as the
employees are healthy and happy. I
didn’t realize there were companies that practiced these kinds of
principles. My current employer has a
mission statement that includes words like “Mission, Vision, Values and Goals”,
however upon further reading of my own company propaganda it appears that most
of these words are fluff, with no real intent or plans behind the hype. Hopefully, after earning a degree, I might be
able to find a company that can afford to treat its employees as well as the
stock holders believe they do.
I
chose a close personal friend as someone I would like to have on my personal
Board of Advisers, Tona
Hangen. Many years ago, when my wife and
I started corresponding with one another in a long-distant relationship, she
was a live-in nanny for Don and Tona Hangen in Stow, Massachusetts. The Hangen’s had three little boys with a
little girl on the way and Tona had just finished her masters at MIT. She was beginning a doctorate at Brandeis
University and was writing her doctoral thesis, these reasons are why they
employed my wife as a nanny. Many years
of friendship and friendly debate have led me to decide her as board member. I know her testimony in Jesus Christ is unwavering. We both have strong opinions and where we
differ are our beliefs in some church policy and governance and our ideas in
national politics. Regardless of how
fiercely we contend with one another, I know I can always rely on her being
much, much smarter than me. Tona has an
ability to litigate on personal opinion, yet be understanding and open-minded
with others when they differ with her own ideas. I would need someone like her for
perspective. I could also rely on her
loyalty, friendship and love – regardless of any decisional outcomes.
While studying this week I read
an article by the Harvard Business School entitled “Developing Your Career
& Theirs”. This article suggests
that “few successful people are entirely self-made. Most can point to a relative, a boss – a
mentor – who helped them make the most of life’s lessons and guided their
professional development.” Two people
that have been a mentor for me are Rich Rucker and Scott Moore. I had the opportunity to serve in a bishopric
with Bishop Rucker. He chose me as a
counselor at a young age, and helped me mature into who I am. I’ve sat countless hours in his office and
watched as he prayed and counseled with us for the benefit of the ward. It was he who taught me to always listen and
be slow to speak. Many years have passed
since I sat with him in council, however everything he taught me rings true
with my own personal career. Scott Moore
and I have been friends for over ten years.
I’ve spent many scout camps and girl’s camps sitting by his side and
talking about life. Scott is currently
serving as Bishop in his own ward and I take his opinion and council first when
a decision is presented in my life. I know
he would never lead me astray, however, he would also stand up and defend any
of his ideas we might see differently. I
could rely on him to always speak his mind and understand the “big
picture”. He’s an amazing father of five
kids and he has helped me tremendously in learning how to be a father with my
own two boys. He, like Bishop Rucker
have helped me mature into the man I am now.
Both, without realizing it, have influenced most of my business
decisions and career paths.
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