I just finished reading the book “Shoe Dog” by Phil Knight the founder of Nike corporation. Although Nike is one of the largest shoe and sporting apparel manufacturers in the world, for much of its early life, the company teetered on the edge of financial ruin. The reason is that Knight had a relentless obsession with growing his business and beating his rivals and he never stopped putting the pedal to the floor to accomplish his goals, against all advice.
Personally, although I am certainly no Phil Knight, I have an insatiable appetite for improvement. I have never had a job, or a task, or have observed a process or a company that I didn’t think could be done better. People complain about it sometimes but I have a firm belief that you are either growing or you are dying and I am not ready to die. What about you? When you look at yourself in the mirror, are you looking at someone who has settled for less than they are capable of, someone who hasn’t learned a new thing in years, someone who is afraid to try? What would those who know you best say about you? She had so much talent but just never did anything with it, or if only he had been willing to try this.
I would like all of you to get up tomorrow morning with a commitment to being better today than you were yesterday, and better tomorrow than you are today, in whatever part of your life you choose, as a salesperson, a technician, a receptionist, a husband, wife, father, mother, friend, boss or teammate. These are the people we need here at Guaranty if we are going to fulfill our promise to “build memories that last a lifetime”, and I hope you are willing to join us.
Have a great day.
Ed
