Being grateful for those who have gone

By Chester Elton

Adrian Gostick and I lost a great friend last week, and it has reminded me once again that we should be grateful for the examples of those who have passed on and the lessons they imparted.

Let me tell you about Kent Taylor, founder and CEO of Texas Roadhouse, who was just 65 when he died. His family have told us he took his own life last week after suffering from symptoms related to COVID-19, including severe tinnitus that got increasingly worse despite numerous medical interventions.

Kent’s accomplishments are too many to list. Over the last two years we have been privileged to help document some of those and help him write his life story, Long Shot, which will be published by Simon & Schuster in August. (Note that 100% of the proceeds from the book will be donated to the Texas Roadhouse hourly employee relief fund.)

Kent’s list of achievements is long—building a successful organization of 70,000 people to name just one—but he was and is so much more than his accomplishments. He was the best friend you could ever have, still hanging with a group of buddies from high school who would vacation together every year. He was generous. For instance, when the pandemic hit, he not only donated his entire 2020 salary and bonus into that fund to help employees (called Roadies) who were in need, but another $5 million of his savings to help those hourly workers. His company also donates 250,000 meals every Veterans’ Day to members of the military and their families. If you needed help, Kent was always there.

And no one threw a better party than Kent. At his company’s annual conference, he was usually found in his cowboy hat, Bubba belt buckle, and Willie Nelson braids. He even parachuted onto the beach at the 2019 Texas Roadhouse conference. Kent always knew how to make an entrance! When it came to thanking his people, he spared no expense.

Kent loved the music. He was not only a long-time poker buddy of Willie Nelson, but he handpicked the music in his restaurants and chose the live bands for their annual party. The Eagles reunited to play for Texas Roadhouse, that’s how big a deal it is for bands to play at this conference. And if the conference budget ran out of budget, he would pay bands out of his own pocket.

When Kent got COVID, he developed severe tinnitus. He tried everything—including several surgeries—but nothing worked. In a last gesture—that was just like Kent—he donated to fund a research project for vets who are suffering from the same ailment. That was Kent, always thinking of others.

We loved Kent for his good heart, and he is still with us. The memories that we have of our friend are nothing but positive. Kent leaves us a legacy of goodness and service that has made us better people, better friends, and better business owners. We will miss him and will always be grateful for his friendship. He was and always will be legendary!

I’d love to hear who you are thankful for who has passed on. What lessons did they teach you?

With love and gratitude,

If you are looking for a safe place to talk about anxiety at work and mental health, please join us at?We Thrive Together?This is a free community that Adrian and I have started to help people who suffer from anxiety themselves or are managing people who are feeling anxious, burnout, and stress. We share ideas and show up for each other, and everyone is welcome.

I am excited to invite you to check out the latest episode of "Anxiety at Work" podcast. I always say you can't be in a state of anxiety and gratitude at the same time! Each week, my coauthor and dear friend,?Adrian Gostick?and I talk to some of the world’s leading authorities on mental health and explore the causes of workplace stress and anxiety, along with practices that are proven to reduce tension and cultivate calm.

This week we talked about employee wellness and her own struggle with anxiety with our new friend, Nabeela Ixtabalan, EVP of People and Corporate Affairs at Walmart, Canada.

The Gratitude Journal?is your place to find tools to create an all-in culture, at work and at home. So?#grateful?to all the good men and women who are putting shots in arms to help us end the pandemic. Thank you!! I got my second shot yesterday! It was fast and efficient and friendly. Well done!!

What are you grateful for today?#wethrivetogether?#findyourgratitude?#leadingwithgratitude?#thecultureworks

Chester Elton has spent two decades helping clients engage their employees to execute on strategy, vision, and values. His work is supported by research with more than 1 million working adults, revealing the proven secrets behind high-performance cultures and teams. He and his coauthor, Adrian Gostick are the founders of The Culture Works, a global coaching, speaking, and training company.

Leading with Gratitude,?is available wherever you like to get your books. Visit?Leading with Gratitude?Book?for free resources including videos, podcast episodes, and more, to build a culture of gratitude.