The People in our Lives

When I first joined John Deere in 1988 I met a production supervisor named Max Schreiber who taught me a lot about how a factory runs, the scheduling, how union rules work, how to build a strong team, and many other things. On a personal side, he told me to set aside 10% of my salary in my 401K and never look back. He knew I just bought a car, so he told me when the car was paid off, to simply move the payment to savings and don't ever change it. I could not have asked for better advice and counsel in my first days on the job.

I met many people who taught me many things in the factory. Dan Schmitz, an expert at heat treating ring gears, taught me what it is really like to work for a union and get paid for each piece you produce vs. a salary. Gary Meyers and Todd Western, experienced supervisors next to my department, taught me how to defend quality on the shop floor, and how to solve problems by working at them as a team. Just about everyone I met at the factory taught me the value of hard work, what quality meant and how to defend it. Some of those employees slept in their vehicles the night before a snow storm just so they wouldn't miss a shift.

Later in my career I joined the Kansas City Sales Branch and started working with our dealer organization. At an annual meeting I was introduced to the Branch Manager Charlie Gause who remains to this day one of the most inspiring and motivating people I've ever met. Charlie told stories about past new product introductions and the difference between those who were successful and those who weren't was one thing - attitude. I met experienced field managers who helped me understand the flow of goods to our dealers, how to handle warranty issues, how to approach field issues, and how to help our dealers grow their business. I met many dealers today that I greatly admire for their leadership skills. These people helped me understand our customers, our business model, and myself as I matured in my sales and marketing roles over 14 years.

The common theme among all of the people who impacted my life and my career is they all gave me their advice and support during a time when I couldn't possibly return the favor. They were generous, supportive, encouraging, and forward looking at all times. They challenged me, talked directly to me, spoke truth irregardless of how difficult the times were, and showed me in their words and actions what true leadership looks like.

As I look back on my career, there are thousands of people who touched my life. I hope that I have been able to "pay it back" in some way over the years to support people the same way people have supported me.

In 2010 I was on a flight to Frankfurt and on the back of my boarding pass I jotted down the most important people who impacted my career. The list had over 100 names on it. From there I picked 25 who were the most impactful. My high school basketball coach, a University of Iowa Associate Dean of Engineering who talked me into switching majors into engineering, a college calculus teacher, a stranger I met while on the Yellowstone River, and many others. At the top of this list were my parents and my wife Sheila. I sent each of these individuals a letter expressing my gratitude for their contribution to my life, sharing in great detail exactly what they meant to me, and how appreciative I was for each of them.

?On the eve of my 35th year in the company 13 years later, I'm overcome with gratitude for the people who I have been able to work with through my affiliation with John Deere. With any success in any company, it is the way it is because of the people behind the brand and how they stand up for the values of the company and the customers they work for.

Who are the people who have influenced your life and career?

When is the last time you told them how much they mean to you?

Be the light in someone's day today and reach out and let them know how much they mean to you.

Thank you for reading?The River, and if you have enjoyed it please subscribe to receive notification of future articles. Please help spread the word by sharing The River with your network with an encouraging word asking others to check it out. A special thank you to those of you who have posted comments to share your experience and advice. I'm grateful as these interactions inspire me, and I'm certain it has helped others in their journey.